Our Approach
Principles
- Build homeowners’ assets
- Focus on neighborhood markets
- Target measurable outcomes
- Value neighborhoods as partners
- Forge partnerships among lenders, philanthropies and neighborhoods
How Does Healthy Neighborhoods Help?
- Capital for purchase and rehab by homeowners
- Professional advice for rehabbers
- Community projects which support positive images
- Neighborhood marketing
- Performance measures
- Partnerships
- Advocates for the Healthy Neighborhoods philosophy
Partnership with Baltimore City
- Capital to acquire and rehabilitate homes
- A positive vision for city neighborhoods
- Delivery of key city services
- Acquisition of vacant properties
- Support for community partners
How Do We Know It’s Working?
- Increased home values
- Rising tax base
- Decreased time on market
- Increased equity investments
- Neighborhood organization and activity
A Different Way of Investing in Neighborhoods
Purpose
- Conventional: Make houses safe, code-compliant
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Restore market values so people can invest confidently.
Strategy
- Conventional: Repair as many houses as possible in as large an area as possible
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Target properties and blocks for maximum market impact
Consumer
- Conventional: Houses, households with greatest needs
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Diverse households with potential to raise income and maintenance standards
Programs
- Conventional: Government subsidies; distribute funds by regulation
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Variety of market-oriented incentives
Standards
- Conventional: Enforce minimum standards
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Create high expectations
Support
- Conventional: Help borrowers with financial challenges
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Provide range of consumer support, market the neighborhood, encourage block projects and resident leadership
