Last year was a busy year for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In 2024, the DHCD saw new affordable housing opening, community development block grants pouring into the community, and emergency rental assistance providing for hundreds of households facing housing insecurity. This 2024 Year in Review video looks back on some of the milestones that were reached last year.

Last month, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Team toured 4 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) subrecipients to see how they were spending their grant award from DHCD to serve the community. Here’s a recap of the tour:

The Arc of Prince George’s

The Arc Prince George’s County stands as a prominent and comprehensive pillar of assistance for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their families. Spanning from infancy to the elderly, they offer a wide spectrum of provisions, including community integration, employment training, residential care, and advocacy.

Program Year 49 funds, in the amount of $95,000 were used to rehabilitate 4 residential homes to become adequate living arrangements for 13 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Photo Caption: New cabinets and oven in kitchen renovation at the Arc of Prince George’s Group Home in Upper Marlboro

First Generation College Bound

First Generation College Bound (FGCB) is a private non-profit organization celebrating over 35 years of success. FGCB offers youth and their families a pipeline of educational interventions comprising academic readiness, supportive services, and guidance to achieve high school graduation, college admissions, and earning a post-secondary degree.

A long-time CDBG recipient, for Program Year 49, FGCB was awarded $45,000 to conduct the Homework Club (HWC) and College Access programs, which encourage participants to attend college. Through these programs, 291 fortunate students were assisted.

Photo Caption: Students from High Point High School enrolled in First Generation College Bound Program share their experiences with the program.

Child Resources Connect

Child Resource Connect provides wrap-around services to families with children up to 4 years old, free of charge, with transportation and childcare provided. Its mission is to help create healthy and nurturing environments for children by supporting their families and educating their caregivers.

For Program Year 49, they were awarded $30,000 to provide education classes such as ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages), employment readiness workshops, and to provide opportunities to grow in the knowledge of parenting and child development. From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, approximately 18 households were served.

Photo Caption: Parents and their children participating in constructive play

Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development

Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) is a 501(c)3 community non-profit organization that provides food, education, and training while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment directly to low-to-moderate-income families. SEED’s impact encompasses education and community development, as well as an array of community services, including food and diaper distribution, housing counseling, financial education, and healthcare enrollment. 

SEED was very impactful in distributing food to those affected by COVID-19. Through COVID-19, they received over $500,000 and recently received an additional $489,711 in COVID-19 Reprogramming funds. To date, over 5,000 people have benefited from their food distribution HUB.

DHCD encourages non-profit organizations and County municipalities to apply for CDBG grants during the funding availability period each Fall. For more information on CDBG grants, please visit the CDBG webpage on the DHCD website.

Photo Caption:  SEED volunteers at food distribution site.

The City of Greenbelt

The City of Greenbelt is a long-time recipient of public facilities and infrastructure funds. For Program Year 49, Greenbelt was awarded $120,563 for the reconstruction of a portion of Springhill Lane, from Breezewood Drive to Market Street. This project included curb and gutter repair/replacement, base repair, milling, resurfacing, sidewalk, handicapped access ramps, concrete bus pads, landscape improvements, tree trimming and traffic calming. Approximately 7,625 residents will benefit from this project.

Photo Caption: City of Greenbelt Street Improvement

DHCD’s Housing Development Division has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2025 funding round for housing and community development. Please review the NOFA 2025 notice. DHCD will hold a virtual pre-proposal conference on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 11:00 am. The purpose of the pre-proposal conference is to present an overview of the NOFA process and requirements for working with funding sources and to answer questions. Please be advised that questions must be limited to the NOFA requirements. For more details, visit the DHCD website.

Photo Caption: Residences at Springbrook in Clinton. DHCD provided $3 million in HOME Funds, $750,000 in Housing Investment Trust Funds, and the County approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes to keep this project affordable.

DHCD is pleased to announce the beginning of construction for The Cassidy, a new multi-family affordable housing complex. This transformative project will provide critical housing opportunities to families earning at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI), helping to address the growing need for affordable housing within the County.

The Cassidy will be a 175-unit apartment community, located on a 13.1-acre site at 1200 Karen Boulevard in Capitol Heights. It will consist of three, 4-story apartment buildings and a one-story community building, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Seven units will be reserved for participants in the Prince George’s County Fostering Youth Independence Initiative and 3 units reserved for families/individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

DHCD contributed $1,050,000 million in HOME-ARP funds and $3.5 million in Housing Investment Trust Funds. The Housing Authority of Prince George’s County (HAPGC) issued $41.4 million in Multifamily Housing tax-exempt bonds. The County Council also approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). 

"We are excited to celebrate this milestone and our commitment to creating equitable housing opportunities in Prince George's County," said Jessica Anderson-Preston, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Prince George's County. "The issuance of $41.4 million in Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds for The Cassidy demonstrates our ongoing dedication to supporting projects that make a tangible difference in the lives of our residents. This development will not only provide much-needed affordable housing but will also contribute to the economic and social growth of Capitol Heights and beyond."

The Cassidy will feature modern amenities and community spaces, ensuring families have access to the comfort, stability, and dignity they deserve. With leasing reserved for households at or below 60% of AMI, this project is a cornerstone in addressing housing affordability challenges while promoting inclusive development within Prince George's County. The affordability restrictions will remain in place for 40 years.  

“The Cassidy represents a significant investment in the future of Prince George's County, offering high-quality, safe, and affordable homes to working families,” said Aspasia Xypolia, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. “Strategically located in Capitol Heights, this development aligns with the County’s mission to expand access to affordable housing while fostering vibrant, sustainable communities for current and future residents.”

DHCD and HAPGC extend its gratitude to the project partners, developers, and financial institutions that have made this milestone possible. This collaborative effort underscores the County’s on-going commitment to improving housing accessibility and quality of life for its residents.

The Cassidy is projected to be completed by April 2027.

Photo Caption: Rendering of The Cassidy 

On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, DHCD held a community forum to review the County Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2030 (Federal Fiscal Year 2025-2029) Consolidated Plan and the County Fiscal Year FY 2026 (Federal Fiscal Year 2025) Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development and solicited input from residents and County stakeholders. If you missed it, visit the DHCD website to review the presentation given at the community forum.

The FY 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan will outline priority needs and specific objectives relating to housing and community development for the next five years. The Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development is a comprehensive strategy that describes actions, activities, and programs that will take place during FY 2026 to address priority needs and specific objectives in line with the FY 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan. The Annual Action Plan also serves as an application for Federal funds for the following entitlement programs: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.

The community forum allowed residents and County stakeholders to address housing and community development needs, the development process for proposed activities, and program performances. 

Written comments about the Consolidated Plan and/or the Annual Action Plan may also be sent to the Department of Housing and Community Development at 9200 Basil Court, Suite 306, Largo, Maryland 20774. For more information, please contact Shirley E. Grant, Chief Community Planning & Development Manager, at (301) 883-6511 or via email at segrant@co.pg.md.us.

The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) and DHCD invite you to attend Listening Sessions regarding the newly enacted Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024 (PRSA). PRSA became effective on October 17, 2024, and is designed to protect renters from excessive rent increases while ensuring landlords can maintain their properties.

Prince George’s County is in the process of drafting regulations and creating policies and procedures to implement this new law and is seeking the input of stakeholders and interested parties as it moves forward. To that end, DPIE and DHCD will be holding a series of Listening Sessions to solicit your feedback and comments. There will be 2 virtual Listening Sessions and 1 in-person Listening Session. The virtual Listening Sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

To register to attend, submit questions or comments, and/or sign up to speak, complete: “DPIE’s Permanent Rent Stabilization Law Listening Sessions Registration Form.”

Virtual attendees must also click the date they wish to attend to receive the meeting link. The Listening Sessions will be held on the following dates/times:

• Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 11 a.m. to Noon — Virtual
• Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to Noon — Virtual
• Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. — In-Person (A separate invitation will be sent regarding the location.)

Visit the DHCD website for information regarding the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024 or email PRSAInfo@co.pg.md.us.

Glenarden Hills (Phase 3) recently received the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Bronze Certification for its multifamily apartment building in Glenarden.  NGBS is the only green building rating system for homes and apartments approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), as an American National Standard. The NGBS provides a blueprint for builders to follow for the design and construction of new and renovated single-family homes and multifamily apartment buildings.

Apartments and homes are reviewed for energy, water and resource efficiency, lot development, operation and maintenance, and indoor environmental quality.

Glenarden Hills is Prince George’s County’s comprehensive master-planned housing community that expands affordable housing for low-to-moderate income households. This final phase, Phase 3, of the community finishes the neighborhood with three diverse housing types and amenities. The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County (RDA) and Pennrose Companies, LLC brings this 27-acre site to completion that includes senior and family affordable apartments, market rate and affordable rental townhomes, and homeownership townhomes, including those with affordable financing options.

To develop Phase 3 of Glenarden Hills, DHCD utilized affordable housing funding including $3 million from the Housing Investment Trust Fund (HITF) and $1.5 million from HOME Investment Partnership. Both finance programs provide subordinate debt gap financing to affordable housing developers to build and preserve affordable housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income households.

Photo Caption: Glenarden Hills, Glenarden, MD

Typically, we set New Year’s goal for ourselves, but what about setting some for our home? Here at DHCD, we thought we’d share some ideas that you may consider for 2025:

1. The beginning of the year is always a good time to declutter your home. Check out tips on apps like Pinterest or HGTV to find clever ways to help you declutter.

2. The cold weather that has engulfed this area should remind you to “winterize” your home. Winterizing your home helps keep it safe and reduce energy costs. Check your heating system, check for leaks and cracks, and check your insulation.

3. Make sure you home is safe and sound. Check your house for radon and carbon monoxide. These deadly gases can cause lung cancer and even death.

4. Cut your energy use at home (and shrink your bills in the process). Simple things make a big difference. Cut off the lights when you leave the room, turn down the heat when you leave the house, run the washing machine and dishwasher when it’s full.

5. Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update? You don't have go for broke here. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates. For instance, add some plants, pick an underused color in the room, and add more of it in the form of a new pillow, a throw or rug/runner to update your look.

Astrid Donis                                                           

Title:  Accountant

Years of Service:  10 years

Quote: “When approaching my work, I prioritize communication and planning. I approach challenges with a proactive mindset, analyzing issues and exploring potential solutions.”