History
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, Inc. was founded in 1968 to confront the pervasive redlining and blockbusting practices that discriminated against homebuyers of color.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our mission is to create and maintain equal housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income people, primarily in Baltimore City, and to encourage and support strong and diverse neighborhoods.
In more than 50 years of working in the Baltimore area, we have expanded our service offerings to meet the needs of the Baltimore region and have impacted over 130,000 families and helped to stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods.
While our service offerings have evolved, the vision guiding St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center has remained the same – everyone in our community has a place they are proud to call home.
Our work creates affordable, sustainable housing options, protects against displacement, and keeps our Baltimore neighborhoods strong and vibrant. St. Ambrose remains rooted in its commitment to the pursuit of social, racial, and economic justice by providing innovative, comprehensive housing services.
1960s
Jesuit priest and community organizer Vincent (Vinnie) Quayle visits London and Chicago to learn how other cities and communities overcome racial and economic barriers to build stable low- and middle-income neighborhoods.
1968
Quayle founds St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and works with civil rights activists Jack Martinez, Sampson Green and Walter P. Carter to stop discriminatory and predatory real estate and lending practices like blockbusting and redlining in Baltimore City.
1969
Ed Miller and Quayle mobilize community protests in response to blockbusting and redlining in Baltimore’s low-income neighborhoods.
1971
Maryland Housing Fund (MHF) is established in response to meetings with St. Ambrose, local banking establishments and Maryland’s Governor Mandel. The MHF enabled low- to moderate-income community members to obtain home loans, and between 1974 and 1990 MHF insured over 35,000 loans for first time homebuyers.
1974
St. Ambrose creates a housing renovation program, installing new furnaces and roofs in older homes.
1975
St. Ambrose begins offering foreclosure prevention counseling.
1978
A rental services program is formed and begins by transforming unused Catholic school buildings into affordable housing.
1980s
A weatherization program is instituted to provide insulation, roofing, and replacement windows to low-income and older homeowners.
1980s
St. Ambrose begins offering legal services to community members.
1980s
With support from the Abell Foundation, St. Ambrose embarks on a lead paint mitigation program.
1980s
As fear of gentrification and displacement grow, St. Ambrose advocates for Baltimore City to establish a “Tenant’s Right of First Refusal,” helping hundreds of Baltimore families convert from renting to homeownership.
1980s
St. Ambrose purchases and renovates homes in the historically Black community of Winter’s Lane in Catonsville, converting the homes into affordable rental housing.
1990s
Intensive purchasing and rehabilitation of vacant and foreclosed properties is underway in order to create and preserve homeownership for low- to moderate-income community members in Baltimore City.
1995
A $1,000,000 challenge grant to create an endowment fund is awarded to St. Ambrose by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
1999
The historic Aigburth Vale mansion is transformed into affordable senior housing operated by St. Ambrose.
2000s
St. Ambrose begins offering Homesharing services.
2001
Quayle is recognized for his leadership role in creating equal access to homeownership and receives the first Hope Award from the National Board of Realtors.
2004
St. Ambrose is chosen to participate in the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Asset Control Area Management Program.
2005
Bank of America awards St. Ambrose with the $200,000 Neighbor of Excellence Award.
2006
St. Ambrose becomes a NeighborWorks charter member.
2008
St. Ambrose assists homeowners in the wake of the foreclosure crisis.
2011
Gerard Joab is named Executive Director of St. Ambrose upon Vinnie Quayle’s retirement.
2016
Homes in the historically Black community of Winter’s Lane undergo a second renovation.
2018
The Homesharing Department expands to serve youth (18-24 years old) experiencing homelessness in the Journey of Hope program.