Maryland’s Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative received a national Program Excellence Award from the National Council of State Housing Agencies, the state Department of Housing and Community Development announced on October 13. Housing Secretary Jake Day accepted the award during the council’s annual conference in Detroit.
The initiative coordinates state agencies, Baltimore City, local developers, nonprofits, and lenders to address vacant properties in targeted areas. Maryland says it deploys $50 million each year for acquisition, demolition, stabilization, and renovation.
The state reports that public and private investments have supported the abatement of 2,836 vacant-building notices since October 2024. The broader Reinvest Baltimore program has a five-year goal of moving 5,000 vacant properties into homeownership or other positive outcomes between fiscal years 2025 and 2029.