Join Action Annapolis as it seeks solutions to housing inequity
Our beloved city of Annapolis offers so much for its residents — a historic downtown; beautiful vistas; opportunities to enjoy our creeks, rivers and bay; great restaurants; and a thriving tourist industry. All of this requires an unseen infrastructure of hard-working people who protect us, teach our children, provide state and local services, keep our restaurants and hotels operating efficiently, and provide much-needed home renovation and repair services.
Unfortunately, the cost of living here is beyond the means of a great many of those who help make this a thriving and appealing city.
One of the most significant markers of economic success is homeownership. Housing inequity helps to perpetuate economic disparity from generation to generation and contributes to a loss of diversity in a community. Annapolis is no exception.
The median cost of a house in the city is $440,000, and the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is between $1,000 and $1,500 per month. Given the starting salary for a public school teacher with a master’s degree is $61,000, an Annapolis police officer earns on average $55,000, and restaurant and hotel staff earn between minimum wage and $15 an hour (which annualizes to $32,000), many who serve our community in these and other critical jobs have no option but to live outside the city or even the county in order to find affordable housing.
Others have to resort to crowded group living to afford rent. Those choosing to participate in housing subsidy programs can face discrimination and have little protection due to weak laws and lax enforcement. Those fortunate enough to have a car face long commutes on crowded roads; otherwise, they must rely on a public transportation system that may not stop near where they live or work and may not run at times that match their needs.
The causes of this housing crisis are many and varied. Racist housing policies at the national and local levels reaching back to the 1930s and 1940s, as well as zoning laws and neighborhood resistance that favor single-family dwellings have contributed to staggering inequities in accessibility to adequate housing.
Action Annapolis is in the midst of a three-part series of discussions exploring this issue.
The first two parts examined the history of affordable housing and how government policies affected residents of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, especially people of color, and the challenges to be overcome.
The final part takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday and will focus on proposed solutions for a brighter future. Presented in partnership with the Chesapeake Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, it will feature experts who have experience implementing creative solutions like land trusts, different types of zoning laws, and historic designations.
Speakers will outline promising steps for making homeownership a reality and affordable housing available for all residents in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County — including pending city and state legislation and public-private partnerships.
We invite you to attend this important discussion on at Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge, at 175 West Street.
The format will be interactive, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and offer ideas.
Speakers will include Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley; County Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien; Melissa Maddox-Evans, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis; Kathleen Koch, executive director for Arundel Community Development Services; Maryland Sen. Sarah Elfreth; Del. Shaneka Henson; and Adriana Foster of Charm City Land Trust.
Annapolis is a great place to live, but fewer people are able to do so as housing costs increase — which in turn reduces the city’s vibrancy and character. Making Annapolis affordable for the people who make it livable is a responsibility we all share.