About Our Grants
Our Department receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local funding and administers those grants to non-profits who work directly with residents of Howard County. The County receives Community Development Block Grants (CDBG); Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds; MIHU Fee-in-Lieu and Housing Opportunities Trust Fund.
Notices, Reports and Plans
PUBLIC NOTICE AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Needs Hearing #1, FFY25
November 17, 2025
The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development encourages all interested non-profit organizations, agencies and community groups to attend a virtual Needs Hearing regarding funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) grant.
The Annual Action Plan, supported by the FFY2025-2029 Approved Consolidated Plan, is the County’s yearly application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding to the CDBG program and the HOME program. Howard County’s award for the FFY2025 Program Year (JULY 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) is approximately $1,336,389.00 in CDBG funds and $510,248.82 in HOME funds.
The CDBG and HOME programs provide funds that enable Howard County and local organizations to carry out a variety of housing and community development activities intended to principally benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Activities may include, but are not limited to, housing rehabilitation, homeownership assistance, economic development, public facility acquisition or rehabilitation and public service opportunities. Organizations that intend to apply for funding are encouraged to attend this Public Needs Hearing.
The virtual Public Needs Hearing will be held: Thursday, December 04, 2025 from 3:00 – 4:30PM To receive the link to attend the meeting, or, if you cannot attend and would like additional information regarding the FFY2025 Annual Action Plan, please contact Kim Zanti, Chief, Community Planning and Grants, at 410-313-6324, or email kzanti@howardcountymd.gov, or visit the Howard County Department of Housing office, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046.
Efforts will be made to accommodate disabled and non-English speaking residents. Sign language interpreter services will be available upon request with three (3) days advance notice to Quanita Kareem, Compliance Division Chief, Howard County DHCD at 410-313-3386 or email qkareem@howardcountymd.gov.
Draft 5 Year Consolidated Plan / 2025 Action Plan
FFY2024 APPROVED ACTION PLAN
Please click below to read the FFY2024 Annual Action Plan.
Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Plan
This Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) updates the 2020 Plan in time for submission of the Department of Housing and Community Development's Consolidated Plan (2025-2029), mandated by HUD as a condition of receiving federal funds (CDBG, HOME). Click the link below to review.
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
To complete the CDBG and HOME program year, the County reports annually on the progress it has made toward its Consolidate Plan goal in the Consolidate Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER describes Howard County’s affordable housing and community development activities carried out over the past program year running from July 1st through June 30th each year. The CAPER also provides the community a concise breakdown of the federal funds used for activities that were undertaken during the program year and an evaluation of the County’s progress in carrying out the goals and objectives as stated in the Five Year Consolidated Plan.
- FFY2021 CAPER - Final
- FFY2022 CAPER - Final
- FFY2023 CAPER - Draft
Planning Documents
- FFY2020 - FFY2024 Five Year Consolidated Plan
- Howard County Updated Citizen Participation Plan Amended April 2020
- HOME Program Policy Guide
Howard County, MD is a federal entitlement community under the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME). In compliance with HUD regulations, the County must prepare a Consolidated Plan, every five years to assess its affordable housing and community development, economic development, and strategic planning needs. The needs and priorities identified in the Consolidated Plan are addresses annually through the Annual Action Plans which present what specific activities the County will accomplish with CDBG, HOME and other funding sources.
Click here to review the 5-Year Consolidated Plan.
In accordance with 24 CFR Part 91 of the federal regulations governing the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans and Howard County’s Citizen Participation Plan, notice is hereby given that the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is proposing to amend its FFY22 Annual Action Plans. Click here for a copy of the County’s Citizen Participation Plan.
Howard County’s Department of Housing and Community Development staff have created a HOME Investment Partnership Program Policy and Procedure Guide as mandated by the 2013 HOME Program Rule. For any questions related to this guide, please email the HOME Specialist, Melissa Barbagallo at mbarbagallo@howardcountymd.gov