Revitalizing Financial Literacy: IHA’s Blended Credit Café Workshop

June 4, 2024

Revitalizing Financial Literacy: IHA’s Blended Credit Café Workshop

Since 2016, Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) has been empowering community members through the Credit Café, a program designed to enhance financial literacy and credit management. The Credit Café offers a comprehensive approach, blending education with strategic credit goal setting to help participants improve, maintain, or enhance their credit scores while reducing overall debt burdens.

Initially, the program operated entirely in person. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 forced IHA to pivot to a virtual format. After a brief hiatus, the Credit Café relaunched online in July 2020. The virtual workshop was structured in three phases to provide a more in-depth and supportive virtual experience:

1. Educational Workshop: This initial phase consists of a one-hour group session offered multiple times each month throughout the year. Participants explore a wide range of topics covering the fundamentals of credit mechanisms and best practices for credit upkeep.

2. Personalized Credit Report Review: Following the group workshop, participants engage in a tailored 30-minute one-on-one session with an advisor, conducted virtually via Zoom within one week of the group session. During this session, advisors help participants understand their credit reports and set credit-related goals aligned with their future financial aspirations. Each participant receives a complimentary copy of their tri-merged credit report, freshly pulled on the day of the event to ensure the most current information for this individualized meeting.

3. Continued Support: The Credit Café Workshop provides ongoing assistance beyond the initial workshop. The advisor remains accessible for follow-ups via email, phone, or text ensuring participants have the resources to sustain their credit journey and monitor progress. Participants are invited back for a follow-up advising session 6 months after their initial credit review to receive an updated credit report and review progress.


Over the past year, Lacy Allen, the Credit Café Program Manager, has introduced a blended option, combining in-person group workshops with virtual personalized credit report reviews. This hybrid approach caters to those who thrive better in an in-person setting while maintaining the convenience and efficiency of virtual consultations.


The blended option was first introduced with the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick at their Lucas Village Community Room. Partnering with local organizations has proven beneficial in multiple ways: reducing administrative work for IHA, increasing participant numbers, and providing trusted local contacts to assist with registration and reminders.


Following the success of the initial blended workshops, other organizations such as CORE, the Arc of Frederick County, Brunswick Public Library, C. Burr Artz Public Library, and IHA apartment/townhome communities have adopted this model. This approach allows more organizations to bring the educational portion of the Credit Café directly to their clients or staff.



If you or your organization have a group of individuals who could benefit from learning about credit in an in-person setting, reach out to Lacy Allen at lames@interfaithhousing.org or text 301-818-5606 to explore how the blended Credit Café Workshop can work for you!

Join us in promoting financial empowerment and stability through the Credit Café Workshop, now more accessible than ever!

Weinberg House Renovation Brings New Life to Senior Living

By Vickie Mills • June 2, 2026
Exciting, the final renovations of the last two units are underway at Weinberg House, a long-standing affordable senior living community in Fredrick, Maryland. Originally built in 1994, the property provided safe, stable housing for older adults for decades. Renovations began on May 1, 2023. At that time, they had a total of 23 units to renovate. The renovations included freshly painted walls, new carpet in the bedrooms, new flooring in the other rooms, new cabinets in the bathroom, as well as new kitchen cupboards, fixtures and new appliances. The final two units will be ready for lease up June 15, 2026. The renovation of Weinberg House represents a meaningful investment in both people and place. By modernizing the property while protecting its mission, this project will help ensure that affordable, welcoming housing remains available for seniors for years to come. It is an encouraging example of how thoughtful redevelopment can strengthen communities and honor the residents who call them home.

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce three funding awards during the last quarter from our community partners.

By Rachel Gardner • June 2, 2026
In March 2026, IHA was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Frederick County Government’s Helping Empower Area Resources Together (HEART). These one-time operational funds were awarded to mitigate the effects of the longest federal government shutdown in history. This grant has allowed IHA to continue providing essential programs and services to Frederick County residents despite challenges at the federal level. IHA was also awarded a $5,000 grant from the City of Frederick through the Community Promotion Grant program. This grant supports aging in place and youth development needs among City residents through IHA’s Supportive Services. The program serves residents of IHA’s senior and multi-family affordable rental communities at 222 Broadway Street (Weinberg House) and 520 N. Market Street, respectively. In April 2026, IHA was also awarded a $25,000 Community Partnership Grant from Frederick County Government. This grant supports IHA’s full range of Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services, including our homeownership and financial education programming. IHA’s Purchase-Repair Program provides an avenue to homeownership for those who otherwise would not qualify for a traditional home loan. In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp helps participants improve their skills in budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and financial goal setting. The Frederick Affordable Housing Incubator (FAHI) brings multiple sectors together to increase the affordable housing inventory in Frederick County.

36 Years of Building Stability, Opportunity, and Hope

By Lacy Ames • June 2, 2026
For 36 years, the Interfaith Housing Alliance has stood beside individuals and families as they navigate some of life’s most difficult moments. What began as a mission rooted in compassion and community partnership has grown into an organization that continues to make a lasting impact across our region, helping families find stability, build financial confidence, and create brighter futures. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we are not only reflecting on where we have been, but also recognizing the incredible growth, resilience, and innovation that continue to shape IHA today. Over the past 36 years, IHA has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community while remaining committed to the same core belief: everyone deserves access to safe housing, financial education, and the opportunity to thrive. Through housing counseling, financial education workshops, community partnerships, and affordable housing initiatives, IHA has empowered thousands of individuals and families with the tools, support, and stability needed to move forward with confidence. Beyond education and counseling services, IHA’s long-standing commitment to affordable housing development has helped create lasting impact throughout the community. Over the years, IHA has developed, built, and managed affordable housing units that have provided safe, stable homes for countless individuals and families. These housing initiatives represent more than buildings, they represent opportunity, dignity, and the foundation for stronger futures. The growth and preservation of affordable housing remains a vital part of IHA’s legacy and ongoing mission. Behind every program, every workshop, and every success story is a community of people who believe in the work we do. Our staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters have played an essential role in helping IHA grow over the last three and a half decades. Their dedication and belief in our mission continue to fuel the impact we are able to make every day. Most importantly, we celebrate the individuals and families who have trusted IHA to be part of their journey. Every financial goal reached, every housing challenge overcome, and every moment of renewed confidence is a reminder of why this work matters. As we look ahead, we remain focused on continuing to innovate, educate, and advocate for stronger communities. The need for affordable housing resources and financial empowerment remains as important as ever, and IHA is committed to meeting that need with the same compassion and determination that has defined the organization for the past 36 years.  Thank you for being part of the Interfaith Housing Alliance story. Together, we celebrate 36 years of impact and look forward to the many more lives we will continue to support in the years ahead.
Show More