WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) today applauded the recent award of more than $265,000 to the Carroll County Department of Housing & Community Development through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher program. These vouchers will help individuals and families obtain market-rate housing in the county.
“An affordable and safe place to call home is one of the clearest pathways to stability for low-income individuals and families. Vouchers are one of the most effective tools at our disposal to make housing affordable for all Marylanders. They give struggling families and individuals the freedom to choose the home and the neighborhood that make the most sense for them,” said Senator Cardin. “This federal grant will help to meet high demand for this program in Carroll County.”
“All Marylanders deserve access to housing that is both safe and affordable. These vouchers will allow more Carroll County residents who are struggling to make ends meet find a safe place to live without foregoing other essentials like food and health care,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Development and Appropriations Committees. “I will continue fighting in Congress to increase affordable housing options and boost economic opportunity in our state.”
“I join my colleagues in welcoming this federal funding for additional housing vouchers in Carroll County,” said Rep. Raskin. “I applaud this positive federal investment and remain committed to expanding housing security for all Marylanders.”
Funding for this investment comes through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, which designated approximately $385 million for new vouchers nationwide. The Housing Choice Voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program. Additional information on the program as a whole may be found here and on this specific grant solicitation here.
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