$2M In Grant Funding To Help Prevent Evictions In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Howard County will receive $2 million in Community Development Block Grant funding from Maryland to prevent evictions. The funds will be distributed through the Howard County Community Action Council and provide up to six months of rental assistance to households that experienced a loss of income due to the coronavirus pandemic. Applications for households to receive funding will be shared soon by county officials.

“As we continue to battle the second wave of this virus, we must put into place adequate support programs and infrastructure to make sure no one falls through the cracks,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “With more than 23,000 renters in the county, the need for rental assistance and eviction prevention has exceeded the already $3.5 million in relief we’ve allocated to date. I’m thankful to the Governor for providing this additional funding to ensure that our residents stay safe and housed for the next several months.”

To date, Howard County has already allocated $1.6 million in CARES Act funding and $1.9 in Community Development Block Grants program funds to support rental assistance and eviction relief. In total, the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development supported more than 800 families who lost income due to the coronavirus by providing rental assistance for up to three months.