HOUSING

Keeping Housing Affordable

Our county has so much to offer its residents, from high quality schools to first-class public amenities like libraries, parks and the Agricultural Reserve.  Most housing here is single-family residential communities, but we also have a diversity of other types of housing throughout our county.   As we grow and develop, we must work to ensure that future growth is planned in a way that preserves and strengthens our existing neighborhoods while providing opportunities for new communities to develop.   

Preserving affordable housing has always been an important issue for me, beginning with my time on the Takoma Park City Council. We need to be sure that we preserve existing affordable housing.  We need housing for everyone to live here, including the teachers, police officers, fire fighters and bus drivers who work so hard to make our county a great place to live.

Although affordable housing programs for new developments, like the Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) are important, we will not be able to provide sufficient housing through that program because the demand far exceeds that supply. It is cheaper to buy and rehab existing housing than it is to construct new housing, and we’re losing affordable units faster than we can create them under any scenario.

We must also continue to enforce the housing code to keep our housing stock in order.  Well maintained buildings can make a big impact on the lives of the families who live there and the surrounding communities.  Improved code enforcement is an efficient way to improve the quality of life for everyone.  I supported the County Executive's legislation to improve code enforcement policies, such as prohibiting the parking of large commercial and recreational vehicles on residential streets.

Rental housing is another piece of the affordable housing puzzle.  I have heard repeatedly from tenants about unreasonable rent increases, far surpassing the rate of inflation. Tenants worry that they will not be able to afford to stay in their homes. Renters cross all facets of our community, from families and young people to the elderly and the disabled, and they are an integral part of our communities. Residents who are forced to move because of unaffordable rents leave behind neighbors, school friends and often, easier commutes to work. Stability for tenants is also good for our neighborhoods and our communities.

Protecting Renters

When I first came to the Council, I asked County Executive Leggett to convene a work group to examine problems faced by renters, and I appreciate his support in this effort. The Tenant Work Group (TWG) concluded it’s work in the spring of 2010 and gave their report  to us at the Council this past June. The report represents an important step forward for tenants and affordable housing in our county. I am hopeful that many of the worthwhile recommendations in the report can be implemented.   One recommendation I support is passage of a just cause eviction law.  Too many tenants leases have not been renewed because they have been vocal in asking for appropriate maintenance and services.  These are tenants who pay their rents on time, follow the rules and are good neighbors, but they are deemed "troublemakers" or not liked by the landlords.  Landlords can require them to move at the end of the lease without having to give any justification.  Landlords need to be able to remove tenants who are disruptive and break the rules but not tenants who are simply asking them to maintain the buildings.