When AIM was founded in 2000, Montgomery County was one of the wealthiest regions in the country. Yet many residents—especially working families, seniors, and young adults—were struggling to find and keep housing they could afford. During AIM’s founding assembly and hundreds of listening sessions across our member congregations, one message emerged clearly: people were being priced out of their communities.

AIM’s Lead Organizer, Mark Fraley, assembled a team of leaders to investigate. They found that the county already had a Housing Trust Fund, but it lacked a reliable, dedicated source of funding. AIM leaders brought their findings to County Executive Doug Duncan and asked for a bold commitment: $15 million in immediate funding and a permanent dedication of 2% of annual property tax revenue to affordable housing.

Duncan asked for two weeks to consider. When AIM returned, he presented an executive order promising the full $15 million and the 2% revenue stream—but he asked AIM to keep it confidential until the county budget was released. After a private caucus, AIM leaders agreed. Eighty AIM leaders were informed and kept their promise: for four months, not a single person leaked the news.

At the next AIM assembly, held at a church packed with 150 people in Rockville, Executive Duncan publicly announced his commitment: “I’m Doug Duncan, a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish. I committed to bring myself and $15 million, and I’ve done that tonight.” The room erupted in celebration.

But the job wasn’t done. For the funding to become permanent, the County Council also needed to approve it. When AIM asked for their support at another action, only one of nine Councilmembers agreed. Councilmember Howie Denis challenged AIM leaders: “Anybody can turn out 800 people once. If you can turn 800 people out again, I’ll vote for it.”

AIM took that challenge seriously. Leaders met with every Councilmember and continued organizing. They applied steady public pressure and built momentum. 

Eventually, the County Council scheduled a press conference, without AIM’s knowledge, to announce dedicated HIF funding. Duncan’s staff tipped AIM off, and despite post-9/11 security and limited parking, 80 AIM members showed up. Their presence made clear that this was a community victory where AIM deserved recognition.

After 18 months of relentless organizing, AIM secured approval from the Council in a 7-2 vote to dedicate 2% of property tax revenue to the Housing Initiative Fund. And AIM didn’t stop there—every year since, AIM has continued to advocate for additional HIF funding in the county budget.

Over the past 25 years, AIM has helped secure over $1.5 billion in funding for affordable housing through the Housing Initiative Fund. Thanks to this funding, thousands of affordable homes have been built or preserved across the county, allowing working families, seniors, and young adults to stay here and build stable futures.

From residents protected from displacement at Westchester West to seniors moving into affordable new Victory Housing communities, AIM’s organizing has changed lives—and continues to shape a more just Montgomery County.

Read a 2001 Catholic Standard article about AIM’s Housing Initiative Fund campaign.