Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Last updated
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Agency overview
Formed1987
JurisdictionFlag of Maryland.svg Maryland
Headquarters7800 Harkins Road, Lanham, MD 20706
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Agency executive
  • Jake Day, Secretary
Website Official Website

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a cabinet agency in the U.S. state of Maryland. [1] The department oversees housing policy in the state and administers state housing and redevelopment programs. [2]

Contents

The DHCD is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland. [3] [4]

Origins

The DHCD was formed in 1987 with the passage of Senate Bill 699, which reorganized the state government agencies by creating the DHCD and the Maryland Department of Economic (today the state's Department of Commerce), while eliminating the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Employment and Training. [5] [6] [7]

Functions

The Department administers the state's grant programs directing funding towards rental assistance, housing development, senior living projects, home repair, plumbing installations, and grocery retail projects. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

The Department's Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs produces the Maryland Tenants Bill of Rights included in all rental leases in the state. [13] [14]

Secretary

The DHCD is headed by a Secretary who is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate. The Secretary advises the governor on the housing policy and on the department's operations. [15]

The current Secretary of Housing and Community Development is Jake Day. Day was appointed to the office by Governor Wes Moore in January 2023. Day is the former mayor of Salisbury, Maryland. [16]

Organization

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development includes the following

The Maryland Energy Office was managed under the DHCD until the Maryland Energy Administration was established in 1991 as an independent agency.

Discussion

In 2008, the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education (NCGS) at the University of Maryland published a study analyzing the effects of the DHCD's Community Legacy Program and Neighborhood BusinessWorks program, which provide project funding to local government bodies and community development organizations. The study found that participants complained about a "shortage of funds", inconsistent timetables for grant awards, and high turnover amongst DHCD staff. [18]

In 2024, an audit conducted by the Maryland General Assembly's Office of Legislative Services found the DHCD did comply with state procurement regulations, failing to "always obtain and review required documentation from loan recipients" and "not adequately follow[ing]-up on instances of noncompliance reported by the loan recipients." [19] The audit reported that "developers who were provided state government loans to provide low-income multifamily housing had tenants who exceeded the age and income limits" and that the Department reported that "high turnover of inspection staff" contributed to the issues. [20]

References

  1. ↑ "State Agencies and Departments | Maryland.gov". www.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  2. ↑ "FY 2023 Annual Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development". Housing&. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  4. ↑ "Housing & Community Development, Maryland Department of". Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  5. ↑ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0769, Page 1524 - Session Laws, 1987". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  6. ↑ "Commerce, Maryland Department of - Origin". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  7. ↑ "Housing & Community Development, Maryland Department of - Origin". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  8. ↑ Harmon, Nicole (2026-01-22). "Maryland's Critical Home Repairs Grant Program applications open now". WBOC TV. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  9. ↑ Staff, Daily Record (2026-01-22). "DHCD launches NourishMD grants to combat food insecurity". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  10. ↑ Mackesey, Ryan (2026-01-07). "Maryland announces millions for rural housing and infrastructure improvements". WBOC TV. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  11. ↑ Staff, A. H. F. (2025-10-23). "Financing Arranged for Senior Housing Development in Maryland | Affordable Housing Finance". www.housingfinance.com. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  12. ↑ Herron, Patrick (2025-11-26). "Maryland Program Offers Up to 15 Months of Rental Assistance for Families Facing Housing Instability". The MoCo Show. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  13. ↑ Kauffman, Matthew (2025-06-27). "Maryland leases must include tenants' rights starting July 1". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  14. ↑ "Tenant and Landlord Affairs". Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  15. ↑ "Statutes Text, GHS, §2–103". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  16. ↑ Ash, Sarah (2023-01-17). "Salisbury Mayor selected as Secretary of Housing and Community Development". 47abc. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  17. ↑ "Organizational Structure". Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  18. ↑ Frece, John; Lewis, Rebecca; Sartori, Jason (2008). "Evaluating the Impacts of the Community Legacy and Neighborhood BusinessWorks Programs: A Review of Twelve Selected Communities". DRUM: Digital Repository at the University of Maryland: 54, 42. doi:10.13016/M29G5GJ1M. hdl:1903/21479.
  19. ↑ "Audit Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. November 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Maryland housing department allowed developers to break terms of low-income tenant program, audit says". Baltimore Sun. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
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