Who Pays the Rent?

IHA not only develops affordable housing but provides property management as well. In 2020, IHA served 314 households (688 residents) in our rental communities across Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania. These residents typically earn between 10% to 60% of the area's median income (AMI).   

Early in the pandemic, rent collection rates hovered around 96%. This was due to many of our residents being front-line workers who continued to work in industries such as food service, retail, delivery, and healthcare. Those who were laid off were able to receive unemployment which helped to cover their rent.  

In Frederick County, Maryland, local funders came together to create the COVID-19 Collaborative. This collaborative was focused on providing immediate funding and crisis support to nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations. IHA applied for and received a total of $25,000 from the following local funders in support of its local tenants:  

Ausherman Family Foundation-$10,000, 

The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County in partnership with The Mark and Susan Butt Saturday Morning Fund-$5000, 

United Way of Frederick County-$5000, 

Delaplaine Foundation, Inc.-$5000. 

IHA leveraged these funds on behalf of our Frederick County tenants with unpaid rent balances due to circumstances related to COVID-19. Many tenants required this assistance because their unemployment benefits had not yet come through or because they had been exposed to the virus. Others had lost wages either due to quarantine requirements or to reduced work hours while homeschooling their children.  

On behalf of our tenants across Maryland, IHA was also able to leverage rental assistance funds from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) who managed the CARES Act funding. IHA assisted tenants with making the application for the funds. In two different grants provided to tenants, IHA received $27,000 to cover past due rents owed by tenants. The remaining unpaid rent balances were written off as a loss to the property and were not left hanging over the head of those who live most closely on the edge.    

By: Rachel Gardner