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Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Baltimore City Women's Commission Women's History Month Luncheon is March 29th
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Tawes Ballroom, Coppin State University
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights to Hold "Conversations & Cinemas" on March 22nd
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Monday, March 17, 2025
US Lacks 7.1 Million Affordable Homes - 77% of Low-Income Marylander Renters are Severely Cost-Burdened
The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes is published annually by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) highlighting the shortage of affordable homes for low-income renters throughout the nation. This year's report discovered a national shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households. There are only 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households nationwide.
The Gap report also investigates the affordability and availability of rental homes for households of different income levels nationwide and in every state and major metropolitan area. The supply of affordable rental housing for extremely low-income households remains deeply inadequate nationwide and in Maryland. The states with the highest percentages of "Extremely Low-Income Renter Households with Severe Cost Burden" were Nevada (86%), Florida (82%), Texas and Arizona (81%), and Oregon and the District of Columbia (80%).
Some 77% of extremely low-income renters in Maryland are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than 50% of their income on housing, with little left over for food, healthcare, or other basic necessities. That ranks Maryland ties for 9th with two other states. The Gap report found that there are 196,936 extremely low-income households in Maryland and just 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 of these households.
Meanwhile, a new analysis from Realtor.com has found that while new home construction picked up for the first time since 2016 in 2024, the housing gap totaling 3.8 million remains. The company measured the housing supply gap using data on new home construction, household formations and pent-up housing demand. The analysis found that more than 1.6 million homes were completed in 2024, the highest level in nearly 20 years.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Maryland Insurance Administration Takes Action Against Erie Insurance for Discriminatory Business Practices
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) has taken corrective actions against certain insurers of the Erie Insurance Group after a market conduct examination uncovered unlawful practices resulting in fewer Erie policies written and renewed in urban ZIP codes, particularly in Baltimore City.
The examination resulted in a Market Conduct Examination Report. As stated in the report, the examination found that Pennsylvania-based Erie encouraged insurance agents affiliated with its companies to engage in a practice they called “front line underwriting," in which the agents were encouraged to reject otherwise qualified applicants who they deemed might be unprofitable for the company. Once an insurer establishes its underwriting eligibility guidelines and rates and files those rates with the MIA, it cannot under Maryland insurance law refuse to issue a policy to anyone who meets those guidelines.
The MIA's examination also found that Erie agents were penalized if their books of business resulted in a certain loss ratio, regardless of whether their customers qualified for Erie coverage. The penalties included reduced commissions and termination. The MIA found that this reliance on loss ratio primarily impacted insurance agents serving urban areas such as Baltimore.
As part of the Market Conduct Examination Report, the MIA and Erie agreed to a consent order with corrective actions. Under the order, Erie must:
- Cease and desist from all unlawful practices, including front line underwriting and direct or indirect use of adverse loss ratios, except as permitted by law.
- Submit a corrective action plan for review and approval to the MIA.
- Submit a list of all agent terminations and commission reductions, with an explanation of the actions, and prepare an efficient process for resolving any adverse findings concerning the proprietary of those actions.
- Pay an administrative penalty of $400,000, due within one year of the order. If the MIA finds that the company is in continued compliance with the order, $200,000 of the penalty will be waived.
The investigations began in 2021, based on complaints from four insurance agencies about Erie's practices. In 2023, the MIA issued four public determination letters stating that Erie had violated Maryland state insurance law.
Before the Market Conduct Examination Report was released, Erie filed due process complaints in U.S. District Court. The MIA prevailed in that case, and Erie appealed to the U.S. Fourth Circuit, which ruled in favor of the MIA in June 2024. The MIA then entered into settlement discussions with Erie, resulting in the consent order. Erie maintains that it did not violate the Insurance Article but agreed to the directives and corrective actions in the report.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
The 2025 NLIHC Housing Policy Forum is on March 24-27, 2025!
2025 NLIHC Housing Policy Forum
March 24-27, 2025 | Capitol Hill Day: March 27
NLIHC’s annual housing policy forum is an opportunity to engage with and learn from thought leaders, policy experts, researchers, tenant advocates, affordable housing practitioners, and members of Congress about how to end the housing and homelessness crisis impacting low-income renters in America.
In-person registration for NLIHC’s Housing Policy Forum 2025 is sold out! On-site registration is unavailable.
Register today to attend virtually! Virtual registrants will have livestream access to plenary sessions and NLIHC's 2025 Leadership Awards Reception.
Contact
Celebrate March as Women's History Month!
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