Support for Older and Legacy Homeowners in Baltimore
Home maintenance is key to preserving a person’s largest (and often only) source of wealth, their home. There are helpful online home maintenance checklists available to support homeowners and assist them in ensuring their homes are well-maintained. But many in our community, especially older neighbors, cannot afford to keep up with essential home maintenance.
Lower wealth and lifetime earnings impact individuals’ financial health in their later years – and their ability to maintain their homes. Older women or community members of color are the most affected by employment and wage discrimination, which reduces the amount of social security they receive. The impacts of this discrimination affect health and housing to this day (see the article below and the video at the end of this e-newsletter).
When older or legacy homeowners cannot maintain their homes, it can lead to premature displacement, vacancies in their neighborhoods, and poorer health and financial outcomes for themselves and their families. It also contributes to the black-white homeownership gap. The current black-white homeownership gap is larger than it was when segregation was legal.
Committed people and organizations are working to ensure that the wrongs of the past do not go completely unaddressed today. St. Ambrose is part of two city-wide partnerships that support older and legacy homeowners in Baltimore, to ensure they can age in place and pass on their home to their families, transferring crucial wealth to the next generation.
These partnerships include Housing Upgrades to Benefit Seniors (HUBS) and Safe and Healthy Homes (SHH). We are so grateful for the collaboration of the many supporters of this work, including individual supporters, Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, CivicWorks, Central Baltimore Partnership, Enterprise Community Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
With this support, over the last two years, St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center provided free home repairs to 180 individuals through its Legacy Program, totaling an investment of over $1.3 million. Clients receive home repairs as well as case management and connection to services that can positively impact their quality of life, including bill pay assistance, Meals on Wheels, transportation services, or volunteer opportunities.
One recent Legacy Initiative client is 76-year-old Ms. Baker, who could not afford to pay for malfunctioning systems in her home, or deteriorating steps and handrails that increased her fall risk. Ms. Baker stated, “I just got used to it” when describing the basement sump pump that ran continuously never shutting off, and the upstairs tub water coming out of the spout and the shower head simultaneously. With repairs to these two systems, Ms. Baker’s water and electricity bills have been reduced, which has a significant impact on her fixed income.
Ms. Baker’s concrete walkway was repaired, and her home received a new security door, back porch, and exit stairs. For years she watched the back porch deteriorate to the point of being a true safety risk. Now she and her visiting family members can safely enjoy the backyard.
Case managers connected Ms. Baker with MTA Mobility bus service for her transportation needs. Having good neighbors and local families nearby helps keep her engaged. Additionally, to enhance her well-being, Ms. Baker was introduced to the 29th Street Community Center’s weekly senior activities, the Oliver Center fitness classes, and Golden Age 55+ programs at the Waverly YMCA. We are honored to have been able to assist Ms. Baker, and many neighbors like her. Our ability to help the older populations of Baltimore will continue to impact their families for generations. When we can age in place, safely, in the communities we choose – we all benefit.