Addressing Our Housing Crisis
Our housing system is unfair in a variety of ways that make it harder for Black and Brown families to own homes and build generational wealth. Our campaign, HoCoNext, is working to increase the supply of housing, make it more affordable, protect renters and make the system more fair. We were thrilled to be invited on the Maryland Capital podcast with Jayne Miller, along with our partner Jessamine Duvall with Bridges to Housing Stability, to do a deep dive on this issue. Check out the episode, “How to Fix the Affordable Housing Gap,” to hear our great discussion about how we need to address the housing crisis in Howard County and across Maryland.
Join Our Next Renter Action Lab!
Want to get involved in the movement for housing justice in Howard County? We are hosting a second Renter Action Lab virtually on November 2 where current renters can learn how to get involved in our upcoming policy campaign and fight for stronger renter protections in our community. Please join us and share your ideas, solutions and feedback about how to improve housing in Howard County. We will also discuss the importance of continued community organizing and building people power for the long-term. Help us imagine a new vision for housing justice and design policies to better protect renters and improve affordability, access and housing quality. Register now!
Register for our Renter Action Lab>>
Inspired by Hopeful Voices
We are still basking in the glow of September’s Hopeful Voices event! It was such an inspiring reminder of the power of art to support mental health. There was a gallery of art from local artists about mental health, a short film screening, a dance performance and meaningful conversations about connection and support. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this day of connection to fight negative stigma around mental health. HUGE shoutout to our partners in the Howard County Mental Health Alliance — The African American Community Roundtable, Asian American Healthcare Center, Building Families for Children, Center for Creative Life and Learning, Chinese American Parent Association, The Eudaimonia Project, Howard County Chinese School, League of Korean Americans and Stepping Towards a New Destiny (S.T.A.N.D.) — for their vision and commitment – it’s been so inspiring to work with you all over the past year!
Extended Deadline for Census Comments
In September, the Census Bureau posted a notice in the Federal Register proposing unprecedented changes to how the 2030 Census would be counted. These changes include eliminating counting foreign residents (including international students, work-visa holders, refugees, etc.), counting people in the wrong place and prohibiting questions about race and ethnicity. In short, if approved, these changes would mean that the U.S. would no longer have a full and accurate count of our population, which would have enormous effects on how and where funding gets distributed, how public health, crime rates and disaster response gets monitored and more. We encourage Howard County organizations to submit comments about these proposed changes by the new extended deadline on November 2, 2026.
Learn More and Submit Comments>>
Welcome Stewart Harrington III to Our Team!
This month, we welcomed a new member to the Horizon team, Stewart Harrington III, as our new Fiscal Officer! Stewart will support the Foundation’s mission and values through his work in financial management. As a Maryland native, Stewart is motivated by the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of his neighbors throughout Howard County and the greater Maryland area. Outside of work, Stewart enjoys staying active, whether at the gym or spending time outdoors on a walk. As a former college football player, he values teamwork, discipline and continuous improvement, principles he carries into both his professional and personal life. Thrilled to have you on the team, Stewart!
First Thursdays – November 5
The next gathering of our First Thursday community conversations will take place on November 5 at 10 a.m. at Horizon Foundation’s office. This month’s discussion will feature an update on our housing work and our plans for an upcoming policy campaign. Please join us and your fellow Howard County residents for breakfast, connection and community.
To join, please RSVP to our Policy and Community Engagement Director, Jennifer White Holland, by Tuesday, November 3. Contact us with any questions!
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Staff Picks & Resources: Check out what we’re reading, watching & learning
- Co-Governing Toward Multiracial Democracy (Race Forward)
- Women see gains, but still struggle to stay in Maryland workforce compared to men (Maryland Matters)
- Toward Generative Philanthropy (Stanford Social Innovation Review)
- Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson
