Baltimore City Council approved a bill Monday that will create a security deposit grant program for low-income city residents — a compromise reached among various city officials after a bill mandating alternative security deposit options was rejected earlier this year.
The grant program will provide up to $2,000 toward a renter’s security deposit based on their income. The grants, which will be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, will be available only to low-income residents on a one-time basis. Annual funding will come from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and other sources within the city budget.
Council fast tracked the legislation Monday, taking the second and final vote on the measure on the same night. The measure passed 14-0 with one abstention from Councilman Kristerfer Burnett.
Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton, the bill’s primary sponsor, applauded the various branches of city government who worked together on the bill. Like council’s previous attempt to offer other options to cash-up-front security deposits, the grant program is “forward-thinking” legislation, she said.
“It addresses the need, it solves a problem, it helps residents and it helps our city,” she said.
The grant legislation was introduced in June after council’s failed attempt to regulate security deposit alternatives. The alternatives bill, also introduced by Middleton, would have required landlords with 10 or more units who charge a deposit of more than 60% of a month’s rent to offer tenants payment alternatives: either pay the deposit in three monthly installments or buy what is called “rental security insurance.”
Gather more information and access the application at https://www.bmorechildren.com/residents.
CAP centers are currently closed for in-person visits due to COVID-19, but staff are onsite to take calls, answer emails and process applications for energy, water and rental assistance. You can also drop off applications and supporting documents for any of the above programs at any CAP center.
Northwest CAP Center
3939 Reisterstown Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21215
Transit Routes: 85, 83, 82
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