same proportion as Program financing to total
project costs Authorized by the General Assembly
in 1975, the Program is funded by State general
obligation bonds, general funds, and by repayments
of principal and interest on outstanding loans
The Multi Family Bond Program provides below-
market-rate construction and permanent financing
using taxable and tax exempt bonds and notes To be
eligible, developments must set aside a portion of the
units for limited income households
The Nonprofit Rehabilitation Programwas formed
by the General Assembly in 1986 The Program makes
loans to nonprofit organizations and local govern-
ments to rehabilitate buddings for rental housing,
congiegate housing, group homes, shelters, and other
housing facilities that serve low income households
The Partnership Rental Housing Program was
authorized by the General Assembly m 1988 as a
two year pilot program to expand the supply of af
fordable housing for the working poor The Program
was estabhshed by statute in 1990 (Chapter 343, Acts
of 1990) In a partnership, local governments provide
the finished site, including roads, water, sewer, and
other infrastructure, wJule the Division of Develop
ment Finance provides construction and permanent
financing for rental housing units
The Rental Housing Production Program was ere
ated by the legislature in 1986 to stimulate production
of rental housmg for lower mcome households Funds
can be used for capital assistance to cover costs of
construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of rental
housing, or for mortgage assistance to reduce the
operating costs of rental housmg Local governments
must make a contribution to reduce costs or otherwise
support developments financed through the Program
Priority is given to developments that serve households
at 30 percent or less of area median income The
Program is funded with general funds and repayments
of principal and interest on outstanding loans
The Shelter1Programs/as established in January
1990 It encourages nonprofit organizations, such
as churches and community groups, to take the
initiative in sponsoring their initial small housing
project for low income families or individuals The
Program supplies technical assistance and preferred
interest rate loans from the programs listed above
The Transitional Housing and Emergency Shelter
Program provides grants to improve or create transi
tional housmg and emergency shelters which mclude
supportive services for their tenants Its purpose is to
reduce homelessness in the State New construction,
acquisitions, rehabilitation of housing, and purchase
of capital equipment are eligible for grants Grants
may be provided to nonprofit organizations (Internal
Revenue Code, sec 501(c)(3)) and local govern-
ments Sponsors must agree to maintain the project
as transitional housing or an emergency shelter for a
term of 15 years Local government letters of support
are required for all projects

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM
Richard L Hillman, Director
(410) 514 7245

The Local Government Infrastructure Program
began as the Local Government Infrastructure Fi
nancing Program under the Division of Commu
mty Assistance In 1994, the Program became the
Office of Community Assistance and received its
present name in 1996
The Program administers State-funded pro
grams for housing and community development
These include the Maryland Appalachian Housing
Fund, and four programs Housing Development
Assistance, Maryland Housing Capacity Assistance,
Neighborhood Housing Services, and HOME Seed
Money The Office also is responsible for commcr
cial revitalization programs, including the Mary-
land Mainstreet Improvement Program, Maryland
Mainstreet Designation Program, and State Action
Loan Program for Targeted Areas In addition, the
Office oversees the Local Government Infrastruc
ture Financing Program, and the Circuit-Rider
Town-Manager Program

RENTAL SERVICE PROGRAMS
Phillip L Katzung, Director
(410) 514 7490

Under the Community Development Admini
stration, Rental Service Programs provides rental
assistance with federal and State funds to low in
come families for decent, safe and sanitary housing
Federal rental assistance comes to the State through
the U S Department of Housing and Urban De
velopment under the Federal Housing Act of 1937
(42 USC 1437, as amended) The office monitors
compliance with legal mandates of all rental devcl
opments financed with Community Development
Administration loans and federal Low Income
Housing Tax Credits
The Moderate Rehabilitation Program helps repair or
renovate mulnfamily rental units Under the Program,
the landlord rehabilitates the unit, often with Commu
mty Development Administration financing The Ad
ministration, on behalf of the tenants, then commits rent
subsidies to the unit for a penod of fifteen years These
subsidies are funded by the federal government The
Program is part of the Section 8 Existing Program,
however, funding for new projects is not available
Created by the General Assembly in 1986, the
Rental Allowance Program was first funded m 1987
For low-income homeless households or those with
critical or emergency housing needs, the Program
subsidizes rent for short terms The Program is ad
ministered through grants to local governments for
monthly payments to eligible households Funding is
provided through State general funds