BALTIMORE — The Housing Authority of Baltimore City is trying to do their part in helping federal workers affected by the government shutdown.
The HABC announced on Monday they are asking landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher program to work with furloughed feds who cannot pay their portion of the rent during the shutdown.
Under the program, tenants pay approximately 30 percent of their income toward rent and the Housing Authority pays the remainder.
“Landlords will continue to receive the Housing Authority’s portion of the rent payment at the beginning of the month but federal workers may not be in a position to pay their portion,” said HABC Executive Director Janet Abrahams. “We have 162 federal employees living in homes being supported by our voucher program. They have enough stresses on their lives right now without fearing they will be evicted. We are planning to ask these property owners to show compassion.”
Outside of the voucher program, the HABC says they also provide homes to 64 federal employees who are also not going to be evicted during the shutdown.
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“Like most Americans, we are hopeful the shutdown ends soon but for now while the standoff continues I want low-income families, seniors and disabled citizens of Baltimore who we serve to know they can count on us,” Abrahams said.
Abrahams says even though the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is closed, the agency will still fund Housing Choice and public housing programs at the start of February.
The HABC also says they have a reserve fund that would continue to run normal operations through June should the shutdown continue.
