Six Montgomery County councilmembers announced plans Thursday to alleviate pressures on renters that they said would combat rent gouging, boost access to home ownership and support income-restricted affordable housing.
Councilmembers Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Andrew Friedson, Gabe Albornoz, Marilyn Balcombe, Sidney Katz and Dawn Luedtke’s proposal of a Tenant Assistance and Protection package eliminates excessive rent increases “in a way that doesn’t threaten new housing construction,” the legislators wrote in a joint news release.
Their proposal also calls for a county financial rental assistance program that includes $18 million investment that would put more resources directly into renters’ hands. This $18 million would increase the county’s program to $30 million.
Their proposal also aims to increase home ownership by using $3 million to support first time homebuyers and $1.5 million for homeowners at risk of losing their homes.
Meanwhile, Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kristin Mink as well as Executive Marc Elrich set a press conference for March 7 to detail their Housing Opportunity, Mobility and Equity (HOME) Act.
According to their news release, The HOME Act also aims at preventing rent gouging and reducing displacement. It would set a limit on annual rent increases at 3%.
“With our renting population and income inequality both continuing to increase, this is a common sense measure to provide stability and consistency for everybody, our renters, landlords and developers,” Jawando said in the news release. “We need more housing and renter protections and can accomplish both. While we’ve made progress, too many renters are facing potential displacement or eviction as a result of exorbitant rent increases.”
Councilmembers Evan Glass, Kate Stewart and Laurie Anne-Sayles were not listed as supporting either program.
🎙️On Tuesday, March 7 at 12 p.m. – Councilmember Jawando, Councilmember Mink, CE Elrich, and community organizations will hold a press conference discussing the introduction of the Housing Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) Act. 👀➡️Learn more: https://t.co/YXpEihJOEn. pic.twitter.com/UaGNrRqisD
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) March 2, 2023
As a co-lead sponsor, this proposal makes historic new investments in rental assistance, introduces legislation to combat rent gouging, boosts access to homeownership and supports income-restricted affordable housing. https://t.co/m5QsZqDLnT
— Sidney Katz (@MC_Council_Katz) March 2, 2023
