About the Housing Opportunities Commission

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is a quasi-governmental organization formed in 1974. HOC’s mission is to provide people with low and moderate incomes the opportunity to live in high-quality, safe, and affordable housing in Montgomery County. We strengthen families by offering opportunities for personal and economic growth through partnerships and supportive services.

It is our vision that everyone in Montgomery County has access to the safe, affordable, high-quality housing and attendant services that they need to reach their fullest potential.

To deliver on our vision and mission, HOC operates as a Public Housing Authority, a Housing Finance Agency and a Public Developer.

As Montgomery County’s designated PHA and HFA, HOC develops housing, provides mortgage financing to developers and first-time homebuyers, manages various rental units, administers rental subsidy programs (including the Housing Choice Voucher Program) and provides counseling and support services.

HOC is the county’s largest owner and operator of high-quality, amenity-rich affordable housing. The agency serves more than 20,000 Montgomery County households through a variety of innovative housing programs.

HOC is empowered by the State of Maryland and governed by seven volunteer commissioners, each of whom serve five-year terms. Daily operations are led and conducted by the President and HOC staff.

Our History

The Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) was established in 1939 as the Housing Authority of Montgomery County. The agency derived its power from state legislation after the County government found a public need for affordable housing. HOC’s current structure dates back to 1974, when state and local laws were amended to expand the housing mission for the County and provided HOC with the authority to issue tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. Additionally, the County adopted its own Opportunity Housing Act, giving itself broad housing powers. This mechanism allows HOC to create its own housing programs without the assistance of federal subsidy by purchasing units, predominantly through the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program.

Throughout the 1970s, HOC primarily developed federally funded public and assisted housing in accordance with federal regulations that mandate 10 percent of those homes for low-income residents. To accommodate Montgomery County’s moderate-income households, HOC managed Section 236 projects owned by separate non-profit boards. It also administered Section 8 rental subsidy certificates for the County, which now is called the Housing Choice Voucher program.