Housing

A child using a wheelchair is entering his friend's house to celebrate a birthday party

Affordable and Accessible Housing Options in Montgomery County

  • Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) Rental Programs:
    In 2015, HOC launched Housing Path, an online wait list portal for affordable rental housing programs. Housing Path allows people to apply online and manage or update their applications at anytime. The online application walks people through a simple step-by-step process and takes about 30 minutes to complete.  HOC Housing Path is currently available in two languages: English and Spanish. HOC Housing Path matches applicants to affordable housing programs based on household size, income, age and other factors. To apply, go to  www.HOCHousingPath.com
  • HOC Housing for People with Disabilities:
    HOC Mainstream Vouchers
    240-627-9400 (V) • MD Relay 711 • Email: [email protected]

    Housing Choice Vouchers (previously known as " Section 8") that have been set aside specifically for people with disabilities. The Mainstream program applicant uses the voucher to find private market rental housing of his/her choice, provided the unit meets the Housing Choice Voucher program requirements. Once a rental unit is selected and approved, the Mainstream program applicant pays a limited percentage of his or her income (generally 30% to 40%) as rent. Participants who receive vouchers search for their own housing, which may include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, or even the family's present residence. Housing Choice Voucher assistance is portable anywhere in the United States, including Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. Provided the housing they select meets the requirements of the program, the housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Housing Opportunities Commission on behalf of the family. Rebecca encouraged individuals to apply for the voucher program when they turn 18 as the current waitlist is approximately 6 ½ years. The voucher program is for individuals with incomes of $0 to approximately $50,000 for one person. Income limits:  https://hocmc.org/extra/662-hcv-faqs.html#income_Limits.
  • Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) The MPDU program markets units to renters and first-time home buyers with incomes up to 70 percent of the Washington Metro Area Median Income (AMI), which is approximately $79,500 for a family of two or $99,500 for a family of four. The Program requires that a percentage of housing units in residential developments be made available for low- and moderate-income households for a certain timeframe (“control period.”)
  • Permanent Supportive Housing / Housing Stabilization Services
    Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
    provides permanent supportive housing along with case management services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Sheppard Pratt provides permanent housing and support services for individuals experiencing housing difficulties due to mental health needs.
  • Maryland Homeownership Program for Individuals with Disabilities  is a home loan program through the Maryland Department of Housing that is available to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers who meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Design for Life - Building Accessible Homes - Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services
Design for Life Montgomery is the first voluntary certification program in Maryland for Visit-Ability and Live-Ability in single family attached and detached homes located in Montgomery County. The guidelines apply to both new construction and renovation. Please see the web site below for further information. 
The  Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has launched a revised Design for Life (referred to as "DFL" or "Design for Life") Incentive Program intended to increase the stock of visitable and livable housing in Montgomery County through tax incentives, promotion of Design for Life principles and businesses engaged in providing housing that meets Design for Life standards and through collaboration with stakeholder partners. 


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