COMMUNITY BUILDING
City neighborhoods are glue in the Episcopal Housing Corporation. Bringing a community together with a 'Planting day' in Remington or 'Cleaning Collington' on a Saturday helps bond a neighborhood. Classes for Home Ownership and tax assistance create a trust and confidence in residents. Most important is working with the other non profit groups in the area to build and strengthen the community by providing an answer to a need.
Collington Square, Baltimore
Collington Square is a neighborhood located in the heart of East Baltimore, just north of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Recent listing in the State of Maryland’s Historic districts has made Collington Square available for more funding for neighborhood growth.
The Episcopal Housing Corporation (EHC), working with the Collington Square Neighborhood Association and the Collington Square Non-Profit Corporation, has developed housing opportunities for those in recovery from substance abuse including the Dayspring House, Wilson House and Bernice E. Meade House. Current plans include the development of an additional Oxford House, homeownership opportunities facing onto Collington Square Park and an expanded Collington Square Re-entry Program facility on Mura Street.
With the assistance of Marks-Thomas, a Baltimore architecture and planning firm, the community developed a land use plan for the neighborhood. This development plan has become critical to the neighborhood’s future as the City and Johns Hopkins pursue the creation of a biotech park at the community’s southern border.
One of EHC’s goals is to create a therapeutic community anchored by the Mattie B. Uzzle Outreach Center with appropriate housing and supported by service providers to create a community where those from the area can achieve long-term recovery.
Community building is encouraged by EHC, activities include promotion of volunteer events where neighborhood residents and volunteers from outside of Collington Square join together to improve the life of the residents. One example is ‘Coats for Christmas”. John Hopkins Weed and Seed foundation donated $1200.00 to the Collington Square Neighborhood Association (CSNA). Those funds were used for CSNA’s, “Coats for Christmas” project for the children of Collington Square Elementary/Middle School. This allowed for a purchase of over 120 coats for children at the school for Christmas and the cold weather.
Currently the Community Builder, Buddy Jones is assisting the neighbors of Collington Square with the Maryland Energy Assistance Program. This is a program to help Baltimore residents battle the high energy price and stay warm for a better quality of life. Buddy Jones and Carla Ryan of EHC have handled the neighbor’s questions and assistance in applications.
CSNA meets with residents to talk about what is happening in the area. A member from EHC is there for neighborhood support. Issues of the area are brought up and discussed on the best method of solving the matter. A Collington Square newsletter is one of the many goals for the association. This will be distributed to residents and inform them of EHC’s coming projects to cultivate a neighborhood interest.
Remington, Baltimore
Remington is experiencing a rebirth. The Remington of today, with its history of conservative stability is lively, alert, and optimistic about its future, and that of the residents. Found a few blocks south of Johns Hopkins University is a small pocket of a neighborhood that is often overlooked. Remington is right next to its big sister Hampden and shares the same zip code.
The Remington neighborhood is host to several churches, a community center, Wyman Park and a long city history. The Church of the Guardian Angel is found on Huntingdon St. and is a cornerstone in the neighborhood. Pastor Alice Jellema works with Episcopal Housing Corporation (EHC) on the board of directors and together there is an effort to encourage the residents and create a strong community.
A Homeownership Project is just one of the things that EHC and The Church of the Guardian Angel (TCGA) have brought to the area.
The Homeownership Project in Remington is beginning with an acquisition and substantial rehabilitation of three houses in the neighborhood on Fox St. EHC will renovate these homes and offer them for sale at an affordable price. Ultimately EHC wants to increase homeownership to the Remington neighborhood, which in turn, will contribute in the rebuilding of a healthy and viable community.
Episcopal Housing Corporation also has held several successful educational classes in for Remington residents on the buying of a home, and what to expect with taxes, contracts, home inspections, mortgages and loans. This aids the residents with both information and confidence in the transactions.
In April of 2006, Episcopal Housing Corporation worked with the TCGA to create a mural in Remington on the side of a building. This mural was created and painted by the youth in the area. It can be seen at the corner of 27th St. and Miles Ave. The one day project was a success for all involved and a plus to the Remington community. More projects and classes involving the Remington neighborhood and EHC will be coming in 2007.