Why Unity Campaign and the Credit Café Go Hand-in-Hand

Lacy Ames • February 28, 2023

Why Unity Campaign and the Credit Café Go Hand-in-Hand

IHA is one of thirty nonprofits who are part of the Unity Campaign for Frederick County from March 8 – 10, 2023. 

 

What is the Unity Campaign you ask?  

The Unity Campaign is a collaborative donation campaign project between nonprofit partners, sponsors and the greater Frederick community. This campaign happens annually in March and its 100% online, plus 100% of individual donations go to the nonprofit of your choice (which we are hoping you choose Interfaith Housing Alliance “IHA”). 


Why donate to the Unity Campaign? 

All included nonprofits support ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households which means these families earn an income above the Federal Poverty Level but still struggle to afford basic household necessities such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, transportation, and health care. The most recent ALICE report found that 37% of households in Frederick County, MD are considered ALICE, so it is very possible that someone you know is an ALICE household and could benefit from your support! Interested in learning more about ALICE? Follow this link: https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/challenge-alice  


What will IHA do with Unity Campaign Donations? 

IHA’s Credit Café Workshop will be the beneficiary of these donations through the Unity Campaign. The Credit Café Workshop is 100% free to all participants who reach out seeking assistance with improving their credit. Just $56 can help cover the cost of two credit reports per participant who attends. 


How does IHA’s Credit Café Workshop help ALICE households? 

An individual’s credit is called into question in every area of life whether they are renting an apartment, applying for a car or mortgage loan, applying for a job, or even turning on their utilities. The Credit Café increases participants' knowledge of how to make lasting, life-long changes to their credit and/or everyday financial decisions. These changes help participants secure greater financial stability for themselves and their families through pursuit of better housing, lower interest rates on loans, and/or better jobs. More than anything, the changes that Credit Café participants implement in their lives as a result of our program helps to mitigate their need to make those hard financial choices on day-to-day expenses. 

 

During the last fiscal year, July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022, IHA served 135 individuals whose average yearly household income was approximately $37,813. To date in this fiscal year, July 2022 – June 2023, IHA has already served 75 individuals whose average yearly household income is approximately $34,862. 


How does the Credit Café Workshop work? 

The Credit Café Workshop combines education and strategic credit goal setting to help participants improve, maintain, or boost their credit scores and decrease their overall debts. The educational portion happens first with a 1-hour group workshop that is offered multiple times each month year-round. This workshop covers a broad array of topic related to understanding how credit works and best practices for maintaining it. 

 

The second portion is a personalized 30-minute one-on-one credit report review session with an advisor to occur virtually within 1 week of completing the group workshop. The advisor provides participants with an understanding on how to read their credit report and set credit related goals to meet their future financial needs. IHA provides each participant with a free, personal copy of their tri-merged credit report that is pulled the day of the event to provide the most up-to-date information for this one-on-one meeting. 

 

The Credit Café Workshop also includes continuous support to participants following their initial workshop attendance. While the advisor is available as needed to the participant, the advisor will follow up via email, call or text based on participant’s preference to check in at 3 and 6 months. These check-ins are to make sure the participant has everything they need to continue their credit journey and checking in on progress made. Participants are then invited to return for a second advising session and updated copy of their credit report. 


The Credit Café Workshop currently is 100% virtual with some hybrid options becoming available. In addition, IHA provides interpretation services to all those we serve at no cost to the participant. Interpreters are available on-demand and around the clock in more than 240 languages. 

 

How to Donate? 

There are two ways to donate: 

  1. Visit this website: https://igfn.us/vf/Unity2023/team/InterfaithHousingAllian14 
  2. Text Unity202337 to 71777 

 

The Unity Campaign for Frederick County will be highly advertised to bring awareness to the campaign, and it’s associated nonprofits from March 8 – 19, 2023. However, you can donate now if you do not want to wait! 



Can’t donate? No problem, please help spread the word about IHA’s Unity Campaign participation! 

 

Interested in the Credit Café Workshop? 

Contact Lacy Ames at lames@interfaithhousing.org or text 301-818-5606 to get started today! 


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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