Housing Frederick

Back in 2019, Mary Ellen Mitchell saw a need to support affordable housing in Frederick County. Equipped with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit community, she created Housing Frederick to provide the collaboration, education and advocacy she believed would help address housing issues here.

Boosted by a stalwart board of directors, the nonprofit organization’s founder and CEO has worked during the last several years to develop partnerships with other nonprofit groups and legislators to address affordable housing challenges; foster efforts to reshape public perception of affordable housing; host educational programs for civic, social justice and church groups, as well as people threatened with housing insecurity; and function as an advocate for legislation at meetings of local, regional and state government officials.

“As a single entity, I can move swiftly to create something to give direction to people in the community, to fulfill a need or respond to a developing issue,” Mitchell said. “ I can focus fully on issues like the eviction prevention crisis that was a part of the pandemic and affected thousands of families and individuals in Frederick County.”

As such, Mitchell created a video series, presented in both English and Spanish, that directed people in danger of losing their housing to available resources, such as Maryland Legal Aid and The Religious Coalition. The series has received 20,000 views on Facebook.

Currently, Housing Frederick is working on two main projects. The first, a financial education program, teaches money management – including how to obtain credit and improve credit scores – to clients of about 10 regular nonprofit partners. Since these sessions are grant-funded, Mitchell is able to provide them free of charge. An additional benefit is the classes are held at the nonprofits’ offices, where clients have formed trusting relationships. Often, Mitchell noted, the nonprofits have specific meeting times already in place and can provide their clients with childcare during sessions.

The second project is creating a comprehensive list of rental housing options, including details on rent, credit score and background check requirements, and mobility access.

“It’s a lengthy job to get all the information, and assemble it,” Mitchell said. “Our board members and volunteers are helping with research and phone calls.”

The list will facilitate the challenging process of trying to find housing for people who are in “a state of chaos” – people with job and family responsibilities who may have only 60 to 90 days to find housing they can afford with amenities that will accommodate their needs.

“When the list is completed – in the spring of 2023 – we will maintain it, and share it both on our website, and with the county and other local nonprofit groups,” she said.