The Acceffory, Shared, and Sheltered Housing Pro-
gram provides loans to limited-income home own-
ers for housing modifications that create accessory
dwelling units or provide for shared housing ar-
rangements. Home owners also may receive loans
to modify housing in order to provide sheltered
housing for up to fifteen income-eligible elderly,
handicapped, or disabled persons.
The Group Home Acquisition Program (GHAP) was
authorized by the General Assembly in 1986 and is
funded with special funds. GHAP provides financing
to nonprofit organizations to acquire and modify
housing for group homes and temporary and emer-
gency shelters that serve low-income persons.
The Special Housing Opportunities Program
(SHOP) provides funding to nonprofit organiza-
tions (as defined by Internal Revenue Code, sec.
501(c)(3)) and local development agencies to con-
struct or acquire and modify existing housing as
shelter for persons with special housing needs. Cre-
ated in 1991, the program complements the Group
Home Acquisition Program and is funded by tax-
exempt revenue bonds.
By making low-interest loans available for repair
and renovation, the Maryland Housing Rehabilitation
Program—Single Family (MHRP—SF) preserves the
State's stock of existing owner-occupied one- to four-
unit dwellings. Owner-occupants and tenants of rent-
al properties must meet income guidelines established
by the Administration. MHRP—SF is administered
under the same funding as MHRP—MF. The Livabil-
ity Code Rehabilitation Program was merged into
MHRP—SF on July 1,1990.
The Home and Energy Loan Program—Single Fam-
ily (HELP—SF) finances loans for energy conserva-
tion and home improvements in owner-occupied
one- to four-unit dwellings. Loans are administered
by the Community Development Administration,
local housing agencies, and participating lenders.
Owner-occupants and tenants of rental properties
must meet income guidelines established by the
Administration. HELP—SF is administered under
the same funding as HELP—MF.

RENTAL SERVICE PROGRAMS
Phillip L. Katzung, Director
(410) 514-7490

Under the Community Development Admini-
stration, Rental Service Programs provides rental
assistance with federal and State funds to low-in-
come families for decent, safe and sanitary housing.
Federal rental assistance funds come to the State
through the U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-
ban Development under the Federal Housing Act
of 1937 (42 USC 1437, as amended). The office
monitors compliance with legal mandates of all
rental developments financed with Community De-

velopment Administration loans and federal Low-
Income Housing Tax Credits.
Under the Section 8 Certificate/Voucher Program,
participating landlords make available to low-in-
come families rental housing that meets occupancy
standards. To qualify, total family income must be
50 percent or less of the median income for the area
in which the housing is located. Through local
administering agencies, the Community Develop-
ment Administration accepts and reviews applica-
tions from prospective tenants for participation in
the program. Families that qualify are issued Cer-
tificates of Family Participation.

Under the Certificate Program, owners who agree
to rent to qualifying families sign a contract with the
Community Development Administration or the lo-
cal administering agency that guarantees payments to
the owner as long as the housing and lease adhere to
federal standards. Through the Community Develop-
ment Administration, the U.S. Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development subsidizes that part of
the rent that exceeds 30 percent of the family's total
income, and unit rent may not exceed the fair market
rent. Individual applicants must find their own hous-
ing. In this way, families may select neighborhoods
that best suit their needs. Under the Voucher Pro-
gram, there is no fair market rent limitation, and
tenants may pay more than 30 percent of their income
for rent if it exceeds the fair market rent.

Other than the elderly, disabled, or handi-
capped, the only single persons automatically eligi-
ble for the Section 8 Certificate/Voucher Program
are those displaced from their previous housing by
governmental actions, or those who are a remaining
member of a tenant family.

The Moderate Rehabilitation Program helps im-
prove existing multifamily rental units that need repair
or renovation. Under the Program, the landlord reha-
bilitates the unit, often with Community Develop-
ment Administration financing. The Administration,
on behalf of the tenants, then commits rent subsidies
to the unit for a period of fifteen years. These rent
subsidies are funded by the federal government. The
Program is part of the Section 8 Existing Program;
however, funding for new projects is not available.

The Rental Rehabilitation Program also is directed
at rental housing in need of repair. The Program
encourages owners of such housing to renovate the
structures by providing the owner with half the cost
of rehabilitating each unit, or up to $8,500 per unit,
whichever is less. Funds are provided by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Rental Allowance Program (RAP) was cre-
ated by the General Assembly in 1986 and was first
funded in 1987. For low-income homeless house-
holds or those with critical or emergency housing
needs, the Program provides short-term rent subsi-
dies. The Program is administered through grants