Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership Quarterly Newsletter
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"Baltimore City should not be viewed as an island reservation for use as a container for all the poor of a contiguous region..."
- Judge Marvin Garbis, U.S. District Court, Ruling in Thompson v. HUD, 2005
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Message from the Executive Director
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I hope this newsletter finds you well as we enter into the spring season.
BRHP has been busy kicking off 2020 with a vision to advance opportunity, equity, and justice in our community.
As you may know, we began administering the
Baltimore Housing Mobility Program
in 2012. Over the past 8 years, our organization has grown from one employee to 49, and we've become the third largest provider of assisted housing in the Baltimore region.
What you also know (if you attended our Thompson 25 events) is that 25 years ago a lawsuit launched the work we do today. In 1995, the
ACLU of Maryland
filed
Thompson v. HUD
on behalf of 14,000 African American public housing residents in Baltimore to fight over a century of concentrated poverty and segregated public housing in the city.
This February, we commemorated the 25th anniversary of the landmark housing desegregation lawsuit by opening our doors to our families, board members, property partners, and new stakeholders for an event series that you'll read more about in this newsletter.
As we all know, the collective work continues to ensure that everyone across the state of Maryland, regardless of socioeconomic status and source of income, has access to safe, affordable, healthy housing, and the legal protections to live a high quality of life they rightfully deserve.
We will continue to open our doors to you, our partners, to work together to expand opportunity for others.
Adria Crutchfield
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On Feb. 18, we held an open house at our office for the community to learn more about our services up close and personal. We mixed and mingled and even provided tours of our freshly painted office space.
Our staff enjoyed sharing details about their work with various attendees, including representatives from property management, government agencies, academia, and civil rights organizations.
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Maryland delegates OK housing anti-discrimination bill...
After more than two decades of failure, Maryland lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants based on how they pay their rent, including with government housing vouchers. Light applause ...
Read more
www.baltimoresun.com
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Couldn't make Thompson 25? Watch it on YouTube!
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Our first Medium article!
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25 years of creating better futures with housing and...
This Black History Month, we celebrate a legal decision whose legacy stretches far and wide in creating more housing options for low-income families. Twenty five years ago, 14,000 Black public housing residents from Baltimore City and a group of...
Read more
medium.com
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Congratulations to our very own Bert Hash, Jr., a Black History Hero
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In celebration of Black History Month, The Cordish Companies, Live! Casino & Hotel and the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA) celebrated the
7th annual Black History Heroes Awards
. The ceremony held at Live! Center Stage recognized ten Maryland and DC business and community leaders who have contributed to their communities and citizens in a positive way.
Congratulations to BRHP Board Member
Bert J. Hash, Jr.
for being recognized with the Black History Hero Award for his dedication and service to the community. We value your leadership and support and celebrate your well-deserved honor.
Prior to his retirement, Bert served as president and CEO of the Municipal Employees Credit Union (MECU). Since then, he has remained a steady supporter and creator of programs and endowments focused on scholarship in business, science, and other fields.
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Spring forward and check your smoke alarms
Have you tested your smoke alarm yet? Now is the time to test your smoke alarms and replace them if they are 10 years old. Watch this short video from the
National Fire Protection Association
for tips and maintenance of your smoke alarms.
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Get smart about your tax return
Tax season is upon us. Use your tax return or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) towards a rainy day savings fund or home repairs.
Need help preparing your taxes? The
Maryland CASH Campaign
provides free tax preparation to people earning less than $56,000 per year. Their certified tax preparers are IRS-trained.
Read more
.
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Shape the future for your family
Every 10 years, the census counts everyone living in the United States. It is important to count every person living in your home to make sure your community and others across the nation are accurately funded and represented for the next decade.
Count everyone in your home, from grandpa to the new baby!
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Register to vote
We have the freedom to choose our leaders and engage on the issues we care about. Our vote gives us that power. Maryland's primary election is
April 28, 2020
and the deadline to register to vote online or by mail is
April 7, 2020
. Read more guidance on registering to vote on the
Maryland State Board of Elections
website
here
.
Has your address recently changed?
Read this
.
Do you know where your local polling station is?
Read this
.
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Coronavirus: Everyone has a role to play to reduce the spread
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While there is currently no vaccine for the coronavirus, the community can take measures to reduce the spread. Everyone has a role to play in responding to this public health threat. The
CDC
has offered interim guidance to help your household plan, prepare, and respond.
Read more
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About the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership
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The
Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP)
helps families with low incomes, who have historically been excluded from housing in neighborhoods of their choice, access and transition successfully to safe, healthy, and economically vibrant communities. Since becoming the formal administrator of the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program, which couples Housing Choice Voucher administration with counseling supports, BRHP has helped over 5,000 families with young children improve their quality of life as they search for new homes.
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