Another Move-In Day at North Middle Springs Estates

octavodesigns • March 30, 2011

North Middle Springs Estates in Shippensburg, PA recently welcomed five new families, and six more families will be moving in soon. One more group of six families is being put together right now, which will begin construction this summer. Once that last group of homes is completed, a total of 39 Self-Help Homeownership Program homes will have been constructed in this neighborhood. Just a short distance from Shippensburg University, North Middle Springs Estates is ideally located close to a thriving downtown, recreational opportunities, and most importantly – jobs. Most of the participants in the program work within a few miles of their new homes.

Steve Wivell, one of two Construction Supervisors for Interfaith Housing Alliance’s Self-Help Homeownership Program, said, “Move-in Day is so rewarding. These folks have worked so hard, all winter long, and they’ve done such a great job. It’s amazing considering the fact that most of them didn’t know anything about construction when they started.”

IHA’s Self-Help Homeownership Program allows families and individuals to purchase their homes at cost, and, in lieu of a down payment, they provide 65% of the labor required to build their homes (a significant contribution known as “sweat equity”). Generally, it takes about nine months to build the 3-bedroom 2.5 bath single family homes, which is considerably shorter than the time it would take to save for a down payment.

Latia Reed, a soon-to-be new homeowner, can hardly wait until her group of homes is completed in June. Tia has put in many hours of hard work, but her dream will soon become true. She describes her experience with passion, “It has taken me a year to achieve my goal of becoming debt free, but my persistence led me to be a part of this amazing program. My son is my inspiration and strength, and he is the reason why I wanted to accomplish this goal. I want the absolute best for him and it starts with stability – the key to a great start in a child’s life. The work load is a lot and can be overwhelming but something worth having never comes easy. Interfaith Housing’s program allows families the opportunity to make owning a home come true, but it is up to you to make it your reality. This is one of the greatest experiences of my life, and my family and I will never forget such a blessing.”

IHA began their first Self-Help community of 20 homes in 1996 in a neighborhood named Mountain View Homes located in Brunswick, MD. To date, IHA has supervised the new construction of well over 200 homes throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Anyone interested in participating in the Self-Help Homeownership Program should call Linda Warren at 301-662-4225 x1307 or 717-414-5042. In addition to the six openings for the next group of families in Shippensburg, Linda is accepting applications for 18 homes through the Self-Help Program at Nottingham Meadows, in the Greencastle/State Line area and 14 homes being built in partnership with Dan Ryan Builders in the Rolling Hills subdivision, near Greencastle, PA.

Interfaith Housing Alliance is the region’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developer. IHA strengthens communities by providing affordable housing opportunities and supportive services to improve the quality of life and economic stability for seniors, working families and individuals. Programs greatly depend on donations from the faith community, businesses, foundations, and individuals.

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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