ddb:blandf.pr            96-436              Contact:  Joe Giloley, (301) 217-7394   



COUNTY FINDS HOUSING FOR
BLANDFORD APARTMENT TENANTS
ABOUT TO BE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES         FOR  RELEASE: December 24, 1996

     Nearly half of the 105 familes about to be evicted from the Blandford Apartment complex in
Rockville have already been moved to other housing through a tenant relocation effort, spearheaded
by the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs.   Tenants were notified
in October by the landlord that the complex will close December 31, rather than be renovated to
meet fire code requirements.
     "This has been a difficult holiday season for the Blandford tenants, and we have tried to make
it a little brighter by finding them housing, helping them with up-front costs such as security deposits
and first month rents, and with moving costs," said County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.  "Our
Department of Housing and Community Affairs staff is working with the tenants to make sure that
they get the help they need, and I have set aside $110,000 from our Housing Initiative Fund to cover
any necessary relocation costs."
     Of the 166 units that failed to meet fire code requirements, 105 were occupied -- most by
families with incomes below $20,000 a year, about half of whom do not speak English.  The
                                  (more)

COUNTY FINDS HOMES FOR BLANDFORD TENANTS                                          2-2-2-2


 Department of Housing and Community Affairs is coordinating the tenant assistance effort, working
with the Department of Health and Human Services' emergency services and rental assistance
programs, as well as with the Housing Opportunities Commission to help the lowest-income tenants.
     To date, the County has directly assisted 50 families,  finding them suitable housing and at-
cost moving services.  County staff and volunteer realtors are continuing to work with the remaining
families, providing them with information about where to look for housing, how to fill out rental
application forms, and  how to get their security deposits back.   The County anticipates that  all
remaining families who want relocation assistance will be moved to alternative housing within the
next few weeks.
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