Joint committee accepts County Executive's HIF budget for rental-assistance programs; members press for revenue history and outcome data

A Montgomery County joint committee on April 22 voted unanimously to accept the County Executive's recommended budget for Housing Initiative Fund (HIF)-funded rental-assistance programs and forward that recommendation to the full County Council.

The work session, convened by the Planning, Housing and Parks and Health and Human Services committees, reviewed HIF-supported programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Montgomery County's housing partners. Committee members endorsed the executive's proposed contingency level and agreed not to reallocate HIF dollars at this time, while asking staff for a 10- to 15-year history of actual recordation-tax receipts and for program outcome data on homelessness and rapid rehousing.

The HIF is managed by DHCA and funds multiple rental-assistance efforts, including voucher and subsidy programs managed by the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), rapid rehousing and eviction-prevention services through HHS, and programmatic supports operated by nonprofit partners. Chelsea Andrews, president of HLC, said, "This funding is much needed, and greatly appreciated. I see that there is a…