In the News
How SNAP Benefit Cuts Would Affect Maryland Residents
According to a recent report by the Urban Institute, federal SNAP benefits will fail to cover the cost of a modestly priced meal in every county in the US, when the proposed cuts to the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan update go into effect. Maryland is one of the states that will see the biggest gap between benefit amounts and the cost of a meal. In Maryland, rolling back the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan would mean that a modestly priced meal would cost 70% more than the maximum SNAP benefit. Below, explore which counties would have had the largest difference between ...
Help Us Support the CFPB — Tell Your Member of Congress to Vote NO on High Overdraft Fees
On February 14, we shared that Economic Action along with the City of Baltimore sued to stop Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, from defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). That temporary restraining order was for two weeks, ending on February 28. On February 28, Democracy Forward, the nonprofit who is suing on our behalf informed us that the judge extended the order barring the federal government from transferring away all of the CFPB’s funds. This means that the CFPB still has funding for another two weeks. While this is a short-term victory, it's ...
Join Us!
ECONOMIC ACTION MARYLAND'S AWARDS CEREMONY A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION Together we work to expand economic rights and financial inclusion in Maryland. Economic Action Maryland's Awards Celebration brings together community, policy, and government leaders working to advance consumer protections and economic justice in Maryland. Join us for our Awards Celebration to honor our economic action champions, enjoy good food and good drinks, and relish in the company of your colleagues and friends. When? Thursday, November 7, 2024 5:30 PM EST - 8:30 PM EST Where? The Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Hwy Baltimore, MD 21230 Click here to purchase tickets! ...
Maryland Code Enforcement, Inspection, and Zoning Agencies
Click on a link below to go to that county's code enforcement office, and procedures for filing a housing or other complaint. Allegany County Anne Arundel County Baltimore City Baltimore County Calvert County Caroline County Carroll County Cecil County Charles County Dorchester County Frederick County Garrett County Harford County Howard County Kent County: (410) 778-7437 Montgomery County Prince George's County Queen Anne's County St. Mary's County Somerset County Talbot County Washington County Wicomico County Worcester County If you have questions on a Maryland tenant-landlord matter, please fill out our tenant advocacy intake form here.
2024 Legislative Session: HB832/SB839 and HB328 Bill Signing
On Thursday, May 16th, we celebrated as two of our priority bills from the 2024 Legislative Session were signed into law by Governor Moore. HB832/SB839, sponsored by Delegate Vaughn Stewart and Senator Charles Sydnor, allows nominal damages to be awarded for violations of consumer laws. HB328, sponsored by Delegate Lesley Lopez, prohibits Maryland hospitals from using geographic service area tests and non-monetary asset tests to deny income-eligible patients free or reduced cost care.
Protect Consumers from BGE Rate Hikes
On September 29, Economic Action Maryland and thirteen other organizations submitted a comment letter to the Public Service Commission opposing BGE's $602.4 million rate increase. The Public Service Commission needed to hear that many more citizens care about this rate hike that is not transparent, foists the costs of BGE’s infrastructure investments onto households and is likely to increase costs by $810 per household which will harm low-income, and disproportionately Black and Brown households throughout BGE’s footprint. Many households who are living paycheck to paycheck earn just above the threshold to qualify for assistance but certainly cannot afford to subsidize BGE’s ...
Poppleton Housing Complaint
Economic Action Maryland, along with Ms. Angela Banks, an African American member of Baltimore’s Poppleton community, have filed an administrative complaint with HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) against Baltimore City, Mayor Brandon Scott, and the City Council for consistent violations of the Fair Housing Act. The complaint states the City’s redevelopment policies have violated the Fair Housing Act by displacing Black residents of Poppleton from the neighborhood and into more deeply segregated parts of Baltimore City as well as out of the city entirely. This continuous violation has gone on since at least 1975. The city has ...
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Land Grab: Why a Desperate City Kept Cutting Deals With a Developer Who Didn’t Deliver
Activists assisted residents of Baltimore's Poppleton neighborhood from losing their homes from a shady “redevelopment” deal. Read our Tenant Advocacy Director’s thoughts on development in Baltimore, and why redlining persists. Read the Baltimore Beat article here.
Helping Seniors Fight Economic Insecurity
Economic insecurity is a daily reality for thousands of seniors in Maryland living on fixed incomes and struggling to meet their obligations each month. Economic Action Maryland's SOAR Financial Counselor, Jamila Blake, is featured in The Baltimore Times discussing the work she does to aid and advocate for Maryland’s older adults. Read the article here You can get more information on our SOAR program here.