2024 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 26
Charles County Government Annual Report • 2024
QUALITY OF LIFE
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
The Charles County Board of Commissioners established a priority to create a policy to promote safe, quality, and affordable
housing across a range of income brackets to meet the needs of
our residents.
The goal is to develop a communications strategy for the Housing
Choice Voucher program enrollment and leasing deadlines.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, the Housing Authority staff
processed 217 applications from the Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list. The annual plan states that vouchers should be
in use within 60 days of issuance. This is a national performance
measure for HUD.
In fall 2023, the Housing Authority initiated an enhanced communication and customer service protocol for new voucher participants.
Staff made over 100 calls/contacts to remind participants of the
60-day deadline and offer search resources. As a result of the new
protocol, the 60-day voucher utilization rate improved by nearly
60% this year. The number of search time
extensions requested by new voucher
holders decreased by 70%.
Between
October 2023
and June 2024, the
Housing Authority staff
PROCESSED 217
APPLICATIONS from
the Housing Choice Voucher
program waiting list.
26 /
INCENTIVING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORK
GROUP
As part of the Quality of Life Goal,
the Housing Authority is tasked with
revising the zoning code to incorporate regulator y measures that
manage, encourage, and incentivize
affordable housing.
Moving to that goal, the Housing
Authorit y is working to develop a
comprehensive affordable housing
strategy.
DEVELOPED SHORT,
MEDIUM, AND LONG-RANGE
STRATEGIES INCLUDING:
1. Zoning Changes — accessory
dwelling units and inclusionary zoning with a percentage of
units designated as affordable
2. Addresses incentives and mandatory requirements
3. Considers rental and fee simple
housing options with a range of
housing types
4. Implemented through
zoning text amendments,
overall Zoning Code update, and
Comprehensive Plan
DEVELOPED A
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
WITH MEDIA
5. Provide public education and
present a range of policy tools
6. Created an Affordable Housing
Engage Page which includes a
survey (closed Oct. 31, 2024)
7. Filming a “Charles County Now”
episode in September
CharlesCountyMD.gov
