August 2018 Newsletter
Dear Resident,
As many of you know, for the past two years, I have been serving on the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (Kirwan Commission), which has been tasked with reviewing & revising Maryland’s school funding formulas to ensure that the $6.3 billion in statewide education funding is distributed equitably to our local school systems.
Over the summer months, the Kirwan Commission has met numerous times as we prepare to make our final recommendations at the end of 2018. At our most recent meeting last week, we began finalizing recommendations specifically relating to early childhood education, teacher pay, and career and college readiness pathways.
The critical details of these recommendations include expanding full-day Pre-K at no cost for low-income families; raising teacher pay to make it equitable with other highly trained professionals with the same amount of education; and creating a Career & Technical Education Subcabinet to build a world-class career & technical education system for Maryland.
At the Commission’s next meeting on September 5th, we will discuss recommendations regarding proving more resources to at-risk students, which I have played a significant role in shaping. We will also be presented with cost estimates for the recommendations the Commission has previously submitted.
I encourage you to follow the Commission’s work as we prepare our final report in the coming months. Commission meetings can be streamed on the Maryland General Assembly’s website and summary’s of prior Commission meetings – as well as various other resources – can be accessed HERE. Please let me know your thoughts, concerns, and ideas as we prepare our final report!
Home Buyer Purchase Assistance Program
The Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development has launched a home buyer assistance program to provide first-time home buyers with a loan of up to $15,000 to use for down payment & closing costs when purchasing a new home.
The loan is a 0% interest deferred payment loan that the purchaser must pay back in full when the home is sold, transferred or ceases to be the primary residence of the buyer(s), regardless of the length of residency. The program is managed by the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County.
If a buyer is a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, classroom teacher, nurse, firefighter or emergency medical technician (EMT), they could be eligible for an additional $5,000 based on their need and income. This would bring the total loan amount up to $20,000. Eligible properties include: resales, foreclosures, short sales and new construction. The purchase price limit is $462,000 for both resale and new construction.
Among other qualifications, potential home buyers must work with a certified participating lender, have an executed sales contract and attend an “in-classroom” 8 hour counseling course by a HUD certified Housing Counseling Agency. For additional information, please visit the Prince George’s County Purchase Assistance Program website: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2965/Purchase-Assistance-Program.
There is still $500,000 available for the existing home buyer assistance program, Pathway to Purchase. For details and qualifications for the Pathway to Purchase Program, visit: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2598/Pathway-to-Purchase.
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program
The Prince George’s County Department of Housing & Community Development has also partnered with the Housing Initiative Partnership to provide home improvement loans of up to $60,000 to eligible homeowners who need to make repairs on their homes.
Eligible Applicants:
Must own and occupy a home in Prince George’s County
Must be current on mortgage payments, property taxes and property insurance
Cannot have an “underwater” mortgage
Total household income may not exceeds the program limits
Eligible Repairs:
Health Hazards: Lead, mold and asbestos abatement
Safety and Code Compliance repairs: Roof, electrical systems,plumbing, flooring
Energy Efficiency: Windows, insulation, air sealing, siding
ADA related improvements: Ramps, grab bars, railings
Other improvements considered
Loan Terms:
0% interest, no monthly payments
Maximum Loan Amount of $60,000
Loans are repaid in full when the house is sold or transferred
Maximum LTV 110%
How To Apply:
Call Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP) at 301-699-3835 to request an application