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Region #16: Baltimore, MD

Harbel Community Organization was established in 1970 and started as a group of 13 churches. Currently, more than 90 organizations are associated with HARBEL, including churches, two hospitals, a mental health center and community groups. Their work in the community includes a substance abuse program for adolescents and adults, a home-ownership program for first-time buyers and a community relations program to mentor new community leaders.

Winning Regional Essay

"HARBEL is the 37-year old premier community service organization in Baltimore. We operate a housing program promoting homeownership which helps to turn tenants into owners; a state-certified outpatient substance abuse prevention and treatment program for adults and adolescents; and a community relations program mentoring future leaders, keeping residents informed, monitoring the liquor and zoning boards for changes impacting neighborhoods and directing the NorthEast Citizens Patrol (NECP).

"Now in its 8th year, the Patrol is an 800-member volunteer force of residents committed to keeping the 25 neighborhoods under the HARBEL umbrella safe, stable and thriving. Three evenings a week, residents drive their own cars through their neighborhood and act as the eyes and ears of the police. An on-duty police officer drives a NorthEast Citizens Patrol car through all the neighborhoods along with the volunteers and remains in contact via two-way radio. Residents are on the lookout for anything unusual or which arouses their concern or suspicion. They immediately relay their concern to the officer in the Patrol car and there is an instant response."

"One cold winter night when the Patrol was out in the neighborhood, two Patrollers noticed a car driving erratically on a main thoroughfare and watched in awe as the car went into reverse and continued traveling on the roadway. They immediately realized something was wrong and called the observation in to the police officer in the Patrol car. Within minutes, an officer was on the scene and was able to stop the car, arrest the drunk driver and remove him from the road before an accident or fatality could occur."

"The Patrol's Victim Assistance Liaison officer kept track of the case as it wound its way through the courts and both the residents and the arresting officer were in court to hear the sentence handed down of 30 days in jail. Thus, the safety of the community was assured by the keen observations of volunteer Patrollers doing their civic duty to keep their neighborhood safe, and residents were grateful that a drunk driver was removed before serious harm was inflicted on innocent people."

"HARBEL's Homeownership Program has been an integral part of the organization for the past 10 years. In that time, hundreds of families have been counseled and have attended workshops to help their transition from being a rent-paying tenant to a full-fledged responsible home owner. The Program has grown and encompassed banking and mortgage-lending partners to guide and advise the Program. Over the years the partnership has built a very solid foundation and reputation for sound counseling and advice."

"We had to chuckle when one day a very excited elderly couple came in to sign up for a homeownership workshop (required by lenders) and said they want to finally buy a house for themselves after helping all of their children get educated, married and buy houses. Now it was finally their turn. Their 80+ ages were no deterrent to them and they were determined to buy the house of their dreams and finally relax and enjoy their remaining time together. They were approved for a 30-year mortgage. They felt ready and armed to become responsible homeowners and had the courage to pursue their dream. The lending institution agreed: the ecstatic couple were given a 30-year mortgage!"

"These are just two quick snapshots of how HARBEL is working diligently and continually to make Baltimore a safer city, provide residents with the tools to make their lives better and expand an ever-shrinking tax base. By helping substance abusers regain their lives and become employed, by maintaining a stable resident base and by encouraging upcoming community leaders, HARBEL is doing its part to make our world the best place it can be populated by residents who are healthy, informed and interested in maintaining their safe environment."

If They Won the $100,000 National Award ...

"The life of a nonprofit professional does not often leave time for daydreaming or fantasizing. Participating in the A Better World competition has opened a window of opportunity to not only dream a little, but the opportunity to make the dream a reality."

"HARBEL Community Organization is the premier community service umbrella organization serving the city of Baltimore, Maryland. We are honored to have competed against many worthy nonprofits, each trying to better a portion of their world, and to have won the regional competition. We are the only nonprofit in Maryland to be honored in this exciting way."

"HARBEL has been serving the communities in Northeast Baltimore for 37 years. Our constituency consists of all the community and business associations, churches and schools. Some of our member agencies work in less-than-ideal circumstances and serve populations with a variety of life problems including health and education issues, crime and grime, low income, deteriorating and boarded housing stock, areas of crumbling infrastructure, and not enough activities in which to engage youth in worthwhile after- school pursuits."

"If this looks like a gloomy picture, be assured, IT IS NOT! We have enough of the right stuff, people in all of our communities who are dedicated to making their own individual community the best place on the planet and letting everyone know about it. Our residents are full of pride, devotion, enthusiasm, creativity, camaraderie, and energy. Just witness the joy with which 800 residents embraced the creation of the NorthEast Citizens Patrol eight years ago in a phenomenally successful effort to take back our neighborhoods from drug dealers and others intent on criminal activity. Where once there was fear and citizens huddled in darkened houses afraid to converse with their neighbor, now there is light and a flurry of outdoor activities from bike-riding, to BBQs, to lawnmowing, to chatting-on-the-porch. Neighbors are now friends and both property and personal crime has been reduced as communal activity has increased."

"The three programs which are the focus of HARBEL's work in the community consist of a substance abuse prevention and treatment program for adolescents and adults; a homeownership program turning renters into successful first-time owners and offering financial counseling and credit repair workshops; and a community relations program mentoring new leaders, serving as liaison for citizens and legislators, monitoring the all-important liquor and zoning board for changes impacting residents, engaging citizens in forums to meet and question candidates for public office, and providing information to communities to help solve common concerns."

"Eight years ago, HARBEL partnered with the local police district to form the NorthEast Citizens Patrol, a volunteer force of 800 residents who monitor their neighborhood and relay any concerns directly to a uniformed police officer via two-way radio. There is no need to use 911. Callers are connected instantly with an officer who responds in, literally, minutes. Since the advent of the Patrol, crime has been reduced substantially and participation in community events has increased substantially as residents once again take back their streets and neighborhoods for family enjoyment."

"The heart of HARBEL remains its community organizations, partners dedicated to keeping neighborhoods safe, stable, and thriving. Our community organizations will all benefit financially as we happily share the national prize with those who have helped us over the years and who continue to be our bedrock of support. From the smallest of our neighborhoods to the largest, all of our organizations share several common goals and concerns. HARBEL serves as the 501(c)(3) umbrella for the organizations which are too small and cash-strapped to seek their own tax status. Our community associations are always looking for ways to earn a little money to keep themselves going, pay for postage for a newsletter, provide refreshments for meetings, etc. There is always a core of volunteers on whom the association can rely. They are always seeking to expand their membership. When HARBEL bought $25 gift certificates to a local hardware store, we gave them to our associations to welcome new members and new homeowners. It was a highly successful effort."

"The funds HARBEL will receive if chosen the winner in this competition, will be shared with our member associations. Our dream of being able to help our associations pay some of their expenses and recruit and retain members will finally get a big boost."

"An even larger boost from winning this competition will come from the realization that we may, at long last, be able to pursue a very large dream. For several years, we have harbored the guilt of not having a program geared specifically for our aging population. We would love to develop a program for seniors to help them remain in their homes as long as is reasonably possible and to avoid a nursing home as long as is reasonably possible."

"It may be adding grab bars for better balance, retrofitting a kitchen, adding a first-floor bathroom, enlarging doorways to accommodate a wheelchair, or turning a spare room into a bedroom. It can all be done in a compassionate fashion. Seniors overwhelmingly tell us that they much prefer to remain in their own home, in their familiar neighborhood, with the familiar church, school, shopping, friends, restaurants, parks, and other familiar amenities nearby. They may complain about the neighborhood potholes, but they know EXACTLY where they are and do not want to have to learn to navigate a new unfamiliar neighborhood."

"The new program would be marketed to financial institutions and to create a domino effect by getting them to offer low/no interest loans for repairs/renovations and to have an analysis done pinpointing the items a house needs for safety and comfort. It would be a boon to the seniors and their families and offer a neglected population the assurance that their golden years will be spent in the best manner possible for each individual."
"HARBEL is very grateful to the funders and visionaries of It's A Better World. Indeed, it is mainly through the largesse being offered, that we all remain strong and healthy and maintain our ability to help our neighbors and friends. We are happy to put the "unity" into our community."

Harbel Community Services

Our Community Relations program has the most far-reaching positive impact on all of our member associations in the Northeast.
Comprised of all of our 80+ constituent organizations, HARBEL's Community Relations program provides a variety of services for our members:
• liaison between government and residents
• forums on a variety of topics through which our members become informed about current pertinent issues
• monitor the docket of the zoning and liquor board for neighborhood impact
• develop testimony for members when necessary
• sponsor the NorthEast Citizens Patrol
• strengthen local businesses
• assist commercial revitalization efforts
• maintain ability to develop new community programs
• serve as fiscal agent for grant-seeking neighborhood groups
• provide advocacy and referral services
• spearhead special activities and events
• mentor upcoming community leaders
• develop community forums for issues of concern