Maryland Launches Rental Assistance Program to Combat Homelessness and Eviction for Students

Maryland residents facing housing instability now have a new avenue for support through the recently opened Community Schools Rental Assistance Program, as announced by Governor Wes Moore’s office. This initiative aims to provide crucial financial aid to families with students enrolled in Community Schools across eight participating jurisdictions who are either experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their housing. The program represents a collaborative effort between state agencies and local partners, designed to bolster efforts to end child poverty and promote economic mobility.

The Community Schools Rental Assistance Program, established through legislation signed into law in 2024, offers eligible households financial assistance for a variety of housing-related expenses. This can include overdue rent and utility bills, along with associated late fees and eviction-related court costs. Additionally, the program can cover expenses for securing new housing, such as moving costs, security deposits, utility deposits, and the first month’s rent. Households may be eligible for support covering up to 15 months of their current housing instability.

To qualify for this assistance, a household must have a student actively enrolled in a Community School within one of the participating jurisdictions. Applicants must also demonstrate a current obligation to pay rent and be experiencing housing instability, which can manifest as homelessness, the threat of eviction, utility service interruptions, or being behind on rent or utility payments. The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education and the Governor’s Office on Children, with funding directed to local grantees.

The program is managed by the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Homeless Solutions, which oversees a significant annual budget dedicated to a range of services including outreach, legal aid, housing counseling, eviction prevention, emergency rental assistance, and shelter operations. This division also houses the state’s Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, an entity focused on educating both renters and landlords about their respective rights and responsibilities, and ensuring compliance with state rental laws.

The Maryland State Department of Education played a vital role in the program’s development by providing data to pinpoint areas where funding would be most impactful. The department also contributed to the program’s design, ensuring its alignment with community school strategies, and facilitated crucial partnership meetings between local school districts and rental assistance organizations. Through community school coordinators, the department will also help promote the program to families and students.

The initiative is specifically designed to support the administration’s broader goals of eradicating childhood poverty and enhancing economic mobility. It is closely linked with the Governor’s Office for Children and targets communities where childhood poverty is highly concentrated through partnerships with organizations involved in the ENOUGH Initiative. These organizations have established strong relationships with Community Schools, enabling them to effectively connect students and their families with necessary resources.

Applications for the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program are currently being accepted in Baltimore City and in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Washington, and Wicomico Counties. Residents seeking more information or wishing to apply can visit the program’s dedicated webpage.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of Governor Wes Moore

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