VOACC Contact: Nicholle Granger
ngranger@voaches.org
JULY 11, 2025 | Baltimore, MD
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) is proud to announce the completed renovation of The Residences at Irvington Woods, a 71-unit affordable housing community located at 4106 Potter Street in the Irvington neighborhood of Baltimore City. To celebrate this milestone, VOACC will host a ribbon-cutting event on Monday, August 4, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the property. The event will include tours of the renovated residences, a community celebration, and remarks from several project partners and public officials, including Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott.
Baltimore faces a significant affordable housing crisis. According to the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), over 23,000 households are served through its programs, yet the demand continues to outpace supply. In 2024 alone, HABC provided housing vouchers to 2,000 additional families, marking a 12% increase over the past five years. Furthermore, more than 20% of Baltimore households spend over half their income on housing, indicating a severe cost burden.
Originally acquired by VOACC in 1997 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Low Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act (LIHPRA) Program, The Residences at Irvington Woods provides affordable, garden-style apartment homes for low-income families and formerly homeless individuals. The LIHPRA program is designed to preserve HUD-assisted housing for residents earning 60% or less of the area median income.
This $24.5 million project was funded through the 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and involved the complete rehabilitation of all 71 units. The upgrades included improvements to plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, and appliances. Each unit now features new flooring, ceilings, cabinetry, countertops, heat pumps, water heaters, and energy-efficient fixtures. The property includes 59 two-bedroom apartments and 12 one-bedroom apartments, each equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, central heating and air, and a washer and dryer.
The renovation also included upgrades to exterior entrances, decks, lighting, and security systems to enhance safety and accessibility. The four apartment buildings are now equipped with upgraded elevators to ensure ADA compliance. A newly renovated community room, named The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Center, provides residents with a welcoming space that includes a full kitchen, computer lab, comfortable seating, and a foosball table. Families will also enjoy a brand-new playground on the property.
“Thank you to our partners in helping make this rehabilitation a reality. We are so proud to support families and individuals in our permanent supportive housing model that has the goal of connecting our residents to community resources and offer them new apartments that they are proud of.”
Candace Vanderwater, President & CEO, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
As a nonprofit organization that integrates housing, health, and human services, VOACC believes that stable housing is just the first step to long-term wellbeing. The Residences at Irvington Woods will continue to offer voluntary onsite services to support residents’ success. These services include personalized case management, job readiness support, financial literacy and computer classes, social benefits assistance, and referrals to community resources.
Residents who need behavioral health support will also have access to VOACC’s Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP), provided through the VOA Hope Center in Baltimore. The VOA Hope Center is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) offering evidence-based, person-centered care.
“We are incredibly proud to contribute to the revitalization of the Irvington neighborhood, a place that holds deep meaning for the Harkins family. This is where our beloved former owner, Blase Cooke, grew up, a man whose life was defined by service to others and generosity to this very community. We’re especially grateful to our longtime partners at Volunteers of America for more than a decade of collaboration rooted in a shared mission to improve lives through safe, high quality, and affordable housing. Together, we are honored to carry forward Blase’s legacy and invest in the future of Irvington.”
Ben Nichols, President & CEO, Harkins
“The Foundation is committed to ensuring all families have access to affordable housing and services that enable them to achieve and maintain stability. We are proud to support this project, which will help families fulfill their educational and employment goals and keep housing affordable for decades to come.”
Amy Kleine, Senior Program Director, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
The success of this project would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of the following partners:
- General Contractor: Harkins Builders
- Funding Partners: Chase Bank, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; M&T Realty Capital Corporation through the Freddie Mac Tax-Exempt Loan Program; Enterprise Community Investment, Inc.; and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
- Architect: Studio K Architects
- Development Consultants: Site Insite, Inc; Cloverhill Advisors, LLC
- Property Management Firm: ResidentialOne, LLC
Together, these organizations have helped ensure that the Residences at Irvington Woods remain a safe, affordable, and supportive community for the individuals and families who call it home.
To register for the ribbon cutting, visit https://irvingtonwoods.eventbrite.com.
To learn more about The Residences at Irvington Woods, visit www.voachesapeake.org/irvington-woods.
About Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (“VOACC”) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health and human services.
At VOACC, we have been helping to create Healthy Communities for All for over 128 years by aligning housing, health and human services. We actively pursue health equity by filling the gap in housing and care for underserved populations, including those who are experiencing homelessness, low-income, underinsured or uninsured, justice-involved and veterans. By offering integrated housing and care, we address the social determinants that impact the long-term stability for those in need.
Through a dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers who are guided by our Core Values – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Faith – we are the safety net for thousands of men, women and children each year across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas. We operate over 49 programs focused on 8 areas of service: homeless services, affordable housing, mental health, substance use recovery, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, community re-entry, veteran services and workforce development.
VOACC has over 900 staff members and more than 2,000 volunteers. The organization helps over 11,700 individuals and families every year from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. For more information on VOACC, please visit www.voachesapeake.org.