The Fund the Trust Act hit an unexpected speedbump on the road to providing sustained funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. As a result, our lunch-and-learns this week are cancelled.

Lead sponsors of the bill continue to express support for funding the Trust, but won’t be pushing for a hearing on the bill until after the Task Force on Improving Baltimore City’s Housing Program meets and concludes its work. This is unlikely to happen before December, hence the cancellation of our lunch-and-learns this week.

That said, we’re working with our coalition partners to FUND THE TRUST and we’re building our capacity and networks to become stronger advocates for affordable housing in Baltimore City.

We will provide updates and opportunities for involvement in advocacy efforts periodically, but here are some things you can do right now:

• KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! Residents: Call or meet with your councilperson. Urge them to prioritize both funding the Trust and moving the Task Force in 2018. And encourage others to do the same by sharing this graphic on social media. Elected officials need to know that the community must have MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING!
• SUPPORT COALITION PARTNERS! Join them for their Days of Democracy and Baltimore Housing Roundtable meeting.