Housing

Some 41,000 properties have gone through the city’s tax sale since 2016, a Baltimore Banner investigation found, threatening home ownership and prolonging vacancies in majority-Black neighborhoods.

The state’s $750 million allotment of federal emergency rental assistance, which helped prevent thousands of evictions across Maryland during the pandemic, is set to be fully spent by March or April, according to the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

Some 41,000 properties have gone through the tax sale since 2016, leading to high bills for homeowners, hefty profits for lien holders and prolonged housing vacancies.

This illustrated guide explains how a Baltimore City homeowner may lose their property in a tax sale.

After nearly three years of pandemic protections and assistance, there are few guardrails in place to prevent evictions from climbing back to pre-pandemic norms.

The Baltimore County executive’s office is also considering whether to seek County Council approval establish a land banking authority.

Sharnae Hunt and her 9-year-old son are staying with her mom and stepdad as they try to put their lives back together and start anew.

20 months after Mayor Brandon Scott first announced the city’s intent to buy two hotels to provide permanent and temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness — a flagship piece of the homeless services strategy — city officials say they have yet to close the deal.

The state could see an uptick in evictions as federal assistance funding dries up, advocates warn.

Community supporters have lined signed up to speak at public meetings, praising CEO Lakey Boyd’s work and demanding answers from the board. Board members have largely remained silent.

More rehab and demolition can lead to revitalization of disinvested city neighborhoods. Efforts would keep speculators away, councilwoman says.

Environmental advocates and officials have mixed feelings about the landmark legislation, which was amended to push back the transition by three years.

The practice of posting eviction notices in common areas — and not on individual apartments — had been sharply criticized by renter advocates.

Officials remain confident that the process will live up to their expectations of moving several hundred vacant homes out of absentee ownership per year.

A woman and her 9-year-old son were evicted two days before Thanksgiving — even after she says she confirmed that morning that she was caught up on rent.

The hearing comes months after the city’s previous inclusionary housing policy expired in June.

Frustrated investors have filed lawsuits accusing the company of running a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.

The chair and vice chair of the Continuum of Care Board describe the organization’s role in reducing homelessness in Baltimore, and recommend steps the larger community can take toward making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

Rent stabilization bills in Laurel and other localities face an uphill battle, but the wave of interest and activity represents a marked shift in housing policy debate in Maryland.

A Miami-based company is finding a niche marketing homes in distressed Baltimore neighborhoods to investors in Turkey.