​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In 2021, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development launched the pilot Homeownership Works (HOW) program. Also in 2021, the Maryland Legislature passed and the Governor enacted the Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program (SB ​859/HB ​1239), authorizing a program to overcome impediments to investing capital in depleted neighborhoods. In 2023, the Department made adjustments to its 2021 HOW Pilot Program. UPLIFT builds off previous initiatives to become a public-private partnership to invest in these communities. Under the legislation, the Appraisal Gap is defined as the difference between a project’s total eligible development costs and the price it can be sold for in the market. 

UPLIFT will collaborate with a broad array of stakeholding partners including local jurisdictions; not-for-profit and for-profit developers and builders; community-based organizations engaged in revitalization efforts; political leaders; and, of course, residents. It will involve entities from each sector to align incentives to achieve quality, timely production; and, ensure quality and accountability by providing appropriate standards and oversight. 

The primary goal for UPLIFT​ is to increase property values and provide wealth-building homeownership opportunities for targeted households by accelerating the pace of development, construction, and sale of quality affordable housing in low-income census tracts and designated Sustainable Communities to help close the appraisal gap that occurs in historically redlined communities. UPLIFT will also accomplish a variety of related goals as well, including: 

• Increasing homeownership in disinvested neighborhoods;
• Upgrading housing for Legacy Homeowners in appraisal gap neighborhoods;
• Revitalizing currently disinvested neighborhoods;
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions from the Maryland housing stock; and,
• Expanding employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Maryland workers and businesses, especially those from historically disadvantaged demographic groups.

Selected qualified development teams will acquire, develop, build, and sell quality affordable housing in strategically sized and located assemblages located in targeted neighborhoods using a combination of public and private financing. The difference between the cost to produce this housing and its sales prices, (the ​“Appraisal Gap”) will be supplied by the State under UPLIFT. 

• UPLIFT Program Guide - Final Version as of March 2024
• UPLIFT Design and Construction Standards - Final Version as of March 2024
  
• UPLIFT Qualified Areas Map​
• Slide Deck for Information Session - March 2024​
• UPLIFT Frequently Asked Questions​ - as of March 2024
• New Construction or Rehabilitation Cost Limits​

• Pre-Application Meeting​ Request Form
• UPLIFT Electronic Application Submission Request Form
  
• ​UPLIFT Waiver Request Form​​
• Budget and ​Project Economics Template
• Application Documents Package ​(Updated April 24,​ 2024)
• UPLIFT Detailed Application Instructions​
  

UPLIFT Commitment Underwriting ​Submission Package
 

Coming Soon 

Coming Soon 

• DHCD Press Release: Maryland DHCD Opens Application for UPLIFT Program​
• CDA eNews 24-01: UPLIFT Final Guide & Materials Released; UPLIFT Application Open; Upcoming UPLIFT Information Session​
• CDA eNews 23-04: ​Listening Session for New UPLIFT Program​
  
• CDA ​eNews 23-03: ​New Homeownership Production Program: UPLIFT, Open for Comment​
• Current Pipeline
• Governor's Press Release: UPLIFT Program Announcement​

Important Dates

• ​March 18, 2024 from 3-4pm: Virtual Information Session, covering key elements of the Program Guide and Application Process
• March 5, 2024: UPLIFT Application Round Opens
• December 19, 2023 from 12:30-2:00pm: Listening Session; Time for comments and questions on First Draft of Program Guide
• December 4-29, 2023: Public Comment Period for​ First Draft of Program Guide