VISION
The Southeast CDC is dedicated to growing and supporting a thriving, socioeconomically and racially diverse Southeast Baltimore where residents share in the success and improvement of their communities.
To achieve this vision we stimulate private and public investment in housing, infrastructure, parks, employment and city services; mobilize and support existing residents to participate in the planning and implementation of community projects that improve their quality of life; and attract residents to homeownership while preserving good quality affordable housing.
This work is multi-layered and can only be accomplished with partners in the community—residents, first and foremost, but also with community organizations, schools, anchor institutions, government, and business and employers—that share in this vision.
While the Southeast CDC is dedicated to the vitality of Southeast Baltimore, the organization is most effective in areas where there are resident and organizational partners, community leadership, and an existing or emerging homeownership market.
MISSION
Southeast CDC promotes healthy, vibrant and diverse communities in Southeast Baltimore through creative community development projects and proven programs.
VALUES
Respect. We include and honor leadership and contributions from diverse stakeholders so that our work is authentically grounded in the community.
Credibility. We set feasible and realistic goals at the intersection of community needs and organizational capacity, and we hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders to do the things we promise.
Learning. We improve our work by applying recognized, innovative and data-driven practices and by a regular rigorous evaluation of our work.
Collaboration. We work in partnership with residents and community leaders building from that base to develop coalitions with non-profit partners, funders, business leaders, and public officials.
Persistence. We are committed to the people and communities of Southeast Baltimore and to programs with sustainable, long-term, and measurable impact.
Equity. We engage communities in a way that means better outcomes for all residents in economically, ethnically and racially diverse communities.
OUR STORY
Southeast Community Development Corporation is one of the oldest community development corporations in Baltimore. Founded in 1975 as Southeast Development, Inc. (SDI), we were the development arm of the Southeast Community Organization (SECO), an umbrella community organization founded by community activists that included Barbara Mikulski. SDI produced hundreds of units of affordable housing as well as a number of commercial projects. In 2000, SDI separated from SECO and became Southeast Community Development Corporation.
Southeast CDC was initially focused on commercial real estate projects in the Highlandtown area. In most cases we addressed community priorities by acquiring key properties for other organizations to develop. As a result, two theaters, a school and the Dominic “Mimi” Democratic Club were redeveloped as a performing arts center, a public library, a youth center and a private residence, respectively.
Today, Southeast CDC manages community revitalization programs across seven neighborhoods, including the the Highlandtown Main Street District and the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District and Healthy Neighborhoods. We are the coordinator for the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative in Southeast Baltimore, through which we have raised almost $6 million for neighborhood revitalization projects. Southeast CDC also partners with environmental organizations, including Blue Water Baltimore, the Parks and People Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, to reduce storm water run-off and increase the tree canopy.
We are a comprehensive HUD-certified housing counseling agency. We provide counseling for credit and budget management, first time homebuying, foreclosure prevention, and post-purchase. All of our services are offered in English and Spanish. We also partner with Neighborhood Housing Services to increase homeownership among immigrant residents.
We partner with Baltimore City Schools and Family League on the Community School strategy at five Community Schools–Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #237, Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #215, John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School and William Paca Elementary School. We employ a full-time Community School Coordinator at each school who leverages partnerships and funding to reduce barriers to learning, improve family stability and support neighborhood revitalization.
Targeted to our Community Schools is our Family Stability Program, which provides financial assistance and intensive case management to families at risk of losing their home to reduce destabilizing school transfers because of housing loss. As of April 2024, our Family Stability Program has helped over 220 families with more than 480 school-aged children.
At the start of the pandemic, Southeast CDC partnered with Baltimore City to provide case management to immigrant households facing eviction because of a COVID-19-related income loss. From December 2020 to December 2022, we helped local families submit 355 applications for rental assistance. As of April 2024, 189 of those applications have been approved (a few are still pending), totaling $1,148,519.
In 2023, Southeast CDC partnered with Baltimore City again to join the Baltimore New American Access Coalition (BNAAC). Through BNAAC, Southeast CDC provides case management support to Limited English Proficient immigrant households in Baltimore City who need assistance applying for and connecting with public assistance programs, such as SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, energy assistance, water assistance, childcare subsidies, as well as referrals to local health clinics. As of April 2024, we have helped more than 160 households submit 362 public benefits applications.
Southeast CDC also buys and rehabs vacant and distressed homes to resell at affordable prices. Our acquisitions are targeted to the Ellwood Park, McElderry Park, and Baltimore Highlands neighborhoods. See our latest completed home here.
Our real estate holdings include 17 units of low income tax credit rental housing and 2 commercial buildings in Highlandtown.
Southeast CDC is governed by a Board of Directors, chaired by Doug Schmidt, Principal of Workshop Development.