IHA Celebrated Purchase Repair Homeownership in June!

Lacy Ames • September 5, 2023

IHA Celebrated Purchase Repair Homeownership in June!

During June's National Homeownership Month, IHA's Purchase Repair Homeownership Program commemorated the occasion by organizing an event at the downtown Frederick library. The program's comprehensive approach, which combines assistance for purchasing with support for repairs, underscores its unwavering commitment to ensuring that individuals and families not only attain homeownership but also possess the means to uphold and enhance their residences over the long term. This type of initiative plays a role in fostering both housing stability and stronger communities. 


In conjunction with IHA, the event welcomed a variety of partners including the United Way of Frederick County, USDA – RD, NeighborGood Partners, City of Frederick Housing & Human Services, Frederick County HCD, Long & Foster Realty, Clear Title, LLC, Middletown Valley Bank, and Peace of Mind Home Inspections. This impressive alliance truly illustrates that IHA's Purchase Repair Homeownership program unites a formidable group of collaborators to aid clients in realizing their ultimate aspiration of homeownership. 


The effects of this event were deeply felt by partners and clients alike, yielding successes in networking and facilitating initial face-to-face interactions. Their testimonials reflect the positive outcomes of the fair, capturing the essence of their experiences. 

Jill from NeighborGood Partners stated “I think hosting a Homeownership Fair is such a great service to Frederick County! Potential homebuyers can get a lot of different information from one location in a short period of time. There were lots of organizations to learn from and talk to; everyone there was super friendly and ready to help! It was great to be at the Homeownership Fair, hosted by Interfaith Housing Alliance. I have been working with IHA for a long time but hadn’t been able to see their staff in a long time due to COVID. It was great to catch up!”. 


Middletown Valley Bank stated “Middletown Valley Bank is appreciative to Interfaith Housing Alliance for including us in the June Homeownership Event. We believe that access to affordable housing programs such as IHA’s Purchase-Repair Homeownership Program are vital to the wellbeing of our communities. The June Home Ownership Event highlighted the importance of inclusion and financial education, as attendees were given the opportunity to learn more about the entire homeownership process, not just the homebuying process.” 


Joyce of United way of Frederick County stated “It was great connecting with potential clients, some of whom I had connected with via phone.  I especially liked that they were able to connect with several organizations at the same time and get their questions answered on the spot. They also learned how some of the organizations present work together. It was great meeting colleagues from other organizations I only knew by name, via phone, or met on a virtual meeting and learning more about their programs.” 

Michelle, PRP Client, stated “It was great finally connecting to organizations and individuals face to face instead of behind a computer for the first time in almost 3 years of working with IHA!” 


Another PRP Client stated “I didn’t know if homeownership was even possible and I’ve heard about IHA’s Purchase Repair program so many times but was apprehensive. Finally meeting staff face to face and asking the important questions helped me feel more confident that I COULD pursue my lifelong dream of homeownership!” 


Another Partner stated “It was nice to finally meet and network with the partners involved in the entire Purchase Repair process who I’ve only heard of or communicated with over the phone. I hope IHA does this again in the future.” 



Due to the previous successes and interest, IHA will be hosting a second homeownership fair on Monday, October 2nd at 5 – 8pm at the C. Burr Arts Public Library located at 110 E. Patrick Street Frederick, MD 21701. In addition to a homeownership fair, IHA is bringing an in-person Credit Café Workshop to occur during the fair as well! To RSVP and get the most up-to-date information as its available, complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/9mxVwppciQ 


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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