Ms. M, age 66, was born and raised in a multigenerational household in central west Baltimore near Lanvale Street. She fondly remembers the marble steps and large rowhomes that were being converted from single family homes into apartments. Her family lived in a 3 story row home with her grandmother, grandfather, mother, and cousins. After the passing of her grandmother, Ms. M’s family moved to northeast Baltimore city where many of her relatives live to this day. 

 

In 1997, Ms. M was able to purchase her first home in the Hamilton neighborhood of northeast Baltimore city with the help of her family.  The view and the trees in the neighborhood convinced Ms. M to move there. One of her favorite features about the neighborhood is the hilly terrain. “ From the highest hills you can see the city and the beltway. I can also see the fireworks Downtown on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. This is a quiet and relaxing neighborhood.” says Ms. M about her neighborhood.  

 

In 2001, Ms. M experienced a fall in her home that would forever change her life. The severity of the fall caused her to leave her job, lose the ability to drive, and need to use a wheelchair to get around.  This accident was a major blow to her very active life at the time. Ms. M enjoyed swimming and working out. She was also preparing to go back to school to become a rehab specialist & counselor. This accident set Ms. M behind on the many necessary repairs to her home. 

 

There were modifications needed to improve Ms. M’s mobility, as well as routine maintenance that had to be deferred. It was becoming harder to afford everything because of her medical bills. Her roof needed a full replacement. Water leaked into the kitchen. No matter how many buckets Ms. M put out, the new counter,  stove, and floor she worked so hard for were ruined. An outdated electrical system and problems with a non operating furnace caused Ms. M to use space heaters with extension cords across the house to heat the home in the winter.