Our Story!

inte8821 • June 1, 2016

Many people banter about community issues but few are moved to action. More than twenty-five years ago, a group of concerned people were discussing the severe lack of affordable housing in our area. The need could not be ignored and wouldn’t be resolved by simply talking about it.

In 1989, The Most Rev. P. Francis Murphy, a native of Cumberland, organized a group of religious and lay leaders in Maryland to address the growing need for affordable housing. This group, guided by the expertise of The Enterprise Foundation, established the formation of the Western Maryland Interfaith Housing Development Corporation. Interfaith began staffed operations in 1992 as little more than a vision, operating out of a spare bedroom in the home of James Upchurch, the founding CEO. Committed to providing affordable housing in the Western Maryland Region, Jim was a true advocate for this cause.

Thanks in large part to what was begun by Bishop Murphy, Upchurch, dedicated board members and staff and now carried on under the expert direction of current CEO, Patricia Motter, the Board of Directors, and staff, Interfaith Housing Alliance – IHA as it is called today , has provided 1300 units of affordable housing throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania.

By increasing housing opportunities and strengthening programs to ensure housing stability, IHA is a regional leader. We consistently partner with and support clients to increase their ability to find housing.

In the past two years, the Purchase Repair Homeownership Program which is one of only six pilot programs under USDA Rural Development, has helped 21 families find homes of their own. In addition, there are several communities currently being planned and soon to be unveiled. Stay tuned as IHA helps the ever growing need to find affordable workforce, and senior housing!

From humble beginnings to exciting future endeavors, IHA continues to do the very best for the community we serve. There is a very real need and we are fulfilling that need in extraordinary ways. For more information about our programs and all the good we do here at IHA, visit our website at www.interfaithhousing.org or call us at 301.662.4225.

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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