Supporting Starter & Silver Homes in Maryland

We support the Maryland Starter & Silver Homes Act (SB36) to help build a mix of homes, of all sizes and prices in Maryland. This will give more young families, seniors and service workers that our communities rely on a chance to own their home, build wealth, and provide solid foundations of economic stability for themselves and the next generation. 

This bill would remove zoning barriers at the local level which drive up the cost of building homes. Specifically, it will require all counties and cities in Maryland that are connected to sewer systems to set minimum lot sizes of no more than 5,000 square feet.

More than twenty leaders from the Maryland Just Power Alliance showed up to support the bill at the Maryland House committee hearing on Thursday, Feb 12 and the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Feb 17.

Several of our clergy and young adult leaders shared powerful personal stories illustrating the need for more diversity in housing to build a strong and stable economy in Maryland.

Rev. Sara Yotter shared, “I support this bill because housing affordability is not an abstract policy issue for me—it has affected my job, my family, and my congregation. Quite honestly, I could not afford to live here if it were not for the parsonage provided by my congregation.”

Noah Black testified: “Right now, my fiance and I – like so many others – rent space with roommates. We don’t have space for children… Without access to affordable housing, our futures are on pause. This bill will help prevent this, and let us do something so many others in this room have had before us—the chance to set down roots, to raise a family, and to give back.”

Great work to our housing team and thanks to our friends at Greater Greater Washington, the Horizon Foundation, Coalition for Smarter Growth and the Community Development Network for also supporting this bill!

Learn more about the policies we support here: