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Rockville keeps landing on “best places to live” lists, but the price tag can make it feel like only a few people get to enjoy it. We sit down with Dr. James Hedrick, interim executive director of Rockville Housing Enterprises, to pull back the curtain on how affordable housing in Rockville, Maryland actually works and how to get started if you’re feeling stuck. We talk plainly about HUD programs, Housing Choice Vouchers, what “pay about 30% of your income” means in real life, and why there’s still value in applying even when waitlists are long.

Then we bring in Rodney Elam, client services and community engagement manager and a key leader behind the RHE Foundation (launched in 2023). Rodney shares how the foundation expands housing assistance into real-life support: weekly food pantries, free workshops for job searches and budgeting, and encouragement for residents who feel anxious or ashamed to ask for help. We also dig into workforce development through YouthBuild Bridge, plus the idea that stable housing is only the starting line for self-sufficiency and, eventually, homeownership.

You’ll walk away with concrete next steps, including where to apply (rockvillehe.org), how seniors can reach the office by phone (301-424-6265), and how donors and volunteers can strengthen programs through the foundation (foundation.rockvillehe.org). If you care about affordable housing, community stability, and quality of life across Montgomery County, share this conversation with a neighbor, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find these resources.

Transcript