Maryland Affordable Housing Trust

The Maryland General Assembly created the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust in 1992 to make affordable housing more available throughout the State of Maryland. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees and staffed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. A portion of the interest generated by title company escrow provides the funding for the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust.

December 2022 Public Meeting Notice

Applicable Laws and Regulations

The law and regulations governing of the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust are found in:

The Housing and Community Development Article, §§10-101 - 10-301, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended;
Insurance Article Section 22-103 of the Annotated Code of Maryland; and
Code of Maryland Regulations 31.16.03.01-.08.

Program Activities

The Maryland Affordable Housing Trust promotes affordable housing for households earning less than 50% of area or Statewide median income by:

Funding capital costs of rental and ownership housing;
Providing financial assistance for nonprofit-developer capacity building;
Funding supportive services for occupants of affordable housing; and
Funding operating expenses of affordable housing developments.

The Maryland Affordable Housing Trust does not provide:

Direct rental assistance to tenants;
Capacity building assistance that is not related to a specific housing development; or
Purchase of grantee personal property, such as office furniture or equipment.

Funds Availability

The maximum award amount is $75,000.

Financing Terms

Although the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust reserves the right to make its funding available as interest-bearing loans, funding for project-specific capacity building, operating expenses and support services are generally made as grants. Funding for capital costs are offered as deferred-payment loans or recoverable grants payable if the project is sold and/or ceases to be used for low-income occupancy. Pre-development awards are generally repayable.

Eligible Applicants

Nonprofit organizations
Public housing authorities
Government agencies
Profit-motivated entities

Selection Criteria

While all activities funded by the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust generally serve residents with incomes of less than 50% of statewide or area median, whichever is higher, preference is given to projects that serve households with incomes of less than 30% of median.

Projects that meet the following criteria will be most competitive:

Target very low-income persons
Provide housing for families with minor children and/or single adults in Single Room Occupancy units;
Demonstrate project readiness and feasibility;
Project long-term affordability (for capital projects);
Demonstrate need /demand for housing in geographic area and helps achieve equitable geographic distribution of Maryland Affordable Housing Trust funds;
Leverage other funds and/or provide the final piece in a financing package; and
Provide self-sufficiency services.