Who Are We?
The Housing Opportunities Commission is a government
organization that administers federal, state, county, and private
affordable housing programs.
We are the public housing agency for Montgomery County. We develop
housing; provide mortgage financing to developers and first-time
homebuyers; manage public housing and other rental units; administer
rental subsidy programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher Program; and
provide counseling and support services to lower income individuals and
families in assisted housing.
HOC is governed by seven volunteer commissioners, who
are appointed by the County Executive to serve five-year terms and confirmed by the County Council. The Commission usually meets on the first
Wednesday of each month. As of April 2007, the Chair of the Commission is
Michael J. Kator.
What is our mission?
Our mission is to provide affordable housing and supportive services to low and moderate income households in Montgomery County.
Where are our offices located?
HOC has three offices in Kensington and one in Gaithersburg, as well as many individual property management offices located in our
developments around the County.
HOC’s headquarters is at 10400 Detrick Ave, Kensington.
The main phone number for the agency is (240) 773-9000. Offices located in the Detrick Ave. building include: the Commission Office; the Executive
Director; the Chief of Staff; Human Resources; Housing Resources; Public Affairs; Public Housing Occupancy; Information Technology; parts of
Resident Services; and the Finance Division.
The WRIT Building is at 10400 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, within walking distance
of HOC headquarters. Offices located there include Modernization; Housing Management; and Resident Services.
The Knowles Building is at 3930 Knowles Ave., Kensington, a half block from HOC
headquarters. The Knowles Building houses the Mortgage Purchase Program, the Real Estate Division, the Volunteer Program, and the Family
Self-Sufficiency Program.
HOC has an office at 231 East Deer Park Dr., Gaithersburg. The phone number there is (240) 773-9350. The
East Deer Park office handles property management and maintenance for all scattered site
HOC properties; resident services for scattered sites; and emergency services for HOC residents living in upper Montgomery County.
HOC’s Rental Housing Programs
Public Housing. Federally subsidized housing owned and managed by HOC, public housing serves families,
elderly, and non-elderly disabled individuals. As of April 2002, HOC owned 1,563 units of public housing. This figure includes four buildings
for the elderly (Arcola Towers, Elizabeth House, Holly Hall, and Waverly House); seven family developments (Emory Grove, Middlebrook Square,
Sandy Spring Meadows, Towne Centre Place, Washington Square, Parkway Woods, and Ken Gar), and 664 scattered site units. Residents pay 30% of
adjusted income for rent. Applicants must apply for this program through HOC when the public housing waiting list opens. Households qualify
for public housing by income and are offered housing when units become available.
Housing Choice Voucher Program. Formerly known as Section 8, this federal program provides rental subsidies
to income-eligible households. Applicants receive a voucher that entitles them to rent an apartment in the private marketplace, while limiting
their rental payment to 30-40% of their adjusted income. HOC pays the landlord the remaining portion of the rent. The maximum amounts that HOC
can pay are determined by HUD. As of April 2002, HOC had 5,576 vouchers available. HOC opens the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher
Program periodically. At that time, applications are available on the HOC website (www.hocweb.org) or in any County library, senior center, or
service center. HOC Contact (240) 773-9000.
Section 236 Housing. This federal program, which ended in 1978, subsidized mortgages down to 1%,
much below market rates. Residents pay either a basic rent or 30% of income, whichever is higher. Because of the basic rent requirement, these
properties assist those of moderate income, rather than very low income. HOC manages Bauer Park, Leafy House, and Town Center for the elderly
and Camp Hill Square, Georgian Court, Stewartown Homes, and The Willows for families.
Section 8 New Construction. HUD contracted with some builders to build properties which would have Section 8 subsidies that stay with
the unit and are called "project-based". HOC owns four such properties: Chelsea Tower, Magruder’s Discovery, Paint Branch, and
Shady Grove Apartments.
Opportunity Housing. This is a non-technical term that HOC uses for its broad range of non-federally subsidized housing types owned by HOC
and located throughout the County. They may be multifamily developments or scattered sites. Usually, they serve lower or moderate income people,
rather than those of very low income. Some of HOC’s multifamily Opportunity Housing developments are Chevy Chase Lake, Fairfax Court,
Greenhills, Pooks Hill Tower, Sligo Hills, and Tanglewood.
Mixed Income Properties. HOC is a national leader in developing mixed income housing, a type of Opportunity Housing which includes market rate
units and affordable units in the same development. The rents on the market rate units, which may be either moderate or high end luxury rents,
subsidize the lower rents on the affordable units. HOC’s mixed income portfolio includes The Barclay, The Glen, The Oaks at Four Corners,
Montgomery Arms, and Spring Gardens as moderate mixed income developments and Alexander House, Kensington Park, The Metropolitan, Pooks Hill
Mid-Rise, Strathmore Court, Timberlawn Crescent, and Westwood Tower as high end mixed income developments.
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Partnerships. The federal government makes available tax credits to be used to fund affordable housing.
Investors, usually local businesses, purchase the tax credits, thus lowering their tax burden, and enter into partnership with HOC to purchase
housing that is rented to moderate income households. HOC manages 467 scattered site units that were funded this way, as well as Manchester Manor
and Pond Ridge multifamily developments.
Scattered Sites. HOC owns about 1600 scattered site units, which are individual units located throughout the County. Most often, they are
townhouses purchased through the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program operated by the County. The MPDU law requires that any development
of over 50 units must include about 12-15% moderately priced units. One-third of these are offered for sale to HOC. Over the years, HOC has
acquired units, using funding from public housing, the State Partnership Rental Housing Program, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the McHome
program, and other sources. Rental of the scattered site units, other than public housing units, is handled through the East Deer Park office at
(240) 773-9350.
Rental Supplement Program. This is a County-funded program in five privately owned rental properties. It provides a shallow rental subsidy of
$250 to $350 per month to working poor households. The program is administered by the individual properties and monitored by HOC.
Approximately 200 households are served per year. HOC Contact (240) 773-9335.
HOC Financing & Homeownership Programs
Multifamily Mortgage Financing. HOC provides low interest mortgage financing to private developers, both for-profit and non-profit, by
issuing tax-exempt revenue bonds. A portion of these units are set aside for rent to low and moderate income households.
Single Family Mortgage Program. HOC provides low interest loans to first-time moderate-income
homebuyers by issuing tax-exempt revenue bonds. Approximately 200 new homebuyers are served per year. HOC Contact (240) 773-9195.
Closing Cost Assistance Loan Program. Known by the initials CCAP, this program will lend
low and moderate income first-time homebuyers up to $7,500 for a down payment or other costs associated with purchasing a home.
HOC serves approximately 400 new homebuyers each year. As of July 2002, this program is being phased out. A new Closing Cost Grant program is
being offered by HOC. HOC Contact (240) 773-9195.
Neighborhood Initiative Program. HOC provides low rate mortgages to encourage homeownership in communities with many renter-occupied homes.
The areas include Connecticut Avenue Estates, Long Branch, and McKendree. HOC Contact (240) 773-9195.
HOC Home Ownership Program. This program is for HOC residents only. We
provide counseling to help families with at least $24,000 income prepare for homeownership. HOC pre-qualifies the families and keeps a waiting list.
A portion of the MPDUs that HOC purchases each year are sold to families on the waiting list. About 50 to 60 households become homebuyers every
year. HOC Contact (240) 773-9000.
HOC’s Housing with Integrated Services
Supportive Housing Program. This program provides subsidized housing, case
management, and intensive services to 170 previously homeless households in nine different programs funded by Montgomery County and HUD.
Three-fourths of the units are permanent housing for adults with disabilities, and one-fourth are transitional units for families who
remain in the program for up to two years. Households must be homeless and utilizing services through the County before they are eligible to be
referred for the program. HOC Contact (240) 773-9304.
State Rental Allowance Program (RAP). Homeless households can receive one to two years of rental assistance through this program.
Clients must be referred through a County service provider, who must agree to provide case management during the period of RAP assistance.
HOC serves about 45 households per year. HOC Contact (240) 773-9335.
RAP to Work Program. This State funded program provides assistance similar to the RAP program, but specifically for welfare-to-work families.
Participants must meet requirements related to Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) and work requirements. They must be referred through the
County Department of Health and Human Services and receive case management during the period of RAP assistance. HOC serves about 40 families
per year. HOC Contact (240) 773-9335.
Shelter Plus Care. This HUD grant program provides rental assistance to 45 homeless singles with mental
illness. Participants rent units in the private market and pay 30% of their income toward rent. The County provides intensive mental health
services to all participants. Participants must be homeless, participating in County services, and referred by homeless service providers to
enter the program. HOC Contact (240) 773-9335.
Family Unification Program. This Section 8 set-aside program provides rental assistance to families at risk of foster care placements due to
lack of housing or who can be re-unified if housing is secured. Families must be identified through the County Department of Health and Human
Services and receive case management services from the County. HOC Contact (240) 773-9300.
Veterans Administration Housing Support (VASH). This is a Section 8 set-aside program which provides rental
assistance to homeless veterans with severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorders. Veterans must be screened by the Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center and receive comprehensive health and other community-based supportive services.
HOC Service Programs
Core Counseling Services. Resident Counselors are assigned to public housing units, both multifamily and scattered sites, and elderly as well
as family units; to other scattered sites; to other selected multifamily properties; and to the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Counselors provide
crisis intervention, complaint resolution, information and referral, and counseling with the goal of helping residents retain their housing,
maximize potential, and increase self-sufficiency. HOC Contact (301) 929-2360.
Family Resource Centers. HOC has five centers which provide a broad range of activities and services which
help residents pursue their education, improve their skills, provide positive activities for children and youth, and promote healthy family and
social interactions. HOC Contact (240) 773-9327.
Emergency Assistance. Staff at Detrick Ave., East Deer Park, and the County HHS Silver Spring
office assist HOC residents with emergency assistance such as eviction prevention and utility disconnect prevention. HOC Contact (301) 929-2360.
Substance Abuse Prevention Program. The Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator addresses problems of substance abuse among HOC residents
through education programs, assessments, interventions, referrals to treatment, monitoring, and follow-up. HOC Contact (240) 631-1856.
Resident Temporary Assistance Program (ReTAP). This HOC program provides loans or grants in the form of rent reductions to residents
experiencing a loss of income due to a crisis which can be resolved within 12 months. Only residents of Opportunity Housing are eligible.
Residents of public housing or the Housing Choice Voucher Program are not eligible. HOC Contact (240) 773-9279.
Revolving Security Deposit Loan Program. HOC provides loans to participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, to assist them in
paying their security deposit. HOC Contact (301) 929-6786.
Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS). This program assists families in public housing and the Housing
Choice Voucher programs to achieve self-sufficiency over a five-to seven-year period and to end dependency on all public benefits such as
welfare, food stamps, medical assistance, and child care subsidies. HOC has a maximum of 441 households participating in this program.
HOC Contact (301) 929-5679.
Employment Initiative Program. Through support groups, training programs, volunteer work experiences, and job opportunities, this
program helps HOC residents reach for jobs with livable wages and career potential. HOC Contact (301) 929-6786.
Services to People with Disabilities. This program has the mission of improving HOC’s service to people with disabilities in a
manner which is practical, cost-effective, and in compliance with pertinent laws and regulations. HOC Contact (240) 773-9305.
Housing Counseling Program. This State-funded program assists low-income families or singles who are homeless or in imminent danger of
becoming homeless to locate, secure, and maintain permanent housing. Clients must be referred by a case manager from a County service provider,
and clients must have either a subsidy or enough income to afford market rate housing. HOC Contact (240) 773-9335.
Volunteer Program. HOC’s Volunteer Coordinator expands and enhances HOC programs agency-wide
through the recruitment and placement of volunteers. The program also seeks donations of resources and services. HOC Contact (240) 773-9331.
For More Information
Housing Resource Service (HRS). HRS provides up-to-date information on available housing programs. HRS can be reached via the internet at
www.hocmc.org. The phone number is (240) 773-9000; choose number 1.
HOC’s Website. The agency website,
at www.hocmc.org, has a wealth of information about HOC and its housing programs.
HOC’s Intranet. HOC’s
internal website, specifically for agency staff, has much valuable information about HOC’s organization, programs, staff, contact information,
and forms. Staff can reach the intranet through their computer desktop.
