Maryland

NLIHC has estimated a need for no less than $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and broke down the need and cost for each state (download Excel spreadsheet). 

In response to COVID-19 and its economic fallout, many cities and states are creating or expanding rental assistance programs to support individuals and families impacted by the pandemic, and NLIHC is tracking in-depth information on these programs.  

You can use the interactive map and searchable database to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you. You can also see the latest news on rental assistance programs through the state-by-state news tracker. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of all rental assistance programs as we continue to update frequently. If you are aware of a program not included in our database, please contact [email protected]. 

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs

Across the country, homeless service providers are struggling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to follow public health guidelines and help ensure people’s safety, some shelters are being forced to reduce services, restrict admittance, or close entirely. The loss of these critical resources puts people experiencing homelessness at even higher risk of illness. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of shelter closings.

Below is a list of shelters that have had to majorly alter services or completely close:

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No information at this time.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed 18 bills on May 27, including a bill that would prohibit evictions for tenants who have pending applications for rental assistance.

Updated on June 14, 2022

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The Calvert County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) stopped accepting new applications due to limited funding. All remaining funds will be used for high-priority ERAP applicants.

Updated on May 16, 2022

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Baltimore Renters United called on Sheriff John Anderson, Mayor Brandon Scott, and Administrative Judge Weinstein to suspend evictions immediately in Baltimore City to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. There are 352 evictions scheduled for January 3-7.

While Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency for Maryland on January 4, he did not reinstate eviction protections. Courts recently scaled back their operations due to the omicron surge, but Maryland housing advocates say scheduled evictions are still proceeding. The National Equity Atlas estimates 111,000 renter households in Maryland are behind on rent. The tool estimates that 79% of Maryland tenants behind on rent are people of color.

Updated on January 30, 2022

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The Washington Post reports two of Maryland’s largest counties – Montgomery and Prince George’s – will stop accepting emergency rental assistance (ERA) applications this month amid dwindling funds. Montgomery County, which as of last month had distributed nearly 75% of its $31.4 million federal allocation and 81% of the additional $28.1 million it received from the state, will stop accepting ERA applications on December 31. Prince George’s County, which had distributed about 80% of its $27.2 million federal allocation as of early November, will not accept new applications after December 15.

Updated on December 13, 2021

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According to the Baltimore Sun, Maryland failed to reach the federal benchmark for distributing emergency rental assistance funds. While Governor Larry Hogan dismissed the threat of losing these critical resources, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) sent a letter urging the state to speed the distribution of aid.

Updated on November 15, 2021

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The immigrant advocacy organization CASA gathered dozens of advocates and tenants at the largest apartment complex in Prince Georges County on October 18 to demand that the landlord – Fieldstone Properties – work with tenants to prevent evictions. CASA claims the complex has refused to help many renters, including by not offering payment plan agreements. CASA says the owners of the complex have obtained more than 180 writs of eviction and have carried out at least 11 of them. Prince George’s County officials announced county employees would be on site this week to help tenants apply for rental assistance and that those in danger of being evicted would have their applications fast-tracked.

Updated on October 25, 2021

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State and local governments in Maryland distributed $32.3 million in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA1) funding in August. By the end of August, Maryland had spent less than half of its total ERA1 allocation. Under Treasury’s reallocation guidance, ERA grantees in Maryland will have the opportunity to work with federal officials before reallocations take place.

Updated on October 19, 2021

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The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced on September 30 the Emergency Rental Assistance Program has approved $135 million to assist 15,000 renters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Early projections show a continued positive trend with an estimated more than $50 million in assistance to be paid out in September. To see complete program data, visit rentrelief.maryland.gov and click on “Data Dashboard.” 

Updated on October 13, 2021

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WBAL-TV reports some Baltimore landlords are refusing to accept emergency rental assistance (ERA). One tenant says her landlord recommended she apply for ERA and accepted the money in January to cover her past due rent, but the landlord is now refusing to accept ERA from Baltimore City. Public Justice Center attorney Matt Hill says landlord refusal is becoming an issue in Baltimore and across the country.

The Washington Post reports that in Montgomery County, MD, advocates are going door-to-door to distribute information about the county’s emergency rental assistance (ERA) program. The advocates say that despite public outreach about the ERA program, the message has failed to reach households most in need, resulting in many tenants self-evicting.

With more than 110,000 households across Maryland behind on rent, housing advocates are urging state lawmakers to follow the lead of other state and local lawmakers and extend eviction protections.

Updated on September 21, 2021

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In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the CDC eviction moratorium, Maryland housing advocates and attorneys are gearing up for an onslaught of evictions. Thousands of households are at risk for eviction statewide, with minority and women-led households – especially women of color – particularly at risk. About $17 million of the $258 million in federal ERA funds have been distributed, with $30 million pending disbursement.

Housing advocates warn that Black and Latino renters in Maryland will face disproportionate harm as evictions resume.

Updated on September 14, 2021

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The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development on August 17 announced the launch of the Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard to track the progress local jurisdictions are making in distributing rent relief funds. 

Anne Arundel County is ramping up efforts to prevent evictions by increasing outreach to landlords, more than doubling the number of Community Legal Services staff available to assist tenants and setting up office space next to the District Court to help tenants access representation. Of the 89 cases that went to court with Community Legal Services’ representation since the county launched the program, every tenant has avoided eviction. 
August 30, 2021

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Maryland Matters reports that new data from the Treasury Department indicate Maryland and other states are still lagging in distributing emergency rental assistance (ERA) to struggling tenants. Of the $258 million Maryland received as part of ERA1, the state distributed roughly $200,000 in May and $2.8 million in June. Prince George’s County has so far outpaced other jurisdictions in distributing ERA funds.
Updated on August 3, 2021

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The Baltimore Sun reports United Way of Central Maryland is expanding rent assistance for Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, and Howard County residents as the federal and statewide eviction moratoriums approach their expiration dates. The nonprofit is partnering with local governments to expand its Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention (STEP) program, which will pay landlords up to 12 months of back rent.
Updated on July 15, 2021

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According to the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, around 20,000 county residents could soon be evicted when the federal eviction moratorium expires. ABC 7News learned that the Montgomery County Circuit Court has processed more than 18,000 back rent cases in recent months.

State and federal eviction protections will soon expire in Maryland, and housing advocates are concerned many tenants could lose their homes as courts work through eviction backlogs. Maryland’s state of emergency will end July 1, and after an additional 45-day grace period, the state’s eviction protections will also phase out.
June 28, 2021

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The Washington Post reports that Governor Larry Hogan will lift Maryland’s state of emergency on July 1. That date will mark the beginning of a “45-day grace period,” in which some pandemic-era changes, including the state’s eviction moratorium, will remain in place until August 15. Montgomery County officials say the 45-day period before lifting the eviction moratorium does not provide enough time for tenants to recover.

June 22, 2021 

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The Baltimore Sun reports that Baltimore will continue housing about 500 people experiencing homelessness in hotel rooms through September, extending its emergency contracts as the city considers purchasing a hotel to provide long-term housing.

Governor Larry Hogan on May 17 announced an additional $192.9 million in funding has been awarded to local governments and service providers through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development created a new emergency rental assistance webpage with state and local eviction prevention resources. Residents can also contact the Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance Call Center at 877-546-5595, Monday through Friday 8 am to 7 pm, and Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm.
June 4, 2021 

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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the city is exploring a potential purchase of hotels to use as more permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Baltimore city has been housing hundreds of residents in hotels during the pandemic, and advocates have called on city officials to tap into the estimated $670 billion Baltimore will receive from the American Rescue Plan to acquire and convert properties, such as hotels and motels, into permanent housing.

May 3, 2021

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The Baltimore Sun reports that Baltimore will continue housing approximately 500 people experiencing homelessness in hotel rooms through at least June, even though the city has not yet applied for $35 million in federal funds that would pay for it.

Maryland Matters reports that several tenant relief efforts failed in the final hours of the 2021 legislative session, drawing condemnation from fair housing advocates who say the state is not doing enough to stop evictions, particularly during the pandemic.

April 28, 2021

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The Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition is encouraging Maryland residents to urge the General Assembly to take action to protect the more than 200,000 households at risk of being displaced. More than 3,000 Maryland families have been evicted since July. Courts reopened on March 15, some with a plan to further expedite an already swift eviction process to handle the more than 100,000 pending cases.

April 17, 2021

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The Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis has stated that more than 300 public housing tenants will be at risk for eviction for nonpayment of rent when federal and local moratoriums end. Arundel Community Development Services is contracted with Civil Justice Inc. to provide legal assistance and financial counseling, among other resources, to those residents.

March 31, 2021

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The Washington Post reports that as of December 31, Americans owed their gas and electric utilities an estimated $32 billion. In the Washington region, residents most at risk of utility shut-offs are in Maryland, which began allowing them as of November 15.

An op-ed in Baltimore Brew outlines why Baltimore should purchase the motels and hotels currently being used for shelter and transform them into community land trusts. Hennepin County, Minnesota, and Lake Champlain, Vermont are using public funds to transform hotels and motels into permanent affordable housing.

Members of Housing our Neighbors are calling on Baltimore officials to extend and expand current hotel contracts to allow the city time to develop a permanent housing plan. Despite the executive order directing FEMA to provide 100% reimbursement for non-congregate shelters, city officials still plan to return individuals to group shelters as soon as March.

February 17, 2021

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Scott Poyer, clerk of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, which has 500 evictions pending,  urges state legislators to take action to prevent a wave of evictions and foreclosures. He recommends legislators pass the “2021 Housing Justice Package.” The package includes relief for tenants and homeowners, reforms to the current eviction system, and financial relief for landlords.

According to the Public Justice Center (PJC), over 2,500 families were legally evicted in Maryland during the pandemic. PJC and other advocates testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on January 28 in support of SB154, which would create the right to an attorney in eviction cases for Maryland renters.

February 08, 2021

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According to Maryland Legal Aid, landlords are filing evictions as “tenant hold overs,” which is when renters remain in a property after their month-to-month lease expires. Many judges are ruling in favor of landlords despite the extenuating circumstances and federal and state eviction bans.

February 01, 2021

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The Washington Post editorial board highlights Maryland’s tilted court system that heavily favors landlords. A tsunami of new eviction filings is likely when COVID-19 eviction protections are lifted, and officials have scrambled to find stopgap funding for Maryland’s Legal Services Corporation that provides legal aid to low-income residents.

January 25, 2021

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Governor Larry Hogan announced Maryland will receive $402 million through the Treasury Department’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The majority of the funding will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, with local jurisdictions managing the remainder of the funds.

The Baltimore City Council on January 11 unveiled a package of proposed housing legislation targeted at helping renters and homeowners struggling during the ongoing pandemic. The bills aim to suspend late fees for those receiving public housing subsidies, change how security deposits are paid, and close a loophole allowing people to be effectively evicted despite the moratorium.

Baltimore officials have extended emergency contracts to house approximately 500 individuals experiencing homelessness residing at five city hotels for three more months. The contracts were set to expire at midnight on December 31 but will remain through the end of March.

Despite Maryland’s eviction moratorium, landlords have used loopholes to continue evicting tenants.

The Baltimore Sun reports that up to 200,000 Maryland households are at risk of eviction as coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations surge and temperatures drop. After Maryland courts resumed evictions in August, 1,308 evictions were carried out through September, and more than 47,000 failure-to-pay rent cases were filed in Maryland courts in those two months.

January 15, 2021

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Protesters marched through downtown Baltimore on November 21, calling on Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young to provide permanent housing, halt a plan to reopen congregate shelters, and sign legislation that would help people facing eviction and homelessness. Since August, more than 400 people have been evicted in Baltimore, including 214 people evicted in September alone.

An op-ed in the Capital Gazette addresses Maryland’s looming eviction crisis. The op-ed discusses how landlords are using various loopholes to evict tenants despite the federal moratorium and cites comments from NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

Amid surging coronavirus cases and colder temperatures, Baltimore City Mayor Jack Young’s office announced it will be dismantling an encampment that houses about 30 individuals by November 19. The encampment sweep is occurring as the city plans to move out the approximately 400 people temporarily residing in hotels by the end of December. The city’s Office of Homeless Services announced they are working to ensure shelters meet federal CDC guidelines for congregate living, but medical experts argue that returning residents to shelters during the winter could lead to significant increases in infection and death among individuals who are homeless.

November 30, 2020

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According to Matt Hill of the Public Justice Center, 451 families in Baltimore City have been evicted by landlords and the court during the pandemic. As the city braces for a surge of eviction actions due to the pandemic, the Public Justice Center and allies in the Baltimore Renters United coalition urge legislators to establish the right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. Learn more.

November 17, 2020

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About 285 Annapolis public housing residents could soon face eviction after a moratorium, imposed by the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA), expired on November 2. There is no definitive date for when failure to pay rent judgments may be filed in Maryland court, but HACA’s executive director reports it could happen “soon.” 

November 10, 2020

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The Baltimore Sun reports that approximately 40 community activists and residents of the Poppleton neighborhood held a rally on October 24 to express outrage that residents who live in public housing and have fallen behind on their rent during the pandemic have been threatened with eviction. 

November 4, 2020

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Maryland officials on October 8 announced $11.7 million to provide legal services to families in need. The funds will be directed to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), which provides grants to nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services for low-income residents.

October 19, 2020

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Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott introduced on October 5 Council Bill 20-0625, which would ensure tenants have the right to an attorney in eviction cases. As Baltimore braces for a wave of evictions due to COVID-19, the Public Justice Center and other advocates are urging lawmakers to establish the right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases.

The second phase of Baltimore County’s eviction prevention program will provide up to $2 million in rental assistance for residents who have lost income as a result of the pandemic. The county began accepting applications on October 6.

October 14, 2020

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The Baltimore Sun reports that a temporary moratorium in Maryland on water, gas, and electric service cut-offs remains until November 15, but notices can be sent starting October 1. Residents will have 45 days to address unpaid bills once they receive a termination notice, and they will not have their service disconnected if they work out a payment plan or apply for energy assistance.

October 5, 2020

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The Baltimore Sun reports Baltimore County officials estimate there could be as many as 24,000 eviction filings in a single month once courts get up to speed processing claims. County officials are setting aside federal funds for rental assistance and considering legislation limiting how much landlords can increase rent during the pandemic. Baltimore County’s Eviction Prevention Program, which has provided $1.2 million to 485 households so far, is providing funding in a “phased approach.”

September 29, 2020

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Maryland Assistant Attorney General Karen Straughn referred to the CDC moratorium as “very limited,” warning tenants that they are not automatically protected by the order. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said the order is simply “kicking the can down the road” since tenants will still owe back rent and called on the Senate to pass the $100 billion in rental assistance included in the HEROES Act.

An op-ed in the Baltimore Sun discusses why the CDC eviction moratorium is not enough to prevent evictions in Maryland. The authors examine why Maryland Judiciary’s guidance on the federal ban will limit its effectiveness and outline policy solutions to address the looming crisis. 

September 22, 2020

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Attorney Matt Hill at the Public Justice Center in Baltimore says that renters must be aware of the terms of the CDC’s eviction moratorium because savvy landlords could dispute small details. “It’s going to help millions of tenants, and it’s incredibly important,” said Hill. “But it does require tenants to be vigilant, and to take action.” While the moratorium is a critical step to protect tenants, Hill is urging lawmakers to pair the moratorium with rental assistance. Tenants who need assistance in qualifying can contact the Fair Housing Action Center of Maryland: https://www.fairhousingmd.org/.  

Maryland Matters reports that as eviction hearings resume, undocumented immigrants face the highest risk of losing their homes. Prince George’s County typically schedules 150,000 landlord-tenant cases each year, and the executive director of Community Legal Services, a non-profit that helps low-income residents with legal aid, predicts that the demand for assistance this year will outweigh the organization’s capabilities. 

CNBC reports that some states, including Maryland, are adopting a narrower interpretation of the CDC moratorium. Although the CDC ban does not require renters to provide additional documentation to prove they qualify for the protection aside from the declaration form, Maryland courts may require evidence. The CDC prohibits any step toward eviction, but some steps of the process, including hearings and even decisions, will still be allowed to proceed in Maryland. 

September 15, 2020

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Baltimore Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young on September 3 announced a $30 million eviction prevention program that will begin in late September. The program builds on the city’s Temporary Rent Support Program to give more extended support. The funds will include $17.06 million in Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds, $10 million from the city’s general CARES Act allocation, and $27.5 million in city funds through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 

The Maryland Public Service Commission voted August 31 to extend the state’s moratorium on utility service shutoffs for an extra month through October 1. 

Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones on August 31 urged Governor Larry Hogan to increase funding to help tenants at risk of eviction. Maryland courts were set to resume nonpayment of rent eviction cases this week.

September 10, 2020.

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The Baltimore Sun editorial board writes that temporary rent control measures enacted by local governments in Maryland are a reasonable protection given the pandemic. The article references a lawsuit filed by a group of nearly two dozen landlords who objected to rent control measures in Baltimore, Howard County, and in the city of Salisbury.

The D.C. Tenants’ Union, Stomp Out Slumlords, and the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter organized a demonstration outside of a home in Chillum to protest an illegal eviction.

August 11, 2020.

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ABC7 News interviewed NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel about the looming eviction crisis and the steps Congress must take to prevent this catastrophe. Nearly 300,000 Maryland households cannot pay rent right now and are at risk of eviction. Fair housing advocates and lawmakers have urged Governor Larry Hogan to extend the state’s eviction moratorium.

The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee’s workgroup on COVID-19 and housing released a report with their findings and recommendations to prevent evictions. The recommendations include extending the moratoriums on evictions and utility shutoffs, providing robust funding for rental assistance, and supporting the right to legal counsel in eviction cases.

According to recent estimates from Stout, approximately 292,000 Maryland households are unable to pay rent and at risk of eviction. This could translate into about 192,000 eviction filings into Maryland courts over the next four months.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh asked the state’s chief judges to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, which expired on July 25, until January 31. “Many Marylanders were struggling to pay housing and other expenses before the COVID-19 crisis, and the pandemic has exacerbated these difficulties exponentially,” wrote Attorney General Frosh. 

The Montgomery County Council approved on July 28, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposal to provide an additional $20 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds for rental assistance.

August 4, 2020.

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on July 21 recommended that the County Council appropriate $20 million from the CARES Act to expand rental assistance for eviction and homelessness prevention. “With the Courts lifting the stay on evictions after July 25 and the schedule to hear nonpayment of rent cases after August 31, I believe it is imperative that we support tenants using all our resources. I recognize that $20 million is not the full amount we will need, but it represents a significant initial allotment to meet immediate challenges,” said County Executive Elrich.

Governor Larry Hogan on July 20 announced that eight counties will receive more than $2.3 million in the first round of Maryland Eviction Prevention Partnership grants.

July 28, 2020.

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WYPR examined why mass evictions may be Maryland’s next public health crisis. Advocates are urging Governor Hogan to extend the state’s eviction moratorium or direct more of its federal coronavirus relief dollars to rent relief.

The Hagerstown City Council on July 14 approved the distribution of more than $470,000 in federal coronavirus relief funding to provide housing, utilities, and food assistance to low- and moderate-income residents.

Approximately 20 cars staged a drive-by protest at the house of Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young on July 12 to demand that he cancel rent, reallocate police spending, and take other actions to help residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

July 20, 2020.

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Maryland housing advocates and elected officials have criticized the amount that Governor Larry Hogan announced in eviction prevention assistance, saying that $30 million is insufficient to meet the need. A recent survey by the Maryland Multi-Housing Association found that more than a third of tenants living in Class C properties were delinquent in their rent payments in June. The Maryland Multi-Housing Association posted a factsheet on “COVID-19 Housing-Related Assistance for Residents” on July 7.

In a June 29 briefing before the Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee on the pandemic’s impact on housing, the Public Justice Center recommended that Maryland commit $154 million of Coronavirus Relief Funds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV), and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG-CV) to rental assistance. The $154 million would cover 50% of the projected need for rental assistance over four months.

Residents and tenant advocates in Maryland are bracing for a potential surge in evictions when eviction court proceedings resume and federal coronavirus relief ends at the end of July. Governor Larry Hogan announced a $30 million eviction prevention program on June 26, but tenants’ rights groups and housing experts estimate that more than five times that amount is needed to keep Marylanders stably housed.

At a gathering outside of Baltimore City Hall, approximately 50 advocates, renters, and people experiencing homelessness called on Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young to provide more rental assistance and permanent housing. The group demanded that Baltimore City extend and expand its eviction moratorium and provide permanent housing for all people experiencing homelessness who are in shelters or temporarily residing in hotels. 

July 13, 2020.

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Residents and tenant advocates in Maryland are bracing for a potential surge in evictions when eviction court proceedings resume and federal coronavirus relief ends at the end of July. Governor Larry Hogan announced a $30 million eviction prevention program on June 26, but tenants’ rights groups and housing experts estimate that more than five times that amount is needed to keep Marylanders stably housed.

July 7, 2020.

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The Fair Action Housing Center of Maryland has seen a 400% increase in clients compared to last year, and advocates warn that high unemployment rates will almost certainly lead to a significant increase in eviction filings.

Governor Larry Hogan announced the commitment of $30 million in federal CARES Act funding for eviction prevention. Maryland will allocate $20 million in expected federal Community Development Block Grant funding for rent relief. The additional $10 million will fund the Assisted Housing Relief Program, which will provide rent relief for units in multi-family projects financed by the DHCD’s Community Development Administration.

The first in a three-part series in Maryland Matters on life in Langley Park examines how the pandemic is exacerbating the area’s pre-existing housing crisis, and vice versa. Langley Park’s 19,517 residents live primarily in 13 apartment complexes that have long been considered overcrowded, substandard, and neglected.

June 29, 2020.

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The Johns Hopkins Go Team, a unit of clinicians that was formed years ago to respond to natural disasters, has conducted nearly 700 COVID-19 tests at Health Care for the Homeless and four other shelters in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins has provided funding for groups and businesses to acquire personal protective equipment. The institution is also collaborating with the local chapter of the NAACP on public health messaging to spread accurate information about the coronavirus.

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Baltimore May Bernard C. “Jack” Young will use $13 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to establish a rental assistance program. Housing Commissioner Michael Braverman stated this the agency is still determining how the money will be distributed.

The Baltimore City Council approved legislation on May 11 that would prohibit landlords from increasing rent during the current state of emergency and for three months after it’s lifted. The “Baltimore City COVID-19 Renter Relief Act” would also ban landlords from charging late fees during that period.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced the allocation of $800,000 in county funding for emergency rental assistance and eviction relief. Of the total amount, $300,000 will come from the Disaster Relief and Recovery Initiative in the proposed operating budget, and the other $500,000 will come from Moderate Income Housing Unit fee-in-lieu revenue sources. The rental relief program is extended to families earning up to $92,000, the county’s median income. 

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Fifty Democratic Senators sent a letter to Governor Larry Hogan urging him to cancel rent and mortgage payments in Maryland for residents and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Baltimore

Baltimore County started accepting applications for its COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program on June 9. The county has partnered with the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition’s Fair Housing Action Center to provide residents with additional rental needs, including financial coaching and counseling, referrals to legal services, and renters’ tax credit applications and assistance.

Baltimore City’s outgoing mayoral administration outlined a plan on June 9 to serve people experiencing homelessness and address the added challenges brought on by COVID-19. 

June 12, 2020.

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Baltimore housing activists called on the city to provide tenants facing eviction with free legal aid. A study from the Abell Foundation found that providing free right to counsel could save tens of millions of dollars spent when tenants are left homeless or otherwise needing government assistance.

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Residents of Project PLASE, a shelter facility in Baltimore, held a demonstration to denounce the shelter’s response after staff contracted the coronavirus last month. Residents and their allies accused the facility’s director of failing to institute necessary precautions and demanded blanket testing for all residents. Read the director’s full response here.

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Baltimore officials have plans to move approximately 150 more people experiencing homelessness into hotels after learning of a second outbreak at a city shelter. Housing providers and advocates argue that officials need to fill vacant permanent housing units to protect people experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kevin Lindamood, CEO of Health Care for the Homeless, and Dr. Adrienne Trustman, Chief Medical Officer, argue that our emerging understanding of the asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 in homeless shelters demands an immediate response from state and federal officials.

Advocates disrupted Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young’s COVID-19 media briefing to demand that the city take urgent action to protect people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Young’s deputy chief of staff, Cheryl Goldstein, reported that Baltimore city has moved about 200 healthy individuals experiencing homelessness over the age of 62 into hotels. Another 100 people experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting results are isolated in a separate hotel.

Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young released an emergency response plan to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus’ effect on individuals experiencing homelessness.

A group of homeless advocacy organizations and Baltimore City Council members are stepping up pressure on Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young to greatly expand the city’s efforts rehouse individuals experiencing homelessness.

No information at this time.

Federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums are rapidly expiring and the CARES Act supplemental unemployment benefits will end soon; at that time, millions of low-income renters will be at risk of losing their homes. The NLIHC estimates at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance is needed to keep low-income renters stably housed during and after the pandemic. This tracker links to news reports of the growing evictions crisis in various cities and states. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of eviction updates.

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The Courts had stayed all eviction proceedings (except in cases of emergency) until July 25, but new and continuing eviction cases for nonpayment of rent aren't set to be scheduled until August 31. The governor's executive order provides tenants a defense they can use in court, the validity of which is determined by the judge based on the evidence produced of COVID-19 hardship. 

August 1, 2020

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Approximately 356,000 Maryland households are predicted to be at risk of eviction by the end of September. In the third week of July, 26% of adults in Maryland reported they had missed their previous housing payment or had little confidence they would make their next one on time, according to a weekly survey conducted by the Census. In the same survey, over a quarter of a million renters reported they had not paid their previous rental payment. 

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is concerned about ‘massive displacements’ as a result of the growing evictions crisis, which he says won’t be resolved by the current $20 million local aid package.

July 23

July 29, 2020 

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An estimated 20% of Maryland residents are behind on their rent. According to a weekly survey by the Census, 29% of adults in the state either missed their last housing payment or have little/no confidence of being able to make next month’s housing payment.

July 16, 2020