Gov Moore Approves Affordable Housing Plan to Guide More Than $300-million in Investments
Governor Wes Moore has approved the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan, which allocates State funding and federal tax credits to fund affordable housing projects. The plan will guide more than $300 million worth of investments in housing development. The federally-mandated Qualified Allocation Plan communicates goals for affordable housing development and sets guidelines for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications.
Under the new Qualified Allocation Plan, two application rounds for 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be open in July and October 2026.
Additional information from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development:
The plan will guide more than $300 million worth of investments in housing development by incentivizing project readiness and community amenities, increasing the federal tax credit amount per project, expanding the loan products offered, and placing greater emphasis on mixed-income housing.
“Like every state in the nation, Maryland is facing a housing availability and affordability crisis that impacts Marylanders’ ability to access work, wages, and wealth,” said Gov. Moore. “In order to lower costs for Marylanders, we must leverage our tools to expand housing options, offer incentives for building housing quickly, and support the creation of dignified, quality housing across the state.”
The federally-mandated Qualified Allocation Plan released by the Department of Housing and Community Development communicates goals for affordable housing development and sets guidelines for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications in alignment with the Department’s mission, vision and objectives. Under the new Qualified Allocation Plan, two application rounds for 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be open in July and October 2026.
“In Maryland, we believe housing is the foundation on which we build everything else—and we believe that housing should be affordable, high-quality, energy-efficient, and lovable,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan sets that standard and creates the framework for future affordable housing development in Maryland.”
The 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan includes a Housing Starts Now incentive that provides more points on applications for developments that are ready to break ground – having already secured all necessary government approvals. Additionally, new Lovable Places criteria expands on existing incentives for project amenities to award more points to projects incorporating community service facilities like childcare centers, libraries, or retail space for fresh food.
The Department of Housing and Community Development will also increase the competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award limit amount per project to $2 million—with $30,000 provided per unit up to $1.5 million, or $28,000 per unit up to $2 million. Additionally, through an expansion of loan products, the department can offer financing with lower interest rates, greater flexibility in operating expense limits, and cash flow splits to meet the needs of a broader range of transactions and organizational demands.
The Department’s Community Development Administration expands quality, affordable rental and transitional housing opportunities for Marylanders by financing the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of rental communities and transitional housing, and by administering rental assistance programs and the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. To learn more, visit the Department’s website.