May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of these communities.
08.14.18
In 2016, thousands of community members raised their voices in support of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund—a bill that would require public investment in affordable housing. With 180,000 Baltimore City residents voting favorably for the fund, it passed without a hitch. But without a sustainable funding stream, the fund itself sat empty for nearly two years.
Friday, August 10 marked the turning point. Thanks to strong grassroots advocacy from the community (including YOU) and a strong coalition, the mayor and city council leaders agreed to ensure funding for the Trust Fund! Next up: The (newly ammended) Fund the Trust Act comes to a vote this fall, where its passage will guarantee that the city will begin putting money into the Trust, starting in 2019 and reaching $20 million annually by 2023.
This groundbreaking decision comes at a crucial time. Currently, over half of our fellow Baltimore residents spend 30% or more of their income on rent alone, which does not leave much for basic needs such as food, clothing, childcare or health services. An ongoing investment in affordable housing will bring our neighbors experiencing homelessness one step closer to better health and long-term stability.
How will it work? According to The Baltimore Sun, money will be sourced from:
What could $20 million a year do?
View the full breakdown from the Baltimore Housing Roundtable here.
What's next? According to United Workers, next steps for this historic legislation include:
Housing activist, Baltimore Housing Roundtable member and major contributor to this success, Destiny Watford, told The Baltimore Sun that, “This is an agreement that came from the power of the residents on the ground.”
Her words ring true as we celebrate the power of grassroots advocacy and an ongoing commitment from you to support housing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of these communities.
Gregory Rogers is a Senior Community Health Worker (CHW) with years of experience in addiction counseling. A vital part of a client’s care team, CHWs work with clients to navigate care both in the clinic and out in the community. See how Greg spends his days!
An artist, gamer, and movie lover, Curtis McLaughlin has been part of the Health Care for the Homeless Art Group for more than five years. Get to know Curtis in the lasted edition of "Pass the Mic".
Client storytelling is a staple of the nonprofit business model, ever present in advocacy, clinic tours, fundraising—and news articles like the one you are reading right now.