Baltimore Invests $7.5 Million to Bolster Affordable Rental Housing

Baltimore, MD (Friday, November 21, 2025) — The City of Baltimore, through Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Affordable Housing Trust Fund, has announced the allocation of $7.5 million to support the development of new affordable rental housing and the renovation of existing affordable units. This funding initiative represents a continued effort by the city to increase access to high-quality, affordable rental living options for its residents.

This latest funding round is designed to address the growing demand for affordable rental housing in Baltimore. The Baltimore City Affordable Housing Trust Fund has seen a significant increase in applications for rental housing support, leading to rental investments becoming the second-largest spending category for the fund, following homeownership programs. Since its establishment, the Trust Fund has provided $38.6 million in investments for rental housing, supporting developers across 41 neighborhoods and resulting in the creation or preservation of 2,154 affordable rental units.

The current funding round includes specific allocations to support community-based housing solutions and emerging developers. Up to $1 million is earmarked for Community Land Trusts that aim to provide affordable housing to low and moderate-income families through specific land trust agreements. Additionally, up to $1 million is designated for emerging developers, defined as those who have successfully completed between three and five housing development projects. This dual focus aims to foster both community ownership and new talent within the affordable housing sector.

The initiative aims to foster economic stability and community growth. By ensuring rental costs remain affordable, the city seeks to enable families to live closer to their workplaces, assist employers in retaining essential staff, and encourage local spending. This approach is intended to not only stabilize households but also to create an environment where residents can thrive and contribute to breaking generational cycles of poverty.

Interested parties can submit applications for this funding round until January 9, 2026. Awards are scheduled to be announced during the week of April 13, 2026. A Pre-Proposal Conference is set to take place on December 10, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST. Further details regarding the funding round, application process, conference, and guidelines are available on the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Affordable Housing Trust Fund webpage.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the City of Baltimore

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