Resident Advisory Board Elections

HOC Residents: Your Opinion Matters

Make your voice heard on the HOC Resident Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB assists HOC in carrying out its responsibilities by bringing residents’ voices to decisions that affect the wellbeing of all HOC community residents.

Applications are now being accepted to identify candidates for the upcoming RAB election, which will take place in August.

RAB Seats

The RAB consists of nine seats. The nine seats shall have no limitation on the number of consecutive terms that each member may serve. All seats on the RAB shall be for a term of three years.

• Three Tenant Based Voucher (TBV) Program Seats — only residents participating in the TBV Program are eligible to hold a TBV Program Seat on the RAB.
• One Supportive Housing (SH) Program Seat — only residents participating in the SH Program are eligible to hold a SH Program Seat on the RAB.
• One Project Based Voucher (PBV) Program Seat — only residents participating in the PBV Program are eligible to hold a PBV Program Seat on the RAB.
• One Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program Seat — only residents participating in the LIHTC Program are eligible to hold the LIHTC Program Seat on the RAB.
• Three Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) Program Seats — only residents participating in the PBRA Program are eligible to hold a PBRA Program Seat on the RAB.

RAB Eligibility

To be eligible for RAB, a resident must be in full compliance with his/her respective housing lease and/or the requirements of the housing program in which he/she is participates (e.g., Tenant Based Voucher Program, Project Based Voucher Program, Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, etc.). Additionally, residents must also be the head of household or at least 18 years of age and named on the lease for the unit in which they reside.

• Only residents participating in the Tenant Based Voucher (TBV)are eligible to hold a TBV Program Seat on the RAB.
• Only residents participating in the Supportive Housing (SH) Program are eligible to hold a SH Program Seat on the RAB.
• Only residents participating in the Project Based Voucher (PBV) are eligible to hold a PBV Program Seat on the RAB.
• Only residents participating in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program are eligible to hold the LIHTC Program Seat on the RAB.
• Only residents participating in the Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) are eligible to hold a PBRA Program Seat on the RAB.

Member Duties & Responsibilities

All RAB members must perform the following general duties and responsibilities.

• Attend and participate in scheduled RAB meetings every third Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m.;
• Communicate with and advocate for low- and moderate-income residents of Montgomery County;
• Follow all RAB policies, guidelines, and procedures; and
• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times while representing the RAB and participating in all RAB related activities.

Subject to the availability of funding, all RAB members shall each receive a $25 stipend for each regular monthly meeting attended.

How to Apply to Join RAB

If you are interested in applying to become a Resident Advisory Board (RAB) member, you may submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026.

There are two ways to submit your application:

• Apply electronically via this form.
• To apply in-person, you may visit one of HOC’s two Customer Service Centers:
  • Bonifant Service Center: 880 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
  • Derwood Service Center: 16105 Columbus Avenue, Suite #200, Derwood, MD 20855

Apply for RAB Online Download a RAB Application

How to Participate in the RAB Election

Voting in the 2026 RAB election will take place Aug. 18 and 19, 2026.

To be eligible to vote, you must be a head of household and named on the housing unit lease. Additionally, you may only cast a vote for candidates seeking election for the program seat that you are a part of (e.g., Supportive Housing residents can only vote for the SH Program seat, etc.).

There are two ways to cast your ballot:

Vote Electronically

1. To vote electronically, you must submit a request via this form
2. The deadline to request an e-ballot is Aug. 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
3. If you are found to be an eligible voter, your digital ballot will be sent to you at the email address you provide at the start of the voting period
4. The ballot will be provided by electionrunner.com
   • The email from electionrunner.com is SAFE to open
   • In the email you will receive a unique code to cast your vote
   • If you don’t see it in your Inbox, please check your SPAM folder
5. Cast only one vote for the one candidate of your choice
   • Press the button next to the candidate of your choice
   • Press the “submit” button
6. A confirmation page will appear reading “Thank you, your vote has been registered.”

Vote In-Person

To vote in person, visit one of the following HOC office locations on Aug. 18 or 19, 2026. You will receive a paper ballot to cast your vote. The paper ballot will be sealed and only accessible by the election administrator.

• Bonifant Service Center: 880 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
• Derwood Service Center: 16105 Columbus Avenue, Suite #200, Derwood, MD 20855

For more information or for any questions, please call (240) 627-9400 or email HOC.RAB@hocmc.org.