Who We Are
We are a landlord for 244 seniors living in 
retirement communities like Schoolhouse Manor in Boonsboro, patterned after an attractive one
-bedroom unit model first used in 1982. The Authority also manages the rentals at Francis Murphy Senior Apartments off Robinwood Drive between the Robinwood Medical Center and Hagerstown Community College. See our complete listing of senior rentals below.
Homeownership
Rent-to-Own comes in two flavors: Homes 
available at market rents to moderate income families (click here to see our Rent-to-Own brochure), and homes with a rental subsidy, we call our "scattered site" program. Either way, the Authority uses a rental period as a bridge to homeownership success.
Priority for admission into the "scattered site" project goes to families that are enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. Scattered site tenants have the option of buying their rental unit from the Authority some day, creating additional motivation for taking care of the units and working to build personal savings. Here are the links to view our Homeownership Plan or look at the first steps a tenant needs to take.
Rental Assistance
The Housing Authority of Washington County also administers the Section 8 rental assistance program in areas of the County outside the City of Hagerstown corporate limits for approximately 500 lower income households. Check out the Landlord and Tenant links in the left-hand menu bar.
And here's our complete list of rental properties as promised (photos are behind the links in the "Community" column, and maps are behind the "Location" links. You can also click on "Units" in the menu to the left for addtional views ...):
| Community | Location | Units | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Estates | Smithsburg | 28 |
1-BR |
| Parkview Knoll | Williamsport | 28 |
1-BR |
| Springfield Manor | Williamsport | 36 |
1-BR |
| Schoolhouse Manor | Boonsboro | 32 |
1-BR |
| Monterey House | Hancock | 24 |
1-BR |
| Francis Murphy Senior Apts | Hagerstown | 120 |
1 & 2 BR |
| Rent-to-Own | Varies | 40 |
3 & 4 BR |
(Click on the project to see a pictorial view, or here to learn how to apply)
Family Self-Sufficiency
Section 8 families are eligible for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, too. FSS participants meet with a case manager, set personal and family goals, and in a 5-7 year period will work toward complete independence from programs through the local Department of Social Services. FSS participants are working on such tasks as improvement of job skills, attending school and clearing up credit problems. "Rent" increases that come to FSS families due to increases in employment income are matched by deposits in an escrow savings account that can later be used as a down payment on a home, purchase of more reliable transportation, or other purposes that support the self-sufficiency goals.
What's new?
The Authority has completed a 5-year planning process. Our Strategic Plan is not incorporated into our Mangement Plan. Click here to view our Management Plan.
An expansion of the Blue Mountain Estates community with the addition of a 16-unit, three story "mansion house" is in the works. The
architect's rendering of the front elevation (to the right) and the side elevation along with first, second and third floor plan views and the site layout and site notes have all been made publicly available to encourage your positive feedback.
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Offices for the Authority are at 319 East Antietam Street, 2nd Floor, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Our phone number is 301-791-3168 Voice/TDD. E-mail should be directed to Info@hawcmd.org