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Housing Policy & News Dashboard
Tracking Baltimore housing developments, supportive housing policy, and homelessness initiatives impacting our community.
Baltimore Housing & Homelessness Snapshot
3,391
PIT Count (Jan 2026)1,438
PSH Units Active601
Rapid Rehousing Placements1,980
Shelter Capacity31%
Increase in Street Outreach EncountersBaltimore expands emergency shelter capacity amid federal funding uncertainty
Baltimore City's Mayor's Office of Homeless Services announced a temporary expansion of emergency shelter beds at two existing facilities, citing increased demand and uncertainty around federal CoC grant renewals. City officials are urging the state for bridge funding to sustain services through the end of the fiscal year.
Read full article →Baltimore's 2026 Point-in-Time Count results show 4.4% rise in overall homelessness
Results from Baltimore's January 2026 federally mandated Point-in-Time Count indicate a 4.4% increase in individuals experiencing homelessness compared to 2025, with unsheltered numbers rising most sharply. Housing advocates cite a tightening rental market and stalled federal funding as key contributors.
Read full article →Baltimore Housing Authority secures $2.1M state grant to bridge federal funding gap
The Baltimore Housing Authority announced it has been awarded $2.1 million through Maryland's Emergency Housing Stabilization Fund to maintain operations at three permanent supportive housing sites facing reduced HUD allocations. The grants will support case management, rental assistance, and wraparound services through December 2026.
Read full article →Maryland General Assembly advances Housing Stability Act to offset federal cuts
The Maryland General Assembly moved forward with the Housing Stability Act of 2026, a $45 million package designed to backfill reductions in federal housing assistance. The bill prioritizes permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing for families, and homeless prevention programs operated by CoC-funded nonprofits across the state.
Read full article →Maryland DHCD launches new eviction prevention pilot in Baltimore, Prince George's County
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced a six-month eviction prevention pilot targeting high-eviction zip codes in Baltimore City and Prince George's County. The program offers one-time rental assistance and legal aid referrals to households within 30 days of an eviction filing.
Read full article →Maryland awards Low Income Housing Tax Credits to seven new affordable developments
DHCD announced Low Income Housing Tax Credit awards totaling over $18 million to seven developments across Maryland, including two projects in Baltimore City specifically targeting individuals transitioning out of chronic homelessness. The awards are projected to produce 612 affordable units upon completion.
Read full article →HUD reduces FY2026 Continuum of Care awards by estimated 18% amid budget restructuring
HUD formally notified CoC grantees of across-the-board reductions to FY2026 grant awards, with cuts averaging 18% compared to prior year allocations. Agency officials cited Congressional appropriations constraints and an ongoing departmental reorganization. Advocates warn that reductions of this magnitude will force service cuts for the most vulnerable populations within 90 days.
Read full article →HUD consolidates regional offices, raising concerns about CoC technical assistance capacity
HUD announced the consolidation of several regional field offices as part of a broader departmental restructuring effort. Housing policy experts and CoC administrators have raised concerns that reduced staffing will slow grant processing, limit technical assistance for smaller CoCs, and delay environmental review approvals for affordable housing developments.
Read full article →HUD proposes new cost-effectiveness standards for permanent supportive housing grants
HUD published a proposed rule that would require CoC-funded permanent supportive housing projects to meet new per-unit cost-effectiveness benchmarks as a condition of renewal. Critics argue the metrics do not account for the complexity of serving individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders and could result in defunding high-performing programs.
Read full article →National Alliance to End Homelessness reports 18% rise in unsheltered homelessness in 2026 annual report
The National Alliance to End Homelessness released its 2026 State of Homelessness report, documenting an 18% increase in unsheltered individuals nationwide between 2024 and 2025. The report identifies declining federal investment, rising rents, and an inadequate supply of affordable housing as the primary drivers, and calls for bipartisan action to restore CoC funding levels.
Read full article →Coalition of 200+ mayors urges Congress to restore HUD housing assistance funding
More than 200 mayors from cities across the United States signed a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging the restoration of HUD housing assistance funding. The letter warns that current proposed reductions would eliminate shelter and services for an estimated 125,000 people and calls for emergency supplemental appropriations before the end of the fiscal year.
Read full article →Urban Institute: States stepping up to fill federal housing funding gaps, but capacity varies widely
A new Urban Institute analysis finds that while several states — including California, New York, Maryland, and Colorado — have moved quickly to create state-level bridge funds in response to federal housing cuts, most states lack the fiscal capacity or legislative infrastructure to meaningfully offset reductions at scale. The report recommends a federal-state matching framework as a longer-term structural solution.
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