Meet Beatrice & Read About Her Pathway to Homeownership!

inte8821 • May 14, 2018

A very happy day in 2017, but Beatrice’s life hasn’t always been so happy. Married in Cameroon to her partner of 10 years in 1997, her husband left her in 1998 to come to the United States. Three years later, Beatrice joined her husband in the U.S. only to discover he was a different person.

The physical and mental abuse began immediately, and it was only after her oldest son, then 6 years old in 2011, stood up to his father asking him not to beat his mother. The father then turned on the boy, so Beatrice called 9.1.1. and the father was removed from the home of Beatrice and her 3 children. That was when she found out that her husband had borrowed a lot of money in her name only.
She knew she couldn’t afford to pay the money back, so she sold her home and paid off the tremendous debt her husband had kept hidden from her. She knew she was starting over, but never afraid of hard work, Beatrice continued to persevere. She worked the night shift at Frederick Memorial Hospital so she could care for her children during the day. She sought help from Heartly House and was given good advice on how to overcome the trauma a victim of domestic violence experiences. The Housing Authority helped her to find a place to live and referred her to the Prosperity Center’s Credit Café.

At the Credit Café, her advisor told her to “stick to Miss Carol and you are going to be blessed.” He was referring to Carol Riggles, IHA’s Homeownership Program Manager. And that is exactly what Beatrice did. She learned how to manage her credit, reduce her debt, raise her credit scores and save for the future.

This May, Beatrice will purchase a home in a wonderful neighborhood near excellent schools and not far from work. Beatrice says, “All I want is for my children to have a good life.” When asked what her next goal in life will be, Beatrice said she plans to move up her career path from a Certified Nursing Assistant to a Licensed Practical Nurse. We all have no doubt that Beatrice will make her new dream come true as well.

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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