Housing Authority of Baltimore City Secured $24 Million in 2023 to Support Ongoing Community Investments

Grants support Perkins Somerset Oldtown progression and many resident support services

BALTIMORE – RealEstateRama – As part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to invest in the communities it serves, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) secured $24 million in 2023 through new state and federal grant funding to create more affordable housing opportunities and to support resident services.

Most of the grant dollars are dedicated for the Perkins Somerset Oldtown (PSO) project that will provide 1,058 new low-income, affordable housing units. In May 2023, as co-grantors with the City of Baltimore, HABC executed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $10 million through a supplemental CHOICE award to be utilized in the upcoming Perkins Phases 4 and 5 and Somerset Phase 4 in 2024.

The State of Maryland Department of General Services provided $10 million in 2023 that will be utilized in future phases including Perkins Phases 4 and 5 and Somerset Phase 4. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development through its State Revitalization Program also awarded $1 million in CORE funding in 2023 for Perkins Phase 4.

The grants awarded and received in 2023 will add to the more than $600 million PSO project that also includes investments from public, private and nonprofit partners.

“We remain committed to the success of the PSO transformation and continue to work collaboratively with our partners to leverage state and federal grant funding to create more affordable housing opportunities,” said Janet Abrahams, HABC’s President and CEO. “Our team aggressively pursues as many grants as possible to support the PSO project that has already delivered 300 new affordable units.”

HABC, along with the Perkins transformation team, recently completed the closing for Perkins Phase 3, which included grant awards from several government partners.

Along with grants dedicated for the PSO project, HABC received another $3.2 million from a dozen grants awarded in 2023 to support a variety of resident services, including the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency program that provides public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient. Other funded support programs:

• Family Self-Sufficiency: helps families establish and achieve economic independence
• Congregate Housing Services: provides congregate meals, housekeeping, laundry and personal assistance services to eligible residents
• Affordable Connectivity Outreach: helps bridge the broadband affordability gap
• Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health: an evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program
• Additional Services: education and training for children and families, socialization events, job readiness activities and the food pantry for enrolled families

“As we’re making investments to provide clean, safe and affordable housing, we’re also dedicating significant resources to support our residents with essential services and needs,” said Abrahams. “We want individuals and families to thrive and become self-sufficient. We need to provide them with the necessary tools to help make that happen.”

HABC marked many other achievements over the last year, including a newly formed partnership with Coppin State University to provide low-income students with vouchers to live in tenant-based housing. The program has already accepted eligible students and it is helping them find housing near the campus.

In addition, HABC initiated several safety and security measures for all developments to include an expansion of the security operations center and contractual armed security at each site. The authority also expanded its outreach to residents reminding them of the emergency after-hours phone number.

“We want our residents to feel safe in the communities they call home,” said Abrahams. “We want residents and their families to enjoy spending time with each other and their neighbors. It can be done in a manner that is safe and fun.”

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About HABC

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) was established in 1937 to provide federally funded public housing programs and related services for Baltimore’s low-income residents. HABC is the fifth largest public housing authority in the U.S., providing quality affordable housing for more than 23,000 households. The agency creates diverse and vibrant communities, provides opportunities for self-sufficiency, and builds pathways for strong partnerships