By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an executive order in Howard County, Md., on Sept. 3 to create more affordable housing for Marylanders throughout the state.
“When we talk about housing that’s affordable we’re not just talking about building a shelter, we’re talking about building a legacy,” said Moore. “If you want to create wealth, start with housing. If you want to create jobs, start with housing.”
The executive order aims to make better use of state land, reducing permitting timelines, strengthening partnerships, setting clear goals and rewarding jurisdictions that make progress on their housing development priorities.
This announcement follows a July 17 report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which highlights how out-of-reach rental housing is for residents with low incomes in Maryland.
The report found that full-time working Marylanders have to be making $39.15 an hour to afford a modest rental home without spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs. That translates into an annual salary of $81,434 or $6,786 monthly, which is more than double the state’s minimum wage.
The report also found that numerous households have less of a financial safety-net than they did a decade ago. Black and Latino households in particular were especially impacted, being more likely to hold lower wage jobs. They also had fewer savings to lean on during the widespread job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Making people more aware of the reality of this situation is really important,” said Claudia Wilson Randall, executive director of the Community Development Network of Maryland. “This is an issue that affects everybody, whether it’s your child, an aging parent–it affects everybody.”
The Community Development Network of Maryland is a coalition that advocates for and strengthens the community development sector.
According to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Black Americans make up a greater share in the homeless population in the U.S. than in the overall population.
Randall shared some policy areas that could improve access to housing, including expanding the supply of starter homes and altering zoning to allow more diverse housing types rather than only single-family units.
Several of Moore’s initiatives, including the 2024 housing legislative package and the Reinvest Baltimore initiative, align with those ideas and were highlighted by the governor at the Sept. 3 press conference.
Randall applauded Moore’s work but emphasized the need for ongoing commitment.
“There’s not one simple policy solution that will just open up the floodgates,” said Randall. “We have to do all of it and we have to continue to make progress.”
Jacob “Jake” Day, Maryland secretary of Housing and Community Development, reinforced that message.
“After today’s announcement, there will be yet more to do. And in the months ahead, we’ll continue to discuss what needs to be done to make Maryland a more affordable, more inclusive place to live,” said Day. “This administration is setting the tone for what it means to lead in housing, not just for Maryland, but as a model for the rest of the country.”