* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Burnett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Emergency Rental Assistance
For the purpose of calling upon the Governor and Maryland General Assembly to allocate $175 million in fiscal year 2024 to help an estimated 17,000 Maryland families avoid eviction.
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Whereas, economic instability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rampant rent inflation continue to push tens of thousands of low-income households to the brink of homelessness.
Whereas, evictions in Baltimore City, alone, this past September and November surpassed the 2019 tallies for those months and are rapidly rising to pre-pandemic levels throughout the State.
Whereas, emergency rental assistance has helped over 100,000 Maryland households, including more than 13,000 households in Baltimore City, avoid eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whereas, Baltimore City and jurisdictions throughout Maryland are facing a funding cliff in March and April of 2023 that will end emergency rental assistance throughout the State.
Whereas, eviction prevention furthers gender and racial equity; of the households that avoided eviction with help from Maryland’s current emergency rental assistance program, 70% were woman-led and 74% were Black-led. Based on trends in eviction demographics, these families will likely be subject to eviction at much higher rates than other families if this program ends.
Whereas, 52% of households facing eviction in Maryland are families with children.
Whereas, anyone can find themself temporarily unable to pay the rent due to a medical emergency, car accident, funeral, or job loss, and the past 2 pandemic years have shown that such economic setbacks do not have to become catastrophic events that result in eviction.
Whereas, with an allocation of State funds for emergency rental assistance, right to counsel in evictions, and housing stability services, Maryland can create a more equitable, sustainable housing economy.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, that the Baltimore City Council calls upon the Governor and Maryland General Assembly to allocate $175 million in fiscal year 2024 to help an estimated 17,000 Maryland families avoid eviction.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Honorable Chairs and members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.