Please join IHA in welcoming Gabriel Jimenez!

Carol Riggles • March 6, 2024

Please join IHA in welcoming Gabriel Jimenez!

At the end of March, IHA will be saying goodbye to a long-time employee, Ron Morris. He is retiring and we wish him the absolute best!

We were incredibly lucky to find someone to take Ron’s place, literally in the nick of time. We knew the position would be ridiculously hard to fill as Ron is a tough act to follow. Like most nonprofit employees, Ron wore many hats, and his construction knowledge and experience is so extensive that we were sure he was virtually irreplaceable.



But then Ron recommended Gabriel Jimenez and we are glad he did! Gabriel has an impressive resume with a wide variety of construction knowledge, and he loves to teach, which will be especially helpful to our Purchase Repair Homeownership Program clients. Gabriel also has a big heart and desire to help others. He has been sharing his time and talent with Waterboyz for Jesus as a member of their SWAT (Servants With A Testimony) team to provide help to community members in need.

In addition to his position as the Construction Manager for the Purchase Repair Homeownership Program, Gabriel will also provide construction oversight for IHA’s partnerships with developers to build multi-family communities. The most recent community broke ground in June and just entered the framing stage. Located in downtown Brunswick, MD, this community (The Residences at Railroad Square) will add 45 more affordable apartments to IHA’s property management portfolio. 

But wait, that’s not all! IHA also needs construction management at our completed multi-family communities, and Gabriel will fill this role as well. Weinberg House, IHA’s very first senior apartment community, is currently undergoing extensive remodeling. Tied into this role is the need to forecast and prepare budgets for future capital improvements. A capital improvement is the addition of a permanent structural change or the restoration of some aspect of a property that will either enhance the property's overall value, prolong its useful life, or adapt it to new uses. This skill is outside the role of regular and routine maintenance.

If you are interested in learning more about IHA and/or its new

Construction Manager, Gabriel Jimenez,

please join us anytime between 9:30-11:30 AM on Monday, April 1st.

RSVPs would be appreciated but are not required.


This Meet and Greet will take place at IHA’s

520 N. Market Street Apartments in Frederick.

Please call Carol Riggles at 240-415-9882 for more information.

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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