A bill that could help fund Howard County Housing Commission projects aims to bring more affordable housing to the area.
“If we are creating new jobs, we should createhousing for those people,” said Leonard Vaughan, the commission?s executive director. “We can?t say we want school teachers, but they can?t afford to live here.”
The proposal, which could be withdrawn, sought to partner the commission with private investors to help fund the housing.
The commission currently owns seven properties and is looking at three additional plots, Vaughan said.
The housing authority relies on grants, loans and a percentage of the county?s transfer tax, he said. Last year, its share was about $4 million for housing and programs, such as loans that help home owners make repairs to their homes.
Affordable housing is expensive ? the commission must buy and develop the land, resulting in costs of up to $250,000, he said. These expenses could mean higher taxes because the county would have to tap into its tax base for funds.
Families making up to $70,880annualy qualify for affordable housing. Critics say the bill looked like zoning regulations that would have required a public review.
“There should be a public process,” said Angela Beltram, head of the residents? group Citizens for an Open Process for Everyone.
But some say the bill has merits in including private investors in the push for more affordable housing.
“There is a strong consensus that it should be done through partnerships,” said Sherman Howell, a member of the African American Coalition of Howard County and the county?s housing task force.
The task force is expected to present recommendations on solving the affordable housing problems by Oct. 31.
Zoning regulations require developers to dedicate between 5 percent and 20 percent of the units toward affordable housing, Vaughan said. This averages to about 100 units of the 1,500 new units each year.
