Living in Howard County comes with a lot of perks: amazing parks, strong schools, and a true sense of community. But let’s be real — rent isn’t cheap, especially for older adults living on fixed incomes. That’s why Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) just dropped a game-changing program: the Older Adult Rental Assistance Program.
If you’re 62 or older (or living with someone who is), and your rent eats up more than 30% of your gross monthly income, this could be your golden ticket. The program offers up to $400 a month toward your rent. That’s $9,600 over two years — directly to your landlord to make life just a little easier.
The United Way of Central Maryland is partnering with the County to manage the program. Applying is simple:
Call 211
Email [email protected]
Fill out the Howard County Older Adult Rental Assistance Program Referral Form online
A case manager from the United Way will walk you through the process. Pro tip: act fast. Only the first 100 eligible applicants will snag this support.
This program isn’t just about keeping folks in their homes. It’s part of Howard County’s larger push to be a model Age-Friendly Community — a title AARP endorsed in 2024. In the past five years, the County’s done things like install age-friendly outdoor fitness lots, solar-powered Wi-Fi tables in parks, and an online portal that helps more than 250 family caregivers reduce stress and hospital visits. They’ve even sweetened the Aging in Place County Tax Credit.
The rental assistance is funded through the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF), which Ball launched in 2022. The HOTF promotes affordable housing for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-to-moderate income households across the county. Ball allocated $2 million to kick off the Older Adult Rental Assistance Program.
As Ball put it, “We want Howard County to be a place where older adults can age in place and still enjoy everything we have to offer.”
Bottom line? If you—or someone you love—fits the bill, this is a huge opportunity to take a load off financially and stay rooted in one of Maryland’s best communities.
For more details, visit Howard County DHCD or call 410-313-6318.
