Peoples Homesteading Group Incorporated

“The Board of Directors of People's Homesteading Group is made up of four persons including the executive director who is a non-voting member. President is Grace Willis. Vice President is Malindi Lankatilleke. Member at large is Grace Comer. Michael Mazepink, the executive director and officer who provides the role of secretary.”

“The Board of Directors is made up of 3 voting members and 1 non-voting member. The Board does not work through committees but oversees the primary project of the organization which is the renovation and sale of 5 vacant houses. This project takes up all of the energy of the Board. The executive director is responsible for managing this project. He also manages the administrative and managerial responsibilities of the organization.”

“The governing board of directors is composed of individuals who are volunteers and receive no compensation. In general, now board member nor family members of board members may receive benefits of the organization. An example of a benefit of the organization is the purchase of renovated home.”

“The executive director is responsible for reporting to the Board of Directors regarding all policies salient to the primary project of the organization which is to renovate and sell the 5 vacant houses on the 400-block of East 22nd Street in Baltimore. Because of the size of the Board and the fact that one of the board directors has been having serious medical issues, the executive director works on a one-on-one basis to assure that the organization is compliant with all governance policies, contractual obligations and government regulations.”

“People's Homesteading Group is a highly visible group working to renovate vacant houses in the Central Baltimore area of the City. We are a member of the Central Baltimore Partnership, that is, one of over a hundred groups who form the CBP. PHG Board Directors who are residents of the Barclay-Greenmount neighborhood were key individuals who formed the Greater Greenmount Community Association to represent the local residents of the Barclay and East Baltimore Midway neighborhoods. Our office is located in this neighborhood since 1986.”

“On June 30, 2023, People's Homesteading Group (PHG) had received notice of awards of $300,000 Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development for the purpose of renovation of five (5) vacant houses in the Barclay-Greenmount Historic District. These grant awards required contractual agreements with Baltimore City. PHG also submitted documentation for a rehabilitation tax credit to the Maryland Historical Trust for a property renovated and sold in 2021. PHG executed land disposition agreements with Mayor & City Council (MCC) and Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development to acquire three (3) vacant MCC houses on the 400-block of East 22nd Street. Renovating the five vacant houses will complete the renovation of vacant houses on the 400-block of East 22nd Street PHG continues to hire disadvantaged adults to work on our properties through a general contractor and subcontractors and through the Greenmount jobs center. In this year ending June 30, 2024, PHG submitted an application to the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) of Baltimore City to provide construction loan financing for the 5 houses. The NIIF approval was only the beginning of the process to obtain the necessary financing to renovate the 5 houses. Subsequently, in November 2024, NIIF approved request construction financing.”

“People's Homesteading Group Incorporated develops homeownership opportunities for households of low to moderate income households in deteriorated Baltimore neighborhoods and creates job opportunities for disadvantaged adults. PHG also eliminates blighted vacant houses by renovating and occupying them for homeowner occupancy as a means of stabilizing deteriorated Baltimore neighborhoods.”

“People's Homesteading Group Incorporated develops homeownership opportunities for households of low to moderate income households in deteriorated Baltimore neighborhoods and creates job opportunities for disadvantaged adults. PHG also eliminates blighted vacant houses by renovating and occupying them for homeowner occupancy as a means of stabilizing deteriorated Baltimore neighborhoods.”