On January 28, 2025, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County (HCCMC)  attended the official announcement of the More Housing N.O.W. package, a legislative initiative introduced by Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-Gonzalez to address our region’s housing crisis.

The Chamber stands firmly behind efforts that expand access to affordable housing, especially for working families, first-time homebuyers, and members of our growing workforce. The More Housing N.O.W. package outlines a practical and future-focused approach to increasing housing availability in sustainable, well-connected areas of Montgomery County.

Key highlights of the package include:

• Allowing more multi-family housing along major corridors near jobs, transit, and amenities, with a strong focus on workforce housing.
• Streamlining the process and incentivizing office-to-residential conversions to revitalize underutilized spaces.
• Doubling downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers in FY26—bringing the total to $8 million.

These policies aim to create more diverse, affordable housing options while better supporting the economic and social wellbeing of our communities.

HCCMC applauds the leadership of Councilmembers Friedson and Fani-Gonzalez, along with original co-sponsors Council President Kate Stewart and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Dawn Luedtke, and Laurie-Anne Sayles. We are committed to working alongside County leaders to ensure the Hispanic community benefits from and contributes to the success of these initiatives.