Another Purchase-Repair Success Story!

inte8821 • March 29, 2016

Tom Ryan, a Social Studies teacher at TJ Middle in Frederick, is just one of the twenty-one clients who have happily settled in their new homes thanks to IHA’s Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program in partnership with USDA-Rural Development as the mortgage lender.

In lieu of a down payment, each program participant must invest at least 125 hours of “sweat equity” toward the necessary repairs. This investment of their time adds instant equity, on average just over $9,000 per household, as well as a real sense of pride and ownership in their new home.

IHA teaches the new homeowners how to complete the required repairs and how to contract for repairs best left to the professionals such as electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. Learning how to repair and maintain their own home helps to keep the cost of homeownership down in the future.

IHA plans to provide nineteen more homeownership opportunities to low and very low-income households over the next 12 to 18 months. Did you know that in Frederick County a family of three earning $49,150 or less is considered very low income?

The below market rate loans provided by USDA-RD include the cost of the required repairs and have afforded these new homeowners the opportunity to fulfill the ultimate American Dream of owning their very own home for less than what they were paying for rent.

We are delighted to partner with USDA-RD to offer this self-help homeownership option; the only one of its kind in Maryland.
For more information on this program, please visit: www.interfaithhousing.org or call Carol Riggles, IHA’s Homeownership Coordinator, at 301.662.4225 x1209.

Voices of Affordable Housing

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

Gary Free resident at Residences at Railroad Square Apartments

March 3, 2025
Gary Free grew up in Brunswick, MD. The first time he saw the Residences at Railroad Square, he knew he would love to live in the apartments. Now all he can think to himself is, “I am living here!” Gary said the day he signed his lease he was so happy! He has a picture hanging in his apartment that says, “You’re Home.” Gary looks at it often and says to himself, “I am!” He finally feels at peace. Gary feels his home is nice! He also feels one of the ways of living at Residences of Railroad Square is that he now has everything he ever wanted, asked for and needed. The only thing he feels is a concern is that most of the time he gets lonely. His goal is to try to meet people. He says, “I’m a very friendly person.” Gary says his experience living at the Residences at Railroad Square has been rather good. If he has any concerns he can talk to the office staff. He feels it can’t get any better than this!

Lease-up of Residence of Railroad Square

By Crystal Thomas • March 3, 2025
With excitement and anticipation, I watched the groundbreaking on June 29, 2023, with my assistant Vickie and IHA’s Supportive Services coordinator, Sandi. By the middle of September 2023 concrete walls were being set up. We watched as the roof was completed; then the windows and doors were installed. We impatiently waited for the day we received permission to see the inside of the Residences of Railroad Square property. Finally, on September 25, 2024, we had the privilege to tour the inside of this beautiful property. On the weekend of September 27, 2024, the IHA property management team along with the CEO Jodie, held a two-day in-person application event. The owners of First Stop Brunswick generously donated their space at 2. E. Baltimore Street. That lease up kick off generated 56 applications. Over the next three months, ninety more applications were submitted. Each applicant came with their own story which stirred our hearts. No matter how different their stories may have been, they all had the same wish, a place to call home for Christmas! On November 5, 2024, the first resident signed their lease and on December 23, 2024, the last empty unit was filled! Not only were we able to fulfill these residents' Christmas wishes but it also filled our hearts with joy!
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