State Opens Rental Aid Program for Community School Families

On November 26, 2025 the state announced that applications were open for the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program, a targeted effort to stabilize housing for families with students enrolled in community schools. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development in coordination with local grantees and the governor's office, covers eight Maryland jurisdictions, with Baltimore City named among them.

Eligible households include those with a student attending a designated community school who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability and can demonstrate an obligation to pay rent. Approved households may receive funds to cover overdue rent, utilities, or the costs associated with renting a new residence. In qualifying circumstances assistance may extend for up to 15 months, offering a longer period of support than many short term emergency programs.

The program was authorized in 2024 and has been rolled out through local partners to align housing assistance with services already offered through community schools. City schools that serve as hubs for counseling, food access, and family supports are expected to play a central role in identifying families who may benefit and connecting them with local grantee organizations that will administer payments and case management.

For Baltimore families the program represents a tool to reduce displacement and protect student attendance and learning continuity. Housing instability and eviction can force students to change schools or miss classroom time, and linking rental assistance to school based supports aims to address both immediate housing needs and the broader wellbeing of children and caregivers. Local service providers and school staff will be important in helping families understand eligibility and in coordinating the paperwork and referrals required by grantees.

The state announcement emphasized preventing evictions and homelessness among vulnerable students and families, and the program’s design reflects an effort to weave housing assistance into the existing community school infrastructure. Applications opened on November 26, 2025 and will be processed by designated local grantees in Baltimore City and the other participating jurisdictions.