Community Impact reports that earlier this month, Montgomery County sent a comprehensive five-year plan in submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in which they detailed a number or problem areas in regard to homelessness and affordable housing. It was done to make available “a systemic approach” to taking care of needs across the county.
The report, put together by the Montgomery County Office of Community Development, included 1,068 pages in regard to the issues.
Four basic concerns were spotlighted:
–Fair housing education and outreach endeavors were insufficient.
–A greater level of enforcement of fair housing laws was demanded.
–Affordable housing that is accessible to people with disabilities was lacking.
–Disproportionate cost burdens caused by higher unemployment rates among persons of color.
The report showed that 9 percent of residents of the county live below the poverty line who are between the ages of 18 to 64. The percentage goes up to 14 percent when disabled adults are counted.
The report also passed along that 262 persons in 2022 who got in touch with the Montgomery County Women’s center looking for emergency housing did not get it because of insufficient capacity.
According to the Director of Community Development, Rebecca Ansley, if the plan gets HUD approval, the plan is to fund public services by way of nonprofits in the area that offer food for seniors, low income persons and the homeless, job training for those with low incomes, emergency utility and rent services, senior transportation, rehab for homeowners and improvement for public facilities.
Being sent along with the comprehensive plan is a Housing and Urban Development consolidated stakeholder report that showed there was not enough affordable housing in the county, and that there was a need to make affordable housing for persons with a disability and seniors a priority.
