December 2024 Newsletter End of Year Campaign Article

Jodie Ostoich • December 4, 2024

In 2024 you can’t read an online article, turn on the evening news or pick up a newspaper without headlines screaming that housing is not affordable. This used to be the rally cry of affordable housing advocates everywhere. But as inflation, interest rates and lack of housing inventory begin to impact middle America, housing affordability is having a moment in our collective consciousness. 

In 2024 Maryland families need to earn $36.70 per hour to afford a two bedroom apartment. If they earn minimum wage, they must work 98 hours per week to afford that same two bedroom. In Frederick County Maryland, families must earn between $28.46-$48.08 per hour to affording housing in their zip code. 

It is this kind of data that drives the mission of Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA). We seek to strengthen communities by providing affordable housing opportunities for seniors, working families and individuals. IHA currently has 528 new affordable homes in construction and will be available in the fall of 2024 and in 2025. It is our joy to serve others with this much needed housing. 

We invite you to join us in this work by giving during our year end campaign which kicked off on November 1st. Each dollar donated is being matched by $2, thanks to our sponsors. IHA has raised $60,000 in matching sponsorship funds and our goal is to raise $30,000 more in donations. Please consider supporting this important work.

IHA has community investment tax credits to give to donors that have a Maryland tax liability. To qualify you must donate $500 or more. Tax credits can be issued for 50% of your donation. For example, if you give $500 then you could receive $250 in tax credits. In addition, you can claim the full amount of the donation as a charitable deduction. That would be $500 for the deduction, $250 in tax credits. You can double dip on your Maryland Tax return!

To partake in these tax credits please write CITC on your donation check of $500 or greater. If giving on the IHA website, please send me an email so that we can get working on your tax credit documents at once. jostoich@interfaithhousing.org. 

You can go here to make your tax deductible donation: IHA

To read more about Maryland Community Investment Tax Credits: DHCD Dashboard.

Thank you for partnering with IHA in this life impacting work! 

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards.

By Rachel Gardner • June 11, 2025
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

IHA Tenant Profile: Alice Buchanan the Weinberg House

By Jodie Ostoich • June 11, 2025
Alice Buchanan moved from Frederick, MD to North Carolina to take care of her daughter, Angela, who had kidney failure. Angela was in the Navy and served for 20 years when she retired. Upon Angela’s death, Alice stayed in North Carolina to raise her daughter’s children. When the children became adults, Alice wanted to come back “home” to Frederick, MD. Alice was looking for an apartment, so she asked her friend who was living in Frederick to help her with her search. Her friend connected Alice to Weinberg House. As soon as Alice heard there was a vacant unit she immediately returned to Frederick. Alice Buchanan moved into Weinberg House on May 12, 2015. Other than Alice, there is only one other person who has lived at Weinberg House since Alice moved in.

Voices of Affordable Housing

By Jodie Ostoich • May 25, 2025
Voices of Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing
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