The military term “gung-ho” is Chinese for “working together,” and that?s the leverage the Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation and its 47 partner organizations use to assist Baltimore?s needy and revitalize the city.
“In partnership with faith communities, we provide housing with services for special needs populations and emergency financial assistance and food to people in poverty,” said GEDCO Executive Director Mitch Posner.
GEDCO, which has a staff of 20 and annual budget of $2 million, accomplishes its affordable housing mission to the formerly homeless, the low-income elderly and those with mental disabilities through a range of subsidized and supervised housing efforts that often involve buying and restoring battered properties.
Its marquee project is the redevelopment ? in conjunction with YMCA of Central Maryland ? of former Memorial Stadium land, where three senior citizen facilities already house 255 low-income elderly. A fourth will open later this summer.
Developed along with park grounds, commercial space and market-rate condominiums, the project will allow seniors to “age in place” with dignity, Posner said, “and receive the full scope of support services.”
GEDCO also maintains Ascension Homes inthe Govans district for 20 clients with chronic mental illness; and Harford House and Micah House, which serve a total of 59 formerly homeless men and women.
“It helps a lot of men and ladies,” said Darrell Jackson, an eight-month resident of Micah House.
The nonprofit has also restored the Gallagher Mansion off York Road as the 40-unit Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Senior Housing at Gallagher Mansion complex, and it turned a nearby, pre-Civil War building into another 33-unit senior housing apartment building, called Epiphany House. Both are for qualifying low-income seniors.
“It?s the only thing that I can afford at this time,” said Irma Morris, a Gallagher resident of four years. “It?s a nice place. The apartment is roomy with plenty of daylight. It?s warm and the maintenance is kept up.”
GEDCO also runs a food pantry and financial assistance center ? Civic and Religious Emergency Services ? in the basement of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church on York Road. Here CARES helped more than 4,500 people last year, Posner said.
“We?re filling gaps that the private and the government sector aren?t willing or able to deal with,” he said, “by providing housing services for people in need.”
