Latest news with #HousingandCommunityDevelopment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Gov. Wes Moore make progress on housing, but hurdles remain
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's plan to build new housing to replace vacant units is making progress, but some hurdles remain. Maryland and Baltimore are racing to confront a deepening housing crisis — one defined by soaring rents, crumbling vacant properties, and a chronic shortage of affordable units. While state and city leaders have outlined bold, billion-dollar strategies to build, rehabilitate, and preserve housing, they face a maze of obstacles: budget shortfalls, bureaucratic delays, aging infrastructure, and the looming threat of federal funding cuts. For thousands of families, the stakes are immediate — stable housing hangs in the balance. As of this month, there are less than 13,000 vacant units in Baltimore City. This number has been steadily decreasing over the last five years, with more than 16,000 vacancies reported in January 2020. The city is on track to increase its rate of reducing the number of vacant units from 500 a year to 1,000 a year, Maryland Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day said. There's an opening for Baltimore to possibly help fill the housing shortage in Maryland, which sits at about 96,000 units. The Eager Park Partners' East Baltimore Development Project, which the mayor's office said is a part of the first new residential development in the Broadway East neighborhood in decades, broke ground during a Tuesday ceremony. The project plans to build 54 townhomes in place of once-vacant townhomes. 'It's made possible by the funding support from the state, from all our partners to make sure that we do not stop, that we keep building and we keep getting rid of vacants.' Scott said at the groundbreaking ceremony. This is the latest step towards building livable housing in Baltimore, where vacant units once were, as the city has seen many residents move outside of its limits in recent years. Last year was the first year since 2014 that the Baltimore population did not decrease. It grew by 754 residents. The mayor's plan to address vacant housing includes a 15-year plan to invest $3 billion in acquiring vacant properties and later rehabilitating the units or demolishing them to construct new housing. He has also made efforts to change some zoning laws that have made building high-density housing difficult. Gov. Wes Moore has also prioritized replacing or revitalizing vacant properties in Baltimore. The governor signed an executive order last fall to create a 'Reinvest Baltimore' program to coordinate the transformation of 5,000 vacant units into owned homes or other 'positive outcomes' within the next five years. Moore is also working to expand affordable housing across the state, especially near transit hubs. However, Scott and Moore's housing plans to encourage more people to move to Baltimore could be impacted by planned federal cuts to housing programs. This includes significant cuts to Section 8 and other federal rental assistance programs, proposed as part of a major Republican tax and spending bill being considered by Congress. Day said he is concerned about the proposed cuts to housing-related programs, but added that because there are state and city resources investing in housing in the area, the cuts would likely impact Baltimore City less than other areas of the country. 'It will affect all housing, it's going to affect every jurisdiction,' Day said. 'Baltimore might actually be in a slightly more advantageous position to other places given the investment that we're trying to make here.' There are also concerns about how these developments will impact the makeup of Baltimore and whether they will lead to the gentrification of neighborhoods. Scott downplayed these concerns when asked by The Baltimore Sun and pointed to the developers of the Broadway East neighborhood development, who are from Baltimore. The mayor said that these housing projects, which replace vacant units, have already led to families moving back to the city. _____
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Brandon Scott, Gov. Wes Moore make progress on housing, but hurdles remain
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's plan to build new housing to replace vacant units is making progress, but some hurdles remain. Maryland and Baltimore are racing to confront a deepening housing crisis—one defined by soaring rents, crumbling vacant properties, and a chronic shortage of affordable units. While state and city leaders have outlined bold, billion-dollar strategies to build, rehabilitate, and preserve housing, they face a maze of obstacles: budget shortfalls, bureaucratic delays, aging infrastructure, and the looming threat of federal funding cuts. For thousands of families, the stakes are immediate—stable housing hangs in the balance. As of this month, there are less than 13,000 vacant units in Baltimore City. This number has been steadily decreasing over the last five years, with more than 16,000 vacancies reported in January 2020. The city is on track to increase its rate of reducing the number of vacant units from 500 a year to 1,000 a year, Maryland Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day said. There's an opening for Baltimore to possibly help fill the housing shortage in Maryland, which sits at about 96,000 units. The Eager Park Partners' East Baltimore Development Project, which the mayor's office said is a part of the first new residential development in the Broadway East neighborhood in decades, broke ground during a Tuesday ceremony. The project plans to build 54 townhomes in place of once-vacant townhomes. 'It's made possible by the funding support from the state, from all our partners to make sure that we do not stop, that we keep building and we keep getting rid of vacants.' Scott said at the groundbreaking ceremony. This is the latest step towards building livable housing in Baltimore, where vacant units once were, as the city has seen many residents move outside of its limits in recent years. Last year was the first year since 2014 that the Baltimore population did not decrease. It grew by 754 residents. The mayor's plan to address vacant housing includes a 15-year plan to invest $3 billion in acquiring vacant properties and later rehabilitating the units or demolishing them to construct new housing. He has also made efforts to change some zoning laws that have made building high-density housing difficult. Gov. Wes Moore has also prioritized replacing or revitalizing vacant properties in Baltimore. The governor signed an executive order last fall to create a 'Reinvest Baltimore' program to coordinate the transformation of 5,000 vacant units into owned homes or other 'positive outcomes' within the next five years. Moore is also working to expand affordable housing across the state, especially near transit hubs. However, Scott and Moore's housing plans to encourage more people to move to Baltimore could be impacted by planned federal cuts to housing programs. This includes significant cuts to Section 8 and other federal rental assistance programs, proposed as part of a major Republican tax and spending bill being considered by Congress. Day said he is concerned about the proposed cuts to housing-related programs, but added that because there are state and city resources investing in housing in the area, the cuts would likely impact Baltimore City less than other areas of the country. 'I think you don't care': Baltimore City Council slams mayor for not sharing salary data U.S. is seeking release of man wrongly sent to El Salvador, but it's not Abrego Garcia, court records show Why Gov. Wes Moore is making a sales pitch to businesses in South Carolina Rep. Steny Hoyer faces challenge from young political newcomer Baltimore County Council votes against environmental fund financed by paper bag fee 'It will affect all housing, it's going to affect every jurisdiction,' Day said. 'Baltimore might actually be in a slightly more advantageous position to other places given the investment that we're trying to make here.' There are also concerns about how these developments will impact the makeup of Baltimore and whether they will lead to the gentrification of neighborhoods. Scott downplayed these concerns when asked by The Baltimore Sun and pointed to the developers of the Broadway East neighborhood development, who are from Baltimore. The mayor said that these housing projects, which replace vacant units, have already led to families moving back to the city. Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California wrestles with approach to homeless encampments
May 16 (UPI) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his model ordinance to address homeless encampments with dignity this week but advocates say the approach ignores real solutions. Newsom's ordinance "Addressing Encampments with Urgency and Dignity" calls on local jurisdictions to immediately begin removing homeless encampments, giving 48 hours notice when possible. Jay Wierenga, deputy secretary of communications for the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, told UPI the issue of addressing encampments is ultimately a local issue. "The governor's model ordinance is a template for them to address encampments with care, humanity and urgency," Wierenga said. "They can, and should, begin this work immediately. The governor's actions are reversing a crisis that is decades old, as the numbers show." Newsom and the state government have blunted the growth of the population of unhoused people who are completely without shelter, according to Jennifer Hanson, assistant deputy director of external affairs for Housing and Community Development. Unsheltered homelessness grew by 7% in the United States but only 0.45% in California. In the five years prior to Newsom being elected governor, unsheltered homelessness grew twice as fast, on average, than it has during Newsom's term, Hanson added. "This administration is the first to have made addressing homelessness a top priority and has provided local governments with unprecedented assistance to address it," Hanson told UPI in an email. "California is now reversing decades of inaction." The ordinance is backed, in part, by $3.3 billion in voter-approved Prop 1 funds. In the fall, the governor's office said the state invested $40 billion to create more housing and $27 billion to "help prevent and end homelessness." The California State Association of Counties pushed back on the claim that $27 billion has gone to address homelessness, Jeff Griffiths, president and Inyo County supervisor, told UPI. "Nearly half of that is for housing," Griffiths said. "It hasn't actually translated into units built on the ground that are sufficient enough to meet the scale of the problem." Griffiths agrees that county leaders would like to see encampments cleared but Newsom's ordinance lacks any assurance that there will be shelter or transitional or permanent housing for people. "The problem is clearing an encampment doesn't do anything if there's no place for those people to go," he said. "What we need are clearly delineated responsibilities of which level of government is responsible for which part of solving the homeless issue and then we need sustained funding." California currently allocates $1 billion annually toward counties to address homelessness. This sum is spread across the 58 counties in the state. Griffiths noted that this amount of funding is inadequate, and the short-term nature of providing funding annually makes it difficult for county governments to plan long-term solutions. CSAS has designed its own framework for addressing homelessness in California, the At Home plan. It calls for a clearer breakdown of the roles of different levels of government in addressing the issue, increasing and maintaining affordable housing units to meet a variety of needs and increased outreach programs and workforce to support those programs. The plan also calls for more social safety nets to prevent people from becoming homeless and the creation of programs and employment opportunities for people who are unhoused. "We will continue to work in good faith on all of the initiatives for having a comprehensive solution to homelessness," Griffiths said. "We believe the framework is there to make a significant impact on this problem. We just need to get buy-in and support from the state." Newsom's announcement of a model ordinance credits the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case Grants Pass, Ore., vs. Johnson for clarifying state and local governments' rights when addressing homeless encampments. Since that decision, more than 150 jurisdictions across more than 30 states have passed ordinances allowing them to punish people for camping on public property. Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaign director for the National Homelessness Law Center, told UPI the broad attempt to criminalize homelessness is backed by the Cicero Institute. The Cicero Institute is a conservative think tank that advocates for a complete ban on street camping. It also proposes that people not be allowed to sleep, camp or take long-term shelter on federal lands such as national parks. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to remove all homeless encampments located in national parks in the District of Columbia. "California certainly has put money toward solutions to solve homelessness, like housing and support. It's not enough," Rabinowitz said. "This criminalization approach is going to dampen the effects of all the good work that service providers and activists on the ground have done in California." "If we want to solve homelessness in California, we need to focus exclusively on what works, which is housing services, and not waste resources and time by punishing people, by displacing people and by arresting people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere to go," he added.
UPI
16-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
California wrestles with approach to homeless encampments
1 of 2 | A homeless man stays warm next to a fire during a rain break in the Skid Row section of Los Angeles on Feb. 25, 2023. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo May 16 (UPI) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his model ordinance to address homeless encampments with dignity this week but advocates say the approach ignores real solutions. Newsom's ordinance "Addressing Encampments with Urgency and Dignity" calls on local jurisdictions to immediately begin removing homeless encampments, giving 48 hours notice when possible. Jay Wierenga, deputy secretary of communications for the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, told UPI the issue of addressing encampments is ultimately a local issue. "The governor's model ordinance is a template for them to address encampments with care, humanity and urgency," Wierenga said. "They can, and should, begin this work immediately. The governor's actions are reversing a crisis that is decades old, as the numbers show." Newsom and the state government have blunted the growth of the population of unhoused people who are completely without shelter, according to Jennifer Hanson, assistant deputy director of external affairs for Housing and Community Development. Unsheltered homelessness grew by 7% in the United States but only 0.45% in California. In the five years prior to Newsom being elected governor, unsheltered homelessness grew twice as fast, on average, than it has during Newsom's term, Hanson added. "This administration is the first to have made addressing homelessness a top priority and has provided local governments with unprecedented assistance to address it," Hanson told UPI in an email. "California is now reversing decades of inaction." The ordinance is backed, in part, by $3.3 billion in voter-approved Prop 1 funds. In the fall, the governor's office said the state invested $40 billion to create more housing and $27 billion to "help prevent and end homelessness." The California State Association of Counties pushed back on the claim that $27 billion has gone to address homelessness, Jeff Griffiths, president and Inyo County supervisor, told UPI. "Nearly half of that is for housing," Griffiths said. "It hasn't actually translated into units built on the ground that are sufficient enough to meet the scale of the problem." Griffiths agrees that county leaders would like to see encampments cleared but Newsom's ordinance lacks any assurance that there will be shelter or transitional or permanent housing for people. "The problem is clearing an encampment doesn't do anything if there's no place for those people to go," he said. "What we need are clearly delineated responsibilities of which level of government is responsible for which part of solving the homeless issue and then we need sustained funding." California currently allocates $1 billion annually toward counties to address homelessness. This sum is spread across the 58 counties in the state. Griffiths noted that this amount of funding is inadequate, and the short-term nature of providing funding annually makes it difficult for county governments to plan long-term solutions. CSAS has designed its own framework for addressing homelessness in California, the At Home plan. It calls for a clearer breakdown of the roles of different levels of government in addressing the issue, increasing and maintaining affordable housing units to meet a variety of needs and increased outreach programs and workforce to support those programs. The plan also calls for more social safety nets to prevent people from becoming homeless and the creation of programs and employment opportunities for people who are unhoused. "We will continue to work in good faith on all of the initiatives for having a comprehensive solution to homelessness," Griffiths said. "We believe the framework is there to make a significant impact on this problem. We just need to get buy-in and support from the state." Newsom's announcement of a model ordinance credits the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case Grants Pass, Ore., vs. Johnson for clarifying state and local governments' rights when addressing homeless encampments. Since that decision, more than 150 jurisdictions across more than 30 states have passed ordinances allowing them to punish people for camping on public property. Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaign director for the National Homelessness Law Center, told UPI the broad attempt to criminalize homelessness is backed by the Cicero Institute. The Cicero Institute is a conservative think tank that advocates for a complete ban on street camping. It also proposes that people not be allowed to sleep, camp or take long-term shelter on federal lands such as national parks. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to remove all homeless encampments located in national parks in the District of Columbia. "California certainly has put money toward solutions to solve homelessness, like housing and support. It's not enough," Rabinowitz said. "This criminalization approach is going to dampen the effects of all the good work that service providers and activists on the ground have done in California." "If we want to solve homelessness in California, we need to focus exclusively on what works, which is housing services, and not waste resources and time by punishing people, by displacing people and by arresting people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere to go," he added.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Augusta Housing and Community Development Director put on paid administrative leave
AUGUSTA, GA. (WJBF) – Augusta leaders confirmed Wednesday that the city's Housing and Community Development Director, Hawthorne Welcher, has been put on paid administrative leave. According to commissioners, the decision was made in a legal session on April 1st, just a few days before Masters week. Welcher is now off the job due to what they call 'compliance issues'. Welcher was hired as the Housing and Community Development Director back in July 2015, but he's been involved with the department since 2008. Before that, he also worked with the Aiken Housing Authority for 10 years. ALSO ON WJBF: Insight from Masters renters, Corporate Quarters for those already planning for Masters 2026 Now, he's temporarily off the job. 'Director Welcher was placed on administrative leave until further notice based upon some preliminary findings of some compliance that we discovered that were not followed,' said District 6 Commissioner Tony Lewis. He says the decision was made to put all parties involved in the best position going forward. 'We wanted to make sure that we gave him a fair chance for us getting together to get what we need, that way it wouldn't put him in a bad position. So, we deemed it necessary to allow him to be put on paid administrative leave until such time that we could investigate these findings,' Lewis said. Some commissioners say the move was initiated by the mayor's office, but Lewis says it was a joint effort. 'When it was brought to our attention, all of us were in agreeance that we needed to look into this matter to try to get it resolved,' said Lewis. The last time we saw Welcher was almost a year ago, when the city held a groundbreaking for the affordable housing apartment known as The Lenox. Lewis says despite the investigation, he and others are satisfied with Welcher's work. 'Absolutely. I can say that I've been satisfied with the job that he and his office have been doing,' said Lewis. We are still working to find out more details, including what those issues specifically are. We did reach out to Mayor Garnett Johnson for comment, and he declined. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
