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

Fall Updates from IHA

September 2, 2026
A quarter of grant wins, community partnerships, and small moments that remind us why this work matters. Here's what's been happening at Interfaith Housing Alliance since the summer. GRANTS & FUNDING: Four New Grants Fuel IHA's Work This Quarter Interfaith Housing Alliance is proud to announce four funding awards totaling $220,000 during the last quarter from our community partners. In June 2026, IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant by Ausherman Family Foundation. This capacity-building grant will provide funding support for the organization during its transition to new leadership. It will also support IHA's work with key community consultants with the goal of recentering IHA's programs and services in Frederick, MD. In July 2026, IHA was awarded a $125,000 grant from Morgan Stanley. This operational grant supports IHA in its ongoing quest to create and provide affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income (LMI) community members. It also supports IHA's continued community programming, which provides access to financial education and affordable homeownership opportunities. In August 2026, IHA received two funding awards in support of IHA's Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services. IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Maryland Housing Counseling Fund (MHCF). IHA was also awarded a $35,000 grant by Rural Maryland Council (RMC) through their Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) program. These grants will support the full spectrum of community programming IHA offers, including group educational workshops on financial health, individualized financial coaching and housing counseling, and pathways to affordable homeownership. We are deeply grateful to these partners for their continued investment in this community.

Weinberg House Renovation Brings New Life to Senior Living

By Vickie Mills • June 2, 2026
Exciting, the final renovations of the last two units are underway at Weinberg House, a long-standing affordable senior living community in Fredrick, Maryland. Originally built in 1994, the property provided safe, stable housing for older adults for decades. Renovations began on May 1, 2023. At that time, they had a total of 23 units to renovate. The renovations included freshly painted walls, new carpet in the bedrooms, new flooring in the other rooms, new cabinets in the bathroom, as well as new kitchen cupboards, fixtures and new appliances. The final two units will be ready for lease up June 15, 2026. The renovation of Weinberg House represents a meaningful investment in both people and place. By modernizing the property while protecting its mission, this project will help ensure that affordable, welcoming housing remains available for seniors for years to come. It is an encouraging example of how thoughtful redevelopment can strengthen communities and honor the residents who call them home.

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce three funding awards during the last quarter from our community partners.

By Rachel Gardner • June 2, 2026
In March 2026, IHA was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Frederick County Government’s Helping Empower Area Resources Together (HEART). These one-time operational funds were awarded to mitigate the effects of the longest federal government shutdown in history. This grant has allowed IHA to continue providing essential programs and services to Frederick County residents despite challenges at the federal level. IHA was also awarded a $5,000 grant from the City of Frederick through the Community Promotion Grant program. This grant supports aging in place and youth development needs among City residents through IHA’s Supportive Services. The program serves residents of IHA’s senior and multi-family affordable rental communities at 222 Broadway Street (Weinberg House) and 520 N. Market Street, respectively. In April 2026, IHA was also awarded a $25,000 Community Partnership Grant from Frederick County Government. This grant supports IHA’s full range of Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services, including our homeownership and financial education programming. IHA’s Purchase-Repair Program provides an avenue to homeownership for those who otherwise would not qualify for a traditional home loan. In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp helps participants improve their skills in budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and financial goal setting. The Frederick Affordable Housing Incubator (FAHI) brings multiple sectors together to increase the affordable housing inventory in Frederick County.
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