Letter Writing Campaign

Dear Councilman Costello (& Councilman/Councilwoman _____ [Name will automatically be added when your district is selectted.]) ,

I am a parishioner of St. Ignatius Church and I care about inclusionary housing and fairness. This is why I am taking the time to ask that you support BILL 22-0195.

As you know, Baltimore has a housing affordability crisis. Nearly 50% of Baltimore City households are paying more than 30% of their income to pay rent. The National Low Income Housing Coalition announced in its 2023 annual report that Maryland is the 10th most expensive state in the nation because an individual must earn $31.08 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Severely cost-burdened households are more likely than other renters to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and health care to pay the rent, and to experience unstable housing situations like evictions.

Since June 30, 2022, Baltimore City has had no working inclusionary housing policy, without which the city is in violation of Fair Housing Law. Where’s the Equity? Last year, the city gave developers $38 million in tax credits that resulted in ZERO affordable housing.

Inclusionary Housing Policy encourages or requires developers to pay a certain share of housing to be affordable. Baltimore City had an inclusionary housing policy that only created 37 units of affordable housing in 15 years. We can no longer afford to have an ineffective policy that puts Baltimore residents – predominantly Black and Brown residents – at risk of homelessness, eviction, and displacement. BILL 22-0195 applies to developers who receive benefits from the city.

BILL 22-0195, Inclusionary Housing for Baltimore City would

Require developers to offer 10% of their units affordable to 30-60% area median income (HUD defined for Baltimore region)
Require developers to offer an additional 5% units for those below 30% of area median income if they have additional subsidies awarded.
Remove loopholes and waivers that made the prior inclusionary housing policy ineffective.
Affirmatively market inclusionary housing to residents who have been historically excluded from new development including Black and Brown families, those who use vouchers, and others who have been discriminated against.
Please support Bill 22-0195 Inclusionary Housing for Baltimore City and Bill 23-0369 High Performance Inclusionary Housing Tax Credit – designed to make sure the math works to provide inclusionary units.

Thank You.