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.”
When Lennette A. began her journey toward homeownership, she was filled with uncertainty. As a small business owner, she had heard countless stories about how difficult it could be to qualify for a mortgage. But more than that, she lacked confidence in the process itself.
“I just didn’t trust it,” she recalls. “I really needed someone to hold my hand and explain every step ‘this is for this, that is for that.’ NHS did exactly that for me.”
Lennette connected with NHS of Baltimore and was introduced to Veronica, her loan officer and guide through the entire process. Not only did NHS provide her with trusted, in-house lending services, but they also helped her understand a range of financial tools, including forgivable loans, local government grants, and the Federal Home Loan Bank program.
When traditional lenders questioned her income due to seasonal fluctuations in her business revenue, Veronica stepped in. “She drafted a letter that explained the seasonality of my business. That most of my income comes in quarters two and three,” Lennette explains. “That letter made all the difference. After that, my loan was approved.”
Throughout the process, Lennette felt fully supported. Whether it was early morning calls to review documents before a long day of classes or managing communications with real estate agents, Veronica was there. Setting the pace, providing reassurance, and going above and beyond.
One moment stands out clearly for Lennette: “We were on the phone at 7:30 in the morning going through next steps, and I realized, ‘Wow, I’m not doing this alone.’ That meant everything.”
Her advice to others considering NHS for their homeownership goals? “Be patient, be diligent, be organized. It’s a process, but it’s worth it. I thought it would take three months, but I started in November and closed on April 5th.”
Now a proud homeowner, Lennette is embracing a newfound sense of freedom. “Right now, someone’s working on my bathroom to make it just how I want. That freedom to live life the way you want is everything. Homeownership is freedom personified.”
She also wants others to know just how impactful NHS truly is. “When I first visited their website, I felt overwhelmed. But once I started interacting with the people behind the scenes, it all changed. NHS is really out here pushing people into homes in the city. They helped me believe we could do it; even when we were in the trenches. And we made it.”
For N.W., each day was a careful balancing act. As a single mother of three, she managed work, parenting, and household responsibilities with little room for error. Even after starting a promising new career, rising expenses made it difficult to stay ahead of monthly bills, and the stress of keeping her household financially stable began to take its toll.
When N.W. realized her mortgage payments were becoming unmanageable, she knew she needed more than short-term relief; she needed guidance and a long-term plan. That’s when she connected with Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS Baltimore) and enrolled in its Financial Coaching program.
Through one-on-one coaching, N.W. worked with NHS to better understand her finances, identify opportunities for improvement, and take proactive steps toward stability. As part of this process, NHS also connected her to critical resources. Within a few months, N.W. received more than $17,000 through the Homeowner Assistance Fund to address her mortgage arrears, easing immediate financial pressure and allowing her to focus on long-term goals.
With the combination of financial coaching and mortgage assistance, N.W. gained the tools, confidence, and breathing room she needed to move forward. Today, she is better equipped to manage her finances and provide a secure, nurturing home for her children.
N.W.’s journey highlights the impact of financial coaching—not only as a response to financial hardship, but as a foundation for long-term stability and resilience.
Please note: Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore no longer offers foreclosure prevention services.
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NHS Baltimore is a community-based nonprofit with more than 50 years of experience supporting sustainable homeownership and housing stability for Baltimore City residents. Through HUD-certified homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling, locally tailored lending, and neighborhood reinvestment, NHS Baltimore provides trusted guidance rooted in real-world housing practice.