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Gov. Wes Moore reveals executive order to 'supercharge' affordable housing

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/0 .. ive-order-to-supercharge-affordable-housing.html
  Published in House and Home on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 19:37 GMT by The Baltimore Sun
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Moore’s Executive Order Aims to Turbocharge Affordable Housing in Maryland

September 3 2025 – Baltimore, MD

In a sweeping move designed to tackle Maryland’s chronic shortage of affordable homes, Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order on Monday that sets a new statewide framework for speeding up the construction of low‑ and moderate‑income housing. The directive, which was released through the Governor’s website, outlines a multi‑pronged strategy that includes a fresh financing stream, a set of regulatory changes, and a new partnership model between state agencies, local governments and private developers.

1. The “Affordable Housing Supercharge” Plan

At its core, the order establishes a $2 billion “Affordable Housing Initiative” (AHI) that will be channeled through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Maryland Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). The funds are earmarked for three primary purposes:

• Construction and Rehabilitation Grants – Direct subsidies for developers who build new affordable units or rehabilitate existing stock.
• Local Government Incentives – Tax credits and fee waivers for municipalities that adopt “Affordable Housing‑Friendly” zoning codes.
• Infrastructure Support – Upgrades to public transit, utilities, and schools in neighborhoods slated for new development, to ensure that affordable housing is built in accessible, vibrant communities.

The order also calls for the creation of a new “Affordable Housing Advisory Council,” composed of housing advocates, developers, and community leaders. The council will meet quarterly to assess progress and recommend policy adjustments.

2. Regulatory Overhaul: Streamlining Approvals

One of the most ambitious aspects of the order is its regulatory overhaul. The governor’s office has pledged to:

• Fast‑Track Permitting – Local permitting agencies will receive guidance and funding to shorten the approval process for projects that meet the governor’s “affordable‑housing” criteria.
• Zoning Reform – A statewide toolkit will be distributed to municipalities to help them amend restrictive zoning laws that bar higher‑density housing.
• Public‑Private Partnerships (PPPs) – The state will now authorize PPPs to finance affordable housing projects, allowing private capital to be leveraged against state guarantees.

An embedded link in the article led readers to a PDF of the toolkit, which includes sample zoning amendments, a step‑by‑step permitting checklist, and a FAQ section addressing common concerns about increased density.

3. Financing Innovations

The executive order introduces a “Community Investment Fund” (CIF) that will pool public money, private investments, and philanthropic contributions. According to a link to the MHFA’s 2025 Annual Report, the CIF will be capped at $1 billion, with the remaining $1 billion coming from private developers who commit to at least 30 % affordable units in new projects.

The order also references a recent study published by the Urban Institute, which found that “incentive‑based zoning reforms can increase affordable housing supply by up to 20 % in six years.” That study is linked within the article, allowing readers to see the data backing the governor’s push for zoning flexibility.

4. Local Government Collaboration

The order includes a provision that encourages municipalities to form “Affordable Housing Alliances” with neighboring jurisdictions to pool land and resources. A link to the Maryland Association of Cities’ guide on inter‑municipal collaborations was included, offering templates for Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

City officials in Baltimore and Montgomery County were quoted in the article as expressing cautious optimism. Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott said, “We’ve long struggled with high rents and a dearth of affordable units. If the state can help us re‑zone and streamline approvals, we’ll finally get the momentum we need.” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich echoed the sentiment, adding that the county’s existing land‑bank program would be an ideal foundation for the state‑funded projects.

5. Reactions from the Housing Community

The article features a balanced mix of praise and skepticism. Housing advocacy groups, such as the Maryland Homebuilders Association, hailed the order as “a bold step toward closing the affordability gap.” They noted that the governor’s policy aligns with the Association’s long‑standing push for inclusionary zoning.

On the other side, some real‑estate developers warned that the order’s “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach could stifle market dynamics. A representative from a national developer network stated that “while the intent is good, the mandate for 30 % affordable units could reduce profitability and discourage new development in high‑cost areas.”

The Governor’s office, however, maintained that the incentives are designed to offset potential losses. A statement quoted in the article reads, “We are offering tax abatements and fee reductions that will bring project costs down to a level that still makes sense for developers.”

6. Implementation Timeline

The executive order lays out a 5‑year timeline for implementation:

• Year 1 – Establish the Affordable Housing Advisory Council, launch the Community Investment Fund, and issue the zoning toolkit.
• Year 2–3 – Begin the first round of grant and incentive disbursements; monitor permitting turnaround times.
• Year 4 – Mid‑term evaluation by the council; adjustments to the funding formula based on performance metrics.
• Year 5 – Final assessment and a roadmap for scaling the initiative to additional states.

A link to the state’s projected cost‑benefit analysis was included in the article, estimating that the initiative could add 50,000 affordable units by the end of the fifth year, a figure that represents roughly 12 % of the state’s current affordable housing inventory.

7. Looking Ahead

As the Governor’s office prepares to roll out the order, officials have scheduled a series of town‑hall meetings across the state to gather feedback from residents, developers, and community leaders. The article’s final section lists upcoming dates, from Baltimore’s Downtown Neighborhood Assembly on September 15 to a state‑wide webinar on September 29 hosted by the DHCD.

In a concluding statement, Gov. Wes Moore remarked, “We’re at a turning point in Maryland’s housing story. With the right mix of public investment, regulatory reform, and private partnership, we can finally make homeownership and secure rental housing a reality for millions of Marylanders.”

In Summary

The 2025 executive order from Gov. Wes Moore represents a comprehensive, multi‑layered approach to addressing Maryland’s affordable housing crisis. By injecting significant state funds, reforming zoning and permitting, and fostering public‑private partnerships, the initiative seeks to add tens of thousands of affordable units over the next five years. While the order has drawn praise from housing advocates and local officials, it also faces criticism from developers concerned about market impacts. As the program unfolds, its success will hinge on the careful balancing of incentives, regulatory flexibility, and community engagement.