Volume 8 | September 3, 2021

Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership Quarterly Newsletter

“Eviction is a cause, not just a condition, of poverty.”– Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

A message from the executive director

The importance of sharing life-saving resources with our neighbors in need On July 6, we were pleased to reopen our office to the public for scheduled appointments. We’ve received a tremendous response from our community to connect in-person and have risen to the occasion, providing a safe and welcoming office environment. For the convenience of many in our community, we’ve also continued our virtual and contact-less services, including online and office drop box document submission, virtual counseling workshops, and over-the-phone counseling check-ins. Likewise, we’ve continued our virtual engagements and started participation in in-person engagements in the community. Many of these you will read about in this newsletter. With the Supreme Court recently ruling against the federal ban on evictions and the State of Maryland’s eviction moratorium ending, it’s more important than ever to get the word out to both renters and property owners about Maryland’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding offered throughout the state. If you’re a BRHP Property Partner, check out our latest blog for steps you can take to ensure housing stability for your tenant. The goal is to keep our community safely housed and we hope you’ll join us in sharing these important life-saving resources with your neighbors in need. As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and face the more contagious Delta variant, we encourage our community and partners to get vaccinated against the virus to keep yourselves and your neighbors safe.   Adria Crutchfield

ICYMI

Setting our students up for success

In August, we hosted our annual Back to School Supply Drive to support our families as they start an in-person school year. At six locations in the Baltimore-metro area, we distributed backpacks with full school supply bundles to 250 students. We were grateful to have the support of donations and the help of 16 BRHP volunteers to execute this project.

Advocating for the Child Tax Credit

The expanded Child Tax Credit has provided increased stability for so many families, including some of our own. BRHP’s Program Training Specialist Renita Dorsey spoke at an August press event with Mayor Brandon Scott and Senator Ben Cardin to share the personal impact of the child tax credit, sharing that it allowed families to catch up or get ahead financially. More from the event in the article below.

Helping families and Baltimore thrive with the child tax ... BALTIMORE - Senator Ben Cardin says he's happy with how Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott is handling about $640 million in stabilization funds from the American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan also included an expanded child tax credit..... Read more www.wmar2news.com

BRHP in the spotlight

“Genuine Engagement with Housing Choice Voucher Families” (Mobility Works & PRRAC, July 2021) Excerpt: “Families with Housing Choice Vouchers can be more than clients for housing mobility programs – they can also be valuable advisors, advocates, and partners. For the past few years, Mobility Works partner organizations have built strong client engagement programs which should be incorporated more broadly as housing mobility programs expand across the country.”

Genuine Engagement with Housing Choice Voucher Families... A Mobility Works & PRRAC Policy Brief. Excerpt: "Families with Housing Choice Vouchers can be more than clients for housing mobility programs - they can also be valuable advisors, advocates, and partners. For the past few years, Mobility Works... Read more www.housingmobility.org

“Bridges Collaborative Member Spotlight: A New Model for Combating Housing Segregation Post-Pandemic” In June, we were featured in a member spotlight by Century Foundation's Bridges Collaborative, an organization that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.

Bridges Collaborative Member Spotlight: A New Model for... Housed in the hometown of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership ( BRHP) is a non-profit organization that provides rental assistance in the form of federal Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), formerly... Read more tcf.org

Meeting with Congressman Mfume

On July 13, BRHP staff, board members, and client advisory board members had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Kweisi Mfume and his district director, Anthony Jones. We shared our work and its impact on families across the region, as well as the need for more funding support to be able to serve more families. Congressman Mfume kicked off his remarks sharing his heartfelt personal story as a young adult relating to similar hardships facing the families we serve. He also shared how Congress is providing important relief for families across the Baltimore region and the U.S. through eviction prevention programs and the monthly Child Tax Credit. We look forward to more opportunities to connect with legislators who are committed to ensuring all families are given the opportunity to thrive.

BRHP in Conversation

As part of our "BRHP in Conversation" series in June, BRHP Executive Director Adria Crutchfield met with Markita Morris-Louis, Chief Strategy Officer for Compass Working Capital, to discuss Family Self Sufficiency programs and how asset building can be a critical tool for creating pathways out of poverty. If you missed the event, catch the replay below. You can also read our recap here.

Partnerships

This year we’ve introduced a Client Enrichment Series of virtual webinars with community organizations and leaders to provide another way for our community to access resources they need to thrive in their communities and support them in reaching their personal goals. Learn more about our latest partner:

On June 30, the CASH Campaign of Maryland served as a guest speaker for our monthly Client Enrichment Event for a discussion titled "Navigating Finances During Uncertain Times." The webinar was led by CASH’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) Sue Rogan, who provided participants with strategies to manage and protect their money during moments of financial turmoil, such as during the pandemic. Thank you to Sue for an insightful and interactive presentation! The CASH Campaign of Maryland promotes economic advancement for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in Baltimore and across Maryland. Learn more.

Join our team!

Would you like to join a dedicated team of leaders making a positive impact in the lives of over 4,3000 families throughout the Baltimore region? Join our team! BRHP is hiring for several full-time, part-time, and temporary positions with the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule. Take a look at our position below:

BRHP | Careers BRHP is a mission-driven organization that has created better life outcomes for thousands of families through housing mobility and intensive counseling to disrupt the cycles of intergenerational poverty. We believe in the right of all families to ... Read more brhp.org

Become a BRHP Property Partner!

Do you have a vacant rental property? Consider leasing with us! Property partners provide pathways to opportunities and better life outcomes for families who may not have otherwise been able to achieve their dreams for themselves and their families. The advantages of this partnership are two-fold, as property partners enjoy a range of benefits, including:

A pool of highly motivated families looking to rent a new home Payments on the first of each month Rent amounts that match market conditions An online landlord portal with payment and other information Dedicated landlord specialist to answer questions Long-term, successful tenants Monthly conference calls on hot topics Mission oriented staff Get started with listing your property with the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program here.

Good reads

Opinion: Building on the 'Black Agenda' - Maryland Matters By Candace Dodson-Reed The writer is a mom, community advocate, and higher education professional. She is involved in a variety of professional, political and personal efforts that are often intertwined, but stand alone on their merits. She can... Read more www.marylandmatters.org

Opinion: Maryland Needs a Housing Governor - Maryland... Maryland is in the midst of a housing crisis. According to statistics compiled by Maryland Realtors, the average sale price of a home in Maryland has increased 19% between 2020 and 2021. The National Equity Atlas estimates that there are... Read more www.marylandmatters.org

Universal Housing Vouchers: A Promise or a Pipe Dream? Once again, the clock is ticking as states scramble to distribute billions in federal emergency rent relief to stress-weary, increasingly panicked tenants and landlords. If the money doesn't get out in time, a rush of evictions and foreclosures... Read more shelterforce.org

Pandemic Aid Programs Spur a Record Drop in Poverty The most comprehensive study yet of the federal response to the pandemic shows huge but temporary benefits for the poor - and helps frame a larger debate over the role of government. Kathryn Goodwin, 29, celebrating the third birthday of her... Read more www.nytimes.com

Donate

The Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) helps families with low incomes, who have historically been excluded from housing in neighborhoods of their choice, access and transition successfully to safe, healthy, and economically vibrant communities. Since becoming the formal administrator of the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program, which couples Housing Choice Voucher administration with counseling supports, BRHP has helped over 5,000 families with young children improve their quality of life as they search for new homes.

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