Monalisa D. homeownership journey is rooted in perseverance, love for family, and a deep belief in community. As a mother of three and grandmother of eight, Monalisa was determined to build a life centered in Baltimore City; where she lives, shops, worships, and raises her grandchildren.
After divorcing and returning to the U.S. from Japan, she settled in a historic 1926 home in Northwest Baltimore. She fell in love with the property the moment she walked in. The full cedar walk-in closet, original wood floors, and ornate radiator covers reflected craftsmanship from another era. Yet owning and maintaining the home came with challenges. The porch was deteriorating, kitchen cabinets were rotted, and vermin had become frequent, unwanted guests. That’s when Monalisa connected with NHS of Baltimore.
Through support made possible by AARP funds and Mayor Brandon Scott’s initiatives, NHS helped Monalisa restore her home and her peace of mind. Contractors replaced rotting cabinetry, repaired structural issues, and transformed the back porch into a peaceful oasis. “The porch changed my life,” she recalls. “After chemo, I would rest out there. It was quiet, safe, and healing.”
The renovations didn’t just improve the house, they uplifted her spirit. “The aesthetic of looking out your window and not seeing things fall apart… it adds value to your self-esteem,” she shared. “The contractors made me feel extremely comfortable, like family. I would never have anyone in my home I wasn’t comfortable with, and NHS sent the right people.”
Homeownership became not only a sanctuary during her battle with metastatic breast cancer but also a step toward generational wealth. “Even though my home wasn’t a lot, now I have over $60,000 in equity,” she explains. “That’s not something I ever had before. That’s $100,000 in five years. Wealth I can pass to my grandchildren.”
Monalisa’s story speaks to the power of homeownership as a tool for stability, healing, and legacy-building. Her house, once marked by discriminatory housing policies, now stands as a vibrant, welcoming place where her grandchildren cook sweet potato pie beside her in a bright, functional kitchen.
“If it were up to me, I’d be in an apartment with a Jaguar and no porch,” she laughs. “But now, my babies know they have a Grandma’s house. And thanks to NHS, I have the freedom and joy to say: this is home.”