Spring Into Action!

inte8821 • June 1, 2016

Over the past 25 years, IHA has opened doors for thousands of young professionals, low-income families, and fixed-income seniors in need of decent affordable housing in safe neighborhoods.

Providing affordable housing requires the attention and efforts of an entire community. IHA is dependent upon gifts and donations from individuals in our community.

We ask you to consider a gift to the annual fund by June 30 – and join us in celebrating a quarter century of caring for others. We ask that you consider whatever level of giving you can provide. Sustained donations allow IHA to maximize the impact we are able to have on this serious community problem.

What kind of effect can you have? Here is an example: Lisa found herself in danger of becoming homeless after her husband died. Without that second income, Lisa, a grocery store clerk, could no longer afford an $1850 rent and was desperate to find an affordable place for herself and her daughters. Luckily, Lisa met a real estate agent who knew about IHA’s Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program. Lisa was able to purchase a townhome with a mortgage payment that was two-thirds less than her rent and provides housing stability for her family.

Unfortunately, the need for affordable housing has increased rapidly over the past few years as the baby boomer generation enters the fixed-income world of retirement and young millennials graduate from college with massive student loans and no opportunities. Seniors are also financially stressed by growing costs of living, inadequate savings, and too little income.
We look to loyal annual fund donors and new contributors to provide financial support so we can continue to improve lives through housing that is affordable.

IHA is financially resourceful and creative; we are able to take every dollar that is donated and produce five dollars-worth of affordable housing. Over the next two years, IHA will develop 182 new units of affordable housing thus creating more doors of opportunity for those in need.

There is no “U” in IHA – but there needs to be one. We cannot meet our goals without you and we are asking for your support.

Your donation will build stronger communities where deserving families and individuals like Lisa and her daughters can afford to live, work and thrive.

Please consider mailing a donation to IHA, 5301 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 320, Frederick, MD, 21704 or online at www.interfaithousing.org. For questions, please call our Vice President of Fund Development, Hugh Gordon at 301-662-4225 x1211.

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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