1. to establish an excellent relationship with the State's Community Development Administration as a representative and collective voice on issues of mutual concern to CDA and its users
2. to support the Department of Housing and Community Development's budget and legislative agenda in Annapolis as it relates to affordable housing
3. to work on our own and in partnership with other organizations to advocate for additional resources and policies supporting the production and preservation of affordable housing.

The following is a wrap up of the 2007 Maryland Legislative Session by Trudy McFall, head of the MAHC Legislative Committee and Chairman of Homes for America:

1. We convinced the Governor to restore and add additional funds AFTER the budget was announced. For those of you who know the legislative process this is almost impossible to do. Thanks primarily to the skills of our terrific lobbyist, Barbara Hoffman, the Governor and other administrative officials were convinced that it had been an unintended mistake to budget $5 million less this year than last for rental housing and special loan programs. Governor O'Malley came to Housing Day and personally announced that not only was the $5 million to be restored but he added another $1 million to the homeownership programs, for a total of $6 million--and, as a result, we have a total DHCD housing budget that exceeded last year. This was a good victory.

2. The Maryland Affordable Investment Fund (SB 644, HB 486) did not pass, despite excellent support and good legislative hearings. In the end it was doomed by the legislative leadership who decided that nothing could come out of Committees if it cost more that $250,000. Since we were asking for $100 million obviously we were grounded for this year. The Governor and the Legislature want to fix the big budget deficit problems before the State takes on new financial obligations. Once that is done we expect to be very much back in the picture.

3. The Local Government Enabling Legislation (SB 710, HB 784) did PASS--almost as proposed but with an important exception. We could not get the provision to waive or modify impact fees for affordable housing through the Committees. What we got was a bill that enables local jurisdictions to do the following to promote affordable housing; establish trust funds or appropriate fund; enact inclusionary zoning ordinances; provide land or property; and offer payments in lieu of taxes(PILOTS). Even without the impact fee provision this is an important piece of legislation that makes clear to all what local governments can do to provide affordable housing. We will be back next year with more advocacy homework done to add the waiving of impact fees to the list.

4. We had a great Housing Day. Over 50 groups cosponsored the event and 200 plus people turned out in force, even the Governor came for the first time! We had numerous key legislators stop by to express their support for the housing agenda. Most importantly all sorts of folks went to see their key legislators. We got great coverage that day and afterwards.