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MIH Hosts “Future of Inclusive Housing” Discussion

On May 27, Maryland Inclusive Housing hosted a panel discussion in Columbia to explore bold, sustainable strategies for the future of inclusive housing in Maryland. The event provided insight, inspiration and practical direction to help shape MIH’s strategic plan—and strengthen community alignment.   

The conversation was anchored by an in-person presentation and Q&A from Richard Cho, managing director at Mannatt Health and a nationally recognized housing policy leader.  

Cho discussed the severe shortage of integrated, accessible and affordable housing opportunities for people with disabilities, leading to unnecessary institutionalization and rising homelessness. Specifically, there are nearly 900,000 non-elderly people in the United States with disabilities are estimated to be living in institutional settings, primarily due to the lack of access to community-based affordable, accessible housing. 

Cho noted that the outlook for most federal funding of affordable housing looks bleak for the next number of years.  He also noted that Medicaid, which pays for support services connected to affordable housing, was also likely to lose funding in the next federal budget.

Rachel London, Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, facilitated the conversation, which included Maryland housing experts: Chelsea Hayman, Deputy Director for Special Populations, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD); John Brennan, Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD); and Catherine Stokes, Vice President, Diamond and Associates. 

 Cho and the other panelists talked about where the opportunities were in this landscape and what they thought MIH should focus on doing the next couple of years. The following is a summary of those ideas.

  1. The federal budget outlook as it stands shows a growth in the allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) that are allocated at the State level. This is an opportunity to partner with affordable housing developers who are increasingly required to provide support services to vulnerable populations as part of their applications for LIHTC.  There was much discussion about how to do this and what this might look like.
  2. The need to collaborate and network at the State and local level with groups such as public housing authorities (PHA), the Maryland Partnership for Affordable Housing (MPAH), the Community Development Network (CDN), the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) as well as State agencies and local coalitions.
  3. The importance of taking advantage of the State and locally funding affordable housing resources such as the new Housing Choice Voucher Program which will operate through the local PHA’s. The new DDA Rental Subsidy Program, and local initiatives like Community Choice Homes in Montgomery County.
  4. Finally, MIH was encouraged to consider new opportunities such as finding ways to collaborate with private housing developers and expanding Housing Support Services to populations beyond just IDD.

The MIH board of directors, working with staff, will use this information to craft a new two-year strategic plan, which should be ready on Oct. 1, 2025.

Tim Wiens

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