Interfaith Housing Alliance wants to help families own homes in Greencastle area

inte8821 • March 7, 2012

Interfaith Housing Alliance wants to help families own homes in Greencastle area

The nonprofit’s goal is to improve quality of life

Homes similar to this one could soon be built in Nottingham Meadows in Antrim Township by Interfaith Housing Alliance. The homes are for families interested in owning a home they can afford.

By Rachel Bryson
The Record Herald
Posted Oct 21, 2011 @ 01:08 PM

Greencastle, Pa. — Making home ownership a little more affordable is one goal of Interfaith Housing Alliance, and the group wants to build 18 homes in Antrim Township’s Nottingham Meadows.

The alliance helps families looking to own a home find or build one that is within their budget and the time they can dedicate to its upkeep.

The alliance has partnered with Franklin County to submit a Home Investment Partnership Program Community Housing and Development Organization application for $100,000 to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Franklin County Commissioners will hear comments on the proposed application at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in their office. Once all comments have been heard, commissioners will consider adopting the proposal.

Affordable living

Living within your means is something that everyone should strive for, and IHA works with potential homeowners to make owning a home within their means a reality. The nonprofit alliance works to create and preserve quality affordable housing to meet needs and improve the quality of life for seniors, working families and others, according to its website.

The local area has a strong work force, but housing prices far exceed what many can afford, IHA President Patricia Motter said.

“We come in and help out by building homes they (residents) can afford,” Motter said.

The alliance has built several communities in south-central Pennsylvania, and this is its second project in Antrim Township. The first project, which is still under way, is 14 duplexes in Rolling Hills, located at Lindale Avenue and Route 16. Dan Ryan Builders and Sandy Spring Bank have partnered with IHA for the Rolling Hills development.

Those interested in an IHA home are evaluated on their income level, number of members in the family and if they have good credit, which allows IHA to determine the type and size of home they can afford.

“We really are trying to get them into homes they can afford,” Motter said.

In addition to providing affordable housing and some financing options, IHA also stays with the new homeowners and helps them understand all that goes into owning a home.

“We can sort out which program meets their needs,” Motter said.

Nottingham Meadows

The homes planned for Nottingham Meadows are all single-family homes and will range in style based on need and income level.

“We do wait until we have a family lined up to build the homes,” Motter added.

The community will not see all 18 homes pop up overnight, though.
“We would like to have six go up at a time,” Motter said.

The alliance has six home sites ready to go and needs families who are interested in their program.

The alliance has partnered with many organizations over the years, including builders and other businesses, and is hoping to work with Franklin County to receive $100,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development toward the project.

“We’re very appreciative to Franklin County for their support,” Motter said.
About IHA

IHA has been providing affordable housing and rental options for 21 years in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania.

The group has created more than 1,100 housing units and invested more than $150 million in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Anyone interested in the new homes or looking for more information on IHA should call Sheri Huber at (301) 662-4225.

On the Net

www.interfaithhousing.org
Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.cm/interfaithhousing
Copyright 2011 Waynesboro Record Herald. Some rights reserved

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!

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce 4 funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

March 3, 2025
In November 2024, IHA was awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s three workshop series: Credit Café ; Financial Freedom Bootcamp ; and Ready, Set, Go… Home! In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp builds critical foundational skills for financial success. Ready, Set, Go… Home! walks participants through the entire homebuying process from start to finish. IHA also received a $1,574.37 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County. In December 2024, IHA was awarded a $29,498 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT). MAHT is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization. This grant program is a valuable resource for the advancement of affordable housing initiatives and will provide operational assistance to IHA’s affordable multifamily community in Cumberland, MD. In January 2025, IHA was awarded a $2,500 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.
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