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Mission Statement

The Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) works to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing; maintain existing housing in a safe and sanitary condition; preserve the safety and quality of residential and commercial areas; ensure fair and equitable relations between landlords and tenants; and support the success of common ownership communities - all with a focus on reducing racial inequities and climate change impacts.

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Budget Overview

The total approved FY26 Operating Budget for the Department of Housing and Community Affairs is $83,700,639, an increase of $5,173,358 or 6.59 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $78,527,281. Personnel Costs comprise 22.59 percent of the budget for 131 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 125.00 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses and Debt Service account for the remaining 77.41 percent of the FY26 budget.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

  • A Greener County
  • An Affordable, Welcoming County for a Lifetime
  • Effective, Sustainable Government

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 approved budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

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Initiatives

  • Provide $121.3 million in funding to produce and preserve affordable housing units in Montgomery County. This funding commitment includes allocating $12.4 million to the Montgomery Housing Initiative (MHI) Fund, $102.0 million to the Affordable Housing Acquisition and Preservation CIP projects, $5.0 million to the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund, and $1.9 million to the Revitalization for Troubled and Distressed Common Ownership Communities CIP projects.

  • Provide $59.8 million in resources for the Montgomery Housing Initiative Fund to continue various programs and projects dedicated to creating and preserving affordable housing and related services. The funding will provide for the renovation of distressed housing, creation of housing units for special needs residents, rental assistance and rapid rehousing, homeless prevention and relocation assistance, homeowner downpayment assistance, home accessibility rehabilitation, services to the Building Neighborhoods to Call Home, and Housing First programs, and the creation of mixed-income housing.

  • Increase funding by $1.5 million for the homeownership assistance programs, which provide additional resources for first-time homebuyers with downpayment assistance and needed counseling services.

  • Provide $2.3 million in the Housing Initiative Fund to support leveraging additional resources for the Housing Production Fund.
  • Continue funding to support the Rental Housing Division in implementing and executing rent stabilization mandates, ensuring landlords can gain a fair return on their investment, and effectively providing needed services for tenants through the collaboration between the Rent Stabilization Program and the Office of Landlord and Tenant Affairs.

  • Increase licensing fees on multifamily rental units and short-term rentals to offset staffing needs. The revenue generated from the licensing fees will support programmatic operations with three additional personnel to directly enforce required mandates and improve service delivery through Licensing and Registration, Code Enforcement, and Short-Term Residential Rental programs.

  • Maintain the registration fee at $6.50 per unit for Common Ownership Communities but use the projected revenue balance to support a designated staff member to manage and administer the newly established loan program to revitalize troubled and distressed Common Ownership Communities (COC) and provide technical assistance to distressed COCs to help improve their long-term viability. This new loan program has identified two COC communities in FY25 that serve low-income homeowners for funding to address needed capital improvements and avoid the loss or displacement of housing units.

  • Continue to actively underwrite affordable housing loans to preserve and produce affordable housing. Fifteen multi-family developments have already been identified for potential funding in FY26. These developments would maintain or create 2,353 units, including 2,018 affordable units.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • DHCA's Multifamily Housing Development Team successfully closed 17 residential real estate loan transactions in FY24, providing more than $84.5 million towards these developments to preserve, rehabilitate, or produce 1,133 affordable housing units at an average cost of $74,632 per unit.

  • DHCA's Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program continues to generate new affordable units throughout the County. During FY24, the MPDU program generated 398 new MPDUs offered for sale (70 units) or rent (328 units).

  • The Commission on Common Ownership Communities successfully closed 80 cases in FY24. Of those, 66 cases were closed before a hearing, representing a success rate of 82.5 percent of all cases.

  • The Focused Neighborhood Assistance (FNA) program continues to provide additional funding in FY24 for site improvements and new lighting throughout the neighborhood in the Montclair Manor community of Silver Spring and completing the drainage improvements, new asphalt pedestrian pathways, and landscaping projects in the Wedgewood Community of Gaithersburg.

Program Descriptions

  Multi-Family Housing Programs

This program creates, preserves, and rehabilitates affordable multi-family housing units. This section provides funding to supplement rents through rental agreements, negotiates Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS), reviews and approves rental building sales through the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) program, and negotiates and completes loans to create or preserve...

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  Affordable Housing Programs

This program oversees the creation, selection, and oversight of inclusionary affordable housing units. It primarily enforces Chapter 25A of the County Code to ensure that both rental and sale Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) are provided. The housing units produced are marketed at controlled prices, which makes them affordable to...

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  Housing Code Enforcement

This program enforces Chapter 26 of the County Code, Housing Maintenance, by inspecting rental condominiums, multi-family apartments, and single-family housing to ensure safe and sanitary conditions; Chapter 48, Solid Wastes; and Chapter 58, Weeds, the County's residential weeds and rubbish codes. Approximately 80 percent of the single-family inspections result from...

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  Grants Administration - Federal Programs

Staff provides management and oversight to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements for Federal funding awarded to Montgomery County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grant, the HOME Investment Partnership Grant, and the Emergency Solutions Grant programs. Funds from these programs...

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  Landlord-Tenant Mediation

The Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs (OLTA) is charged with informing the public of the general rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords and helping resolve disputes amicably, free of charge, without having to go through the District Court process. Landlord-Tenant enforces Chapter 29, Landlord-Tenant Relations of the Montgomery County Code,...

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  Neighborhood Revitalization

This program provides planning and implementation for neighborhood revitalization in targeted areas. Activities include commercial revitalization (physical and economic) in both local retail centers and central business districts as well as assistance to address other community concerns, including issues related to housing and public services. Primary funding for these activities...

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  Licensing and Registration

This program issues licenses to all rental housing (apartments, condominiums, and single-family) and registers all housing units within common ownership communities....

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  Housing Development

This program provides management and oversight to support activities withing the housing division including single- and multifamily housing programs. In addition to oversight of the affordable housing and multifamily housing programs, Housing Administration also oversees downpayment assistance programs, the creation of new affordable housing initiatives, and tax abatement PILOTs....

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  Administration

This program provides overall direction, administration, and managerial support to the Department. Activities include budgeting, financial management, asset management, personnel management and administration, program oversight, training, automated systems management, and policy/program development and implementation....

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  Common Ownership Community Program

The Office of Common Ownership Communities (OCOC) is committed to providing owners, tenants, residents, boards of directors, and management companies of self-governing residential communities with information, assistance, and impartial dispute resolution programs that improve the quality of life in the community, strengthen the self-governing community structure, and enhance the value...

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  Rent Stabilization

This program implements Bill 15-23 Landlord-Tenant Relations- Rent Stabilization which was enacted by the Montgomery County Council on July 18, 2023, and signed into law by the Montgomery County Executive on July 24, 2023. The program will ensure the implementation and compliance of all aspects of the rent stabilization law...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Pofen Salem of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs at 240-777-3728 or Anita Aryeetey of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2784 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY24
Budget
FY25
Estimate
FY25
Approved
FY26
%Chg
Bud/App
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages6550316.008819543.00 8819846.00 10143714.0015.0
Employee Benefits1823354.002448703.00 2443127.00 2938396.0020.0
County General Fund Personnel Costs8373670.0011268246.00 11262973.00 13082110.0016.1
Operating Expenses1876863.002199927.00 1872183.00 2065628.00-6.1
County General Fund Expenditures10250533.0013468173.00 13135156.00 15147738.0012.5
PERSONNEL
Full-Time112.00127.00 127.00 131.003.2
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs69.2584.45 84.45 89.055.5
REVENUES
Landlord-Tennant Fees7382002.009092318.00 9319818.00 10986184.0020.8
Common Ownership Community Fees956399.00998378.00 998378.00 998378.000.0
Other Charges/Fees-5585.0076155.00 15755.00 15910.00-79.1
Other Fines/Forfeitures103189.0096000.00 96000.00 98400.002.5
Miscellaneous Revenues25272.004000.00 4000.00 4000.000.0
Board of Appeals Fees-1935.0035620.00 35620.00 35980.001.0
Other Licenses/Permits0.00657500.00 430000.00 707500.007.6
County General Fund Revenues8459342.0010959971.00 10899571.00 12846352.0017.2
 
MONTGOMERY HOUSING INITIATIVE
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages2130843.002664181.00 2674140.00 3154702.0018.4
Employee Benefits568402.00713155.00 716124.00 882554.0023.8
Montgomery Housing Initiative Personnel Costs2699245.003377336.00 3390264.00 4037256.0019.5
Operating Expenses77221374.0052818763.00 56013972.00 55785172.005.6
Montgomery Housing Initiative Expenditures79920619.0056196099.00 59404236.00 59822428.006.5
PERSONNEL
Full-Time1.002.00 2.00 2.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs22.1523.15 23.15 24.355.2
REVENUES
Commitment Fee0.00200000.00 200000.00 520000.00160.0
Asset Management Fee0.0070200.00 70200.00 71758.002.2
MHI Transfer Tax9200.00100000.00 0.00 10000.00-90.0
Recordation Tax20855947.0022886826.00 23057932.00 25397109.0011.0
Loan Payments20505983.003300000.00 3300000.00 3300000.000.0
Miscellaneous Revenues838344.0075006.00 75006.00 171600.00128.8
MPDU Revenues1997208.001970000.00 1970000.00 1700000.00-13.7
Investment Income10589467.004043580.00 5239820.00 4412480.009.1
Other Charges and Fees77120.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
HOC Contributions0.004783542.00 3468750.00 4625000.00-3.3
Montgomery Housing Initiative Revenues54873269.0037429154.00 37381708.00 40207947.007.4
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1413458.001731263.00 1731263.00 1396752.00-19.3
Employee Benefits364060.00419246.00 419246.00 390266.00-6.9
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs1777518.002150509.00 2150509.00 1787018.00-16.9
Operating Expenses12304290.006712500.00 6712500.00 6943455.003.4
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures14081808.008863009.00 8863009.00 8730473.00-1.5
PERSONNEL
Full-Time-1.00-2.00 -2.00 -2.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs14.8013.40 13.40 11.60-13.4
REVENUES
Miscellaneous Revenues104614.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Federal Grants9904650.006900829.00 6900829.00 6753218.00-2.1
Other Intergovernmental452914.00302180.00 302180.00 317255.005.0
State Grants-1400824.00660000.00 660000.00 660000.000.0
Loan Payments2380038.001000000.00 1000000.00 1000000.000.0
Investment Income457087.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues11898479.008863009.00 8863009.00 8730473.00-1.5
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures104252960.0078527281.00 81402401.00 83700639.006.6
Total Full-Time Positions112.00127.00 127.00 131.003.1
Total Part-Time Positions0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Total FTEs106.20121.00 121.00 125.003.3
Total Revenues75231090.0057252134.00 57144288.00 61784772.007.9
FY26 Approved Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION1346817384.45
Changes (with service impacts)
Add: Manager III to Administer and Oversee the Licensing Process and the Annual Rental Survey. (Offset by Licensing Revenue) [Licensing and Registration]1344151.00
Add: Program Manager II Position to Manage the New CIP Revolving Loan Application, Provide Technical Assistance to Distressed COCs, and Enhance Community Outreach. (Offset by COC Revenue) [Common Ownership Community Program]1109851.00
Add: Program Manager II to Support Increased Workload and Service Demands for Multifamily Inspections Resulting from Recently Implemented Legislation and Regulatory Changes. (Offset by Licensing Revenue) [Housing Code Enforcement]1109851.00
Add: Program Specialist II to Enhance Staffing Capacity, and Generate Additional Revenue to Support Legislative Mandates. (Offset by Licensing Revenue) [Licensing and Registration]962801.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs6397150.00
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment5297180.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases2271350.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment1266440.00
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Affordable Housing Programs]908290.50
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment408460.00
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Housing Code Enforcement]391530.20
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Partially Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Neighborhood Revitalization]230740.10
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail Adjustment189580.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts (General Fund) [Administration]164920.00
Re-align: Operating Expenses to Support Transcript Services for OLTA [Landlord-Tenant Mediation]100000.00
Re-align: Operating Expenses to Support Mailing Activities [Housing Development]35000.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Multi-Family Housing Programs]-10000.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Rent Stabilization]-25000.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Licensing and Registration]-30000.00
Re-align: Operating Expenses to Support Mailing Activities in Housing Development [Multi-Family Housing Programs]-35000.00
Re-align: Operating Expenses to Support Transcript Services for OLTA [Housing Code Enforcement]-100000.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Common Ownership Community Program]-110000.00
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Partially Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Administration]-26231-0.20
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Housing Code Enforcement]-475000.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses [Administration]-690000.00
Decrease Cost: Lapse Adjustment [Administration]-1740000.00
Decrease Cost: Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY25-1914330.00
FY26 APPROVED1514773889.05
 
MONTGOMERY HOUSING INITIATIVE
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION5619609923.15
Changes (with service impacts)
Add: Homebuyer Assistance Program [Affordable Housing Programs]15090000.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Adjust Operating Expenses to Reflect Increase in the General Fund Transfer [Administration]42498130.00
Increase Cost: Rental Assistance Program Due to Increased Recordation Tax Premium Estimates [Administration]25102830.00
Increase Cost: Adjust Other Revenue Sources in the Housing Initiative Fund [Administration]9770440.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs1883650.00
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment1547730.00
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Affordable Housing Programs]908290.50
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts (Montgomery Housing Initiative) [Administration]672550.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases646960.00
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Partially Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Administration]502270.30
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Positions to Be Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Neighborhood Revitalization]373720.20
Increase Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Partially Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Administration]333320.20
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Lapsed Positions308500.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment94760.00
Re-align: Expenditures with Montgomery Housing Initiative Revenues [Multi-Family Housing Programs]-1451740.00
Decrease Cost: Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) Production Fund Contributions to the Housing Initiative Fund [Administration]-1585420.00
Decrease Cost: Operating Expenses to Reflect the Debt Service Transfer for the Housing Capital Improvements Program and the Housing Opportunities Commission Production Fund [Administration]-60432700.00
FY26 APPROVED5982242824.35
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION886300913.40
Federal/State Programs
Add: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Inc.450000.00
Add: Collegiate Directions, Inc. - Career Mentoring Initiative450000.00
Add: Community Bridges, Inc. - Community Bridges Alumnae Program450000.00
Add: Arts for the Aging, Inc. - Sustaining Health Equity Through the Participatory Arts400000.00
Add: Liberty's Promise, Inc. - Helping the Immigrant Youth of Montgomery County Succeed400000.00
Add: Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc. - MHP Workforce Development Program400000.00
Add: Latin American Youth Center, Inc.392500.00
Add: Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.372500.00
Add: Homes Not Borders, Inc. - Home Set Ups and Moving Up Fund for Refugees and Migrants333340.00
Add: Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, Inc. - Strengthening Asian Families through Empowerment and Service (SAFES)333330.00
Add: African Communities Together, Inc333330.00
Add: Afrithrive, Inc332000.00
Add: Community Reach of Montgomery County, Inc. - Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP)320000.00
Add: Comunibuild Foundation, Inc.300000.00
Add: CASA, Inc.285000.00
Add: Horizons Greater Washington, Inc. - HGW School Year Saturday Academy 280000.00
Add: Germantown Cultural Arts Center, Inc. - Beyond BlackRock: Positive Youth Development Arts Outreach Programming268000.00
Add: Community FarmShare LLC - Farm to Family Nutrition Access250000.00
Add: Mobile Medical Care, Inc. - Keeping Focused on Diabetic Eye Health250000.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Re-align: Operating Expenses with Grant Revenues [Grants Administration - Federal Programs]2158800.00
Increase Cost: Takoma Park Code Enforcement Contract [Grants Administration - Federal Programs]150750.00
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position To Be Partially Funded with County Resources To Meet Federal Requirements [Neighborhood Revitalization]-23074-0.10
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs-249070.00
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position To Be Partially Funded with County Resources To Meet Federal Requirements [Neighborhood Revitalization]-37372-0.20
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position To Be Partially Funded with County Resources To Meet Federal Requirements [Housing Code Enforcement]-39153-0.20
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position To Be Partially Funded with County Resources To Meet Federal Requirements [Administration]-57328-0.30
Decrease Cost: Grant Funded Position to Be Partially Funded with County Resources to Meet Federal Requirements [Grants Administration - Federal Programs]-181657-1.00
Decrease Cost: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Adjustments [Grants Administration - Federal Programs]-6600000.00
FY26 APPROVED873047311.60
Program Summary
Program NameFY25 APPR
Expenditures
FY25 APPR
FTEs
FY26 APPR
Expenditures
FY26 APPR
FTEs
Administration362568720.60402676420.80
Affordable Housing Programs11888766.0020715337.00
Common Ownership Community Program11009056.1512130947.15
Grants Administration - Federal Programs81197395.0086448264.00
Housing Code Enforcement617671041.50664176342.50
Housing Development2660541.953987001.95
Landlord-Tenant Mediation250915010.00214845510.00
Licensing and Registration8119365.2010791137.20
Multi-Family Housing Programs519045858.90536134668.70
Neighborhood Revitalization18994096.7015901006.70
Rent Stabilization9242309.0022728259.00
Total78527281121.0083700639125.00
Charges to Other Departments
Charged DepartmentCharged FundFY25
Total$
FY25
FTES
FY26
Total$
FY26
FTES
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
CIPCapital Fund2003001.402190611.40
Permitting ServicesPermitting Services1245871.001358691.00
Recycling and Resource ManagementSolid Waste Disposal8498985.508903235.50
Total11747857.9012452537.90
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY26FY27FY28FY29FY30FY31
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Approved15148.00000015148.00000015148.00000015148.00000015148.00000015148.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Annualization of Positions Approved in FY260.000000128.000000128.000000128.000000128.000000128.000000
New positions in the FY26 budget are generally assumed to be filled at least three months after the fiscal year begins. Therefore, the above amounts reflect annualization of these positions in the outyears.
Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY260.000000-23.000000-23.000000-23.000000-23.000000-23.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY26, including office supplies, and computer equipment will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
Labor Contracts0.00000083.00000083.00000083.00000083.00000083.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures15148.00000015336.00000015336.00000015336.00000015336.00000015336.000000
 
MONTGOMERY HOUSING INITIATIVE
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Approved59822.00000059822.00000059822.00000059822.00000059822.00000059822.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.00000027.00000027.00000027.00000027.00000027.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures59822.00000059849.00000059849.00000059849.00000059849.00000059849.000000
Additional Documentation

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