Affordable Housing Workgroup

Charles County is working to develop and implement a comprehensive affordable housing strategy to increase the availability of affordable housing.

According to data, 30% of homeowners and 45% percent of renters in Charles County are cost burdened - meaning they are paying equal to or greater than 30% of their income towards housing costs. Additionally, according to the most recent Charles County community survey (August – October 2023), only 22% of residents are satisfied with the availability of affordable housing.

Because so many households are cost-burdened, it is more difficult for low- and moderate-income households to own or rent a place to live. This results in increased demand for services and support to meet basic needs, including food, utilities, and transportation.

A lack of affordable housing also has cascading implications for economic development and growth, particularly for recruitment and retention of employees at the top five employers in Charles County.

As a subgroup of the Planning Commission, an Affordable Housing Workgroup was formed with the responsibility of reviewing and recommending policies and programs that will expand Charles County’s supply of housing that is safe, affordable, equitable, and of high quality. The Workgroup will evaluate strategies and develop recommendations for discussion with the Planning Commission, host public discussions, and seek approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

Resources:

1. The Housing Mapping and Data Dashboard consolidates housing supply and needs data into comparable geographies to aid jurisdictions with local analyses for housing planning. Simply put, utilizing the dashboard, local planners can assess current housing characteristics and consider future housing needs based on affordable housing demand and supply.

   Use the search bar in the top left of the Dashboard to access housing-related information for Charles County.

2. Affordable Housing in Charles County Flyer

3. Affordable Housing Workgroup Meetings

4. Charles County Now: Affordable Housing - Watch this episode of "Charles County Now" to learn more about affordable housing, why it is important, and what's being done to create more options in Charles County.