731 North Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701

Phone: (301) 662-4225
Fax: (301) 662-6477
jupchurch@interfaithhousing.org
www.interfaithhousing.org

Counties Served: Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick, Washington

Incorporated: 1989

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SUCCESS STORY

The wind blew cold and strong on November 11, 2000, as five families worked to put a roof on Cheryl Anderson's new home. They were all participants in Interfaith Housing of Western Maryland's (Interfaith Housing) Self-Help Housing Program; low-income families trading sweat equity for a down payment, receiving more than 50 hours of pre-construction training and homebuyer counseling, and eventually becoming first-time homeowners.

Cheryl, in her early 30s, is originally from New York City's Bronx. She moved to Carroll County in the mid-90s with dreams of giving her two sons, Jeremy and Justin, a better life. She never imagined that owning her own home would become a part of that dream. When she arrived in Maryland, Cheryl had a high school diploma, but few marketable skills. She and her family received welfare payments and housing assistance while she went to school full-time, working for her Associates Degree.

While pursuing her degree Cheryl found Interfaith Housing. Its staff convinced her that with effort she could become a homeowner. Cheryl became one of the first members of Interfaith Housing's Homebuyers Club, which provides training and support to low-income families trying to become homeowners.

For nearly 3 years Cheryl attended every session of the Homebuyers Club, improving her credit and learning to budget and save. In 1998, she received her Associates Degree, and in 2000, Cheryl closed on her lot in Forest Glen.

She is now entirely self-sufficient: working full-time at a supported living community for people with brain and spinal cord injuries, and the proud owner of a home she helped build with her own two hands.

"It was really a process," says Cheryl of the experience. "I learned a lot of life skills that I just didn't have when I was younger. This is really big."

Reprinted with permission from Interfaith Housing of Western Maryland's newsletter, "The Interfaith Report."