Standard Charitable Foundation Awards $2,500 to IHA

inte8821 • August 13, 2013

Cumberland, Maryland – Standard Charitable Foundation has awarded a $2,500 grant to Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) to help provide training for Cumberland residents through IHA’s Housing Matters Program, which provides affordable housing opportunities, financial education, and housing counseling services for the working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals or families with disadvantages and/or disabilities. IHA helps provide these individuals and families with the knowledge and resources needed to achieve economic stability and a higher quality of life.

Currently, IHA provides these affordable housing opportunities throughout Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania, and has created more than 1,100 affordable housing units, invested over $150 million in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and has received more than 30 awards of excellence for their accomplishments. ¬

“We greatly appreciate Standard Charitable Foundation’s recent contribution as we initiate the Housing Matters program in Cumberland,” said Patricia Motter, President of IHA. “IHA has been involved in the county since the 1996 opening of Washington Ridge Apartments. We are thrilled to build 25 new, beautiful lease-to-own townhomes at our Penn Avenue location that set a new standard of living for affordable housing. We look forward to offering the Housing Matters Program to the new Penn Avenue townhomes as well as to the community at large.”

Rachel Ritchey, assistant manager of Standard Bank’s Cumberland office, adds “IHA has become the one of the region’s leading non-profit in affordable housing development. They’ve reached this status because of their excellence in rental home management, ensuring responsiveness to residents needs, and through their long-term investment in the neighborhoods they serve. IHA has really done a fantastic job keeping these structures and their landscaping in immaculate condition. Having spoken with a few of the residents, you can tell they also take great pride in their homes.”

Standard Charitable Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to not for profit organizations in the communities in which Standard Bank operates. The Standard Charitable Foundation was established in conjunction with the 2010 conversion of Standard Bank’s parent company from mutual to stock form.

Photo Caption: From left to right: Patricia Motter, President of IHA; Rebecca Broussard, asset manager of IHA; and Rachel Ritchey of Standard Bank’s Cumberland Office.

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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