October to December 2023 Grant Review

Rachel Gardner • December 4, 2023

October to December 2023 Grant REview

IHA is proud to announce 10 funding awards received this quarter from community partners:


In August 2023, IHA was awarded a $137,938 EmPOWER grant through Maryland State Government’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability (MEEHA) Program.  IHA was also awarded a $89,812 energy grant through the Frederick County Power Saver Retrofits (PSR) Program. Both of these grants support IHA’s ongoing rehabilitation of Weinberg House, which is a 23-unit affordable rental community in downtown Frederick for low- to moderate-income (LMI) residents aged 62 and older.


In September 2023, IHA was also awarded a $532,500 grant by the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD). This two-year grant provides technical and supervisory assistance that aids low- and very low-income families in carrying out mutual self-help housing efforts. The grant supports IHA’s Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program, which provides affordable homeownership opportunities to families and individuals in Frederick, Carroll, and Washington Counties in Maryland, as well as one-on-one housing counseling and financial coaching throughout their journey to homeownership.

 

IHA was also awarded a $125,000 grant by Morgan Stanley. This grant supports IHA in its ongoing quest to create and provide affordable housing opportunities for LMI community members. It also allows IHA to continue supporting community members through our Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services, which offer individualized and group programming, including IHA’s workshops, Purchase-Repair Homeownership program, and supportive services for residents of our affordable rental communities. 

 

The City of Frederick finalized a $7,849 grant for IHA, which was awarded through their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services program. This award will provide funding for Supportive Services programming for senior residents of IHA’s Weinberg House and 520 N Market Street affordable communities in downtown Frederick.


In October 2023, IHA received a $1,505.69 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support LMI households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County.


IHA also received a $400 donor-advised grant from The H. Deets and Juanita Warfield Donor-Advised Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support all of IHA’s endeavors in strengthening the communities we serve.


In November 2023, IHA was awarded a grant by the Ausherman Family Foundation. This 2:1 matching grant will match up to $30,000 in donations raised from community members and IHA’s Board of Directors during our 2023 annual appeal.


IHA was also awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s full range of Financial Dignity & Empowerment Services, which are designed to improve financial and housing stability for LMI households. These programs serve seniors, working families, and individuals through: educational workshops; one on-one financial coaching and housing counseling; and connection to affordable housing opportunities and community resources.


Lastly, IHA’s $5,000 application to participate in United Way of Frederick County’s Annual Unity Campaign was approved. This approval will enable IHA to participate in the Spring 2024 Unity Campaign alongside other local nonprofit organizations to collectively raise funds in the Frederick County community.

2025 Out of Reach

By Jodie Ostoich • September 8, 2025
Maryland and Frederick County: A Growing Housing Affordability Crisis Each year around this time, I share data that highlights the growing challenge of housing affordability in Maryland—and this year is no exception. Maryland now ranks as the 8th most expensive state in terms of wages needed to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. A worker must earn $39.15 per hour —or nearly $81,450 annually —just to meet that threshold. Unfortunately, the situation in Frederick County is even more severe. Alongside Calvert and Charles counties, Frederick tops the list, requiring a staggering $44.50 per hour —equivalent to $92,560 annually —to afford a two-bedroom apartment.  Meanwhile, the average renter in Frederick earns just $18.25 per hour , which translates to an affordable rent of only $949 per month —far below what the market demands. This stark disparity is exactly why the mission of Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is so critical. We are committed to addressing these inequities and advocating for solutions that make safe, stable housing accessible to all. Below, you’ll find the 2025 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition , detailing housing affordability across Maryland and its counties.

Fall Newsletter Grant Updates

By Rachel Gardner • September 8, 2025
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards received this quarter from community partners. In July 2025, IHA received a $3,500 grant from The Croteau Family Charitable Gift Fund, which is a donor-advised fund (DAF) held at T. Rowe Price Charitable. IHA also received a $5,000 grant from The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support all of IHA’s endeavors in strengthening the many communities we serve.

Build Confidence With Your Finances at Financial Freedom Bootcamp

By Lacy Allen • September 8, 2025
Money can sometimes feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to! This October, Interfaith Housing Alliance is offering our next Financial Freedom Bootcamp, a free, two-part workshop designed to help you take positive steps toward financial stability and confidence.  The bootcamp kicks off with an in-person workshop on October 15th from 5:30–7:00pm, where participants will explore the building blocks of financial health. You’ll learn how to create a budget that actually works for your lifestyle, discover the best practices for saving, and walk away with strategies for reducing debt in realistic and manageable ways. After the first session, participants are invited to take part in an optional virtual Credit Café, a supportive space to dive deeper into questions about credit and money management. This extra resource helps reinforce what you’ve learned and gives you the chance to connect with others working toward similar goals. The second workshop will be held virtually on October 29th from 5:30–7:00pm, making it convenient to join from home. This session will focus on building confidence when communicating with creditors, understanding your credit, and setting SMART goals to stay on track for the future. Together, these two sessions provide practical, easy-to-use tools to support your financial journey. No matter where you are starting from—whether you’re new to budgeting, trying to rebuild your credit, or just looking for ways to feel more in control—Financial Freedom Bootcamp is a welcoming and encouraging place to begin. At a Glance What : Financial Freedom Bootcamp – free, two-part workshop series When: October 15th (in-person) & October 29th (virtual), both 5:30–7:00pm Topics: Budgeting, saving, debt reduction, credit confidence, SMART goal setting Extras: Optional virtual Credit Café between sessions Register: Contact Lacy Allen at lames@interfaithhousing.org or 301-662-4425 ext. 1203
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