Southeast CDC Annual Report 2022

Message from our Executive Director

In 2022 the Southeast CDC team was fully back in the office, with a growing staff implementing new programs to help Southeast Baltimore recover from the pandemic. Though we were phasing out the emergency COVID-19 programs that we had launched in the early part of the pandemic—weekly food and household supply distributions, cash assistance—we doubled down on boosting Baltimore’s economy and helping residents and merchants work toward sound financial footing. The start of the 22/23 school year looked more like the days before the pandemic with kids and families back in their buildings and those important engagement opportunities—PTOs, parent workshops, family academic nights—happening again at school.

One of the highlights for me was gathering in person (finally!) with staff at a team retreat with a history lesson about Southeast Baltimore from Joe McNeely, our founder. Hearing Joe describe the people, projects and devotion that contributed to Southeast Baltimore’s growth and resilience to a new generation of dedicated Southeast CDC staffers was an honor.

We hope you enjoy this look back at our accomplishments in 2022. As always, thank you to our amazing staff, committed Board members, volunteers and supporters for contributing and caring for Southeast Baltimore’s vitality.

- Kari Snyder

Cover image: an artist at Highlandtown’s Plein Air festival paints an image from the grand opening celebration of Casa de la Cultura; image, this page: Highlandtown’s Trick or Treat on Main Street

Southeast CDC

Board of Directors

Doug E. Schmidt, Board Chair

Workshop Development

Jason Filippou, Vice Chair

Cummings & Co. Realtors

Dr. Richard Bennett, Secretary

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Carlos Plazas, Treasurer Planned Parenthood

Agnes Arnold

Arnold Consulting & Training

Michelle Fields-Hall George Mason Mortgage

Eben Hansel

Ballard Spahr, LLPN

Carolyn Krysiak

Maryland General Assembly (Ret.)

Robbyn Lewis Delegate, 46th District, Md. House of Delegates

Patrick Lundberg

Urban Design Group

Mark Parker

Breath of God Lutheran Church

Anne Stahl

LUUA | Design Studio

Matthew Seward

Cushman & Wakefield

Alexandra (Alli) Smith

Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice

Sonja Wells

City First Bank

Justin Williams

Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP

HOUSING & FINANCIAL COUNSELING

515

PEOPLE ATTENDED

Homebuyer Education Classes

HELPING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ACCESS HOMEOWNERSHIP

Through targeted outreach, a homebuying fair entirely in Spanish, expert housing counseling, and a special loan program, Southeast CDC helps immigrant households access homeownership and avoid foreclosure.

Cristina*, Luis*, and their family became homeless in 2021 when their rental house caught fire. The fire happened in the middle of the night and none of the fire alarms in the house worked, so by the time the family woke up, the fire had completely taken over the first floor of the house. Cristina, their son, and their nephew got out safely, but Luis experienced such severe burns that he spent the next four weeks in the hospital and another few months unable to work.

Southeast CDC’s Family Stability program provided case management and resources and then the family

met with Southeast CDC’s housing counselor Glenda to plan for their goal of buying their own home. Cristina and Luis worked diligently to start establishing a credit history, opening a bank account, depositing every paycheck in the bank, and applying for a secured credit card. The family was committed, dedicated, and organized, moving from having no credit and savings to having a 700+ credit score and enough savings for a downpayment.

In December, 2022, Luis, Cristina, and their young son moved to their new home in Southeast Baltimore. This family owns their own home thanks to their own perseverance, backed up by the team of professionals at Southeast CDC.

*Names changed for privacy.

PEOPLE RECEIVED Individual Counseling

$825,000

467 loans and down payment assistance provided through a special loan program for immigrant clients

COUNSELING CLIENT SUCCESS STORY

Ms. E* is a Johns Hopkins employee who earns roughly $40,000 a year. When Jared, a Southeast CDC housing counselor, first met with her in July 2022, her lease was a few months from ending and she wanted to buy her first home soon. She had a solid credit score but $3,500 saved and had a lot of questions about the homebuying process.

She had been pre-approved by two different lenders for $175,000 and $190,000, but wasn’t sure if

that would be affordable for her. Jared worked with Ms. E to create a sustainable budget and action plan. After he walked her through each Baltimore City homebuyer incentive and how she could stack several incentives, she realized just how much assistance was available. Ms. E had two meetings and numerous phone calls with her housing counselor until she felt confident enough to place offers on homes. Within a month she had signed a contract on a home, working quickly with her housing counselor

to complete all the incentive applications that she qualified for.

Ms. E received $35,000 in downpayment and closing cost assistance, including Johns Hopkins Live Near Your Work, Vacants to Value, Impact Investment Areas, and the First Time Homebuyer Incentive Program to decrease the loan she needed to just $137,000. Her monthly mortgage is now less than her rent and she lives within biking distance to work.

*Names changed for privacy.

“Southeast CDC’s housing counselor was so knowledgeable and professional. Their guidance and support through the process of buying my home was invaluable!”

FAMILY SUPPORT

Southeast CDC’s Family Support team provides case management to families experiencing a housing or financial crisis and connects them with the resources they need to achieve stability.

89

households received support to submit an application to the city’s rental assistance program

$99,175

29 rental assistance accessed from Baltimore City $26,000 provided by Southeast CDC for client rental and utility assistance

households received intensive case management toward financial stability

CLIENT STORY: WALESKA

Waleska* and Pedro* are Spanish-speaking immigrants and the parents of four children. They moved to Baltimore from New York two years ago to establish a new church. When they moved to Baltimore, they used their savings to buy a new home. As they developed the new church and attracted parishioners, the family went several months with very little income. Waleska and Pedro stayed on top of their mortgage but struggled to keep up with other bills. After months of hardship, their water bill balance was almost $10,000 and they were afraid their service would be shut off. Then Waleska learned about the Family Stability Program through their younger child’s school. After enrolling, the Family Stability case manager assisted the couple in applying for a state water assistance program, which paid part of their balance. The case manager then taught the family how to set up

a payment plan with the city for the remainder of their balance. The case manager and the family created a monthly budget to get a better sense of their income and expenses. After reviewing this budget, Waleska took steps to increase the family income by starting her own business selling food and crafts. Between these sales and the increased membership at the church, the family now can cover all their basic needs. When Waleska and Pedro graduated from the Family Stability Program this past summer, they were not only on track to cancel their debt but were avoiding future debt by employing better spending and savings habits.

*Name changed for privacy.

CLIENT STORIES: EVICTION PREVENTION

Luz* is a Spanish-speaking immigrant and single mother. At the beginning of the pandemic, Luz could not work because she had to care for her three young children. She fell behind on her rent. She reached out to Southeast CDC for help and our case manager connected her with Baltimore City’s rental assistance program. Luz’s rental company was resistant. The city’s rental assistance program requires cooperation from the landlord, but every time our case manager contacted them, she got no response. In the meantime, Luz received an eviction notice. Our case manager did not give up; she continued contacting the company until she finally got them to agree to cooperate with Luz’s rental assistance application. Finally in January 2023, Luz’s application was approved, and her eviction was canceled.

Ana* is a single mother and Spanishspeaking immigrant. When the pandemic began, Ana lost her job. For a few months she paid rent with savings but then the money ran out. At first, Ana had to stay home and help her daughter with virtual learning, but after schools reopened, Ana quickly returned to work. Even with the new income, Ana could not catch up on all the back rent she owed, so she turned to Southeast CDC for help. We helped Ana apply to the city’s rental assistance program, including advocating to Ana’s landlord on her behalf. The city approved Ana’s application and provided nine months of back rent. Ana was so relieved to no longer live in fear that she and her daughter would lose their home. Without the help of a case manager, Ana wouldn’t have overcome language and technology barriers to apply.

Since 2020, Southeast CDC, in partnership with Baltimore City, has helped non-English speaking residents access and apply for the city’s pandemic rental assistance program. In two years, we submitted 353 rental assistance applications on behalf of clients.

In 2023, Southeast CDC will build on the success of this eviction prevention work through our new partnership with the Baltimore New American Access Coalition (BNAAC). BNAAC is a partnership with city government that will allow Southeast CDC to further support the financial and housing stability of our immigrant neighbors by helping them apply for not only rental assistance, but other support programs as well, such as food stamps and energy assistance.

Southeast CDC staff joined other non-profit partners at the press event for the Baltimore New American Access Coalition.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Southeast CDC is the Lead Agency for the citywide Community School strategy at five zoned public schools in Southeast Baltimore: Tench Tilghman EMS, John Ruhrah EMS, William Paca ES, Highlandtown #237 EMS, and Highlandtown #215 EMS.

MAXIMIZING SCHOOL RENOVATIONS

Southeast CDC staff collaborated with the Baltimore City Department of Planning staff, members of the John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle Schoool community, and other neighborhood residents to better understand their neighborhood experiences, concerns, and needs to inform the draft recommendations for the INSPIRE plan that enhances the connection between the schools and the surrounding neighborhood. This plan focuses on the blocks immediately surrounding each of the 21st Century modernized schools, including safe routes to school and other physical improvements. Southeast CDC has begun implementing one recomendation, improvements to a city park close to the school.

INCREASING PRE-K SCHOOL READINESS

Highlandtown #237 teachers were worried about a rough transition for the Pre-K children in the fall, because for many this would be their first school experience. Plus, the school was still meeting in their temporary space while the school was being renovated, which required students to take a bus about 20 minutes away from home.

Southeast CDC’s Community School Coordinator Andréa planned an event for children and families to meet their teacher, tour the classroom, eat popsicles, and have their face painted. Each child received a photo with the teacher, so that parents could show the child the picture, remind them this is their teacher, and put and worries at ease. Each child was given a backpack, school supplies ,and number and letter workbooks. Several families and children attending shared that they felt less nervous about school.

HIGHLANDTOWN EMS 237 REOPENS!

In December, we attended the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated and expanded Highlandtown EMS 237, a Southeast CDC Community School. The new building fits all 900+ students and provides a much improved educational experience with more classrooms to relieve overcrowding, collaborative spaces, playgrounds, and science labs.

While the school’s Eaton Street building was under construction, Highlandtown #237 Elem/Middle operated in its “swing space”, a temporary school location that was a 20-minute bus ride away from Highlandtown.

Being back in the school’s home neighborhood enables Southeast CDC to coordinate more closely with parents, partners, and the Highlandtown community to make the school a hub of community life and a place where families know they can access resources they need to help themselves and their children be successful.

In 2023, we will partner with the city’s Planning Department to complete an INSPIRE plan that enhances the connection between the schools and the surrounding neighborhood.

244,409

$769,003

666 funding leveraged during the 2021/2022 school year pounds of food distributed to families

volunteer hours donated to our community schools

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION

Southeast CDC supports residents in the planning and implementation of community projects that improve their quality of life. Our work is accomplished through partnerships with residents, community organizations, schools, anchor institutions, government, business, employees, and funders that share in the work and benefit from the renewal of their communities.

WE

OPENED

A COMMUNITY BIKE WORKSHOP

Many years in the making, we were thrilled to welcome the Baltimore Bike Experience (BBX) youth bicycle program to the newly renovated, 400 square foot workshop space in Fall 2022! Transforming this historic gas station into a bike workshop involved replicating the original full-size windows (which had been filled in with cinderblock), demolishing a thick brick wall to expand into the adjacent storage unit, and adding new plumbing to create a bathroom. The initial work to stabilize and restore the façade occurred in 2018, with design and fundraising continuing until 2021, when a zoning variance was approved and allowed us to begin construction. With the construction completed in fall 2022, we filled the workspace with workbenches, tool cabinets, and bike

stands. In November we welcomed neighbors, friends, partners, and funders to stop by for our first open house, which quickly became an open shop when kids brought their bikes over for tune ups (and a few neighbors got new bikes from us!). Since, BBX has restarted their weekly bike repair program, open to any young person to drop in and learn how to make their bike safe to ride under the guidance of adult mechanics/mentors. Coming this spring: group rides throughout Southeast Baltimore—join us!

We’re thankful to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Middendorf Foundation, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Catalyst Fund, and Outride for funding the construction of the workshop.

REVITALIZATION

SUMMER JOBS WERE BACK IN PERSON

Our YouthWorks summer crew was busy this summer! In addition to attending field trips to universities and trade schools and participating in financial literacy workshops, the teens contributed to their community by helping prepare William Paca Elementary School for the upcoming school year and assisting with the weekly food pantry distributions.

Perhaps their most visible community impact was a 20’x10’ mural they painted with the support of our Manager of Neighborhood Programs, Andy, on the blank wall of a garage that has been a hot spot for dumping in the Ellwood Park neighborhood. Working together over five weeks, they each diligently painted a different section of the mural, which features plant leaves (poison ivy, to be specific) in bright colors to draw attention to the space and make it appear cared for (while cleverly indicating to stay away). Since the mural was completed, this area has stayed significantly trash free—a victory for the community!

TENCH TILGHMAN EMS GOES

School leadership at Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School approached Southeast CDC about beautifying their outdoor spaces. With the support of many project partners and funders, we worked with school students and staff to redesign and renovate an asphalt courtyard into a

GREEN

garden full of native perennials. On Earth Day 2022, 80 students, assisted by their teachers and adult volunteers, planted all 400 plants and created a beautiful garden for everyone to enjoy! Thank you to the Baltimore City Department of Planning, Baltimore City Department

of Public Works, Baltimore City Public Schools Facilities, Blue Water Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay Trust, CityScape Engineering, EnviroCollab, Great Blue Co., the Johns Hopkins University Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Hotel Revival staff for your assistance!

HIGHLANDTOWN MAIN STREET/ARTS

HIGHLANDTOWN COMMERCIAL

Southeast CDC coordinates both the nationally designated Highlandtown Main Street and statedesignated Highlandtown Arts & Entertainment districts. We team up with businesses, property owners, developers, artists, residents, government, and private organizations to create a thriving commercial district and arts community.

AN EVENING OF MAKERS AND ARTISTS

The Crown Industrial Park has stood in Southeast Baltimore since the 1890s, originally producing bottle caps (which the Crown Cork and Seal Company innovated and patented!). Although the bottle cap company has long since relocated, the site is still exceptionally productive, housing over 100 artist and maker tenants, including fine artists, sound engineers, film production companies, puppet makers, cabinet makers, and more, spread out over 27 buildings on 17 acres. In collaboration with painters Katie Pumphrey and Beth-Ann Wilson, the Highlandtown Arts District team co-hosted two Crown happy hour and guided studio tours in 2022, with the goal of creating space for tenants to meet each other and learn about each others’ creative process. The events were so successful that we have several planned for 2023.

2022 BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Southeast CDC’s Highlandtown Main Street program helped 16 Highlandtown businesses apply for Baltimore Development Corporation’s Economic Recovery Program. $206,000 in grant funds were awarded.

The Main Street program hosted two small business workshops on digital marketnig and applying for grants.

In 2022, 24 new businesses opened in the Main Street district, including a comic book shop, burrito spot, tag and title provider, flower store and charcuterie shop.

REVITALIZATION

STREET/ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MAIN STREET GETS A MAKEOVER

This fall four Highlandtown businesses got facelifts, thanks to a $100,000 grant from Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s Enhancing Baltimore Business Districts program.

Union Wireless, Boost Mobile, Issaiah House men’s recovery center, and E&S Discount received a mix of new lighting, fresh paint, updated signage, and new storefront windows, giving this block a brighter look.

ART WALKS MARCH ON

Highlandtown’s monthly First Friday Art Walks continue to be a one of the district’s most popular events. Each month, visitors meander among the galleries, bookstores, and restaurants to check out the new art exhibits, pop-up art vendors, and performances. This year’s Art Walks featured a mural tour hosted by Liz Miller that included a two-mile walking route to visit many of the district’s painted walls, a holiday makers market showcasing Highlandtown artists, and a one-of-a-kind “Miss Mistress of Smut” pageant hosted by An Evening of Vintage Smut at RustN-Shine vintage goods shop.

AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP

Southeast CDC is renovating vacant and distressed homes in neighborhoods with declining homeownership. Some properties have been vacant for many years and suffered from water and fire damage. We are turning these eyesores into high-quality homes for first-time homebuyers.

The photo (left) shows two adjacent, vacant homes that Southeast CDC purchased in 2021. One of the properties was vacant since 2008.

The photo below shows the properties after rehab. One sold to a family in 2022 and the other is under contract to sell in 2023. Southeast CDC is rehabbing three more properties on this block for homeownership.

HELPING LEGACY RESIDENTS FIX UP THEIR HOMES

Southeast CDC is also helping long-term residents improve their homes. In 2022, thanks to funding from MD Department of Housing and Community Development, we replaced leaking porch roofs, shored up rotted beams, installed new windows, restored porch floors, painted formstone, and added new porch lights to 11 homes on the block across from the neighborhood’s city park. While contractors took care of the bulk of the work, neighbors came together for a painting party to create their own custom address plaque.

Says Ms. Diane, “I live off social security income, and it’s only been enough to pay my bills. My porch roof has been failing for years now. Southeast CDC fixed my roof, put in a new porch light, storm door, and more for me. They are a consistent, positive presence in our community.”

Above are three before photos of homes that are now in various stages of renovations.