Low Income Housing

For the first time since its founding in 1981, the Enterprise Foundation, the Columbia-based affordable housing organization, won't have its founder at the top, as of Oct. 1. On that day, F. Barton Harvey III, 44, will become chairman and chief executive officer.James W. Rouse, 79, the urban visionary and developer who launched the nonprofit organization with his wife, Patty, to help communities build "fit and affordable" housing across the country, will become founder-chairman.In its first 12 years, Enterprise has become one of the nation's largest housing organizations, aiding in the construction of more than 28,000 residences from coast to coast.

A plan to build an affordable housing development in Glen Burnie has ignited a heated debate among members of the Anne Arundel County Council. Councilman John J. Grasso, a Glen Burnie Republican whose district includes the planned Marley Meadows development, spoke out against the plans at a recent County Council meeting, saying low-income residents are likely to bring crime to the area, an assertion quickly dismissed by some of his colleagues....

County needs more low-income housing options The Sun's article about the redevelopment of Kingsley Park was disturbing ("County nears deal to acquire, develop Kingsley Park site," June 8); it is another reminder of Baltimore County's abysmal failure to make housing options for low-income families and individuals a high priority. There are thousands of families on Baltimore County's waiting list for subsidized housing. They face a three-to-five-year wait for assistance. Yet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the county and community members are considering this site for senior housing and moderately priced single-family homes.

MARYLAND'S LOW-INCOME housing market is headed into a crisis: Nearly half of 35,000 low-income units statewide may be lost in the next four years because their owners are thinking of quitting subsidy programs. Owners can make more money by charging market-rate rents, which are soaring, or by selling the buildings. The result can be seen in Baltimore City: 43 percent of tenants with Section 8 vouchers cannot find qualifying apartments or landlords willing to accept them. In coming months, the situation is only likely to grow worse as the pool of low- income housing shrinks.

Steve Carter argued Oct. 11 that low-income housing in Columbia makes little sense ("Low-income housing does not belong in high-cost Columbia," letter). Perhaps Mr. Carter does not realize that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is required to increase affordable housing throughout the Baltimore region, which mirrors the founding goal of Columbia. The case of Thompson vs. HUD filed in January 1995 ended with a partial consent decree. The court determined that HUD violated part of the Fair Housing Act through their failure to affirmatively promote fair housing by not providing affordable housing options in areas of lower poverty.

The article "Recession takes toll on low income renters" (Feb. 4) sheds light on the dwindling supply of affordable apartments at a time when they are needed most. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit is the largest creator of affordable rental housing in the United States and is funded through private investment. It is one of the most successful government programs in modern history. Yet, it is at risk of being eliminated with potential upcoming tax reform. Since its creation in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, nine out of 10 affordable apartments have been developed through the tax credit program, a total of more than 2 million units nationwide.

WASHINGTON -- An estimated 240,000 low-income and homeless families would be housed by state and local officials, and existing housing programs would be bolstered under a $57.7 billion bill expected to be signed into law in the next few weeks.The first overhaul of housing programs in a decade, agreed to by a Senate-House conference committee last week, also attempts to shore up the troubled Federal Housing Administration while preserving low-interest programs.The bill authorizes $27.5 billion for housing programs in fiscal year 1991 -- $3.4 billion more than the previous fiscal year -- and $29.9 billion in fiscal year 1992.

Eighteen months after Howard County launched an effort to convert 24 luxury town homes in Ellicott City to public housing, Allfa Pines remains a vacant target for vandals because of delays in getting federal financing for the project."

If there isn't enough decent, affordable housing in Baltimore for everyone who needs it, don't blame Bettyjean Murphy.Since leaving her real estate sales job three years ago to become a full-time developer, Ms. Murphy has worked with others to create 50 residences in former School No. 142 on Walbrook Avenue and 44 residences in the former Louisa May Alcott School No. 59 on Reisterstown Road.At 11:15 a.m. today, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and Housing Commissioner-designate Daniel P. Henson III will cut the ribbon on her third school conversion and first solo effort.

The Columbia Jewish Congregation is looking for a home -- not for its congregants, but for lower-income county residents who can't afford to buy one on the open market in Howard.The congregation has formed a nonprofit corporation to purchase older homes with the help of government subsidies and private low-interest loans, make cosmetic repairs and eventually sell the homes to tenants with incomes of about $27,000 to $35,000.The congregation launched the program by buying two townhouses this summer in the Jeffers Hill section of Long Reach village, both for just less than $100,000.