Tens of thousands of Marylanders and their families are struggling to pay the rent and avoid eviction in the wake of COVID-19. Others are dealing with landlords who refuse to make repairs yet demand higher and higher rents. Governor Hogan, however, turned his back on these families by vetoing SB 384, which would have temporarily paused… Read More »Governor Hogan vetoes housing and neighborhood stability bills
The legislative session ended last night, and we were on the edge of our seats until about five minutes to midnight. Here’s the rundown of everything Renters United Maryland worked on – not just our 5 priority bills (3 of which passed) but also the many bills that RUM members supported throughout session with testimony, Zoom… Read More »Recap: Housing Justice 2022
Sen. Shelly Hettleman and Del. Vaughn Stewart introduced HB674/SB384 in this year’s Maryland General Assembly. The Senate bill passed in both chambers and now goes to the desk of the governor.
As Maryland’s General Assembly enters its final 30 days in session for 2022, more than two dozen bills have been proposed that would help renter households. Some of these bills mirror recommendations from the American Bar Association’s recent call for reform of residential eviction procedures.
“We are all in constant threat of being told to leave our homes with just 60 days notice,” Bouie said at a Tuesday press conference. “As month-to-month renters, that leaves us wondering each month: Will such a notice arrive on our door?” Letting local governments require landlords to provide a reason when they choose not to… Read More »Maryland Matters: Fair Housing Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Allow Local Just-Cause Eviction Laws
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, is sponsoring a bill that would require landlords to provide “just cause” if they decide to refuse a lease renewal to a tenant. Renter advocates have argued that such legislation would close a loophole landlords have used to evict tenants behind on rent. “It’s absolutely critical that we ensure… Read More »WYPR: State lawmakers push forward another housing justice package
Find everything you need to know about Renters United Maryland’s Housing Justice 22 priorities for the 2022 Maryland General Assembly session.
As FY 2023 budget decisions are made, we as elected officials, advocates for fair, affordable housing, and legal services providers request that you allocate funding as soon as possible to implement HB 18, Access to Counsel in eviction cases, which went into effect on October 1, 2021. HB 18 enacts a proven, cost-effective model for preventing… Read More »Maryland legislators and advocates call on Gov. Hogan to fund Access to Counsel without delay
Trent Leon Lierman, who helps tenants and landlords in Prince George’s County apply for rental relief as part of his work at the non-profit CASA, told me the County’s program “got off the ground a full month and a half before Montgomery County.” He said the extra time was important because “we are all racing against… Read More »GGW: Federal rental assistance is finally flowing in Maryland, but it may not be in enough time for some
Jessica Quincosa, the executive director of CLSPGC, said some of the eviction hearings move faster than the distribution of the funds, meaning people who are eligible for the assistance could still face eviction.