Howard?s nonprofit employees want to work and live in the county and are asking the County Council to extend to them preferences for affordable housing.
“Employees of the Columbia Housing Corp. or other [nonprofits] like it are working for affordable housing, but would be excluded from housing opportunities,” said Carol MacPhee, who spoke to the County Council on behalf of the Columbia Housing Corp., a nonprofit that focuses on low- and moderate-income housing.
MacPhee and other nonprofits asked the council to include nonprofits in the list of residents given priority for moderate-income housing units, along with county employees and others.
For example, an individual who makes between $32,000 and $51,000 may qualify to buy a moderate-income housing unit.
Council Chairman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who introduced the bill, said he considered adding nonprofits, and some of his fellow council members also wanted to consider including those groups.
“It?s something we need to have more conversation on,” he said.
Ball said some questions exist on how to include nonprofits, such as what language to use to ensure the county can meet its goals and reach the right people.
The County Council is considering several affordable-housing bills, including one that gives preferences for moderate-income housing units.
Related measures would require rental housing owners to give notice before selling the units and give the county first right of refusal when rental units are being converted to condos.
These aim to help the county increase the opportunities for moderate-income housing.
Although many who testified supported the county?s attempts to expand affordable housing, several who testified at Monday?s hearing offered a few changes to the bills, such as clarifying certain language.
MacPhee called the bills “a solid beginning of future efforts.”
