Affordable housing remains a pressing issue in Frederick City and Frederick County, Maryland. As the region experiences rapid growth, the demand for affordable housing options has intensified, leaving many residents struggling to find suitable accommodations within their means.
Current Housing Landscape
In 2022, Frederick County’s population reached 287,079, with 109,012 housing units available. Despite an average annual addition of 1,500 housing units since 2010, the supply has not kept pace with the growing demand. Notably, 47% of renter households face unaffordable housing costs, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
The lack of affordable housing in the United States disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities, exacerbating existing economic disparities. Key statistics highlighting these disparities include:
- Homeownership Rates: As of the second quarter of 2022, the homeownership rate for white households was 75%, compared to 45% for Black households and 48% for Hispanic households. These gaps have remained largely unchanged over the past three decades.
U.S. Department of the Treasury - Extremely Low-Income Renters: Among renter households, 35% of Black households and 28% of Hispanic households have extremely low incomes, compared to 22% of white non-Hispanic renter households. The majority of these extremely low-income renters are severely housing cost-burdened, with 71.5% of Hispanic, 70.9% of Black, and 69.6% of white non-Hispanic renters spending more than half of their income on housing.
National Low Income Housing Coalition - Homelessness Rates: Black individuals constitute 12% of the U.S. population but represent 32% of the homeless population, indicating a significant overrepresentation.
Reuters - Eviction Rates: Research indicates that landlords file for eviction against Black and Hispanic renters, especially women, at higher rates than against their white counterparts. Black renters comprised 19.9% of all adult renters in the studied counties but accounted for 32.7% of all eviction-filing defendants.
Bipartisan Policy Center
Community Initiatives
To address these challenges, Frederick County and community have established several bodies dedicated to affordable housing:
- Affordable Housing Council (AHC): Serving as the primary forum for affordable housing discussions, the AHC advocates for safe and decent housing, supports providers, and advises local governments on housing policies.
Frederick County Government - Frederick Housing Solutions Taskforce: The Task Force is a group of concerned citizens determined to help find solutions to homelessness and gaps in affordable housing in our community.
- Housing Needs Assessment: In October 2024, Frederick County partnered with TPMA to develop a Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. This initiative aims to refine housing policies and identify resources to meet current and projected housing needs over the next decade.
TPMA Inc.
Call to Action
Community involvement is crucial in shaping effective housing policies. Residents are encouraged to participate in the upcoming County budget meetings hosted by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater this month. These meetings provide a platform to voice concerns, offer suggestions, and influence decisions that will impact the future of affordable housing in Frederick County.
Upcoming Meetings
The Frederick County Division of Housing invites you to attend upcoming public information sessions on affordable housing initiatives in the County. These sessions will be an opportunity for members of the community to learn about and share priorities for Frederick County’s Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. There will be two initial opportunities for residents to participate:
• Wednesday, January 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Urbana Regional Library, Anthony M. Natelli Community Room, 9020 Amelung Street, Frederick, MD 21704
• Thursday, January 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Frederick County Prospect Center, Conference Room G, 585 Himes Avenue, Frederick, MD 21703 (will be Live streamed and available on Video on Demand for later viewing)
Each session will provide residents with vital information about the strategic planning process, including current challenges, opportunities, and preliminary goals for the next decade. The content of each meeting will be the same, so members of the public need only attend one meeting to be informed and offer comments.
To learn more, see the press release at publicinput.com/t783675.
The Affordable Housing Council meets monthly, with the next public meeting scheduled for January 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at the Frederick County Association of Realtors, 490 Monocacy Blvd., Frederick 21701.
Get Involved!
Your participation is vital. By attending these meetings, you can contribute to the development of solutions that address the affordable housing shortage in our community. For more information on the Affordable Housing Council and its initiatives, visit their official website.