,

MHP Advocates for Funds for Affordable Housing, Student Programming

MHP President Robert Goldman asked the Montgomery County Council to provide more funding for acquisition and preservation of affordable housing in the FY2020 budget. He also asked the council to consider supporting MHP’s Play & Learn preschool program, which he noted “directly aligns with the county’s goal of ensuring that all of our children enter school ready to learn.” Goldman made his comments in April 10 testimony before the Montgomery County Council.

Read the complete text of his testimony here.

/by
,

MHP Encourages Affordable Housing Preservation in Veirs Mill Corridor

Montgomery County should actively seek to preserve affordable housing as it moves forward with the Veirs Mill Corridor master plan, according to Montgomery Housing Partnership.

In public testimony before the Montgomery County Council, MHP Senior Project Manager and Legal Counsel Stephanie Roodman generally praised the plan, which was initiated by the Maryland County Planning Board. MHP is the developer of Halpine Hamlet Apartments, a community of 67 primarily affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments near Twinbrook Parkway.

But Roodman expressed some concerns about the potential for redevelopment to force out affordable housing options. “To the extent that the sector plan is incentivizing redevelopment along this corridor, the plan should ensure a one-for-one replacement of the potential loss of market-rate affordable housing.” She said, “This can best be done by the county aggressively seeking to identify county-owned sites where affordable housing can be located in this plan.”

The updated corridor plan is intended to:

  • Guide future land uses along the Veirs Mill Road corridor from Wheaton to Rockville.
  • Improve the compatibility between the land uses adjacent to Veirs Mill Road and the future bus rapid transit corridor.
  • Improve pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, connectivity and safety within the plan area.
  • Redevelop at strategic locations to provide more walkable, neighborhood-serving development.
  • Apply a comprehensive streetscape design and opportunities for placemaking within the corridor.

Read more:

/by
,

MHP Takes Part in Community Development Day

The MHP team traveled to meet with legislators in Annapolis for Community Development Day 2019, sponsored by Community Development Network of Maryland. It’s an important opportunity to meet with state legislators to seek support for community development, affordable housing funding, and economic initiatives that help communities served by MHP. It’s also a chance to say thank you to committed supporters.

Top priorities include: 1) dedication of excess money from the Unclaimed Property Fund to the Community Development Fund; and 2) full funding of the Maryland Community Legacy program at a level of $8 million. The Community Legacy program provides local governments and community development organizations with funding for essential projects aimed at strengthening communities through activities such as business retention and attraction, encouraging homeownership and commercial revitalization.

/by
,

Everyone Deserves the Opportunity To Live in A Safe and Affordable Place

Oscar, an MHP resident and a senior in high school, advocated for continued support for affordable housing in testimony at a budget forum convened by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to gather input on fiscal 2020 funding priorities. County Executive Elrich praised Oscar for his advocacy and service to the community, noting that he is “a big fan” of the work that MHP is doing to preserve and expand access to affordable housing.

Here is Oscar’s statement:

“Good evening, everyone. My name is Oscar. I am a senior at Northwood High School. This summer I hope to continue with college. You might think that I am here to advocate for schools, but I am here because having a safe home that I can afford gives me the security and stability to continue contributing to my community.

I am a McDonald’s employee who works 5 days a week. In my free time, I am a volunteer in my community. I live in Montgomery Housing Partnership’s Amherst Apartments in Wheaton. Being able to live in Amherst has given me and my sister the security of an affordable, safe home.

Everyone deserves to have the same opportunity that I had to live in a safe and affordable place. Thank you for supporting programs that give me and other people like me a place to call home.”

/by
,

MHP Opposes ‘Public Charge’ Rule Changes

MHP is opposing “public charge” regulation changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that could damage immigrant communities by spreading confusion and prompting families not to seek help with health care, housing, and other needs out of fear.

Under the proposal, if authorities determine an individual is “likely to become a public charge,” they may deny that person’s application for lawful permanent residence or their entry into the U.S. The new proposal would broaden the programs that the federal government would consider in making public charge determinations to include health, nutrition, and housing programs that previously were not considered. The proposed rule could prevent legal immigrants and families with children from accessing public assistance for affordable housing.

In comments submitted to DHS’ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, MHP President Robert Goldman described some of the negative impacts already being observed in communities served by MHP. “For example, our staff has spoken with parents of U.S.-born citizen children who are reluctant to apply for Medicaid for their sons or daughters out of fear that it could lead to their family being separated down the line. Parents are making difficult, if not impossible, choices that could harm their children’s health based on fear. This rule change will negatively impact the health and well-being of untold number of children, as well as that of the broader community.”

He challenged the stereotype that immigrants come to the United States looking for handouts. “Contrary to the myth that public assistance fosters a dependency on government, we have found that our residents who benefit from government programs want to lift themselves out of poverty. The proposed rule change is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the motivations for migration. Immigrants don’t aspire to receive public assistance, they aspire to achieve the American Dream: to get an education and create a better life for themselves and their families through hard work.”

The full text of the comments is available here.

/by

About

Housing People

Empowering Families

Strengthening Neighborhoods