On December 2, BRHP Executive Director Adria Crutchfield hosted our final BRHP In Conversation event of the year, featuring economist Dionissi Aliprantis alongside research collaborators Dr. Stefanie DeLuca and Pete Cimbolic discussing their soon-to-be released research paper, “How Good It Can Get: Housing Mobility Programs and the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.” The event brought together housing-mobility practitioners, researchers, and BRHP participants and property partners to hear a discussion from the researchers on what drives success in housing mobility programs, and how we at BRHP can harness those insights to further our mission. 

Aliprantis shared findings that underscore the transformative impact of the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program: 

Massive Neighborhood Improvements: Families participating in the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program move from neighborhoods ranked among the lowest in the region to communities with dramatically higher socioeconomic status (SES). These moves exceed improvements seen in other prominent programs like Gautreaux and Moving to Opportunity.  

“The thing that’s really remarkable about Baltimore is just the magnitude of changes in neighborhoods.” — Dionissi Aliprantis 

Better Schools, Better Futures: In Maryland, schools in the lowest-ranked neighborhoods typically perform at the 10th percentile statewide, while those in the highest-ranked neighborhoods reach the 80th percentile. BRHP families gain access to schools performing higher than those available to poor Black families in Baltimore City – 1.7 grade levels higher for 4^th grade – a change that can shape long-term educational and economic outcomes. 

“Housing policy can achieve what decades of education policy have struggled to deliver: meaningful improvements in school quality.” – Stefanie DeLuca 

Regional Design Creates Choice: While well-documented practices like pre-move counseling, extended search times, and post-move support are critical, Aliprantis’ research finds that the regional design of the program accounts for two-thirds of its success, because opportunity neighborhoods aren’t confined to Baltimore City. By spanning the region, Baltimore Housing Mobility Program opportunity areas give families real choices. 

As Aliprantis shared, the Baltimore metro area is home to roughly 130,000 poor Black residents, most concentrated in the lowest-ranked SES neighborhoods. Poor white Baltimoreans, by contrast, are more evenly distributed across all SES tracks. Even at the same income levels, Black and White households live in very different neighborhoods. At the highest incomes, Black households live in neighborhoods about 20 percentile points lower in SES than their White counterparts, and the gap widens as incomes decrease.  

BRHP is reversing this trend, helping poor Black families access higher-opportunity neighborhoods at rates that outperform both the overall Housing Choice Voucher program and the rental market. As Aliprantis noted: 

“Despite the fact that there’s clearly this very strong force, this tide we’re fighting against, BRHP somehow is finding incredible success and allowing participants to navigate to these opportunity neighborhoods in a way that is just really remarkable.” 

Families are not just moving to higher-SES neighborhoods. They are doing so while maintaining cultural and social preferences, such as living in communities with a higher Black share, without sacrificing access to opportunity. 

Residential segregation and concentrated poverty remain pressing challenges in Baltimore and across the U.S. BRHP’s work demonstrates that housing policy can achieve what other interventions for these families often fail to: meaningful improvements in school quality, neighborhood safety, and long-term opportunity for families. 

As Aliprantis reminded us: 
“Why do we care about all of this? We care about the individuals participating in the program and how we improve their outcomes.” 

Dr. DeLuca added: 
“It’s possible to provide choice for families who have been cheated of such choices historically and individually.” 

The conversation also raised important questions: Why do some families still face barriers to the highest-opportunity neighborhoods? Future research will combine quantitative analysis with qualitative interviews to understand factors impacting neighborhood selection such as credit screening, landlord practices, and neighborhood preferences. 

At the same time, future research will look further into what the impact of these moves to higher SES neighborhoods means for the families in our program. As BRHP Managing Director of Research and Innovation, Pete Cimbolic, shared, “I’m really, really excited to see what this means in terms of the impacts on households, the children, their long-term outcomes. What is the impact for that child, for that family?” 

BRHP remains committed to evidence-based practices, bold collaboration, and thoughtful, community-centered mobility work as this conversation and the research continues. We look forward to the publication of the full research findings in the near future.  

To watch the full BRHP In Conversation, check out the replay on our YouTube channel here. 

By Emily Hovermale, External Affairs Director 

For Immediate Release: December 3, 2025 
Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership Contact: Emily Hovermale, 667-207-2167, ehovermale@brhp.org  

Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership Announces Two New Board Members 

Organization Strengthens Leadership with Expertise in Fair Housing and Community Advocacy 

Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) is proud to announce the appointment of two new board members Jean Zachariasiewicz and Michael Sarbanes, who bring deep expertise in fair housing, civil rights, and community development to BRHP’s mission of expanding housing opportunities for low-income families in the Baltimore region. These leaders began their three-year terms on November 20, 2025.     

The new board members bring a wealth of experience and a shared dedication to advancing economic mobility, racial equity, and community impact. Their collective expertise reflects the organization’s commitment to addressing complex housing challenges with innovative solutions and strategic leadership.   

Michael Sarbanes is a long-time advocate for equitable communities and expanded opportunities for children and families. His career spans leadership roles in law, government, and education, including serving as Executive Director of Engagement for Baltimore City Public Schools and leading community development initiatives that advanced inclusionary housing and transportation access. He currently serves as the Executive Director of UMBC’s George and Betsy Sherman Center, which brings together initiatives to support transformational education in urban schools in Baltimore City. ”I am honored to join the BRHP board of directors,” Michael shares, “BRHP manages with great skill many complexities in order to create something simple and essential— the opportunity for people to live into their gifts.” 
 
Jean Zachariasiewicz is a Baltimore-based attorney with extensive experience in civil rights and fair housing litigation. She has served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and previously practiced fair housing law in Washington, D.C. Jean currently serves as Counsel at Gallagher, Evelius & Jones, where she focuses on litigation that promotes equity and justice. Jean reflects on her new role as board director, “I have been an admirer of BRHP for many years because it actualizes some of my core beliefs — that safe, affordable, stable housing can transform lives, and that integration benefits all of us. So, I was thrilled when given the chance to be part of this exceptional organization.” 
 
“We are excited to welcome this exceptional pair of leaders to the board of directors,” said Rachel Thornton, BRHP board director and chair. “Jean and Michael bring the vision and commitment needed to ensure BRHP continues to lead in our mission of expanding housing opportunities for families with low incomes in the region. ”  
 
Adria Crutchfield, BRHP executive director added, “Our new board members bring unique perspectives and deep expertise in housing justice and community advocacy that will strengthen our ability to protect housing rights at a time when these rights are increasingly under threat. I am eager to collaborate with them to drive BRHP into a future of greater impact for our families, community, and nation.”  

The new members join BRHP’s 19 existing board directors in guiding the organization’s strategic priorities, including rental assistance, housing mobility counseling, advocacy, and consulting services. 

A full list of BRHP’s Board of Directors, visit BRHP’s website here. 

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About the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership

The Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) is a non-profit organization that expands housing choices for families with low incomes who have historically been excluded from housing in well-resourced neighborhoods by helping them to access and transition successfully to safe, healthy, and economically vibrant communities. As the Regional Administrator for the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program, BRHP has opened pathways to a better future for low-income families for over 10 years.  

BRHP currently provides over 4,300 low-income families rental assistance in the form of Housing Choice Vouchers, coupling assistance with counseling support for families as they move from areas of concentrated poverty to areas of opportunity in Baltimore City and the five surrounding counties.  

With a focus on career development this month, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) dives into how stable housing in opportunity areas impacts career development for its participants. BRHP continues to highlight its mission of providing families with the assistance to move to safe and vibrant communities. Not only does the ability to move into these resource-rich communities impact a family’s access to better quality education and safer neighborhoods, but it also impacts their career development and employment opportunities.  

“Because I moved into an opportunity neighborhood, the schools themselves were better equipped to handle my kids, so I didn’t have to go up to the schools as much. And because of that I was able to find a job that allowed me to move up.” – Jessica C., Former BRHP Participant 

A study on rental assistance and its reduction on hardship by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities concluded that federal rental assistance reduces poverty, housing instability and improves adult and family well-being while providing a platform to expand opportunities for low-income families. Particularly, having housing stability affords individuals with opportunities to focus on job searching and career training while reducing the stress of housing insecurity. 

Limited housing stability can directly or indirectly impact holding down a job  for individuals, especially working mothers, in a negative way by exposing families to chaotic, precarious living arrangements that can interfere with ability to secure and maintain stable employment on top of other challenges like childcare and family needs. With the stability provided by housing assistance, families can focus on developing other areas of their life, most importantly their careers, rather than focusing their time on struggling to meet basic needs.  

Jessica C., a former participant with BRHP, and a graduate of BRHP’s Growing Assets and Income (GAIN) family self-sufficiency program, sat down with us to discuss her previous employment struggles and describe how finding housing stability with BRHP directly impacted her career development.  

With passion, Jessica voiced that having two children with special needs took all her time as she worked to maintain their health. She struggled to find and keep a job that allowed her to take care of her children while also being the sole financial provider.  

With the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program, Jessica was able to move into an opportunity area with strong support systems and services, particularly in the school setting, for her children. Finally, with her basic housing needs met and access to quality schooling that provided the support her family needed, Jessica was able to pursue her career full-time and eventually build up her savings  to purchase a home in Harford County.  

“One of the biggest benefits of being with BRHP is having the support and the resources there.” – Jessica C., Former BRHP Participant 

Jessica’s experience with the housing mobility program not only gave her the opportunity to create a stable, safe place for her children, but it also gave Jessica a chance to build her assets and gain access to the wealth-building pathway of homeownership. 

Jessica’s journey reflects the powerful connection between housing stability and career growth. With the support of BRHP, she was able to focus on her goals, care for her family, and build a path toward financial independence. At BRHP, we see firsthand that when families have access to quality homes in communities that meet their needs, they’re better positioned to pursue meaningful work, increase their income, and invest in their futures. For families like Jessica’s, housing mobility is about more than where you live; it’s about what becomes possible when you are finally home. 

 For a more in-depth look at Jessica’s story, click here.

Written by: Savanah Winn, Communications Associate

act now to protect housing stability – January 16, 2026

Congress has passed some spending packages for this year, but major federal funding bills remain unresolved — including the one that funds the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Thousands of families depend on Congress to approve full Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) funding by January 30, 2026. We urge you to call Congress now to ensure swift passage of the HUD funding bill and full support for critical programs like HCV.

Learn more about the FY26 HUD spending bill from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

BRHP’s housing mobility program will continue assistance during any partial shutdown. We are actively advocating for full HUD funding to protect the housing stability families rely on. Stay updated on our website.

Use the call script below to make a short 2-minute phone call advocating for the full funding for the FY26 spending bill to leadership on the appropriations committees and your Members of Congress. 

Find your Members of Congress and their contact information: 
Find Your Members in the U.S. Congress | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Appropriations Leadership in the House and Senate: 
Senators 
–Senator Susan Collins – Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee (202) 224-2523 
–Senator Patty Murray– Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee (202) 224-2621 

Representatives 
–Representative Tom Cole – Chair, House Appropriations Committee (202) 225-6165 
–Representative Rose DeLauro – Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee (202) 225-3661 

Call Script for Congress
What to Say:

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [City/State]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative Name] to work quickly to reach agreement on a spending plan for HUD that fully funds critical housing programs like the Housing Choice Voucher program.

This means providing at least $35.65 billion to renew all existing housing voucher contracts, including Emergency Housing Vouchers.

Housing assistance works. It lifts families out of poverty, improves health outcomes, helps children succeed in school, and provides the stability people need to pursue work and opportunity.

This is personal. [Share your story about how housing assistance has impacted you, your family, or your community. Your experience can make a powerful impact.]

Please act quickly to pass the HUD funding bill before January 30, 2026. Thank you.

Federal Government Reopens: Updates for Participants and Property Partners

Many of you have likely heard the news that the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history officially ended late Wednesday, November 12, when President Trump signed a funding bill to extend most federal funding through January 30, 2026. This legislation reopens all federal agencies and restores funding for critical programs, including funding SNAP benefits through September 30, 2026.

Key Updates:
– Government Reopened: Federal agencies will resume operations immediately, though some services may take days or weeks to return to normal due to backlogs.

– Housing Programs: HUD and Public Housing Authorities will continue processing Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). The BRHP program will continue to operate without interruption.

– Involuntarily Furloughed Participants: If you were impacted by involuntary federal furloughs, state assistance programs remain available. We urge open communication between participants and property partners about the impact of involuntary furloughs, and for property partners to show grace to tenants impacted by these disruptions. Additional information for involuntarily furloughed participants and property partners with involuntarily furloughed tenants is available below.

– Funding Timeline: The current agreement funds most agencies and programs through January 30, 2026, with funding through September 30, 2026, for agencies in the Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending plans. This includes funding for SNAP benefits through September 30, 2026.

We will continue to post updates as more information becomes available on a long-term funding plan.

FURLOUGH INFORMATION FOR BRHP PARTICIPANTS AND PROPERTY PARTNERS – NOVEMBER 13, 2025

Information for Participants Impacted by Involuntary Federal Furloughs: 

We understand that some households may be affected by involuntary federal government furloughs. BRHP is committed to supporting all program participants and ensuring housing assistance remains stable and accurate. 

If you are BRHP program participant impacted by an involuntary federal furlough, please note:

– You do not need to submit an interim recertification for your temporary furlough. 
– BRHP will not remove your employer income from your file when determining your tenant portion of rent.
– There will be no change to your current rent portion or assistance amount at this time. 

This approach helps ensure that families receive the appropriate level of housing assistance and avoid overpayment of Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) when furloughed employees receive back pay, which could otherwise result in repayment obligations. 

What You Can Do: 
We encourage you to communicate openly with your landlord about your situation. If needed, consider discussing options such as delayed payments or payment plans, if necessary. 

You may also wish to review resources available from the State of Maryland for impacted federal workers, including interest-free loans, insurance assistance, and information about legal protections for furloughed workers. This guidance includes information on legal housing protections for involuntarily furloughed government workers at risk of eviction or foreclosure and the process to request a temporary pause on the eviction or foreclosure during the shutdown.  

Your housing stability is important to us. If you have questions or need support, please contact counseling@brhp.org. 

Federal Government Shutdown Update – October 1, 2025

As of today, October 1, 2025, the federal government has officially entered a shutdown following Congress’s failure to pass a spending bill to fund federal programs and services beyond September 30th. While negotiations continue, there is currently no agreement on a continuing resolution to temporarily extend funding. 

Once again, BRHP’s housing mobility program remains secure and will continue to provide housing assistance payments during this temporary shutdown. We have resources in place to sustain assistance for a limited time and are actively advocating for full funding of HUD rental assistance programs to protect the housing stability our families rely on. 

Government shutdowns, while disruptive, are typically short in duration. The most recent shutdown in December 2018 lasted 35 days, which was the longest in history. We remain hopeful that Congress will act swiftly to restore funding and minimize impacts on families and communities. You can learn more about the broader impacts of a government shutdown.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates on this page. In the meantime, we continue to encourage you to join us in urging Congress to pass a funding plan that includes full support for the Housing Choice Voucher program. 

Federal Funding Updates & Call to Action – September 26, 2025

You have likely heard that Congress has not yet passed a federal spending bill to fund essential programs and services for Fiscal Year 2026. While Congress is still working on the possibility of a continuing resolution to temporarily continue funding at current levels, reports indicate the growing possibility that they will not come to agreement before the current spending plan expires at the end of the day on September 30, triggering a government shutdown on October 1.   

Should there be no funding agreement before the current spending plan expires, BRHP’s housing mobility program remains secure to continue providing housing assistance payments through a temporary government shutdown. 

BRHP has resources in place to continue housing assistance for a limited time, and we are doing everything we can to advocate for full funding of HUD rental assistance programs to protect the stability our families rely on. 

Government shutdowns are rare and generally very short in duration. The last government shutdown occurred in December 2018 and lasted for 35 days until January 2019, the longest the government has ever shutdown. 

We will continue to provide updates on this page as the situation evolves, but in the meantime please join us in urging Congress to act now to pass a funding plan that includes full funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program.  

Join Us in Supporting Housing Assistance Funding.

We need your voice TODAY to help protect these vital resources and ensure families continue to have access to safe, stable housing and the opportunities it provides going forward. 

Find your Members of Congress and use the talking points below to make a short 2-minute phone call and follow up with an email to urge Congress to act quickly to pass a FY26 spending bill with full funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. 

Talking Points:
1. Congress must fully fund the Housing Choice Voucher program in the FY26 spending plan. That means at least $35.65 billion to renew all existing voucher contracts, including Emergency Housing Vouchers. 

2. Housing assistance works. It lifts families out of poverty, improves health outcomes, helps children succeed in school, and provides the stability people need to pursue work and opportunity. 

3. Make it personal – explain briefly why you support the Housing Choice Voucher Program and your personal experience with the program (as a supporter, property partner, or participant). 

BRHP remains committed to ensuring that families have access to safe, stable housing, no matter what challenges lie ahead.   

Each year we look forward to our back-to-school supply drive, and each year we’re able to help more families set their children up for success. BRHP helps thousands of families move from areas of concentrated poverty to resource-rich communities.  With opportune housing comes opportune education, and this month we strive to continue to help our families thrive through academic achievement. 

This program has been nothing but a blessing to me and my children and is truly appreciated. – Lebria M., BRHP participant and school supply recipient

The United Way Organization  reports that over 16 million students across the country lack the school supplies they need to help make their year successful. This means that one in every four students cannot afford supplies. Without adequate materials, this impacts students’ ability to perform well in school and can increase absenteeism.  

BRHP uses this time to provide quality school supplies for families in our program. BRHP established a back-to-school supply drive in 2020 and since then we’ve held a drive every new school year. Once again, school supplies were distributed to families throughout our service area at distribution locations in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties. BRHP is excited to report that we distributed over 700 bookbags filled with supplies and all ready to go to elementary, middle and high school students.  

I’m so thankful and blessed for all the help. Thank you for all you do BRHP.   – Kia B., BRHP participant and school supply recipient

According to CapitalOne Back to School Shopping data, in 2024 the average household spent a total of $586 on back-to-school supplies for just one child and is expected to spend the same amount in 2025. On top of that, household back-to-school budgets decreased $15.39 or 1.73% year-over-year. Overall, many families have geared their finances in other places this year. This means that with the higher cost of materials some students struggle to get what they need. 

With the right school supplies, students can depend on what’s inside their backpack to set them up for success on their first day of school. School supplies provide hands-on learning, foster creative classroom environments, and promote equality. Supplies like notebooks and pencils allow students to engage in educational material being presented in the classroom. Back to school drives address educational inequality in the classroom and drives like this bridge the gap in disparities.  We hope that the school supplies will make an impact on students’ success as they start the new school year. 

The BHRP team worked tirelessly over the course of August to fill hundreds of backpacks and load them for distribution. This year, BRHP also gave away elementary grade and chapter books while distributing supplies at local Maryland libraries. Many families told BRHP staff at the distribution events that their children were eager to start reading new books and preparing for the school year. Customer Care Representative, Breanna Daley, who assisted at the distribution in Catonsville, shared her perspective of the back-to-school event, “It ensures that each child has their own set of supplies, no need to share or go without. That independence can make a big difference in their confidence and ability to succeed in the classroom. It’s not just about the supplies, it’s about equity, opportunity, and support for the whole family.”  

BRHP would like to thank everyone who made this back-to-school supply giveaway happen! Thank you to our staff, volunteers and donors who made it possible for BRHP to purchase over $20,000 worth of school supplies and books. Our thanks also go out to the libraries – Anne Arundel Library System Odenton Branch, Baltimore County Library System Catonsville and Essex Branches, and Howard County Library System Miller Branch – that allowed BRHP to host distributions in their spaces. We couldn’t have done this without you.   

Written by: Savanah Winn, Communications Associate