Join Us: Kick-Off Event for Sustainable Communities Initiative

Join CPHA for the kick-off for Baltimore’s Sustainable Communities Initiative! The region is gearing up for an incredible integration of housing, transportation and environmental policies, and you’re invited to stay engaged. (Event details below.)

In November 2011, Baltimore became one of 29 American cities to receive a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The $3.5 million grants are awarded to support “multi-jurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments.”

Mayor Rawlings-Blake accepted the grant as Chair of Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) and noted that with more than half of the average working family’s income going to combined transportation and housing costs, “we know that we have a responsibility to fix that and provide housing and transportation options that can improve their quality of life and economic vitality.” One goal the BMC hopes to accomplish with the Sustainable Communities Grant is to increase the percentage of low and very low income households that are within a thirty minute transit commute of major employment centers.

Upon receiving the award, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, which represents the region’s elected executives from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties, stated that their Regional Plan for Sustainable Development will “connect the region’s citizens with jobs by creating better links among housing, transportation and workforce development plans, and aligning funding streams and strategies.” The BMC wants to focus specifically on transit-oriented development , watershed development, and healthy and green housing.

The Baltimore Regional Housing Campaign, of which CPHA is a member, believes that the separation of employment, housing, and transportation policy in the Baltimore region, along with a lack of cooperation among jurisdictions, has led to unsustainable job and housing sprawl that prevents low income families from being connected to opportunity. The sustainable Communities Grant has given the Baltimore region a real chance to become a model of inclusiveness to the nation.

Kick-Off Event: This event will be rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.

The event will include a keynote address by Dr. Manuel Pastor at 3pm followed by a performance by artist and inspirational speaker, Rha Goddess at 5:30. This is a great opportunity for Baltimoreans to get out and be inspired by the guests, while learning more about what the Sustainable Communities Initiative grant means to Baltimore.