* 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: President Mosby, Councilmembers Middleton, Costello, McCray, Stokes
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
House America Pledge
For the purpose of announcing that Baltimore City proudly joins House America and pledges to respond with urgency to homelessness and housing insecurity in our community by setting and achieving ambitious re-housing goals, creating pathways to homeownership, and addressing the impact of the racial wealth gap on housing inequity.
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Recitals
Whereas, The City Council of Baltimore is committed to ensuring that all residents have a safe and affordable place to live;
Whereas, In Baltimore City - the birthplace of redlining and the country's first racial zoning law - homelessness, housing insecurity, and historic discrimination continues to impact all of our residents, and a lack of housing remains a barrier to the health, safety, well-being, employment, and education for these individuals and families;
Whereas, In 2020, the Point-in-Time count found that 2,193 people are experiencing homelessness in Baltimore on any given night, hundreds of families await rental assistance or housing vouchers, and tens of thousands of residents are burdened by lack of affordable housing options;
Whereas, More than 580,000 people on a given night were experiencing homelessness in America when the COVID-19 pandemic began and had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without the safety and protection of a stable home, while the homelessness crisis has been further exacerbated during and due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, The most effective approach to solving homelessness and housing insecurity requires identifying and assisting residents who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of losing their housing, or lack access to affordable housing and homeownership;
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council is dedicated to ensuring there are few barriers to obtaining permanent housing quickly through housing counseling and navigation assistance, tailored levels of rental assistance, and wrap-around supportive services;
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council will make policy decisions that address longstanding inequities and is committed to being accountable to our residents and our communities;
Whereas, The American Rescue Plan provides communities with significant new resources to address homelessness, including 70,000 emergency housing vouchers, $5 billion in grants through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships program, and $350 billion in State and Local Recovery Funds through the Department of the Treasury;
Whereas, The City of Baltimore has received 278 emergency housing vouchers and $641 million in State and Local Recovery Funds, which provides the City with an opportunity to make strategic, long-term, and significant investments in our residents and the various communities that serve them;
Whereas, These vouchers and funds will help Baltimore better serve all of our residents, from those who are chronically homeless, to those who are living on the edge and working to escape poverty, and to help build generational wealth;
Whereas, House America, launched on September 20, 2021, is a partnership between the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (“USICH”), states, and communities to respond with urgency to address the crisis of homelessness and create affordable housing;
Whereas, Through House America, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge calls on state and local leaders to set and achieve ambitious goals for re-housing households currently experiencing homelessness and developing new supportive and affordable housing units; and
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council is committed to working with HUD and USICH to use American Rescue Plan resources and other federal, state, and local resources to make progress towards creating more housing security in Baltimore by joining with our local, state and federal partners to end homelessness and create pathways for more City residents to secure quality rentals and buy their own homes.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Baltimore City Council announces that Baltimore City proudly joins House America and pledges to respond with urgency to homelessness and housing insecurity in our community by setting and achieving ambitious re-housing goals, creating pathways to homeownership, and addressing the impact of the racial wealth gap on housing inequity.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Acting Commissioner for the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.