The Baltimore County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Terry Hickey to serve as the county’s first director of housing and community development.
County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. signed legislation in May to establish the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Before being named to lead the newly created department, Hickey served as deputy director of the county’s housing and community development program, which was part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this new department and continue serving the people of Baltimore County,” Hickey said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing our innovative work to prevent evictions, ensure access to affordable housing, and build stronger neighborhoods for all of our residents.”
In a statement, Olszewski called Hickey “a phenomenal civil servant, who has worked tirelessly across our region to ensure residents have secure housing and safe communities.”
Hickey became deputy director in January 2020 shortly before the pandemic got underway. He helped secure grant funding for rent relief, mortgage assistance and temporary housing aid in response, county officials said.
Hickey oversaw the county’s eviction prevention programs, which officials said kept more than 1,500 Baltimore County families in their homes during the pandemic. He also helped develop the Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention (STEP) pilot program, using data to target the county’s “most vulnerable households” for assistance. The program was recognized with a national award for innovation and provided a statewide model for eviction prevention, county officials said.
Now, Olszewski said Hickey will play an integral role in helping the county navigate the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and recover from it.
“As we continue rebuilding our communities in the wake of the pandemic, we will need experienced and innovative leaders like Terry to ensure a strong economic recovery,” the county executive said. “I look forward to working with him to continue building stronger communities across Baltimore County.”
Hickey previously served in Baltimore City government as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Human Services, where he oversaw homeless services and the Head Start program.
He also founded the nonprofit Community Law in Action and served as president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake.
