The Residences at Railroad Square Groundbreaking

Jodie Ostoich • September 5, 2023

The Residences at Railroad Square Groundbreaking 

June 29, 2023, was a blistering hot and humid day. Not even the weather could dampen the excitement that buzzed inside the Steadman-Keenan America Legion Post 96 in Brunswick Maryland. The crowd gathered that day were celebrating nearly six years of collective efforts to make The Residences at Railroad Square a reality. 


Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater writes in her August 3rd newsletter: 

“This month, we celebrated the official groundbreaking of The Residences at Railroad Square in the City of Brunswick! This project is incredible and would not have been possible without dedicated, creative partnerships. Railroad Square will bring 45 households to downtown Brunswick and is already helping to revitalize this entire city block right at the entry to the City from the C&O Canal. Our administration is proud to be a partner in this project and is committed to making housing more attainable and affordable.” 


Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is the nonprofit partner and owner. IHA will be providing property management services and supportive services to the residents of The Residences at Railroad Square. 


Construction is expected to be completed in August 2024. Marketing and leasing activities will begin in April 2024. Please keep checking this location for updates: Rental Communities | Interfaith Housing Alliance 


Pictured Left to Right: Bruce Zavos, architect; CJ Tyree-Developer; Ed Simms-DHCD; Jessica Fitzwater-Frederick County Executive; Nicholas Redding-Preservation Maryland;  Nathan Brown-Mayor of City of Brunswick 

IHA Staff and Board Members Pictured Left to Right: Wakeena Jackson-IHA Board Member; Jessica Eaton, Brenda Genemans-Staff Accountant; Nyanso Diggs-Staff Accountant; Vivian Duran-Housing Specialist; Crystal Thomas-Regional Property Manager; Lacy Allen-Credit Café Program Manager; Jodie Ostoich-CEO; Vickie Major-Director of Property Management Operations; Vickie Mills-Property Management Assistant; Mark Long-former IHA Board Member 

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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