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 / NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development
March 26, 2026
The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) invites all interested
residents, community groups, agencies, and organizations to attend the following Public Hearings to
obtain your comments regarding the development of the FFY2026 Draft Annual Action Plan (AAP) and
Proposed Budget. The AAP is the County’s yearly application for funding under the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). Funded
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the CDBG and HOME programs provide funds
for a variety of housing and community development activities that principally benefit low-and
moderate-income residents. The FFY2026 AAP is the second AAP under the approved five (5) Year
Consolidated Plan (2025 – 2029).
The Howard County Draft FFY2026 Action Plan will be available for review and comment beginning
April 3, 2026 at DHCD offices, 9820 Patuxent Woods Dr., Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046. The Draft
Plan will also be available on the DHCD webpage at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/DHCD-Grants.
Public Hearing Dates and Locations
Thursday, April 9, 2026 – 6:00 PM Fourth Public Hearing
Housing & Community Development Board Meeting
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046 Provide comments:
housing@howardcountymd.gov
Monday, June 15, 2026 – 7:00 PM Fifth Public Hearing
County Council Public Hearing George Howard Building
3430 Court House Drive, Banneker Room Ellicott City, MD 21043
If you plan to testify, a written copy of your testimony should be provided at the time of the
hearing. If you cannot attend the hearing, but would like to offer testimony, written comments must
be directed to Kim Zanti, Chief, Community Planning and Grants, at the DHCD offices, 9820 Patuxent
Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046. Written comments must be received by 5pm on May 20,
2026.
Efforts will be made to accommodate the disabled and non-English speaking citizens and a sign
language interpreter service will be available upon request with three (3) days advance notice to
Quanita Kareem, Chief, Compliance Division, Department of Housing and Community Development, at
410-313-3386, or email qkareem@howardcountymd.gov.
Please click below to read the FFY2024 Annual Action 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.
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, Xavier Bishop at xbishop@howardcountymd.gov