Maryland Department of Disabilities Logo         
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Awards New $2 Million Grant 

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BALTIMORE, MD- The Maryland Department of Disabilities and its partners, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, announce that the Trustees of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation unanimously approved a new $2 million grant to fund additional deeply affordable Weinberg Apartments throughout the state. Weinberg Apartments represent a unique public, private, philanthropic partnership that has become a national model. The first grant created twenty affordable units for persons with disabilities who have incomes between 15-30% of the area median income. This recent grant is expected to create another ten to fifteen units over the next two years.
           
The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation housing initiative uses an innovative capital write down grant which creates the affordable units for 40 years without the need for additional rental subsidy and at a fraction of the cost of providing federal rental subsidies. Residents pay 30% of their income for rent plus utilities with units like these created in counties across the state. Since initial occupancy in 2013, the Weinberg Apartments have assisted fifteen households and another 30 will be served by the time all funds from the two awards are utilized.

The three state agencies and other stakeholders responsible for implementing the initiative form the Maryland Partnership for Affordable Housing (MPAH). The Weinberg Initiative works in concert with other MPAH programs, including the HUD 811 Project Rental Assistance Program and the Money Follows the Person Bridge Subsidy Program to provide statewide affordable community housing opportunities for people with disabilities. This innovative partnership has yielded significant progress from its collaborative efforts. It was the lynchpin for Maryland recently winning two federal HUD Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program awards totaling over $20 million and funding an anticipated 300 affordable units for persons with disabilities.

Secretary Carol A. Beatty of the Maryland Department of Disabilities commented on the opening by noting, "We are so appreciative of the Weinberg Foundation's efforts around affordable housing for people with disabilities. Their support is imperative to our progress and coupled with the work of the MPAH, continues to position Maryland as a leader in coordinating policy and aligning strategic partnerships aimed at increasing affordable and accessible housing options for state residents."

 
Prepared by:
Carrie McGraw, PIOChanging Maryland for the better logo
The Maryland Department of Disabilities 
410.767.3660
2127 East Redwood Street, Suite 1300
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.mdod.maryland.gov