Baltimore Social Service Support Organizations

Ahavas Yisrael

The Ahavas Yisrael charity fund is managed solely by volunteers and has an annual budget of $1.3 million dollars. Virtually every penny goes to needy Baltimore families or individuals. For more than 32 years, the Rabbi Chaim Nachman Kowalsky Memorial Ahavas Yisrael Charity Fund has fed, clothed, paid the rent, utility bills and medical bills for needy families in an attempt to help them keep their dignity. Some of these families have fallen on hard times due to unemployment, family situations or sickness. The goal of Ahavas Yisrael is to help these families get back on their feet by giving them a helping hand in their times of difficulty.

Please go to www.ahavasyisrael.org.

Mesila

Founded in Israel in 1998, Mesila is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of financial stability and independence. Mesila works to promote the development of attitudes and habits that lead to financial stability, while providing the necessary guidance to create and implement realistic, long-term economic solutions.

Contact: mesilabaltimore@gmail.com or 877-303-6662.

JCS

Jewish Community Services (JCS), a non-profit human service agency, was launched July 1, 2008 through a consolidation of four existing social service agencies: Jewish Family Services, Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish Addiction Services, and Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister League.

Through the programs and services of Jewish Community Services, families and individuals will be supported in meeting basic needs for economic sufficiency; in living independently; in achieving mental health and competence; and in feeling supported by and connected to the Jewish community in ways that are meaningful to them.

Please visit www.jcsbaltimore.org find out more about JCS.

Contact: info@jcsbaltimore.org or 410-466-9200. to

CHAI Baltimore

CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.'s mission is to develop and support thriving, stable communities in neighborhoods with a substantial Jewish population.

It accomplishes this mission by:

Developing and managing affordable housing
Rehabilitating housing and providing supporting repair services
Supporting neighborhood organizing and neighborhood development
Providing services to seniors
Promoting homeownership and providing loans for the pruchase and upgrade of homes

Since 1983, CHAI has increased home ownership and economic stability in northwest Baltimore, increased neighborhood safety and strengthened community associations and public schools through community organizing. It has served the needs of low-income senior adults through the Senior Home Repair program and Senior Friendly Neighborhoods. CHAI has assisted hundreds of people to become homeowners and to renovate and upgrade their homes through its Housing Services program. CHAI has also produced or renovated over 1,484 units of housing for low-income senior adults and has enabled hundreds of low-income senior adults to stay in their homes.

CHAI believes that the mix of strategies and organizations needed to strengthen a neighborhood is informed by location, history and needs. Housing development and housing related services are two strategies needed to stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods. Quality affordable housing and homeownership are bedrocks of strong neighborhoods. In addition, seeking local institutions to be active stakeholders can strengthen neighborhoods.

In addition to its own expertise, CHAI's success has been supported by collaborations with other agencies of The Associated, including the Baltimore Jewish Council, Jewish Community Services, Jewish Community Center, Lifebridge Health, Hebrew Free Loan, and Jewish Volunteer Connection. CHAI also works closely with public agencies at the Federal, State and local levels and numerous private organizations and institutions in the northwest area of Baltimore and throughout the State. CHAI is a nonprofit organization committed to equal housing opportunity.

Letter to The Community regarding Foreclosure Protection