Finding Affordable Rental Housing in Maryland
MD Housing Search (mdhousingsearch.org) is an online housing locator service that helps people locate available housing that best fits their individual and family needs.
The service can be accessed online 24 hours a day and is supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center (877-428-8844) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. Individuals can easily search for housing using a wide variety of search criteria with special mapping features and receive apartment listings that provide a multitude of important information about each unit. In addition, the site connects people to other housing resources through website links and provides helpful tools for renters such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and renter rights and responsibilities information.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)
The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally-funded, locally administered rental assistance program that subsidizes the rent of lower-income families, the elderly and disabled to afford decent, safe housing in the private market through the use of federal funds.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development administers the program in parts of the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland including: Allegany County (including the City of Cumberland), Caroline County, Dorchester County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Kent County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County and Worcester County.
For information on programs in other counties, contact the
local housing authority.
Eligible Types Of Housing
Any type of rental housing that meets program requirements for housing quality standards is eligible.
Eligible households may select eligible rental housing of their choice. Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, a tenant may select a unit that rents for an amount determined to be comparable to other unassisted units in the area, taking into account amenities and other factors, and which would result in the family paying no more than 40% of its adjusted monthly income toward the rent and utilities.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are
families or individuals who have annual incomes of 50 percent or less of the area median income or state non-metro median income, whichever is higher. Those who are eligible for residency are also eligible applicants. Following the initial certification of eligibility, the resident's income is recertified annually. If the resident's income has changed, the tenant's contribution will be adjusted accordingly.
The
Housing Choice Voucher Program is a rental assistance program, not a loan program. Eligible families receive a voucher which allows them to seek rental housing of their choice. Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the tenant may choose to pay more or less than 30 percent of their monthly household adjusted income, depending upon whether the rent for the unit is more or less than an established voucher payment standard.
Project-Based Contract Administration Program (PBCA)
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development serves as the HUD-designated Contract Administrator for Maryland. The Contract Administration unit is responsible for general oversight, program functions, reporting requirements and quality assurance for all assigned tasks.
Program functions include performing management and occupancy reviews, adjusting contract rents, paying monthly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) vouchers, processing HAP Contract renewals, terminations and opt-outs and responding to health and safety issues.
More Information
CONTACT: Rental Service Programs
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
E:
dhcd.rental_services@maryland.gov
P: (301) 429-7699
This program is administered under the Department's Public Housing Agency Plan, as required by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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