Updated 10/4/22
A 4-story building at Potomac & Antietam Streets in Hagerstown with 20 occupied apartment units was condemned due to numerous code violations. Tenants in all buildings were displaced, and while a handful were able to stay with friends and family, the majority had nowhere else to go.
The owner paid for about a week and a half of hotel stays and Horizon Goodwill and Community Action Council have helped with another week, scrounging for funds to do that, and anticipating that tenants’ rental insurance would kick in. However, all rental insurance claims were denied as this is not a “natural” disaster. Additionally, it was that that enough of the work on the building would be finished within 3-4 weeks for tenants to return, but we’ve since learned that it will take months to correct the building violations, so these individuals and families need to find another place to live very soon.
Here’s the current remaining need: Nine (9) individuals or couples need to find housing in some type of efficiency or apartment. At the Georgian, they were paying approximately $700-750 per month, and all of these displaced individuals and families are working and have income.
If you can help, please contact Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill, at bgrossman@goodwill-hgi.org or 301-988-0185. Ways to help:
- Donate directly to the need (to donate by check contact Brooke).
- Identify potential landlords or rental opportunities that could fit the income levels of these families.
- PRAY for the families and organizations working to help them, and for speedy improvements to the building as affordable housing is in limited supply.
