Help to Avoid Mortgage Default

Mortgage Assistance Program Expansion Estimated to Help More Than 1,000 Additional Marylanders Stay in Their Homes Since Homeowner Assistance Fund Program Began in 2021, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has Assisted More Than 11,000 Marylanders Residents Behind on Payments, Housing Costs NEW CARROLLTON (May 25, 2023) — The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has helped more than 11,000 homeowners behind on housing-related payments, including 6,000 who were facing foreclosure, stay in their homes since the Homeowner Assistance Fund program launched in March 2021. The Department has expanded the program to add an additional option for mortgage servicers to provide eligible homeowners with relief as interest rates have risen and affected the affordability of some loan modifications. The program now is able to fund up to six months of forward payments for eligible applicants, and is estimated to help more than 1,000 additional Marylanders.  “The department has quickly adapted the Homeowner Assistance Program to extend its reach given new housing market conditions that didn’t exist when the program started,” said Jake Day, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. “This assistance supports long-term, sustainable solutions for homeowners who are still dealing with the aftereffects of pandemic-related hardships.” The Homeowner Assistance Fund offers legal assistance, loan modifications with payment of delinquent mortgages, grants to avoid displacement due to property taxes, association and water and sewer fees, and other housing related costs. So far, the program has provided more than $125 million to eligible homeowners, with an average of $17,100 of assistance for each household. One such homeowner, a Bowie resident, was days away from foreclosure and shared their story on working with the Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund.  “If it were not for DHCD and its Homeowners Assistance Fund team, I would have lost my home to foreclosure,” the resident wrote to the Department. “I was in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and fell behind on mortgage payments due to COVID-related income reduction. I had consultations with two lawyers and they both informed me that time was not on my side and to try to sell my house as quickly as possible so I could get some equity out of it, but they were even pessimistic about that. I'm a single parent and was very scared of how losing my home would impact my 12-year-old daughter. My home was about 7 days away from a foreclosure sale when HAF stepped in and processed my application. The foreclosure sale was canceled two days later and my loan was reinstated. HAF also paid for my water bill arrears! Shout out to HAF for having such amazing staff!” No additional application is required to be considered for the new forward payment option, and the Department is also reviewing past applications to determine if those homeowners would be eligible for the forward payment option and reaching out to them to offer assistance. For more detailed information on eligibility and to apply for assistance, go to homeownerassistance.maryland.gov. The HAF program was established by the American Rescue Plan Act enacted in 2021 to help homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Developm​ent was awarded a total of $248 million to administer through the program. # # #

CONTACT: Brandi Bottalico, Director, Office of Public Information - brandi.bottalico@maryland.gov

 Fair Housing Training May 22-June 23

Free Fair Housing Training Offered by Economic Action Maryland

Too many renters still face discrimination - often without knowing it. Renters have rights! Economic Action Maryland is offering free, online training to educate tenants about their fair housing rights, and what to do if they have faced discrimination. 

Check out the schedule below. Can’t make it at that time? A recording of the training will be available to all training registrants: info@econaction.org.

Know Your Rights: Fair Housing 101 - This workshop reviews the basics of Fair Housing laws, including the protected classes in Maryland, examples of housing discrimination, and what to do if you think you’ve experienced illegal housing discrimination. Offered twice! Friday May 26, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and Friday June 9, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Know Your Rights: Disability and Housing - As many as 20% of all Marylanders have a disability. The Fair Housing Act not only protects people with disabilities from housing discrimination, it also affords them additional housing rights. Learn about your right to accommodations and modifications, how to advocate for yourself, and what to do if your housing provider denies your request. Offered twice! Friday June 2, 10:00a - 11:00 a.m. and Friday June 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Know Your Rights: HOME Act - In 2020, Maryland expanded its fair housing laws by passing the HOME Act, which adds "source of income" as a protected class. This extends fair housing rights to people with government assistance like section 8 vouchers and eviction prevention funds, as well as others with non-wage income. Learn about your newest fair housing rights and how to report discrimination. Friday June 23, 10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m.

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P.S. If you aren’t already a member, we would love to have you join! Members give us power and strength. You can join as an individual or organizational member. If you can’t join as a member, consider a one-time or sustaining donation. We’re up against highly paid Annapolis lobbyists and your support enables us to be in Annapolis and win these fights for economic rights.

Support Economic Justice

Economic Action Maryland

2209 Maryland Ave  | Baltimore, Maryland 21218

(410) 220-0494 | info@econaction.org

 Results of a Recent Study

Study Finds Baltimore Children who moved from High-Poverty to Low-Poverty Areas had Improved Asthma

The health of Baltimore children with asthma in a subsidized program assisting them to move from high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhoods significantly improved, according to a study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The children experienced fewer asthma attacks after moving and had symptoms on fewer days. These were improvements on par with medication used to treat the chronic condition, said Dr. Craig Pollack, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Hopkins School of Nursing and a lead author of the study.

Asthma constricts airways in the lungs and causes wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and trouble breathing. It affects 13.7% of adults in Baltimore compared to 9% across the state and country. About a third of Baltimore high school students have been told by a doctor or nurse that they have asthma, compared to about a fourth statewide. The city also has the highest rate of emergency department visits due to asthma in Maryland. Nationwide, Black children are two to three times more likely to have asthma than white children, and have more than twice the risk for emergency department visits and hospitalizations because of the disease, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study found that a major reason why children’s asthma got better after their families moved was because their new neighborhoods had fewer stressors. “Housing mobility programs that help families overcome the barriers to moving can also impact health,” Dr. Pollack said. “As policymakers and practitioners are thinking about the cost of these programs, they should consider the health benefits as well.”

Dr. Corinne Keet, a professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and another author on the study, commented "Anyone living in Baltimore understands the impact of violence and poverty on people’s health,” she said. “I mean, it’s pervasive.”

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Sources: Angela Roberts, "Study: Baltimore children moved from high-poverty to low-poverty areas saw their asthma improve," Baltimore Sun, May 16, 2023.

 Free Cannabis Related Civil Rights Workshop

Join us as we discuss the implications of the decriminalization of cannabis and the impact on employment. To register, click HERE   REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND! For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact: mccr.admin@maryland.gov no later than one week prior to the event.

Victim of Discrimination? Training & Partnerships

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 Free Program to Combat Anti-Semitism

Register Here

 Free Seminars on May 2, 9, & 16

Interfaith Center to Hold Free Messianic Judaism and Christian Zionism Seminar

When: May 2, 9 & 16, 2023

Times: Noon–1:30 PM EDT, OR 7:00–8:30 PM EDT

Location: Zoom

Free—Register Today:

REGISTRATION FOR AFTERNOON    REGISTRATION FOR EVENING

You can't understand Christian nationalism & the January 6th Capitol Riot without recognizing the roles that Messianic Judaism & Christian Zionism play in Charismatic Christianity. But where did these movements come from & why are they viewed so differently by Jews & Christians? Attend a free 3-week online course beginning on Tuesday, May 2 taught by Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS) Protestant scholar Matthew D. Taylor, the Institute's resident expert on Christian nationalism. There will be afternoon and evening sessions. Register for the zoom link.

The instructor Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D., is the Protestant Scholar at ICJS, where he specializes in Muslim-Christian dialogue, Evangelical and Pentecostal movements, religious politics in the U.S., and American Islam. Before coming to ICJS, Taylor served on the faculty of Georgetown University and George Washington University, and he is currently a faculty member in the Theology Department at Loyola University Maryland. His forthcoming book, Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians’ America (Cambridge University Press, 2023), offers an introduction to the oft-misunderstood Salafi movement in the U.S. by way of comparison with American Evangelicalism.

Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies

956 Dulaney Valley Rd

Baltimore, Maryland 21204

410.494.7161|icjs.org

info@icjs.org

May is  National Hispanic Heritage Month

Maryland Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month!

May is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Hispanic and Latinx community. According to the census, 62.6 million Americans identify as Hispanic or Latinx, making them the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority. In Maryland, Hispanic/Latinx are 12% of the Maryland population and number around 744,000. 

The Heritage Month observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period in September-October. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. 

During this Hispanic Heritage Month, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) encourages Marylanders to learn more about the culture and contributions the Hispanic/Latinx community have made in society. 

Public Television PBS is airing a TV special:

Celebrate Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month

Every May we take extra time to celebrate Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) Heritage Month by shining a light on AAPI experiences and filmmakers. Enjoy this collection of films, some premiering in May as well as some gems to revisit.

Here are some FREE activities happening in Maryland: 

• Prince Georges County Dept. of Parks and Recreation Hispanic Heritage Month Calendar of Events. 
• Montgomery College Calendar of Events. 
• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Kickoff (In Waldorf, MD). 
• City of Mount Rainer’s Latino Heritage Month Celebration. 
• Hispanic Business on BAM (Business, Advocacy, and Mentorship)! Showcase. 
• 14th Annual Latino Festival of Frederick, MD. 
• Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Presentation of Community Service Awards. 
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Hispanic Leadership Awards Dinner. 
• 3rd Annual Latin Rhythms Festival. 

Here are some other FREE celebratory events in Maryland:

World Heritage Festival ~ Frederick, MD

World Heritage Festival ~ Frederick, MD

Sat, Jun 17, 11:00 AM

Silver Spring Veterans Plaza • Silver Spring, MD

Free

Silver Spring End Of Summer Celebration

Silver Spring End Of Summer Celebration

Sun, Sep 10, 2:00 PM

Silver Spring Veterans Plaza • Silver Spring, MD

Free

World Heritage Festival ~ Silver Spring, MD

World Heritage Festival ~ Silver Spring, MD

Sun, Jun 4, 1:00 PM

Silver Spring Veterans Plaza • Silver Spring, MD

Free

The MCCR and its Board of Commissioners are united in celebrating all cultures, and in resolving anti-discrimination through enforcement of the State’s anti-discrimination laws, and through public outreach and education. For information on MCCR, visit https://mccr.maryland.gov/.

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Sources: 

(1) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-month-celebration-kick-off-tickets-405168107717?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

(2) MCCR September 15, 2023 Press Release.