​Main Street Housing was recently awarded generous grant funding from the Ausherman Family Foundation toward their active property development initiative underway in Frederick, MD.
 
MSH is developing two properties in the City of Frederick as quality, affordable, independent rental housing opportunities that will serve Fredrick County individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities and extremely low income. The $4,000 grant from the Ausherman Family Foundation will help support planned rehab and improvement projects at both properties.
 
“We are beyond thrilled and very grateful for the Ausherman Family Foundation’s support toward our initiative,” said MSH Executive Director Ken Wireman. “This grant makes it possible for us to complete upgrades at both of our new properties that will have great impact to their long-term quality and sustainable affordability.”

​Main Street Housing, Inc. was recently awarded generous grant funding from the United Way of Frederick County toward their property development initiative underway in Frederick, MD.
 
MSH is developing two properties in the City of Frederick as quality, affordable, independent rental housing opportunities that will serve Fredrick County individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities and extremely low income.  The generous Live United grant ($1,125) from the United Way of Frederick County will help support planned rehab and improvement projects at both properties.
 
“This grant helps us make improvements to our new properties that ensure their long-term quality and affordability,” said MSH Executive Director Kenneth Wireman. “The individuals and families who become MSH tenants of these homes will pay rents that are truly affordable on disability income, while living in communities with access to the supports and opportunities you need to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency.”

“We feel really lucky to have such wonderful supporters across the Mid-Shore,” said Gloria Bowen, Eastern Regional Property Manager. “It’s a great feeling to look around the room and see so many friends and colleagues, and to know that your community really cares about people in need. This year, we had several businesses donate for the first time after they heard about our mission.”
 
Mille Grazie to our Event Sponsors: Beacon Health Options (Premier), M&T Bank (Platinum), Freestate & Son Insurance (Gold) and Eddie Mangold of Benson & Mangold Real Estate (Silver), whose tremendously generous support made the event possible. Proceeds from the evening support our operations across the Eastern Shore, where we offer 17 units of quality, affordable, independent housing in the community for individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities. ​

Main Street Housing was recently awarded generous grant funding from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. toward their active property development initiative underway in Frederick, MD. 

MSH is developing two properties in the City of Frederick as quality, affordable, independent rental housing opportunities that will serve Fredrick County individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities and extremely low income. The $2,500 grant from Delaplaine Foundation will help support planned rehab and improvement projects at two properties currently under development.
 
“We are excited and thankful for Delaplaine Foundation’s support as we develop quality, affordable housing opportunities for Frederick individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities,” said MSH Executive Director Ken Wireman. “This grant will help us complete important renovation work at our two properties under development to ensure their long-term quality and sustainable affordability.”

​Main Street Housing, Inc. was recently awarded generous grant funding from the Jacob Lowenthal Residue Trust and the Remmel Foundation toward improvement projects at our Baltimore City properties! The generous grant funding totaling $8,400 awarded by these charitable trusts will help support planned renovation and improvement projects across these properties through Summer 2016.
 
“We are so grateful for this support, which has a real and immediate impact on quality of life for the individuals and families who are able to experience stable, high quality, affordable housing in desirable communities through Main Street Housing,” said MSH Executive Director Kenneth Wireman. “These grant funds make it possible for us to quickly complete important renovation work at our newly acquired apartment building and to make improvements across our four single family homes, all in Baltimore City.”

The Jacob Lowenthal Residue Trust and the Remmel Foundation funds are administered through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee.

Main Street Housing, Inc. was recently awarded generous grant funding from The Community Foundation of Frederick County toward their active property development initiative underway in Frederick, MD.
 
MSH is developing two properties in the City of Frederick as quality, affordable, independent rental housing opportunities that will serve Fredrick County individuals and families living with psychiatric disabilities and extremely low income. MSH’s award-winning “Main Street Model” includes ongoing support for tenants toward achieving successful independent community living through supportive accountability practices such as coaching and regular inspections. The generous grant funding (FY 16 Strategic and Unrestricted Funds totaling $5,000) awarded by the Community Foundation will help support planned rehab and improvement projects at both properties.
 
“The impact of this support is REAL!,” said MSH Executive Director Kenneth Wireman. “The property improvements we can make thanks to the Community Foundation’s support ensure each home’s long-term sustainability, which means Frederick County individuals and families who become MSH tenants will be able to access truly affordable housing in robust neighborhoods, with real opportunities for community integration, for decades to come. We are so excited to be developing more affordable housing in Frederick, and these grants will allow us to move quickly in bringing our new properties online and ready for tenants.”

​Fifteen years ago, a small group of consumers and administrators with extensive experience in the mental health system came together to discuss an exciting opportunity. New models for housing for people with disabilities were emerging across the country in response to deinstitutionalization from hospitals and other facilities.
 
However, a difficult combination of overwhelming need, economic limitations and paternalistic models was producing a narrow array of options for housing in many communities. In the worst cases, rundown buildings shared by too many people offered residents little in the way of privacy and left everyone vulnerable to being stigmatized. Residential programs offered solutions for individuals needing intensive supports, but created a different barrier. When housing is intrinsically linked with required participation in mental health services, an individual making significant progress in their recovery could actually jeopardize their ability to remain in residential housing.
 
There were also a few pioneering examples of housing models designed by, with and for consumers where desirable, non-service-linked housing options enhanced a person’s strengths and freedom. The group in Maryland had convened to explore launching a housing program that embraced quality, affordability and choice as absolutely necessary to offer a real foundation for long-term mental health recovery and community reintegration. The driving mission would be to create quality, affordable rental housing options so desperately needed by individuals and families with psychiatric disabilities trying to survive on disability benefits and public  assistance.
 
If it were successful, the organization would not only offer a better quality of life for tenants, but would also set a new standard for how mental health consumers could successfully live independently in the community with the same dignity and equality afforded to their neighbors.
 
As Mike Finkle, Executive Director of On Our Own of Maryland, Inc., remembers, “we brainstormed lots of different names [for the organization], but ‘Main Street Housing’ really captured what we were trying to do: help consumers get from the back wards to Main Street!”

We are delighted to announce that we have received a generous grant from The Herbert Bearman Foundation in support of improvement and maintenance projects across our Baltimore City properties in FY 2016!

The Herbert Bearman Foundation, Inc., based in Baltimore, “funds projects that can make a difference to the well-being of individuals, either by enriching the lives of people in disadvantaged circumstances or benefiting the general community.” The granted funds will support tenants living independently in the community through property improvements and maintenance projects across some of MSH’s Baltimore City properties, including a roofing upgrade and installation of laundry machines.