Affordable Housing for Seniors and Persons with Developmental Disabilities

I was honored to have been invited to moderate a panel discussion on “Housing for Seniors and Persons with Developmental Disabilities” at this year’s Affordable Housing Conference, which was convened at the Conference Center in North Bethesda. I was joined in the panel discussion by representatives of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, and affordable housing providers, Jubilee and Victory Housing. We discussed strategies to meet the housing needs of Montgomery County's seniors and adults with developmental disabilities, particularly in light of ongoing budget shortfalls.

Since its inception in 1991, the Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County (AHCMC) continues to tackle affordable housing related issues and their impacts specifically upon Montgomery County, MD residents. The mission of AHCMC is to bring together elected officials, housing and community development leaders, business professionals, activists and others to work toward affordable housing solutions.

Through its annual conference, awards programs, seminars, advocacy efforts and roundtable meetings, AHCHC seeks to form coalitions that identify and address issues including, but not limited to, workforce housing, mixed-use and mixed-income developments, inclusionary zoning, preservation of rental housing, first time home ownership, lending and fair housing, public-private partnerships and housing for people with disabilities. Throughout the year, Board members work closely with local, state and federal government officials, private developers, financial institutions and other nonprofit organizations to insure that affordable housing remains at the forefront of local, state and national legislative and regulatory agendas. As a 501(c)(3) organization, AHCMC is able to provide technical and advisory assistance and work closely with organizations in their efforts to provide affordable housing efficiently and effectively.

For more information about the Affordable Housing Conference, visit. http://www.affordablehousingconference.org/.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Attends Annapolis Rally for Alcohol Tax

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg participated in a well-attended rally in Annapolis in support of an state alcohol tax (HB 832 | SB 717). County Executive Ike Leggett and various state delegates and senators were in attendance, including Maryland Delegates Bill Bronrott and Ana Sol Gutierrez and Maryland Senators Rich Madaleno and Jennie Forehand.

In her remarks Councilmember Trachtenberg spoke of the critical need for increased dollars for both mental health and addiction programming. As a trained clinician with a specialty in adolescent addiction, she spoke passionately about the need for more focused spending on substance abuse screening and early intervention programming. Councilmember Trachtenberg reminded attendees of the link between early drinking and subsequent behavioral health challenges and stated that "increased cost for alcohol consumption is the single biggest factor in deterring adolescent abuse of alcohol."

Councilmember Trachtenberg also evoked the poignant words of Winston Churchill in encouraging attendees to pursue strident advocacy both in Annapolis and in their communities: "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."

With her participation, she joined a broad coalition of human services, health care and business groups in Annapolis to urge an increase in the tax the state imposes on alcohol. Revenue from the proposed 10-cent per drink increase would be dedicated to funding services for people with alcohol and substance addictions, developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, and health care for the uninsured. Maryland has not increased its tax on wine and beer since 1972 or its tax on liquor and spirits since 1955. Maryland taxes on these beverages are the fourth lowest among the 50 states.

Doctors Pat Salomon, M.D. and Dana Beyer, M.D., Councilmember Trachtenberg’s Senior Advisors for Health and Human Services, also attended the Annapolis Rally.

For more information:

House Bill 832
Senate Bill 717
Press Release