BELAIR-EDISON NEIGHBORHOODS INC

1) a strong real estate market,
2) a strong commercial corridor,
3) a positive image for Belair-Edison inside and outside the neighborhood,
4) attractive and accessible public spaces - main corridors, parks, and gateways, and
5) strong social ties among residents and the ability to manage day-to-day neighborhood concerns.

We use the Healthy Neighborhoods asset-based approach to neighborhood revitalization. In addition, for our commercial work, we use the Main Street Four Point Approach from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Florence Kreidler, executive assistant, Responsible for database management, bookkeeping, and assisting executive director with grants management. Responsible for payroll and oversight of employee timesheets, and leave time. Liaison with city agencies and vendors. Joined staff of BENI in July 1992.

Roy Miller, senior homeownership counselor, Has over 20 years of experience in mortgage lending, the functions of which overlap with current duties of pre- and post-purchase counseling, default and delinquency counseling, loan packaging, and rehab management. Originates all Healthy Neighborhoods loans, and works closely with marketing director. In addition, he manages the counseling department. Joined the staff of BENI full time in October 2004.

Maria Franchesca Stein: homeownership counselor: Has more than 25 years in the financial industry. Certified to conduct pre-purchase, non default post purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling. Joined the BENI team in April 2013.

Michael Assad, program assistant, Responsible for support to all program managers. These duties include answering phones, ordering supplies, managing facility, analyzing real estate data, performing special research projects, and providing general support. Joined staff of BENI in March 2008.

Kadija Hart, marketing and communication manager: Responsible for all marketing and outreach for all housing and commercial programs. Other duties include website maintenance, mass and direct organizational mailings, newspaper design and distribution, public relations, outreach team leader, and other duties as assigned. Joined staff of BENI in May 2011.

Chad Hayes, small business and programs manager. Responsible for implementation and management of the Main Street program. Chad works very closely with the small business owners along Belair Road and Erdman Avenue and implements Main Street’s Four Point Approach to commercial revitalization in Belair-Edison. Joined staff of BENI in September of 2004

William Smith, community engagement specialist. Responsible for block organizing, block improvement projects, building partnerships with local schools and churches, assisting in publication and distribution of the Neighborhood News, and creating annual events that strengthen social fabric and highlight neighborhood assets. Work is done on a block-by-block basis with the guiding philosophy that by building from strengths we will minimize weaknesses and problems. Joined staff of BENI in March 2013.

Lisa Carter, financial coach and resource manager. Provides the full menu of homeownership counseling to include reverse mortgage counseling. Represents the agency at area housing events and meetings. Heading up our work with an area university partner by managing their Live Near Your Work program. Joined staff of BENI in August 2009.

Real Estate Values: Our community was hit hard during the first wave of the foreclosure crisis and we anticipate in the second wave. Investor sales currently dominate our housing market. Despite this, home values are very slowly creeping up. We attribute this to the work of our nonprofit development partner, St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center. They buy foreclosed properties in our community, renovate them, and resell to new buyers. At this point, their fully renovated homes are selling for $115,000.

Resident Engagement: Since becoming a Healthy Neighborhoods community, we have helped to facilitate 73 small block beautification projects worth more than $85,000.

Counseling: This past HUD year, we saw nearly 900 families for one of our counseling services. Home Buyer workshops: 362; Financial Literacy workshop: 55; Individual Pre-purchase counseling: 231; Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: 212; Non-default Post Purchase Counseling: 25

Commercial Program: Occupancy rate: 84%; New Business Recruitment: typically 7 new businesses per year; Commercial Building Improvements: cultivated 179 large and small commercial building improvement projects worth nearly $5.3 million.

Resident Investment: we have been able to facilitate the completion of 80 home improvement loans worth nearly $4 million