BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Greater Baltimore AHC, a five-year-old nonprofit that is “first and foremost a developer of quality, affordable housing,” toes a conservative line — at least for the moment.

It acquires existing, at-risk affordable housing rental units in the Baltimore area, rehabilitates them as quality, multifamily apartments and then provides management and stabilizing residential services to enhance community life and protect its investment.

It may eventually try its hand at building new housing units, but for now GBAHC wants to conserve what public housing already exists — 9,625 units, according to a recent Abell Foundation report, down from 18,368 in 1992 — and improve it for a needy population.

“Right now we’re just trying to stem the loss of those units,” GBAHC Director Andrew Vincent said. “Those properties are at risk of being converted to market rates, bulldozed or of losing their subsidies.”

“Ultimately,” Vincent added, “we’d love to preserve the existing and then work on creating additional, affordable rental opportunities. But to be honest, right now we have our hands full trying to preserve what’s at risk of being lost.”

An offshoot of a 30-year-old Arlington, Va., housing nonprofit, the three-employee GBAHC obtains site control of an at-risk property and then — through the creative use of Maryland tax-exempt bonds, low-income tax credits, and city and state loans, or by deferring fees or investing its own money — develops it.

“The services are pretty good,” said Reniesha Lee, a resident of GBAHC’s Greenspring Overlook complex. “They have after-school and summer programs for the children. They do some positive things.”

So far, Vincent said, GBAHC has three multifamily rental properties in Baltimore to its credit, comprising about 500 units — 99 percent of them for low- and moderate-income families. Another 400-unit complex is under its site control, which the group hopes to own by year-end.

“They not only rehabbed my apartment, but they also gave us an office and a community room for the Barclay Greenmount residents,” said Shirley Dendy, an eight-year resident of a low-income complex in Baltimore City. “I have nothing but good praises about [GBAHC].”

The Abell Foundation report estimated that about 30,000 low-income residents await city or Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing.

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:56 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Group seeks summer activities for low-income youth"

Examiner Reader said:
At least this time Mr. Corrigan wrote a variation on his theme of the past 10 weeks, instead of just the same story with different words.

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11:57 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ministry stresses local entrepreneurship"

Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.

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4:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Washington-area nonprofits coordinate different crisis-management strategies"

Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.

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8:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007 re: "Study: Nonprofit employment growing faster than private sector"

Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.

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11:40 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Marian House helps at-risk women cultivate independence"

Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.

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8:50 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007 re: "Martha�s Place promotes hope for women overcoming addictions"

Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!

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12:18 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 19, 2007 re: "Health Care for the Homeless to expand services"

Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!

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12:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "D.C. charity helps kids pump clean water in Africa"

Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.

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7:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Advisory board trims list of nonprofit grant applications"

Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?

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