Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the award of $29.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support permanent supportive housing and traditional affordable housing developments. Eleven applicants won grant awards ranging from $419,000 to $7 million, coinciding with the number of units being created at the project. The full list of award recipients can be found here. 

“Exactly three years after it was signed into law by President Joe Biden, the American Rescue Plan Act continues to fuel projects making a tangible difference in the lives of Baltimoreans,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “With this critical federal support, we established our Housing Accelerator Fund – a move that is helping to transform the housing landscape in our city. Today’s awards represent an enormous step forward in assisting Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents and families who are facing housing insecurity.”

In September 2023, the Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), and Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs (MORP) launched the Housing Accelerator Fund with a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to make awards for the construction of permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing, health care, and supportive services to help individuals and families who are homeless, formerly homeless, or otherwise unable to maintain housing stability.

"The Housing Accelerator Fund is a major investment into the lives of Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents and presents an opportunity to impact lives for generations to come,” said MOHS Director Ernestina Simmons. “I am thankful to our local, city, state, and federal partners for responding to the nation’s housing crisis with a significant investment into the creation of permanent supportive housing that will help people experiencing homelessness gain housing stability. With this funding, we will increase our capacity to provide the resources our residents need to meet their most basic needs as we work towards ending homelessness in Baltimore City."

Grants awarded today are supported by $15.2 million from the City’s ARPA State and Local Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and $14.7 million from the Home Investment Partnerships Program ARPA funds. The Housing Accelerator Fund provides maximum awards for the construction of affordable housing of up to $250,000 per unit for permanent supportive housing and up to $100,000 per unit for traditional affordable housing. Additionally, projects were eligible for awards of up to $500,000 for predevelopment costs associated with the funded units.

“Increasing the capital investment and supporting the housing needs in Baltimore neighborhoods has been a top priority of the Scott Administration from the beginning,” said Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy. “I am grateful not only for the support received from our federal partners, but for the perseverance, vision, and dedication shown by this Administration, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs. This is work that is not only inclusive - ensuring recovery reaches everyone - but also fosters sustainable economic growth for our city.”

“Leveraging American Rescue Plan Act funding to address our city's urgent housing needs is a concrete step towards ensuring that every Baltimore resident has access to safe, affordable, and dignified housing," Chief Recovery Officer Shamiah Kerney said. "ARPA funding will support this multi-agency initiative as it spurs the creation of affordable and permanent supportive housing and gives much-needed aid to complete these critical projects.”

“The American Rescue Plan has provided our local communities with resources to tackle longstanding challenges that were made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic – challenges like homelessness and rising housing prices,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “With this funding, Baltimore will build stable, affordable housing and provide additional support to help residents thrive."

“I was proud to join Mayor Scott and City Housing Officials to announce a substantial investment from the American Rescue Plan into affordable housing development,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07). “Congratulations to the community award recipients who together will create and renovate over 450 housing units in Baltimore. Three years later, we are still seeing the favorable impact of this legislation right here in Baltimore.” 

###