neighborhood – UB Visions

Hi! My name is Sonce Reese and I am a Class 6 alum and Class 7’s On-Site coordinator. I graduated from UB in Spring 2015, with a Bachelor’s degree in Forensics and am now working towards a Masters in Global Affairs and Human Security.

LeaderShape: I had never heard of LeaderShape and didn’t even know what the program was about, but thought it would be a great opportunity to build up my leadership skills, so I signed up. Keeping an open mind, I signed up for the program. LeaderShape, for me, was transformational. My vision, to fill the 16,000 vacant homes in Baltimore City, was met with encouragement, support and probing questions, such as “How will this vision be completed?” and “Is it even possible?” I was more determined and more inspired than I had ever been before. I met and interacted with some wonderful people whose visions I support and who support mine. My vision, which hangs on my wall in my home office, has evolved to include creating healthy, vibrant communities, but fill vacant home In Baltimore City is still my top priority.

I am pleased to travel on this journey with you and will be with you until your LeaderShape graduation next semester. Looking forward to your posts and a great year with you!

By: Sonce Reese, Class 6

With over 16,000 vacant houses in Baltimore City, the city has a unique opportunity to make it possible for many college students, individuals and families to have a place to call home.

Heritage Crossing5 — http://baltimorefuture.blogspot.com/2014_10_01_archive.html

Purchasing, owning and rehabbing a vacant home is a great way for the city to bring families back to the city, and to create affordable housing opportunities for individuals and college students. Homeownership in the city provides the owner with the opportunity to create their own space, to work towards becoming debt free and to be a part of building a healthy, vibrant community.

There are many programs that make it possible to own a home in the city and create housing opportunities. Baltimore City’s Vacants to Value program offers many incentives for Baltimore City Ownership including the faceted Baltimore Homeownership Incentive Program (B-HiP). The highlights of the program include:

The Vacants to Value Booster Program – Eligible homebuyers can get $10,000 towards closing costs for the purchase of a formerly vacant home.

Baltimore City Employee Homeownership Program – The incentive for City employees has been increased from $3,000 to $5,000.

Buying into Baltimore and City Living Starts Here – The Buying into Baltimore incentive has been increased from $4,000 to $5,000. Also, Live Baltimore has added four neighborhood tours, City Living Starts Here, to the previous two citywide tours. The number of incentives awarded has been increased from 60 to 100 per year.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Homeownership Assistance Program – For first-time home buyers with total family income at or below 80% of the area median income, $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance is available.

You’ll find the website for the program here.

There are also many talented real estate agents in the city who can help to make Baltimore City homeownership a reality.

vacantsmap — http://technical.ly/baltimore/2012/08/09/15928-vacant-buildings-baltimore-city-map/

Access-Land-Photo-1024x323 — http://www.farmalliancebaltimore.org/the-alliance/how-to/access-land/

http://www.vacantstovalue.org/Incentives.aspx#lnyw

Tag: neighborhood

Hello and Welcome!

My Leadershape Vision – Home – Sonce