Jonathan White

Q. Your Vision for Housing for People with Disabilities: Tell us what you have done and would do to make housing for people with disabilities more accessible and more affordable in Prince George’s County?

A: Prince George’s County has an obligation to provide affordable, accessible, and integrated housing options for individuals with disabilities. As County Executive, I will prioritize the following:

Actions Taken

• Community Engagement & Advocacy: I have advocated fair housing policies and the inclusion of people with disabilities.
• Fiscal Responsibility in Housing Programs: My campaign aims to efficiently reallocate funds to provide essential housing services for vulnerable populations.

Planned Actions

• 1.     Increase accessible housing units: Provide incentives for developers to construct housing that complies with ADA accessibility standards and includes universal design features.
• 2.     Expand Home Modification Programs: Increase funding for programs that assist individuals with disabilities in making their homes more accessible.
• 3.     Simplify Housing Applications: Collaborate with the Housing Authority to make housing assistance applications clear and accessible.
• 4.     Seek State & Federal Funding: Actively pursue Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to increase accessible housing.

Q. Mainstream Housing Vouchers: Prince George’s County has faced challenges in securing HUD mainstream vouchers to support individuals with disabilities. What steps would you take to address these issues, and how would you ensure the county submits competitive applications in the future?  

A: HUD mainstream vouchers are a crucial resource for helping people with disabilities afford housing in our county. Prince George’s County has had difficulty obtaining these vouchers due to less competitive applications and limited coordination.

Planned Actions

• 1.     Improve Grant Writing & Application Processes: Create a dedicated team within the Housing Authority to focus exclusively on federal grant applications, with the goal of Prince George’s County submitting effective applications for mainstream vouchers.
• 2.     Improve Data Collection & Reporting: Enhance the county’s capacity to track housing needs for people with disabilities, showing clear demand and readiness for HUD funding.
• 3.     Collaborate with nonprofits to ensure applications align with community needs.
• 4.     Enhance Landlord Engagement: Introduce incentives for landlords to accept mainstream vouchers, including risk mitigation funds and simplified administrative procedures.
• 5.     Secure More Funding: Collaborate with HUD and Maryland’s congressional delegation to obtain more resources for Prince George’s County.

Q: Settlement Agreement Compliance: As you may know, the county remains under a settlement agreement with Disability Rights Maryland due to past discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public housing. While some progress has been made, there are ongoing obligations, such as creating accessible units. How would you prioritize meeting these commitments?   

A: Prince George’s County is currently under a settlement agreement with Disability Rights Maryland due to previous instances of housing discrimination. Although progress has been made, full compliance is essential to mitigate legal risks and ensure equitable housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Planned Actions

• 1.     Establish a dedicated compliance office: Create a unit within the Housing Authority to oversee settlement compliance, ensuring deadlines and requirements are met.
• 2.     Speed Up Accessible Housing Development: Collaborate with developers to expedite building and renovating accessible public housing using incentives and partnerships.
• 3.     Monitor & Report Progress Transparently: Create a public dashboard to track the county’s progress in meeting settlement obligations, promoting transparency.
• 4.     Enhance Accessibility in Public Housing: Guarantee that all new housing projects comply with ADA and Fair Housing Act standards while updating existing units as required.
• 5.     Meet Quarterly with Disability Advocates: Ensure responsiveness to community needs.

 Through the implementation of these initiative-taking measures, I will ensure that Prince George’s County not only fulfills but surpasses its obligations, thereby enhancing the inclusivity, efficiency, and fairness of our housing system for all residents.