Notice of Publication of FY 2026 Annual PHA Plan and Five-Year PHA Plan

Notice of Publication
Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 through FY 2030 Five-Year Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan and FY 2026 Annual PHA Plan

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) has developed proposed revisions and new additions for its FY 2026-FY 2030 Five-Year Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan and FY 2026 Annual PHA Plan, in compliance with the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. The Plan will update HOC’s future goals and objectives, and progress towards meeting the goals described in its FY 2020-2024 Five-Year PHA Plan. The revised and updated PHA Plan will serve as HOC’s FY 2026-FY 2030 Five-Year PHA Plan.

These proposed changes to HOC’s PHA Plans and supporting documents are available for public review and comment on HOC’s website, www.hocmc.org. Materials are also available upon request at HOC’s administrative offices: Main Office: 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895; East Deer Park Office: 231 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; Silver Spring Service Center: 880 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Derwood Service Center: 16105 Columbus Avenue Suite 200, Derwood, MD 20855.

  1. HOC FY 2026 Proposed Five-Year PHA Plan
  2. HOC FY 2026 Proposed Annual PHA Plan
  3. Form HUD-50077-ST-HCV-HP – PHA Certifications of Compliance with the PHA Plans and Related Regulations
  4. Form HUD-50077-CR – Civil Rights Certification
  5. Form HUD-50077-SL – Certification by State or Local Official of PHA Plans Consistency with the Consolidated Plan or State Consolidated Plan
  6. Resident Advisory Board (RAB) comments on PHA Plan (coming soon)
  7. Current MD004-HOC Five Year PHA Plan (FY 2020-2024) and MD004-HOC FY 2025 Annual PHA Plans
  8. Housing Choice Voucher Family Self Sufficiency Action Plan
  9. Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan
  10. Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP)
  11. HOC’s Grievance Procedures
  12. Public Housing Capital Fund Program Five-Year Action Plan: 2017-2021
  13. HOC’s Violence Against Women Act Policy

The public comment period for these documents begins Monday, February 3, 2025 and ends on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. To be considered, all written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. March 19, 2025. All written public comments may be directed by mail to Darcel Cox, Vice President of Compliance, at 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895, or e-mailed to plancomments@hocmc.org.

HOC will hold a public hearing on these documents at 1:00pm on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The public may observe the hearing in person at the Main Office or virtually via You Tube live-stream (see below) with closed captioning and/or teleconference. There will be an opportunity to provide oral comments on the day of the public hearing in person or virtually. Questions regarding observation or participation in the public hearing can be directed to Imani Benjamin-Johnson, Executive Assistant to the President, at (240) 627-9549, Maryland Relay Number 711 (TTY), or imani.benjamin-johnson@hocmc.org.

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Notice of Publication (Updated): Proposed Revisions to the HCV Administrative Plan

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) has developed proposed revisions and new additions to its Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan. These proposed changes to the HOC Administrative Plan are available for public review and comment on HOC’s website, www.hocmc.org. Materials are also available upon request at HOC’s administrative offices: Main Office: 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895; East Deer Park Office: 231 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; Silver Spring Service Center: 880 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Derwood Service Center: 16105 Columbus Avenue Suite 200., Derwood, MD 20855. Proposed revisions to the HOC Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan:

The public comment period for these documents begins on Monday, October 14, 2024 and ends on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. All written public comments may be directed by mail to Darcel Cox, Vice President of Compliance, at 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895, or e-mailed to plancomments@hocmc.org. To be considered, all written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. HOC will hold a public hearing for approval of the proposed changes at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The public may observe the hearing in person at the Main Office or virtually via You Tube live-stream (see below) with closed captioning and/or teleconference. There will be an opportunity to provide oral comments on the day of the public hearing in person or virtually. Questions regarding observation or participation in the public hearing can be directed Imani Benjamin-Johnson, Executive Assistant to the President, at (240) 627-9549, Maryland Relay Number 711 (TTY), or imani.benjamin-johnson@hocmc.org.   View Via You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9geIzJTr9mI If you require any aides or services to fully participate in this meeting, please call (240) 627-9549, Maryland Relay Number 711 (TTY), or email imani.benjamin-johnson@hocmc.org.

The public comment period for these documents begins on Monday, November 4, 2024 and ends on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. All written public comments may be directed by mail to Chelsea Andrews, Executive Director, at 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895, or e-mailed to plancomments@hocmc.org. To be considered, all written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

HOC will hold a public hearing for approval of the proposed changes at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The public may observe the hearing in person at the Main Office or virtually via You Tube live-stream (see below) with closed captioning and/or teleconference. There will be an opportunity to provide oral comments on the day of the public hearing in person or virtually. Questions regarding observation or participation in the public hearing, in person or virtually, can be directed Imani Benjamin-Johnson, Executive Assistant to the President, at 240-627-9549 or via email at imani.benjamin-johnson@hocmc.org. View Via You Tube: https://youtube.com/live/0xk3RB34UTo?feature=share

The public comment period for these documents begins on Friday, December 6, 2024 and ends on Monday, January 6, 2025. All written public comments may be directed by mail to Chelsea Andrews, Executive Director, at 10400 Detrick Avenue, Kensington, Maryland 20895, or e-mailed to plancomments@hocmc.org. To be considered, all written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025.

HOC will hold a public hearing for approval of the proposed changes at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The public may observe the hearing in person at the Main Office or virtually via You Tube live-stream (see below) with closed captioning and/or teleconference. There will be an opportunity to provide oral comments on the day of the public hearing in person or virtually. Questions regarding observation or participation in the public hearing, in person or virtually, can be directed Imani Benjamin-Johnson, Executive Assistant to the President, at 240-627-9549 or via email at imani.benjamin-johnson@hocmc.org. View Via You Tube: https://youtube.com/live/vi2YQ-S7q3E?feature=share If you require any aids or services to fully participate in these meetings, please call 240-627-9421, Maryland Relay Number 711 (TTY), or email commissioners@hocmc.org.

HOC President Andrews To Introduce Housing Production Fund (HPF) To Global Mayors Audience At Bloomberg CityLab Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

October 14, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: Tia Blount, VP Public Affairs & Communications tia.blount@hocmc.org

Kensington, Md. – Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) President & Executive Director Chelsea Andrews will highlight the successes of the innovative Housing Production Fund (HPF) to a global audience of mayors from 40 countries at the upcoming Bloomberg CityLab summit.

More than 500 mayors, policymakers, innovators and others from six continents will gather Oct. 14-16 in Mexico City for the eleventh annual event, which is organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies in conjunction with the Aspen Institute.

The HPF is a $100 million revolving loan fund that provides low-cost construction financing for mixed-income, publicly-owned new developments. Created in partnership with  Montgomery County in 2021, HOC currently projects that the HPF will contribute to the creation of over 3,000 new housing units by 2030. The innovative local financing model has been covered extensively in national media, including the New York Times and National Public Radio (NPR) and was awarded the 2024 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability.

“I’m honored to represent HOC to such a distinguished international audience and to share Montgomery County’s progressive, dynamic thought leadership in creating the innovative HPF to address the critical shortage of affordable housing,” said Andrews.

“Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported many cities’ innovation efforts and we are looking forward to showcasing them and more at our eleventh CityLab summit. We hope they inspire other cities to raise their ambitions, learn from one another, and spread ideas that can move the world forward,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th mayor of New York City.

The HPF is the financing vehicle for 13 projects in HOC’s real estate development pipeline, including The Laureate, HOC’s 268-unit mixed-income, mixed-use development in the Derwood community of Rockville that opened in 2023, and Hillandale Gateway at the interchange between New Hampshire Avenue and the Capital Beltway in Silver Spring. HOC broke ground on the 463-unit mixed-income, mixed-use, intergenerational community Sept. 18. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027.

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About HOC

HOC serves more than 20,000 Montgomery County households through a variety of innovative housing programs. HOC owns more than 9,400 apartment, townhome and single-family home rental properties, provides rental assistance to more than 7,700 low-income households through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and an additional 1,600 households through other types of subsidized housing programs. HOC has also financed more than 4,000 affordable units for other developers and currently has a pipeline of 13 projects in various stages of the development process from design to construction. It has helped more than 2,000 households purchase a home through homeownership and mortgage finance programs. Visit HOC.

Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County Closes Hillandale Gateway Financing, Fully Funding Second HPF Transaction and HOC’s First Passive House & Zero-Net Energy Buildings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Tia Blount
VP Public Affairs & Communications
tia.blount@hocmc.org

Kensington, Md. – The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is excited to announce that it has closed on more than $303 million in financing for Hillandale Gateway, fully funding a new mixed-income, mixed-use, intergenerational community at the interchange between New Hampshire Avenue and the Capital Beltway in Silver Spring.

Hillandale Gateway represents the largest investment in residential housing in the East County in more than half a century and is being developed in partnership with The Duffie Companies and PS Ventures. It is being constructed to what is generally considered the world’s most rigorous above code minimum building standard – Passive House. Passive House construction methodologies will enhance the buildings’ comfort, durability, and resiliency while significantly reducing energy consumption.  Upon completion, Hillandale Gateway will be among Maryland’s only and the state’s largest passive house multifamily community. Additionally, the Radia at Hillandale Gateway is planned to be Maryland’s first Zero-Net Energy multifamily residential building.  

The financing of Hillandale Gateway caps off a nearly 10-year effort to redevelop the former Holly Hall Apartments, a Public Housing site comprising 96 units, which was converted under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program.  The new development will deliver 463 residential units in two high-rise buildings. The project will consist of the Radia at Hillandale Gateway, which will provide 155 homes for seniors aged 62 and greater, while the adjacent Lumina at Hillandale Gateway will include 308 multi-generational homes for individuals, couples and families. Fifty-four percent (54%) of the overall development will be affordable at a range of income levels from 30% – 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

The Housing Production Fund (HPF) will provide $35 million in construction financing for the Hillandale development. The HPF is a $100 million revolving loan fund that provides low-cost construction financing for mixed-income, publicly-owned new developments like Hillandale Gateway. Created in partnership with  Montgomery County in 2021, HOC currently projects that the HPF will contribute to the creation of over 3,000 new housing units by 2030. The innovative local financing model that has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and was awarded the 2024 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability

“Hillandale Gateway, HOC’s largest new construction project to date, will provide hundreds of much-needed affordable and market-rate homes in Montgomery County,” said HOC President and Executive Director Chelsea Andrews. “It will foster economic growth in line with the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan and be a catalyst for revitalization in eastern Montgomery County. Hillandale Gateway also will set new benchmarks in sustainability and high-performance development in the County.”

“We are honored to be developing such forward-thinking projects in partnership with HOC,” said Shane Pollin, principal, PS Ventures, LLC. “These all-electric buildings are targeting Passive House certification and incorporate best practices in building science. Hillandale Gateway evidences true leadership in the built environment. We are pleased to be able to share our expertise in sustainable building development on such great projects with such outstanding partners.”

The site will include a significant renewable energy system in the form of rooftop solar on both multifamily buildings and the parking garage, as well as on the prominent southern façade of the parking garage. This system is anticipated to be sufficient to allow The Radia to become Zero-Net Energy – producing as much energy as it consumes annually. The Radia will also contain a space designated to serve as a resiliency hub during emergencies, providing essential services like emergency power for device charging, refrigeration/freezer space for items like medication and mother’s milk, and heating to both residents and the surrounding community.

Central to its design is the promotion of community engagement and public accessibility. The development features expansive public and private green space, including an amphitheater, and enhancements such as a new bus transit center, extensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure and commercial, retail and restaurant space. 

The project’s total financing of $303 million in the form of private and public debt as well as other sources including over $52 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Equity, $16 million in Montgomery County Housing Initiative Funding (HIF), $10 million in Montgomery County Green Bank financing and more than $2.5 million in State grants.

Other financial partners include Wells Fargo, Citi Community Capital, Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs, State of Maryland DHCD: Multifamily Energy Efficiency & Housing Affordability Program (MEEHA), Maryland Energy Administration, FHA, PNC Bank, N.A., and HOC.

“This is a significant achievement for Montgomery County, and the Montgomery County Green Bank is proud to collaborate with the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and other financial partners on this momentous project,” said Stephen Morel, CEO of Montgomery County Green Bank. “With Hillandale Gateway, we are one step closer to achieving the County’s climate goals by leveraging innovative partnerships to make clean energy and climate-resilient solutions more accessible and affordable for all.”

As part of the financing structure, HOC closed on the issuance of $17,475,000 of 2024 Series A Multifamily Housing Development Bonds (MHDB) and $176,000,000 of tax-exempt indebtedness with three private lenders utilizing $76.2 million of private activity volume cap.

Construction is projected to be completed in early 2027, with occupancy and stabilization expected in the agency’s 2028 fiscal year.

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About HOC

HOC serves more than 20,000 Montgomery County households through a variety of innovative housing programs. HOC owns more than 9,400 apartment, townhome and single-family home rental properties, provides rental assistance to more than 7,700 low-income households through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and an additional 1,600 households through other types of subsidized housing programs. HOC has also financed more than 4,000 affordable units for other developers and currently has a pipeline of 13 projects in various stages of the development process from design to construction. It has helped more than 2,000 households purchase a home through homeownership and mortgage finance programs. Visit HOC.