Eastern Shore delegation hears state housing package as Habitat and Diakonia warn of strained supply and shelter capacity

State housing policy and local housing needs dominated the latter half of the Eastern Shore delegation meeting on Feb. 13.

Maryland Secretary Day told members the administration is pursuing a three-part approach — supply, stability and subsidy — and highlighted a package of bills this session: the governor's housing package, the Transit and Housing Opportunities Act, the Starter and Silver Homes Act and the Housing Certainty Act. He described regulatory and permitting reforms intended to increase production and cited recent polling and comptroller data showing voters consider housing costs Maryland's top concern. He argued the Starter and Silver Homes Act could unlock roughly 9,300 units annually and said the state is funding a $7 million grant pool to help local governments hire staff or update codes to speed production.