Volume XI | February 2020
Greetings!
February is Black History Month!

Throughout the month, St. Ambrose staff honor and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans with Lunch and Learn activities, weekly facts about historical figures, and is culminated with a Staff Luncheon at the end of the month.

Click here to view the 1972
CBS Investigative Report on Blockbusting in Baltimore, featuring Vinnie Quayle, Founder of St. Ambrose!
A Match Made at Home
 
Ms. D. and Ms. L. were first matched in 2009 and have been Homesharing together for 11 years!
 
Ms. D.’s daughter first saw an advertisement in the Baltimore Sun for Homesharing and decided she would give it a try. She used to have students from Morgan State rent out a room in her home but due to non-compliance with house rules, Ms. D. decided she would be more comfortable sharing her home with someone who was closer to her age.
 
A Homesharing Case Manager with St. Ambrose met with Ms. D. to begin the process of finding her perfect Homesharing match. In the next few days, Ms. D. met a couple of potential homesharers but in 2009, she decided to choose Ms. L. to share her home with.
 
Even though Ms. L. had already had one stroke, she was still able to take care of herself and remain independent. When a second stroke hit Ms. L., she was taken to a skilled nursing facility in order to regain her health. Ms. L.’s sister was unable to take care of her so Ms. D. made the decision to step up to the plate for her long-time friend who needed her help.
 
Ms. D. and Ms. L. were once strangers, now great friends. Ms. D. has been the primary caregiver to Ms. L. since 2012 and now the pair is inseparable. The two friends are also cross-country travelers venturing on trips to Connecticut, Delaware and even Las Vegas!

Ms. D. said, “Homesharing is an excellent program that provides companionship and someone to talk to and go places with. I’m retired now but am working part-time which is why Homesharing has been a wonderful match for me.” To learn more about Homesharing at St. Ambrose, please call 410-366-6180.
NeighborWorks
Training Institute

St. Ambrose's Housing Counseling Department participated in the Training Institute held by NeighborWorks in Portland, Oregon. The NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) is a five day “mobile university,” held three times each year in various cities across the nation. "St. Ambrose was joined in Portland by hundreds of affordable housing and community development professionals from agencies around the nation. These events are an excellent opportunity for professional development, networking, and peer-learning," said Travis DuCote, St. Ambrose Housing Counselor.
Community Development Network Day in Maryland

The 2020 Community Development Day in Annapolis was a great way for the St. Ambrose team to participate in the Community Development Network of Maryland’s legislative agenda. David Sann, Ken Greene, Erin Broussard and Tim Darby were able to play an active role by lending their support for House Bill 472 and Senate Bill 387 which seek to create a funding source for the Community Development Fund that was established in 2018. These dollars will be a permanent flexible resource for community development projects!

Additionally, during our discussions we learned that Regina Boyce, Delegate for District 43, utilized St. Ambrose Housing Counseling services when she participated in the Johns Hopkins "Live Near Your Work" Program. Overall, the event was a great way to see the broad influence of community partners as well as hear a very personal story about St. Ambrose's unique impact. 
Upcoming Trainings and Workshops

Homeownership Workshops
(Monthly)
Baltimore County Workshop
Date: 2/22/2020
Time: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Rosedale Branch
Baltimore County Public Library
6105 Kenwood Ave.
Rosedale, MD 21237

Learn more about this workshop, homebuying workshops for Baltimore City, online workshops, and other homebuying resources here.

Talk with a St. Ambrose Lawyer
Date: 4/8/2020
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: North Point Branch
Baltimore County Public Library
1716 Merritt Blvd
Dundalk, MD 21222
Welcome to the
St. Ambrose Family!

Keison Trottman, Maintenance Technician

"I love working at St. Ambrose. I take pride in being able to help others by addressing their maintenance concerns as quickly as possible."
Erin Broussard, Deputy Director

“I have dedicated my entire life to service work, from my military career to working with nonprofit organizations helping those who are most marginalized. I feel driven to assist in meaningful ways that provide a sense of hope to those in the greatest need.

I am drawn to the history and mission of St. Ambrose. It is heart work, community work, and deeply important work. I hope to contribute to the continued success of St. Ambrose through my role as a servant leader who believes impact should be measured by actions."
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center | 410-366-8550 | stambros.org