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.
