Meet IHA’s Very Own Superhero!

inte8821 • September 21, 2016

You know that feeling you get deep down inside your soul when you do something very meaningful for someone else? It’s beautiful, right? It’s something that you just want to keep repeating. Working in a nonprofit, this wonderful feeling occurs often. Carol Riggles, IHA’s Homeownership Coordinator, has more experience in this area than most!

Her job at IHA is both rewarding and challenging. As the gatekeeper for participants in our Purchase Repair Homeownership Program and in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Carol has the responsibility of assisting those who have only dreamed of the possibility of homeownership.

Helping people repair credit by teaching them how to pay off debt, Carol literally walks our participants through this process with a series of classes and assignments. All the while, our participants are responsible for the steps necessary to reach the goal of being approved to shop for their dream home. Often times, this journey involves tough love, lots of sweat, and even a few tears.

Carol handles herself with the utmost respect towards our participants. Because of this very close working relationship that is built, lasting bonds of friendship are formed.

IHA, along with Carol and the USDA-RD, has helped to place over 30 families into the home of their dreams. With our participants paying significantly lower mortgage payments than they were paying in rent, tears that were once stress-filled are turned into tears of joy, happiness, pride and relief!

We are so proud of the work we do at IHA and are especially proud to share the work that Carol does each and every day to make the lives of others better.

For more information about our Purchase Repair Homeownership, please contact Carol at criggles@interfaithhousing.org. Carol will be very excited to help someone else achieve their dream of homeownership!

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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