Business gives back: Developer Works to Boost Affordable Housing Options

 

For Dan Ryan, building houses means building communities.

"We get involved in the communities where we build," said Ryan, president of Dan Ryan Homes. His company builds houses in Frederick and Washington counties, as well as in southern Pennsylvania.

Ryan also supports the Interfaith Housing Alliance, which develops affordable housing projects in those same areas. "Our footprints match," he said.

If the nonprofit can raise $25,000, Ryan will match it.

"Our mission meshed really well with Interfaith," said Ryan in an interview at IHA's headquarters on North Market Street.

Ryan said he was inspired by his father, also a builder, to provide affordable housing.

"Being a builder, I know how difficult it tends to be to get families into houses," he said. "There is an educational process, what you need to do to get financing, qualifying for a loan and more."
Mary Ellen Mitchell, director of community relations for IHA, said the organization holds workshops on subjects ranging from money and foreclosures to showing teenagers how to open and manage a checking account.

Ryan, who has been building locally for more than 20 years, partnered with IHA in the cost and construction of Rolling Hills, an affordable community in Pennsylvania.

"A big reward is to see things being passed on," Ryan said. "Dave Doseff, my former chief financial officer, served on the IHA board."

The key to any organization is to maintain it, Ryan said. "All organizations see peaks and valleys, the question is how do you keep it going."

One way is awareness, getting the word out on what IHA does, Ryan said. That brings in not only donations, but volunteers as well.

"People have been through a lot in the past seven years," he said. "There are so many foreclosures, people losing homes. We need to help get families in homes and build up our neighborhoods, build the county back up."

For 2013, IHA has a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work on homes that need repairs. People must buy the homes, with no down payment, and there is a limit of $20,000 in repairs, Mitchell said.

"There is a 'sweat equity' component, but it is a win-win situation," she said. "It helps stabilize the neighborhood."

The goal is to help repair 20 homes in two years.