• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Odette Ramos, who is in her first term on the Baltimore City council representing the14th District and an advocate for inclusionary housing for many years, talks with a man who goes by the name "Shorty" March 30, 2023, outside City Hall. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Catholic group pushing for inclusive housing in city

March 31, 2023
By Gerry Jackson
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Racial Justice, Social Justice

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are helping lead the push for new legislation that would cement inclusionary housing practices into law in Baltimore City.

Beyond the Boundaries, an archdiocesan program that supports inclusivity, joined a coalition that was trying to make its voice heard in front of City Hall. The Inclusionary Housing Association held a news conference March 22 outside City Hall to push for renewed legislation that would require developers in the city to provide affordable housing units in new housing construction.

A similar law (the Inclusionary Housing Law), enacted in 2007, expired in June 2022 after having little effect. The coalition wants the measure amended and extended. The previous law required developers to set aside affordable units for people with lower incomes.

“Developers are building luxury units and receiving large city subsidies,” said Maureen Daly, co-chair of the steering committee of Beyond the Boundaries. “We are saying we feel the City of Baltimore is subsidizing racial segregation, and they aren’t fulfilling federal housing requirements.”

Odette T. Ramos, who is in her first term on the Baltimore City Council representing the14th District, is sponsoring a bill to bolster inclusionary housing in the city. She is a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Beyond the Boundaries works with civic organizations, other churches and political leaders to advocate for public policies that will “enable all classes of people to live together in the same neighborhoods” throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Daly said the coalition thinks the city isn’t meeting its obligations under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing plan. She said the previous law resulted in fewer than 40 affordable units developed.

The coalition also includes the Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP, Baltimore Renters United, Bridge Maryland, the Community Development Network, SHARE, Citizens Planning and Housing Association, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership and Public Justice Center.

“What is concerning is that new projects are being approved that do not include inclusive housing,” said Daly, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Baltimore. “The current policy continues to encourage economic and racial segregation. We believe inclusionary housing is a small step to encourage racial and economic diversity.”

Odette Ramos, who represents District 14 on the City Council and is a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul, leads the legislative drive. She said she is confident the updated bill and a companion tax-credit bill introduced March 27 will be passed.

The bill would require subsidized developers constructing 20 or more units set aside 10 percent of housing at inclusionary prices. Ramos said the council is negotiating the final details of both bills and will hold hearings on both.

“We have to pass something,” Ramos said. “I’m looking forward to getting it done. Baltimore needs a comprehensive housing plan, a real plan for residents who are struggling. There’s a lot of trauma in our city. Housing is the basis for being able to address many of the issues in the city that create that trauma.

“Redlining and segregation in Baltimore started right here in City Hall,” she said. “Inclusionary housing is one of the best ways to reverse the racist policies of the past.”

Ramos said her Catholic upbringing ingrained the need to be of service. “It’s all part of caring for people,” she said. 

Ramos and the coalition believe Council Bill 22-0195 would correct deficiencies in the expired law. 

The bill also will require developers to market the affordable units to historically excluded households, including Black families, persons who use vouchers and other residents who have experienced discrimination.

Matt Hill, an attorney with the Public Justice Center, said there are no better tools than inclusionary housing laws to counteract discrimination and segregation. He noted that more than 200 jurisdictions throughout the nation, including Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., have such laws.

“When developers are getting public dollars, there should be some public benefit,” said Hill, a parishioner of St. Ignatius in Baltimore. “Baltimore City is giving out about $38 million and getting nothing. We need to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Providing affordable housing is critical to stopping a separate and unequal society.”

Hill said developers are good at swaying city politicians, “playing Chicken Little, always saying the ‘sky is falling,’ and getting their way by threatening to pull their developments out of the city. What we need is some real leadership from the mayor and City Council.”

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

Read More Local News

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times

Copyright © 2023 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Gerry Jackson

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

  • Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

  • Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz

  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

  • Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times

| Latest Local News |

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

| Latest World News |

Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary

LA archbishop, joined by business leaders, starts fund to help families affected by ICE raids

FBI surveilled SSPX priest amid probe of suspected neo-Nazi’s plans for violence

Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives

Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary
  • LA archbishop, joined by business leaders, starts fund to help families affected by ICE raids
  • FBI surveilled SSPX priest amid probe of suspected neo-Nazi’s plans for violence
  • Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives
  • Our faith is not afraid of questions
  • Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time
  • Parishes need to launch ‘revolution of care’ for the elderly, pope says
  • Broglio: Church teaching obligates the faithful to support pastoral care of migrants
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en