“It’s a beautiful home,” declared Tamyra Dupree-Jones and Eugene Jones. They were describing their new house on Lambs Meadow Road in Worton, a well-earned reward for their unwavering determination and self-discipline. Kent Attainable Housing (KAH) partnered with the family to help them overcome the hurdles that prevent many families whose income is below the county’s Annual Median Income (AMI) from becoming homeowners. Sharing the house are Tamyra’s mother, who has limited mobility and their 11 year-old daughter. The home is designed with special features, including a wheelchair ramp, strategically placed LED lights in the office area, and outdoor flood lights with motion sensors.

“We started saving in 2016, and gave ourselves five years to pay down our debt. I had to stop working in 2018 due to a vision loss, but we continued to budget in a much stricter way,” said Tamyra. “I leveraged my background in accounting, and my husband and I had a monthly meeting to review our budget and bills.” Recounting their journey, the couple kept coming back to the importance of saving. “We asked ourselves, ‘Is it a needed cost, or can it wait’? There are sacrifices, but the light at the end of the tunnel was getting this house.”

In 2020, the Jones connected with KAH, which arranged classes that included budgeting, buying a home, debt reduction and qualifying for a loan. Together, they developed an action play with goals and milestones. “KAH is deeply gratified to have played this role in helping such a deserving couple fulfill their dream,” said Taylor Frey, President of the KAH Board of Directors. Our work would not be possible without the commitment of our incredible volunteers and supporters.”

Tamyra praised all the KAH volunteers, starting with Dave and Ed Minch who designed the house to be engineered and constructed by a modular home builder. Upon Ed’s untimely death, Bob Ingersoll took over as the Construction Lead and completed the house supported by volunteers, Peter Sweetser, Zane Carter, Brooke Harwood, and Tom Lentell among others. Together they cleared the land, hauled away tons of debris, completed the foundation, shored up the completed modules, finished the interior trim and built the deck and wheelchair ramp. Eugene and other volunteers joined in to paint the interior of the house. ShoreRivers will donate a river-friendly yard to this KAH project this spring.

Board Director, Pastor Leon Frison, who encouraged the family to apply, said “Eugene and Tamyra are an inspiring example of what can be accomplished with determination and persistence.” Frison stressed that “the process can be long and applicants need to be patient, but with the kind of effort made by this family, homeownership can be in one’s future.“ More than forty families are participating in the process with KAH to learn about buying a home, managing their finances and qualifying for a mortgage.

While the Jones family was preparing to move into their new home, a corps of KAH volunteers was hard at work completing the interior renovation of the third house that Kent Attainable Housing had bought to rehab and sell to one of its applicant families. This summer, KAH will begin work on their fourth house in Chestertown, using a $75,000 grant received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Kent Attainable Housing believes that expanding homeownership in Kent County builds foundations for healthier, happier families and a stronger community. For more information about Kent Attainable Housing, Inc., go to kentattainablehousing.org or email kentattainablehousing@gmail.com.

Kent Attainable Housing has announced additions to its Board of Directors. The local non-profit organization aims to create home ownership opportunities for local families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing by building affordable homes. Construction on the first home, on College Avenue in Chestertown, was completed in 2020. The foundation has been completed for the second home, in Worton, and property is being purchased for a third home in Chestertown. New Board members over the last six months join the current members David Biehler, Carolyn Brooks, Jonathan Chace, Ronnie Edelman, Nivek Johnson, Pam Ortiz and Lani Seikaly.

Bob Altieri became President and CEO of Chesapeake Bank and Trust Co. in 2020. With over 35 years of banking experience, most recently, before joining Chesapeake Bank and Trust, he was the Chief Operating Officer for Baltimore Community Lending, LLC, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lending to minority businesses and developers in Baltimore City. He also serves as a Commissioner on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.

Kathy Appel of Chestertown spent most of her career in the New York State Division of the Budget, focusing on the Medicaid program, affordable housing, transportation, and financing. In 1999, she became New York State’s Medicaid Director. After loving to Washington, D.C., she continued working in Medicaid policy and advocating for not-for-profit and government-operated health plans. She is a Board Member for Health Services for Children with Special Needs and a volunteer with the AARP Tax-Aide Program.

Terwana Brown of Worton, a certified pharmacy technician, is a COVID vaccine coordinator with the Kent County Health Department. A past owner of a printing business in Chestertown, Brown is also in the Leadership Ministry at Mt. Olive A.M.E Church., has extensive experience with the 4H Program, and has been a Board member of Kent Youth, Inc.

Taylor Frey recently relocated to Chestertown after graduating from Washington College in 2017 where he was student body president. He is employed by Tektronix, a subsidiary of Fortive, where he leads global talent management projects. He began his career as an intern with The Obama White House and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and has been a U.S. Council Representative with Habitat Humanity International.

Leon Frison of Millington recently retired as Director of Bands for Kent County Public Schools. Concerned about a lack of engagement of most minority boys while teaching General Music in Philadelphia, he became certified in Elementary Education in order to mentor and be a daily example for students. In Kent County he taught at the elementary level for 12 years and at the middle school level for 13 years. He is an ordained Bishop/Pastor in the Greater Highway Churches of Christ and has served on several local non-profit organization boards.

Xavier Jones, a recent Kent County High School graduate, is a licensed apprentice currently working with Henry Funeral Home. He previously worked as an apprentice with Bennie Smith Funeral Home. Xavier has volunteered with local conservation programs and is a leader in the National Funeral Directors Association.

“I am extremely pleased that these new Board members have agreed to serve as a director on our board. They each have expertise in some aspect that is critical to our mission, and their talents and involvement will definitely make us a stronger organization as we go forward,” said Lani Seikaly, President of the Board.

Over 40 families are now going through the process of qualifying to buy a KAH house. A typical family has two or three school-age or pre-school children.

“Each new board member brings a unique perspective and skillset to our organization. Their passion for community is vibrant and will translate well into our efforts to build a stronger community through homeownership. I look forward to learning and working with each of them,” said Darius Johnson, Executive Director of Kent Attainable Housing.

Kent Attainable Housing (KAH) believes that when homes are built for families in need, foundations are laid for healthier, happier, and more productive families and a stronger community. The further success of KAH depends on the support provided by the community. For information about Kent Attainable Housing, view their website at KentAttainableHousing.org or email kentattainablehousing@gmail.com.

Kent Attainable Housing, Inc. has reached a major milestone – building its first house for a local family in need.  With great excitement, on February 1, the family of five completed its move into a three-bedroom, modular home in Chestertown.

It is you, your neighbors, your friends and local organizations whom we want to thank for helping to make this happen.  You joined together in typical Kent County fashion to help deliver an affordable house to a working family earning not much more than minimum wage. You opened your wallets and pocketbooks, contributed your time and expertise, and donated appliances and furniture.  While it is impossible to list everyone who joined in this remarkable effort, we want especially to acknowledge:

Darren Tilghman and ShoreRivers
Genie Wootten and Raisin, Wootton, and Hurd Law Firm
Amanda Wallace and BB&T Bank
Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River
Michael Scott and Michael Scott Surveying
Wayne Rickert and Rebuilding Together Kent County
Alden Yeatman and Chestertown Builders
Steve Arnold and Energy Services Group
Jay Yerkes and Rosin Creek Collaborative
Greg Smith and Smith Law Firm
Bill Noll and Zane Carter and SCORE

To the more than 30 individuals who volunteered over 800 hours of their time to paint walls and doors, build porches, hang drywall, excavate walkways, install appliances, and do countless other tasks, we are so grateful.

Finally, this milestone could not have been reached without your generous donations.  Over 90 individuals and organizations contributed more than $100,000 to help subsidize the cost of our construction program for this and future houses and to make mortgages more affordable to their owners.  We thank these organizations for their contributions: Emanuel Episcopal Church, Bramble Foundation, Ed Hatcher and Angie Cannon Foundation, People’s Bank, Macintosh Family Fund, Doug Ashley Real Estate, Rotary Club, and the United Way of Kent County.

Please refer to our website at kentattainablehousing.org for a complete listing of everyone who contributed to this effort.

This is what it took to build our first house, to ready our first family for ownership, and to begin the process of meeting the needs of the more than thirty five families with which we are working .  Now we are moving on to construction of our second home in Worton.  We expect our program to accelerate and expand, making more homes available for ownership by working families.

We are so fortunate to live in a community where so many folks care so much about families less fortunate than themselves.

Sincerely,

Kent Attainable Housing, Inc. Board of Directors

Lani Seikaly, President
Ed Minch, Vice President
Kathy Appel, Treasurer
Jonathan Chace, Secretary
Dora Best
David Biehler
Carolyn Brooks
Ronnie Edelman
Cheryl Hurt
Nivek Johnson
Pam Ortiz

Kent Attainable Housing, the new nonprofit that helps low-income families become homeowners, is now completing its first home for a family of five. Situated on the site of the former Garnet High School, the modular house, named the “Garnet House,” was delivered on October 28 with many excited community watching the dramatic arrival. “On a scale of one to ten, I’m at 11,” said Ed Minch, Project Director. He and others had worked tirelessly to get to this day when the new home would be delivered to a vacant lot on College Avenue.

Since the arrival of the home, volunteers from Rebuilding Together Kent County have been lending their resources and expertise to construct a front porch. “It’s a nice example of collaboration between local non-profits,” said Jon Hanley, Board Member for Rebuilding Together. Wearing masks and socially distancing, a cadre of volunteers has been hard at work since Tuesday. Rebuilding Together Kent County is an affiliate of a national organization which assists low income homeowners in repairing and improving disability access to homes.

Gale Quist, a Heron Point resident, heard a talk about Rebuilding Together and said, “Sign me up!” Having had experience in building his own home, he is an eager first-time volunteer at Garnet House. Tom Eager was also working on the front porch last week. Retired from American Airlines, he said he knew basic carpentry and was learning to use a router. “I like to help out, and I like working with my hands,” said Tom.

Kent Attainable Housing volunteers will continue to complete the house and landscape the grounds. Property has been purchased in Worton for the second home. Applicant families matched with houses are required to attend 15 hours of free financial management and homeowner education. Kent Attainable Housing believes that when homes are built for families in need, foundations are laid for healthier, happier and more productive families and a stronger community. They plan to build 40 homes over the next decade.

For information about Kent Attainable Housing, call 443-282-0622 or email kentattainablehousing@gmail.com. Rebuilding Together Kent County is also accepting applications for assistance. Call 410-708-9936 or email info@rtkc.org. Both organizations welcome financial contributions and volunteer help.