At the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) summer conference in August, Governor Wes Moore made it clear: Maryland must act faster to address its growing housing crisis. While details were limited, Moore hinted at a forthcoming initiative aimed at accelerating affordable housing construction statewide.
The urgency is real. Maryland ranks 43rd in housing affordability, and half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Permitting for new housing units is down nearly 40% compared to pre-2008 levels, and the state faces a projected shortage of nearly 600,000 units by 2045.
Moore’s upcoming plan is expected to focus on:
- Streamlining permitting processes
- Leveraging public land for housing
- Setting statewide housing goals
- Incentivizing counties to adopt pro-housing policies
However, political tensions remain. Moore’s previous housing bill was blocked earlier this year, due to push back from county leaders. Will those officials work toward meaningful housing reforms, or will this obstructionism continue in 2026?
Read more about the Governor’s MACo address at Maryland Matters: Moore hints at coming effort to spur affordable housing construction – Maryland Matters