Housing Law and Information Resources

HOUSING LAW AND INFORMATION RESOURCES

Federal Housing (HUD) –- Public and Subsidized Housing --- Homelessness
Housing and Disability: Discrimination --- Rural Housing
Finding and Buying a Home –- Owning a Home / Remodeling --- Community Development

Federal Housing – HUD
HUD Offices of Lead Hazard Control - This federal site offers users advice and resources - what to do and who to call if you suspect that your residence may be placing you and your family in danger of lead related poisoning. This includes guidelines, and policies that ensure that buyers and tenants of housing have the information they need to protect their children from lead-based paint hazards, and reduce lead-based paint hazards in federally assisted and federally owned housing. Additional information on lead-based paint links to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). See the Maryland Lead Poisoning site

HUD Main Page - This site offers access to HUD’s "Best Practices" database, as well as to a searchable database of housing authority profiles, including contact information, useful for both advocates and others. An index of all federal regulations and notices related to the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 may be accessed from this site as well. A "Resident Characteristics" report is maintained by HUD on this site, which provides aggregate demographic and income information about families who reside in public, Indian or Section 8 Program housing.

Community Connections - This web page is the Information Center of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD). The Center serves State and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, public interest groups, and others interested in housing and community development. The Center serves as a clearinghouse providing users with program regulations; descriptions of model programs; case studies of affordable housing initiatives; publications on a variety of housing and community and economic development topics; funding information; training and conference announcements; and referrals to technical assistance providers.

Public and Subsidized Housing
National Housing Trust - This website offers information on Section 236 and 221(d)(3) rental housing and project-based Section 8 housing. The site contains a database listing, by state (including Maryland), of properties that have opted out of Section 8 as their contracts expire, as well as a database of Section 8 projects whose contracts expire during the year. The National trust page offers information on The Predevelopment Loan Fund. This fund will be used to lend funds, at below market interest rates, to nonprofit housing corporations and seeks to preserve multifamily, affordable housing. The majority of the Trust's predevelopment loans will be provided to purchasers seeking to preserve and improve housing available to very low or low-income households, i.e., those earning less than 50% of median income.

Housing Research Foundation – A not-for-profit organization that has received funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer an Internet web site devoted to providing information and resources to the public regarding the Hope VI program. The site contains information for resident involvement, memorandums of understanding between PHAs and resident councils, Resident Bill of rights for Hope VI programs, descriptions of resident involvement in Hope VI community task forces, counseling homeowners involved in mobility programs (relocating low income families into middle income neighborhoods) etc.

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials - This site includes an index of public housing authorities with websites. The content varies amongst sites, with some offering more comprehensive information than others. Many of the sites however, offer only limited information and a general overview of available programs. The site provides information on NAHRO conferences, a link to the Federal Register, a message board, job listings, and links to current legislation affecting the homeless. Membership applications for housing and community development professionals are available online. NAHRO also helps administer HUD Programs, such as Public Housing, Section 8, CDBG and HOME.

Housing Information Gateway - Established by the University of Colorado’s Campus Compact, this site serves as a gateway to links to housing resources on the Internet. Also offered is a link to the Encyclopedia of Housing, which offers essays on issues ranging from Abandonment to Zoning.

Homelessness
HOMELESS: Weblinks on Homelessness at CSF - Offered by the University of Colorado, this web page acts solely as a link to over 500 Internet sites with information on homelessness in several countries. Links to soup kitchens and shelters both here and abroad are provided. Users may also obtain information on medical care and transitional programs for the homeless.

Association of Gospel Rescue Missions - Formerly the International Union of Gospel Missions and operated as a non-profit organization, the AGRM site offers a search engine which allows users to determine what services or programs such as job training, shelter and food programs are available in a specific area. Links to Mission Service organizations, including some in Maryland, are provided. Users may also find statistics regarding homelessness, as well as volunteering opportunities and the different types of rescue missions on the site.

Homeless People's Network - Hosted by ASPIN, the Arizona Public Information Network (a non-profit organization), this site is a ListServ and discussion forum for those involved in areas affecting homelessness. Useful for both advocates and the general public, this site allows users to post questions, join discussions, and subscribe to various electronic newsletters.

National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness - The mission of the Law Center is to advocate effectively to protect the rights of homeless people and to implement solutions to end homelessness in America. To achieve its mission, the Law Center pursues three main strategies: impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. Advocates who work with the Homeless can find information on national conferences, current programs, as well as browse a library for publications and information on the relationship between homelessness and mental illness.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council - HCH is a non-profit organization involved in attempting to obtain healthcare for homeless persons. Site users can order publications online, search the job list, and volunteer or contribute to the organization’s cause online. Links to current policy and advocacy issues are available, as well as information on participating clinicians across the country. HCH also administers the Tipper Gore Mental Health Outreach Fund, which provides grants to support street outreach to homeless persons with mental illnesses. While the site doesn’t contain any Maryland specific materials, it is resource for federal homeless advocacy.

Housing and Disability - Discrimination
Housing Center for People with Disabilities - This site offers several publications, housing programs, and policies relating to affordable housing, particularly as it relates to persons with disabilities and people who are homeless. Housing programs include HOME, Community Development Block Grant, Section 8 rental assistance (including Section 8 Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities), McKinney Homeless Assistance, Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA). Finally, there is information on available funding for affordable housing, as well as federal policy and legislative updates.

Access to Housing - Published by the non-profit Bazelon Center, the site contains resources on fair housing issues, especially as they relate to people with disabilities. The information is designed for consumers, advocates and landlords. It includes judicial decisions enforcing housing rights of people with disabilities; information on reasonable accommodations used to prevent eviction, early termination of a lease, Section 8, preventing the establishment of a group home, disability discrimination, and rights to emotional support animals in "No Pet" Housing.

Rural Housing
USDA Rural Housing Service - Maintained by the USDA Program designed to assist single rural residents, rural families, and underserved rural residents including farm workers and the elderly living in America’s rural communities, this site offers information on the civil rights and regulations affecting those living in rural areas, as well as information on how to qualify for financial assistance in purchasing or improving a home located in a rural area. Information on programs for lenders and non-profit organizations are available as well.

Housing Assistance Council - This site contains publications, information and resources relating to affordable housing in rural communities. There us also information on loan funds for organizations and entities who deal with affordable rural housing issues. Additional links to contact information which is specifically for Maryland residents: Department of Housing and Community Development of PG County, The Oasis Foundation (nonprofit organization that provides housing and services to people with low incomes living with HIV/AIDS and other developmentally limiting conditions, or senior citizens or persons with special needs who require a continuum of care and services, especially housing and life skills).

Finding and Buying a Home
Real Estate: Renting, Buying and Neighbors - Offered by Nolo, an on-line legal publication source, this site offers access to a legal encyclopedia which deals with various aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship, as well as financial calculators for renters (to determine whether renting is a better option than purchasing a home). The site also provides the latest state court rulings from all 50 states that affect landlords and tenants. Users may purchase forms and publications regarding all aspects of landlord-tenant law. Remember that this is a national site. It is usually a good idea to visit the Maryland information first.

Affordable Housing Industry Information - Although this site belongs to a publishing company, it offers some tools that provide useful national information for the general public, such as current interest rates, mortgage and home services lenders with expertise in the affordable housing field. For businesses, a listing of apartment complexes for sale all over the country is provided. Users may also subscribe to and, for a fee, browse issues of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine.

Home Path- FannieMae Mortgages - Offered by one of the largest mortgage companies, this website provides the general public information on how to apply and qualify for mortgage and other loans, as well as information on Fannie-Mae Investment opportunities. Property listings are also available on the site.

Habitat for Humanity - This site offers information on the non-profit organization’s homebuilding programs for those who would otherwise be unable to afford a home. Users may donate or volunteer online, access the online newsletter, and find out how to qualify for the program, as well as how the program works.

Youthbuild - YouthBuild is a non-profit organization dedicated to constructing or rehabilitating for homeless and low-income people. Projects range from rehabilitating 10-unit buildings to constructing new single-family homes. Finished buildings are rented as affordable housing. The buildings that are rehabilitated or constructed during the program are usually owned and managed by community-based organizations as permanent low-income housing, which set their own qualifications for those interested in obtaining low-income housing. The website offers more information on volunteering opportunities that change monthly and vary from state to state including projects in Maryland.

Affordable Housing Whois - Affordablehousing.com is an industry-specific, searchable database created by and for businesses, non-profits, housing authorities, individuals, consultants and professionals in the affordable housing industry. Users may search the free database for information on various aspects of the industry, such as mortgage rates, affordable housing organizations, home-improvement businesses, and lenders from all over the country.

Community Development
Rural Empowerment Zone and Economic Community Program - This web page is a joint venture by the USDA and HUD, concerning the Empowerment Zone and Economic Community Program. This site is designed to be used by advocates and people concerned with housing and community development issues. Besides an overview of the projects goals and mission statements, the page contains statues specific to the EZ and EC programs as well as the regulations that govern the project.

Community Connections - This web page is the Information Center of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD). The Center serves State and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, public interest groups, and others interested in housing and community development. The Center serves as a clearinghouse providing users with program regulations; descriptions of model programs; case studies of affordable housing initiatives; publications on a variety of housing and community and economic development topics; funding information; training and conference announcements; and referrals to technical assistance providers.

Last legal review 5/01(MLAN/AC/DD)

Source: Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN)