INCLUSIONARY HOUSING CAMPAIGN

An historic opportunity exists in the proposed Baltimore City Inclusionary Housing Bill 06-0558 to shift the way Baltimore grows.

Introduced in December, the bill would require that up to 20% of homes in new or rehabbed developments bigger than 30 units be affordable to families with moderate or modest incomes, and would create a pool of funds, the Inclusive Housing Trust, that would provide financial support for a wide variety of home rehab and repair throughout Baltimore.

A coalition of organizations from around the city formed to make sure this historic opportunity is not lost. The coalition includes city-wide organizations such as Citizens Planning & Housing Association, BUILD, the Baltimore branch of the NAACP, the greater Baltimore Urban League, and ACORN, unions representing working people such as AFSCME 67 and SEIU, religious organizations such as BRIDGE and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and community associations such as Reservoir Hill Improvement Council.

Baltimore will continue to grow, and needs to grow, but it needs to grow in a way that includes all families, ensuring that average, working families of Baltimore can afford to live in the city.

Your Voice is Needed

To learn more follow these links to read

(1) Voices on Inclusionary Housing, excerpts of testimony given before the City Council – See what people around the city are saying,

(2) What Does Baltimore City Inclusionary Housing Legislation Do? – a summary of the bill and the coalition’s proposed amendments, and

(3) the full report from the City Task Force on Inclusionary Housing.

To take action: Please send a letter to your elected representatives asking them to pass Inclusionary Housing Bill 06-0558. Click here for sample letter. To find your city representatives.



Sample Letter to Elected Official

Date

Insert Address

Dear ,

[NOTE: If writing to your elected representative, indicate that you are writing as a constituent of their district. If writing to a committee member, indicate that you are writing to them in that capacity. If writing to the Mayor, indicate you are a City resident.]

I am writing to request your support and active advocacy for passage of legislation in the City Council that will embody the recommendations of the Task Force on Inclusionary Housing. Please support Inclusionary Housing Bill 06-0558. I also ask your support for strengthening the legislation further to include clear income targets for homeownership or rental of the affordable units for extremely low income (below 30% of AMI) and very low income households (below 50% AMI).

People have a right to quality, affordable housing. We need fairness in City housing policy, and that means guarantees that plans for Baltimore’s growth will produce housing for low and moderate income families. When federal or state money comes in for housing development we need a policy that guarantees that that money will be directed to include quality housing for low and moderate income families. Inclusionary Housing Bill 06-0558 is a strong step in that direction.

Baltimore is growing, and the city needs to grow, but it needs to grow in a way that includes all families. As it stands, investment in Baltimore has led to a wide range of housing for affluent families, but housing for low and moderate income families has been disappearing. That simply isn’t fair. The taxes of all city residents have been used to fuel Baltimore’s growth. The taxes of hard working families have been part of that fuel, and they deserve a share in Baltimore’s growth. They don’t deserve to help fund development that leaves them without housing they can afford.

Baltimore City needs to ensure that hard working individuals and families are not completely priced out of Baltimore’s housing market as we go through the next phase of the city’s revitalization. Further, families need to be able to access more funds to help maintain homes, avoid foreclosures, and have opportunities to purchase homes no matter what size the development project.

We need your action because the market is not creating housing for working families. The legislation forthcoming will create the first policy ensuring that developers using public money will have to include a certain percentage of housing for working families. It will further ensure that the Affordable Housing Trust has, for the first time, a dedicated stream of revenue. I would like to see my city set an example for other towns and counties by saying that all residents in Baltimore have equal value and all will be included in the city’s growth and prosperity.

Thank you for listening. May I count on you to support the actions I have requested, most importantly, your active advocacy in favor of Inclusionary Housing Bill 06-0558? I await your response.

Yours sincerely

Remember to include your name, address, and phone number.