St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
$100,000 / 2004 / Community Development
For continued support of the legal services initiative to fight predatory real estate practices in Baltimore City. The center will bring lawsuits against property sellers, mortgage brokers, appraisers, and title companies involved in fraudulent practices. Efforts will include education about deceptive home sales.
Community Law Center
$20,000 / 2004 / Community Development
For continued support of the Real Estate Services Project, created to fight the blight of vacant housing. The goals of the project are to ensure that residents remain confident about their neighborhoods; keep Baltimore’s housing stock competitive with suburban housing markets; and stimulate reinvestment in the city.
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
$150,000 / 2004 / Community Development
To fund the purchase of 60 vacant houses in Northeast Baltimore. St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center is serving as an Asset Control manager for FHA foreclosures of the houses being renovated and sold to new homeowners in a long-range effort to stabilize the neighborhoods and raise standards of renovation.
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
$50,000 / 2004 / Community Development
In support of staffing for the Partnership’s Facade Improvement Grant Program. Coordinating with Baltimore City, the Downtown Partnership provides matching funds to facilitate the improvement of facades in the downtown area. Enhancing the look of the buildings is expected to attract private investment, increase pedestrian traffic, and improve the business climate.
Sandtown Habitat for Humanity
$100,000 / 2004 / Community Development
Toward the renovation of 25 vacant row houses in the Sandtown-Winchester community. The initiative is designed to increase homeownership for low-income families. Because volunteers from Sandtown-Winchester and the larger community are donating labor, the costs of the houses are kept affordable.