Fall Newsletter Grant Updates

Jodie Ostoich • September 10, 2024

Here's a recap for grants received over the past quarter

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce three funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

 

In July 2024, IHA was awarded a $5,000 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. This grant served as a sponsorship for IHA Day on July 11, 2024, which celebrates the anniversary of our founding day on July 11, 1990. This sponsorship grant helped IHA exceed its fundraising goal of $8,000 to reach $11,490.29 on IHA Day. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.

 

In August 2024, IHA was awarded a $25,000 grant by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC). The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Fund (MAERDAF) grant program will support IHA’s Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program (PRP). PRP provides low- and very low-income households with affordable homeownership opportunities in rural areas of Frederick, Carroll, and Washington Counties in Maryland. The program also provides one-on-one housing counseling and financial coaching families and individuals throughout their journey to homeownership.

 

IHA was also awarded a $34,000 grant by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The Maryland Housing Counseling Fund (MHCF) grant program will support IHA’s Financial Dignity & Empowerment Services, which represents the full spectrum of community programming we offer, including: group educational workshops on financial health and becoming a homeowner; individualized financial coaching and housing counseling; and a pathway to 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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