BUILD Maryland Summer 2019 News

OPEN ARMS HOUSING UTILIZES HBCF’S NEW TURN KEY PROJECT GRANT FUNDS TO HELP IMPROVE THE DUNBAR APARTMENTS
​At a unique apartment building in NW Washington DC for once-chronically homeless women, a few tenants have beautiful new durable flooring in their homes thanks to Home Builders Care.  Open Arms Housing is a nonprofit that provides permanent homes with ongoing support for women in D.C. who have lived on the streets or in shelters for years.  The Dunbar, a 16-unit building operated by Open Arms, shelters these women using the housing first model. The building first opened its doors in 2009 and after 10 years of hard use, it was time for some upgrades. Funding for the new floors arrived under HBCF’s new Turn Key Project Grant Program, newly launched in 2019. The Turn Key Project Grant Program is a small grants program allowing HBCF to more easily assist housing nonprofits with small repair and renovation jobs. Open Arms was the first nonprofit to benefit from the program.  Thanks to new MBIA member Friends and Family Flooring for taking on the project!

BRIDGES TO HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM EXPANDS THANKS TO HELP FROM LOCAL BUILDER 
This summer, a low-income single mother and her child now have a beautiful new affordable and supportive place to live thanks to The Rachuba Group and Home Builders Care. A few months ago, Bridges to Housing Stability, a Howard County nonprofit, was thrilled to take title to a donated vacant condominium in Columbia, but upon inspection they soon discovered the unit needed serious work before it was to become inhabitable. They turned to Home Builders Care.  A few weeks later, Chris and Ray Rachuba and their team stepped up and began work to transform the unit. After sizing up the work the unit was completely gutted. Soon afterwards, everything became new -  a brand new kitchen, a revamped bath, new whole house flooring, new HVAC systems, improved electric and much more.  Now the unit is part of the nonprofit’s Bridges Alliance, an income-based rental housing program with a unique system of mutual support.  All the work was done at no cost to Bridges. Thank you Rachuba Group!

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Bath BEFORE

Bath AFTER

Kitchen BEFORE

Kitchen AFTER

MARIAN HOUSE OPENS TWO RESIDENCES AT INDEPENDENCE PLACE WITH HELP FROM HBCF  
On June 5, 2019 HBCF was on hand to help Marian House dedicate two completed buildings at Indee on Old York Road in Baltimore City. The completed Mercy Residence and Notre Dame Residence, formerly the rectory and convent of Blessed Sacrament Church, have created 25 new units of housing for homeless women and families working towards independence. The goal of Independence Place is to create a “campus” of supportive housing for homeless women and families that will foster stability, wellness, and maximum self-sufficiency for all of its residents.
 
Mercy Residence is the former rectory, a three story building that was renovated to contain 8 bedrooms capable of housing a minimum of 3-4 homeless families (depending on family size).  Each family has private, connecting bedrooms and an adjoining bathroom. There is also a communal kitchen, dining room, living room, porch, laundry area, and basement playroom, plus offices for Marian House staff.
Notre Dame Residence, the former convent, is a three story building that was renovated to contain 9 bedrooms capable of housing at minimum 3-4 homeless families (depending on family size). Each family has private bedrooms with communal bathrooms, living room, kitchen, joint dining room/laundry area, and a porch, plus office space for Marian House staff.
 
Home Builders Care would like to thank GE Appliances and Interior Logic Group for their assistance on the project. Congratulations Marian House! 

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