HOUSING DAY 2010

The Michael Group made it out to Housing Day last week despite the snow. Maryland Housing Day in Annapolis is an annual event which allows affordable housing professionals and advocates to come together to hear about the current year’s legislative agenda. It’s also a chance to talk to your representatives about the importance of affordable housing in MD. This year, the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition urged all of it’s members to make two requests to legislators:

1. Support the Governor’s request to maintain last year’s funding lever for the DHCD Rental Housing Programs and Partnership Rental Housing Funds. These funds total $21.5 million.

2. Authorize $2 million in general obligation bonds to be allocated to the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust fund. This fund is desperately needed just to bring the funding for MAHT up to the typical level.

PLEASE call your legislators and tell them to support the above mentioned issues. If you don’t know who your legislators are you can go to http://mdelect.net/ and find out.

Don’t forget: Housing MATTERS!

Starting work at Halpine Hamlet

The Michael Group is beginning work this week on Halpine Hamlet, a 67 unit garden style apartment located in Rockville, Maryland. Halpine Hamlet was purchased by Montgomery Housing Partnership back in September 2009. The fact that Halpine is located in close proximity to the Twinbrook Metro was a driving force behind MHP’s decision to purchase the property. Preserving affordable housing within walking distance of the Metro is a key victory for MHP. The Michael Group is proud to begin work on this important preservation project.

For this first phase of the project, we will be replacing 50% of the HVAC units with new, energy efficient units. We will also be replacing all of the roofs on all of the buildings.

While our official work is beginning this week, we were able to meet the staff and residents at the property’s holiday party. The Michael Group donated $5,000 for children’s gifts as well as food and drinks for the party. The residents (seen below) had a great time and we were happy to get a chance to be involved.