Affordable housing group coming to Greencastle

inte8821 • March 7, 2012

Echo Pilot
Posted Jun 26, 2011 @ 04:07 PM

Interfaith Housing Alliance, which is currently planning projects in the Greencastle area, had a “Move In Day” for six homeowners in Shippensburg Friday, June 24, to highlight the program which provides affordable housing.

The entire 39-lot North Middle Springs Estates subdivision in Shippensburg features the efforts of families working to build their own and each other’s homes through a partnership between U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Home Program (USDA) and Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA). Participants commit to completion of a homeownership financial counseling course and 30 hours per week of work on the houses for each family on the team. Each team can take 9-12 months to finish their project. Mutual Self-Help Homeownership participation requires hard work and endurance.

Families buy their homes at cost and, in lieu of a down-payment, contribute their labor. No one moves in until all of the houses for the team are complete. For the past nine months, each of them worked regular jobs and then worked an additional 30 hours a week on six homes that were constructed simultaneously. Both men and women used power tools and sweat to, among other things, install siding, do framing and trimming, hang doors and install banisters. Construction supervisors Steve Wivell and Dave Schweinsberg aided the team with their expertise in overseeing the construction of these self-help homes.

Moving day is an emotional end to the process and the ultimate beginning of a new life.
This summer, IHA will be beginning with the final six homeowners to complete the subdivision.

The organization is also building 18 homes through the Self-Help Program at Nottingham Meadows, in the Greencastle/State Line area and 14 homes are being built in partnership with Dan Ryan Builders in the Rolling Hills subdivision, near Greencastle.

As one homeowner said, “Interfaith housing is a program that allows families the opportunity to make home owning come true, but it is up to you to make it your reality.”

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) was founded in 1990 after a group of concerned faith and community leaders held a meeting to address the growing need for affordable housing in Western Maryland. Today, IHA is the region’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developer, serving central and Western Maryland and South Central Pennsylvania. IHA’s mission is to strengthen communities by providing affordable housing opportunities and supportive services to improve the quality of life and economic stability of seniors, working families and individuals. Over the past 20 years, IHA has developed over 1,100 units of affordable housing.

For information, call 717-414-5042 or visit www.interfaithhousing.org

Copyright 2011 Echo Pilot. Some rights reserved

Photo Credit: Timothy Jacobsen

2025 Out of Reach

By Jodie Ostoich • September 8, 2025
Maryland and Frederick County: A Growing Housing Affordability Crisis Each year around this time, I share data that highlights the growing challenge of housing affordability in Maryland—and this year is no exception. Maryland now ranks as the 8th most expensive state in terms of wages needed to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. A worker must earn $39.15 per hour —or nearly $81,450 annually —just to meet that threshold. Unfortunately, the situation in Frederick County is even more severe. Alongside Calvert and Charles counties, Frederick tops the list, requiring a staggering $44.50 per hour —equivalent to $92,560 annually —to afford a two-bedroom apartment.  Meanwhile, the average renter in Frederick earns just $18.25 per hour , which translates to an affordable rent of only $949 per month —far below what the market demands. This stark disparity is exactly why the mission of Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is so critical. We are committed to addressing these inequities and advocating for solutions that make safe, stable housing accessible to all. Below, you’ll find the 2025 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition , detailing housing affordability across Maryland and its counties.

Fall Newsletter Grant Updates

By Rachel Gardner • September 8, 2025
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards received this quarter from community partners. In July 2025, IHA received a $3,500 grant from The Croteau Family Charitable Gift Fund, which is a donor-advised fund (DAF) held at T. Rowe Price Charitable. IHA also received a $5,000 grant from The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support all of IHA’s endeavors in strengthening the many communities we serve.

Build Confidence With Your Finances at Financial Freedom Bootcamp

By Lacy Allen • September 8, 2025
Money can sometimes feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to! This October, Interfaith Housing Alliance is offering our next Financial Freedom Bootcamp, a free, two-part workshop designed to help you take positive steps toward financial stability and confidence.  The bootcamp kicks off with an in-person workshop on October 15th from 5:30–7:00pm, where participants will explore the building blocks of financial health. You’ll learn how to create a budget that actually works for your lifestyle, discover the best practices for saving, and walk away with strategies for reducing debt in realistic and manageable ways. After the first session, participants are invited to take part in an optional virtual Credit Café, a supportive space to dive deeper into questions about credit and money management. This extra resource helps reinforce what you’ve learned and gives you the chance to connect with others working toward similar goals. The second workshop will be held virtually on October 29th from 5:30–7:00pm, making it convenient to join from home. This session will focus on building confidence when communicating with creditors, understanding your credit, and setting SMART goals to stay on track for the future. Together, these two sessions provide practical, easy-to-use tools to support your financial journey. No matter where you are starting from—whether you’re new to budgeting, trying to rebuild your credit, or just looking for ways to feel more in control—Financial Freedom Bootcamp is a welcoming and encouraging place to begin. At a Glance What : Financial Freedom Bootcamp – free, two-part workshop series When: October 15th (in-person) & October 29th (virtual), both 5:30–7:00pm Topics: Budgeting, saving, debt reduction, credit confidence, SMART goal setting Extras: Optional virtual Credit Café between sessions Register: Contact Lacy Allen at lames@interfaithhousing.org or 301-662-4425 ext. 1203
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