For Immediate Release
Date: Sept. 20, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
Housing Authority of Baltimore City Adds Almost 30,000 New Applicants to Public Housing Wait List
All applicants will be placed on the list using a random sequence generator to determine order
BALTIMORE — In response to the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) opening the Low-Income Public Housing Program (LIPH) wait list for the first time in four years, there were 29,812 applications received during the two-weeks in August.
HABC has accepted all submitted applications, which is almost 17,000 more than originally planned.
“We are pleased to announce that we have accepted all applications submitted from Aug. 1 through Aug. 14. We believe this will effectively broaden housing opportunities for fair housing to low-income families in Baltimore City,” said Janet Abrahams, HABC’s President and CEO.
HABC will use a random sequence generator to determine the order on the wait list for every applicant. HABC will notify all applicants of their order number once the random sequence generator is complete. Applicants will need to complete an eligibility interview with HABC staff and provide proper documentation including but not limited to a birth certificate, valid photo identification, source of income, public assistance, expenses, and statements for any assets exceeding $50,000.
When vacant housing units become available, HABC will select the applicants in their order on the wait list and in accordance with HABC’s requirements set forth in the Admissions and Continuing Occupancy Policies. Once a unit becomes available, those next on the wait list will be contacted to complete a full eligibility application.
“It’s abundantly clear there is a need for affordable housing in Baltimore based on the overwhelming response we received over the two-week period,” said Abrahams. “We want individuals and families to be on the list and have an equal opportunity to gain access to a housing unit as soon as they are made available.”
In addition to reporting the results of the public housing wait list, HABC plans to reopen the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) wait list Oct. 2 through Oct. 13. HABC is currently promoting the reopening of the HCVP wait list in anticipation of high interest in participant submissions. The HCVP program formally known as (section 8) is one of the most widely sought programs in the country. Interested parties are encouraged to apply.
Public Housing is a federally funded, locally administered rental assistance program that helps low-income families with children, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities, afford safe and suitable housing. Eligibility for the LIPH is determined based on HABC’s Public Housing Admissions & Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) screening criteria. Eligible families must have gross annual incomes that do not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family resides.
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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.
