Under the Department are three divisions: Community Development, Finance and Administration, and Housing.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION SECTION
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
Under the Division are four units: Asset Management, Grants Administration, Licensing and Registration, and Management Services.
GRANTS ADMINISTRATION UNIT
LICENSING & REGISTRATION UNIT
MANAGEMENT SERVICES UNIT
HOUSING DIVISION
The Commission on Common Ownership Communities advises the County Executive and County Council on issues related to condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowner associations. The Commission also offers complaint mediation on matters of association budgets, common areas, elections, fines, fees, funds, and meetings. Moreover, mediation is available concerning required or prohibited actions by members. Should mediation fail, the Commission hears and rules on the complaint. Rulings of the Commission may be appealed to the County Circuit Court.
Fifteen members constitute the Commission. They are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to three-year terms (County Code, sec. 10B-3).
Appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission consists of fifteen members (County Code, sec. 29-9).
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SECTION
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The Community Development Division is responsible for two sections: Code Enforcement, and Neighborhood Revitalization.
CODE ENFORCEMENT SECTION
Under the County Housing Code, the Code Enforcement Section works to preserve and improve housing and property standards. The Section also provides an online portal to receive any alerts to Code violations.
Focusing on moderate- to low-income communities, the Neighborhood Revitalization Section strives to improve local neighborhoods through programs, such as Community Engagement, Countywide Facade Improvement, and Focused Neighborhood Assistance.
The Finance and Administration Division is responsible for fiscal oversight, administrative assistance, and information technology within the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
ASSET MANAGEMENT UNIT
For the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Asset Management Unit monitors housing loans, and compliance with rental agreements. The housing programs for which it is responsible include: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, Housing Initiative Fund, and Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT).
The Grants Administration Unit manages federal grant funds received from three programs: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grant. Also, the Unit manages County grant funds.
The licensing of rental properties and common ownership communities is overseen by the Licensing and Registration Unit.
For the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Management Services Unit is primarily responsible for information technology.
Under the Housing Division are four sections: Affordable Housing, Common Ownership Communities, Landlord-Tenant Affairs, and Multifamily Housing.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTION
Primarily focused on moderate-income residents, the Affordable Housing Section manages and enforces three programs: Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit, Montgomery County Energy Efficiency, and Workforce Housing. The Section also administers single-family home improvement loans and grants, as well as weatherization assistance.
COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES SECTION
COMMISSION ON COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES
In January 1991, the Commission on Common Ownership Communities was established under the Office of Consumer Protection. It was placed under the Finance and Administration Division within the Department of Housing and Community Affairs by 2017.
LANDLORD-TENANT AFFAIRS SECTION
The Landlord-Tenant Affairs Section enforces the County Code as it relates to landlord-tenant relations.
COMMISSION ON LANDLORD-TENANT AFFAIRS
The Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs is a quasi-judicial body. It hears cases involving tenant/landlord disputes on matters, such as security deposits, leases, and damage responsibility; and apartment license revocation appeals. After a hearing, the Commission renders a legally binding decision and order. Rulings may be appealed to the County Circuit Court.
The Multifamily Housing Section helps County residents find affordable housing. For this purpose, the Section uses resources from the Montgomery County Housing Initiative Fund and the federal HOME Multifamily Housing Program.
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