Safe and Secure Water Access in Homes Grant

The Safe and Secure Water Access in Homes Grant Program is a statewide Maryland funding opportunity supporting affordable housing preservation projects that address water insecurity and lack of access to safe water in the home. The program is administered through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust. Its purpose is to resolve water-related conditions that negatively affect the quality of life of individuals and families. The FY27 application round opened May 29, 2026 and closed July 10, 2026. The application is currently closed. Eligible applicants are nonprofit community-based organizations and county and local governments. Funding is intended for costs incurred by an eligible nonprofit organization, county, or local government agency to implement a scattered-site, owner-occupied rehabilitation project. The program does not support vacant properties, rental properties, group homes, transitional housing, or public facilities. The purchase of organizational personal property, including office furniture or equipment, is also prohibited. Eligible rehabilitation activities include repairing non-functioning indoor bathrooms or kitchens to provide or restore hot and cold running water. Funds may also support repairs that provide a working bathtub or shower, flushable toilet, sink with a faucet, or water heater. Other eligible activities include installation or replacement of wells and septic systems, connection to public water and sewer systems, and improvements to water quality. Examples of water-quality work include installation of water treatment systems and replacement of corroded or defective pipes. The maximum grant award is $300,000, and the grant term is two years. No minimum award, total program funding amount, number of awards, or required matching contribution is stated in the provided program information. All activities funded by the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust must serve residents with incomes below 50 percent of the statewide or area median income. Preference is given to projects serving households with incomes below 30 percent of median. Competitive projects target very low-income persons with incomes below 30 percent of median, provide the longest term of affordability, and demonstrate project readiness and cost feasibility. Applicants are also evaluated on whether they provide a complete analysis of water access issues in their county or service area, demonstrate a successful history of implementing scattered-site owner-occupied housing rehabilitation in their service area, and leverage other funding sources toward the project. These factors indicate that applicants should clearly document both the local water-access need and their organizational capacity and readiness to carry out the proposed rehabilitation activities. The application information identifies legal documents associated with the application round, including an Incumbency Certificate, a board resolution authorizing the application, a Contract Affidavit, the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Assurance of Compliance, and an Access to Public Records Act Notice and Waiver. Separate legal-document packages are provided for corporations, limited partnerships, and LLCs. The provided material does not identify a pre-application requirement, award notification date, or future application cycle. For program questions, the listed contact is Kecia Campbell, Program Officer, Maryland Affordable Housing Trust, Division of Neighborhood Revitalization, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, at maht.dhcd@maryland.gov.

Prioritize projects serving households below 30% of median; demonstrate the longest term of affordability; demonstrate project readiness and cost feasibility; provide a complete analysis of water access issues in the county or service area; demonstrate a successful history of scattered-site owner-occupied housing rehabilitation; leverage other funding sources.