Action Needed: Protect Renters Before It’s Too Late

Montgomery County is staring down an impending wave of potential evictions within the next month.

On July 25, evictions and foreclosure proceedings are set to resume. At the end of the month, the weekly $600 unemployment benefit supplement provided in the CARES Act will expire.

The County can take action now to make additional rental/mortgage assistance available to households, helping to stabilize thousands of families at risk of homelessness during a public health emergency.

We call on the County Executive and County Council to provide an additional $6 million in emergency rental/mortgage assistance before the end of the month.

Recently before the Maryland General Assembly, County Executive Elrich reported that approximately 20,000 households in the County are unable to pay their rent, which amounts to $30 – $40 million in delinquencies every month.

While the County has begun the process of reopening, many low-wage workers remain unemployed or underemployed and are not able to earn enough to pay their rent. Like many other aspects of the coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis, people of color are expected to be hit hardest.

We applaud the County for making resources available to renters who have been most impacted by the pandemic, but those initial resources have been depleted. Governor Hogan’s announced $20 million fund for eviction prevention assistance is a statewide program, and not focused on Montgomery County. We don’t know when the funds would flow to local government or to people who are in desperate need now.

Please email the County Executive and County Council and give voice to the people who lack any constituency. Tell your officials to dedicate $6 million for rental assistance before it’s too late and people begin losing their homes.

A letter you can update and personalize to communicate with elected leaders is here.

Click here for a list of County Councilmember email addresses.

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MHP Student Essay Wins Honors: ‘If I Was Mayor’

“I will make a place where medicine and health care can be easily attained no matter how much money people make.” Alirio Abarca, a sixth-grader in MHP’s Greenwood Terrace afterschool homework club, was selected as a runner-up in an essay contest sponsored by the nonprofit Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). Students were invited to explore the theme “If I Was Mayor.” Congratulations on expressing your bold vision so well, Alirio!

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Connecting and Nurturing

Despite the many challenges, MHP teachers have been innovating to remain connected to their students. “We’re a really big figure in their lives,” says Jenny Mendez-Guerrero. Take a look.

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We Are Grateful

Through good times and difficult times, our partners and supporters are there for MHP and the communities we serve. Thanks to you, we are housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods.

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Preschool Graduation

MHP staff continue to rise to the occasion, using innovative means to overcome the challenges of quarantined life due to COVID-19. One of our preschool classes shared a glorious graduation ceremony virtually, complete with graduation caps and proud parents. Students performed several musical pieces thanks to a partnership with the Washington Conservatory of Music. Students were congratulated by MHP President Robert Goldman and Kathy Judd, Executive & Artistic Director of the Conservatory.

Several parents expressed gratitude for the program, including one father who said the program has been “the backbone of my family” by making preschool available and accessible. The students will be moving on to kindergarten. MHP is proud that 85 percent of our enrichment program students demonstrate kindergarten readiness. Congratulations, graduates!

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Still Connected, Still Learning

MHP’s young students may not be in our classrooms right now, but they are still connected to us. Recently MHP distributed 140 storybooks to students thanks to a generous donation from a partner nonprofit program, Share Literacy. The books were tucked into bags of donated food that went home to families in need in MHP’s Wheaton-based homes.

“Share Literacy is proud to be part of the inspiring work of MHP communities to support families and the education of the community’s children during these challenging times,” said Steve Whitney, a volunteer with the organization who delivered the books.

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A Good Neighbor at The Bonifant

Terry is a resident of The Bonifant, MHP’s residence for seniors in Silver Spring. She saw a need during the COVID-19 pandemic and took action to help her neighbors and others. Here’s her story.

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World Central Kitchen Providing Meals to Bonifant Residents

World Central Kitchen (WCK), the nonprofit launched by chef/restaurateur/philanthropist José Andrés, is delivering donated meals to feed residents of MHP’s The Bonifant senior residences in downtown Silver Spring. The collaboration is part of Montgomery County’s effort to work with nonprofit partners to address COVID-19 food insecurity issues, while also supporting local businesses.

WCK provided 180 meals during the first dropoff, which were gratefully welcomed by MHP President Robert A. Goldman and Dr. Earl Stoddard, director of Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. The meals were prepared at Nats Park. The food was delivered directly to individual residents by Humphrey Management staff to minimize residents’ exposure potential.

Dr. Stoddard said the partnership was an important way to help address food insecurity while encouraging seniors to stay healthy by sheltering in place.

Several residents sent email thank yous, including this one: “My first meal was just delivered and I am so thankful.”

Montgomery County created a short video about the donation:

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MHP Advocates for Low-Income Renters During Crisis

MHP President Robert A. Goldman is urging the Montgomery County Council to support efforts to protect low-income renters during the COVID-19 crisis as a top funding priority. The recommendations are contained in submitted testimony on fiscal 2021 budget priorities.

He recommended that the Council support:

  • $20 million in emergency rental assistance for renters, with priority given to residents ineligible for unemployment insurance;
  • Temporary 100% PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) property tax abatements;
  • An additional $10 million to continue production of new affordable housing; and
  • Support for the County Executive’s Affordable Housing Acquisition/Preservation Fund

The Council is poised to respond to some of these priorities soon. As a first step, the panel will consider a $2 million special appropriation for emergency eviction prevention and housing stabilization programs to help low- and moderate-income households.

In addition, led by Councilmember Evan Glass, the Council has sent a letter to County Executive Marc Elrich requesting that he expand eligibility guidelines for rental assistance programs, and to work with landlords to provide renters with a six-month transition period to meet rental obligations for vulnerable residents once the state of emergency is lifted. The letter can be viewed here.

For more details on MHP’s testimony on funding priorities, see the full statement here.

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Help Families Challenged by COVID-19 Impacts

As we connect with MHP residents about the impact COVID-19 has on their daily lives, we have identified two main needs: access to food and rental assistance.

Thomas, one of our residents, told us that he doesn’t know what lies ahead. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, his wife has been laid off and his work as a taxi driver has dried up. He doesn’t know how they will be able to continue to feed their family of six.

MHP has set up a special emergency fund for our residents who are trying to meet basic needs in the midst of the crisis.

Find out how you can help Thomas and his family and others like them here.
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