Downtown Columbia Is At Center Of 'Live Where You Work Program'

COLUMBIA, MD — Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will roll out a program called "Live Where You Work" this week in Columbia. The public-private partnership will enable those who are employed in Howard County to live there as well.

Howard County General Hospital will be the flagship employer, officials say.

The hospital is one of the largest employers in the county. Howard County General Hospital has 1,800 full and part-time employees, and of those, it reports 1,000 live in Howard County.

Through the "Live Where You Work" program, Howard County and the Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation will offer rental subsidies for low and moderate-income families who want to live in downtown Columbia so they can be close to their workplace at the hospital. The goal is to expand the program to other employers.

Families who qualify will be offered rental subsidies as well as homeownership seminars to prepare them for permanent housing options.

"Howard County’s most recent rental housing survey indicated a gap of over 5,000 units in affordable rental housing," Ball said. "We are launching the first ever public-private partnership for a rental subsidy program in Howard County history to address that gap and support our workforce."

In addition to creating affordable housing, Ball said the program would enhance quality of life for residents and employees.

"We know that a community functions best when its residents live in the jurisdiction where they work," Ball said. "Our ‘Live Where You Work’ program will help us create the full spectrum of affordable housing, so hospital staff spend less time in traffic and more time with their families. I believe if you go to work every day to help the people of our community, you too deserve to call Howard County your home."

Ball will sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, Aug. 13, with the Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation to kick off the program.