Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT)

Grants and loans of up to $75,000 to Maryland nonprofit organizations, government agencies, for-profit entities, and housing authorities to promote affordable housing for low-income households. Grant funding is intended to support project-specific capacity building, operating expenses, and support services, while funding for capital costs is offered as deferred payment loans.

While all activities funded by the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust generally serve residents with incomes of less than 50% of statewide or area median, whichever is higher, preference is given to projects that serve households with incomes of less than 30% of median.

The Maryland Affordable Housing Trust promotes affordable housing for households earning less than 50% of area or Statewide median income by:

• Funding capital costs of rental and ownership housing;
• Providing financial assistance for nonprofit-developer capacity building;
• Funding supportive services for occupants of affordable housing; and
• Funding operating expenses of affordable housing developments.

For examples of eligible uses of funds, see: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment/Documents/maht/ProgramGuidelines.pdf#page=4

Projects that meet the following criteria will be most competitive:

• Target very low-income persons
• Provide housing for families with minor children and/or single adults in Single Room Occupancy units;
• Demonstrate project readiness and feasibility;
• Project long-term affordability (for capital projects);
• Demonstrate need /demand for housing in geographic area and helps achieve equitable geographic distribution of Maryland Affordable Housing Trust funds;
• Leverage other funds and/or provide the final piece in a financing package; and
• Provide self-sufficiency services.

For information about threshold requirements, see: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment/Documents/maht/ProgramGuidelines.pdf#page=6