10/12/2022
County Moves Ahead with a Veteran’s House
By Dick Myers
Staff Writer
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved at their Oct. 4 meeting a plan to create a house for a needy veteran and his/her family on land owned by the county at 6033 Daybreak Drive in Prince Frederick in the Benedict community.
To be called the Veteran’s House, the home will be constructed by the Calvert Affordable Housing Alliance (CAHA) at an estimated cost of $260,000.
Director of Community Resources Jennifer Moreland, in a memo to the commissioners explained, “CAHA, a 501(c)3 entity, is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Housing Authority of Calvert County. In 2000, CAHA was designated by the BOCC to work with the community and various funding sources to address the need for affordable housing options. Funding was established for the initiative and remains available as a separate account (the Affordable Housing Fund) in the county’s restricted funds. Over the years, the funds have been utilized mainly as county match for the first-time homebuyer’s program administered by the State of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development.”
Moreland went on to explain that the house to be constructed “for a disabled veteran and his/her family. The parcel has been duly transferred to CAHA and CAHA is ready to move forward with the development and construction phase (albeit delayed due to pandemic and resulting economic price and supply issues).”
Moreland’s predecessor, Maureen Hoffman has retired to Pennsylvania, but she remains passionate about CAHA and attends meetings through Zoom. She appeared at the Oct. 4 meeting and said, “affordable housing is a difficult topic under any circumstances.”
Hoffman explained that since the county acquired the property, “you specifically requested that it be for a veteran and a disabled veteran would be an even better way to fill it. And a disabled veteran with a family would be the best because we want to help those who've served our country and have a need.”
Hoffman said several veterans have been identified as possible recipients of the house
Hoffman said CAHA has been using the housing fund “as the county match for first time home buyers. And that program is run through the Department of Housing and Community Development. And it works with firefighters, school teachers, county employees, the library, anybody who hasn't owned a home.”
Moreland explained, “CAHA is requesting the transfer of $50,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund for lot development, including surveys, well, septic, and permits. Funds are currently available in the county’s Affordable Housing restricted account.”
The BOCC agreed to that request and also to see if any of the fees can be waived.
Hoffman said the house would be a “a three-bedroom, two-bath rambler that fits the style of the houses that exist in that neighborhood. It'll have a car port attached to it. We are first in line for perc test.”
She said of the construction cost, “We've had a lot of interest in the community from certain organizations that want to help do some of this work. Like we need decks built, we need landscaping, we need other things that they can contribute to. We will not be coming back to you for any funding for the actual construction of the house. We have a couple different funding sources lined up and the housing authority serves as kind of the administrative arm for us in loans and such.”
The monies available will cover the mortgage. As to future ownership by the veteran, she said perhaps things could be worked out where they would gain equity over time.
Hoffman was asked what would happen if the veteran decided to leave. She said, “There can be some kind of stipulation put on the deed that in perpetuity it stays within a veteran community or a disabled. We learned our lesson with a particular development on (Route) 231, that if you don't do that, people flip houses and walk away with the profit. And that's not our intention.”
It is hoped if the project is successful there will be other houses for needy veterans.
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