NeighborWorks America and Member Organizations Including NHS of Baltimore Ask Congress for Additional $100 million in Housing Rehab Funding

Baltimore, MD. — NHS of Baltimore will assist NeighborWorks America in its “ask” from Congress by educating key representatives on how the money will positively benefit Baltimore and Maryland economies. The additional $100 million NeighborWorks America is asking for will be divided up among its member organizations to use in their communities for housing rehabilitation of both single and multi-family housing units.

NHS of Baltimore has been in the business of rehabilitating owner-occupied, single family housing for low income families since its inception in 1974. Our organization prides itself on its ability to provide low cost, responsible lending, as well as professional oversight of the work from start to finish. We currently receive funding from the City of Baltimore for our rehab program and are partnering with Park Heights Renaissance, Inc. in its major redevelopment of the Park Heights neighborhood. Additionally, our organization currently receives funding from NeighborWorks America for our housing rehab, homeownership lending and education programs.

NHS of Baltimore rehabs around 85 homes as year on average. However, the number of clients seeking housing rehab has increased by 39% over the last year, receiving between 3-5 new inquiries about it a week. If we were to receive extra funding through this ask, we could rehab up to an additional 42 homes in Baltimore city over the course of the next year. Furthermore, our rehab efforts would create more than $2 million in spin-off construction and reinvestment revenue for the city and create 36 new jobs in areas related to retail, local government, professional services, construction and finance. Lastly, our efforts would increase home equity wealth in Baltimore by over $7 million over the next 10 years.*

We are strongly encouraging Congress to consider NeighborWorks’ “ask” because of the obvious benefits not only to individual communities such as Baltimore, but because of the broader benefits it would extend to the nation. Network members across the U.S. are ready and willing to put these federal dollars to work to ensure the best possible outcomes for their neighborhoods.

* The above numbers assume that the $100 million awarded to NeighborWorks would be allocated evenly among all 240 member organizations, which would equal around $415 thousand each.