HARBEL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION INC
5807 HARFORD ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21234 www.harbel.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: HARBEL IS A CARING MULTIPURPOSE ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO BUILD AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE, ADVOCACY, AND EMPOWERMENT.

THE MISSION OF HARBEL IS TO UNITE ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE IN WHICH TO DEFINE AND SOLVE PROBLEMS COMMON TO THE COMMUNITY.

HARBEL PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PROGRAM (HPRC): IS CURRENTLY CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND (DEPT. OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE- OFFICE OF HEALTH CARE QUALITY) TO PROVIDE STANDARD AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. HPRC IS ALSO ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITATION FOR HEALTH CARE (ACHC). PERSONS ARE ADMITTED INTO TREATMENT BASED ON ASAM (AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE) CRITERIA WHICH DETERMINES THE LEVEL OF CARE TREATMENT PLANNING IS INDIVIDUALIZED. HPRC OPERATES TWO CLINICS, ONE WHICH SERVES ADULTS AND ONE WHICH SERVES ADOLESCENTS. SOME OF OUR SPECIALTY SERVICES INCLUDE: GENDER SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, DUI/DWI GROUPS, SERVICES SPECIFIC TO PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ALLEGED TO COMMIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATED OFFENSES, PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DUE TO ALCOHOL OR DRUG RELATED CHARGES, AND ADOLESCENTS. IT IS THE MISSION OF HPRC TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE, HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HARMFUL INVOLVEMENT WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/20, THE AGENCY ADMITTED 424 TO TREATMENT. MANY PERSONS ADMITTED TO TREATMENT WERE UNINSURED OR HAD THEIR TREATMENT COVERED THROUGH MEDICAID FUNDS. WE ALSO ACCEPT PRIVATE INSURANCE AND OUT OF POCKET PAYMENTS BASED ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE. STAFF MAY USE TECHNIQUES SUCH AS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY REINFORCEMENT APPROACH AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AS THESE ARE INTERVENTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. COUNSELING STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO BE LICENSES OR CERTIFIED BY A MARYLAND HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD, OR TO BE A TRAINEE WORKING UNDER SUPERVISION. SOME SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED BY STUDENT INTERNS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES, WHILE WORKING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED OR CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBER. IN ADDITION, HPRC HAS ALSO CREATED NEW PARTNERSHIPS WORKING WITH ADOLESCENTS IN TWO MAJOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN BALTIMORE CITY; CITY NEIGHBORS HIGH SCHOOL AND MERGENTHALER VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. STAFF PROVIDE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING SERVICES AT BOTH LOCATIONS.

HOUSING PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN THE FALL OF 1993 WITH THE FUNDING SUPPORT OF TWELVE COMMUNITY BANKS AND SAVINGS AND LOANS, HARBEL HOUSING HAS GROWN INTO A MAJOR PRE-PURCHASE SERVICE FOR POTENTIAL HOME BUYERS. OUR FUNDS NOW COME FROM TWO GRANT SOURCES (BALTIMORE CITY'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND BALTIMORE COUNTY'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CONSERVATION "OCC"), AND FROM THIRTEEN COMMUNITY BANKS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS, AND CREDIT UNIONS, WITH SOME FUNDS FORM PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS. HARBEL HOUSING IS A HUD CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY AND OUR HOUSING COUNSELORS ARE CERTIFIED THROUGH THE MARYLAND HOUSING COUNSELOR NETWORK. OUR FUNDS ARE AUDITED ANNUALLY, AND WE ARE REVIEWED BY HUD EVERY TWO YEARS AND ANNUALLY BY BOTH BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CITED FOR PROBLEMS. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020: HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP CONDUCTED 42 HOME BUYER WORKSHOPS WITH 1,876 ATTENDEES, AND 33 PRE-SETTLEMENT WORKSHOPS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 1,121, EXCEEDING OUR GOALS BY 47% AND 71% RESPECTIVELY. HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP COUNSELED 535 INDIVIDUALS DURING 471 COUNSELING SESSIONS. DURING THE YEAR, 144 HOMES WERE PURCHASED BY OUR CLIENTS, FOR A TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF 32.770 MILLION. SERVICES: OUR COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE. THE LENGTH OF TIME THE POTENTIAL HOMEBUYER MAY REQUIRE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE IS DEPENDENT UPON THEIR NEEDS. OUR GOAL IS TO ASSIST IN THE CREATION OF SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM HOMEOWNERS AND LESSEN THE RISK OF FORECLOSURE. A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IS GIVEN ONCE THE CLIENT COMPLETED THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC MORTGAGE PRODUCT, MORTGAGE LENDER, AND/OR SETTLEMENT/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTERS THE LOAN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THREE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY'S MORTGAGE AND SETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. WE ARE THE LOAN OFFICER, BY COLLECTION OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, PREPARING THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND PREPARING THE CHECK FOR THE ASSISTANCE. BALTIMORE COUNTY'S DEPT. OF PLANNING SERVES AS THE LOAN UNDERWRITER AND APPROVES ALL LOANS. HOMEBUYER WORKSHOPS- A THREE HOUR COURSE OF PRE-PURCHASE INFORMATION THAT IS HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN OUR SERVICE AREA. WORKSHOP TOPICS INCLUDE: CREDIT, BUDGET, SAVINGS, AFFORDABILITY, MORTGAGE PROCESS, AND OPTIONS, REAL ESTATE PROCESS, HOME INSPECTION, HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, FAIR HOUSING, AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. PRE-SETTLEMENT WORKSHOPS- THREE HOURS REGARDING TOPICS LEADING UP TO SETTLEMENT DAY AND THEIR LIFE AS A NEW HOMEOWNER. TOPICS INCLUDE: SAVINGS, SETTLEMENT PROCESS, HOME SAFETY, GOOD NEIGHBOR, HOME REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, MAJOR REHABILITATIONS, AND REFINANCE. COUNSELING MAY BE ABOUT CREDIT AND SAVINGS, PRE-PURCHASE, OR BOTH CREDIT/SAVINGS AND PRE-PURCHASE. AT THE TIME OF COUNSELING, WE REVIEW THE CLIENT'S DOCUMENTS AND INTAKE PACKET AND PROVIDE WRITTEN SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THEIR READINESS TO PURCHASE AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. A SESSION MAY LAST FROM ONE HOUR TO TWO HOURS AND SOME CLIENTS HAVE ADDITIONAL COUNSELING SESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND MORTGAGE LENDERS REGARDING THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND OUR SERVICES.

GENERAL PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY SERVICES- HARBEL'S COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM HELPS TO ORGANIZE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS IN THE AREA. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND ADVOCACY SERVICES. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OVERSEES A PROGRAM WHICH SERVES 27 COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR CATCHMENT AREA WITH NO ADDITIONAL STAFF. OUR DIRECTOR ATTENDS APPROXIMATELY 150 COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS PER YEAR AND CONSISTENTLY ADDRESSES ISSUES RELATING TO CRIME PREVENTION, ZONING, HOUSING, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION, SCHOOLS, AND PROBLEMATIC LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO LIGHT AT THESE MEETINGS OR FROM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP. ON A DAILY BASIS HE SENDS MESSAGES VIA: A COMPILED EMAIL LIST, FACEBOOK, NEXT DOOR (A NATIONAL COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICE), AND SEVEN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LIST SERVES THAT REACH THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST BALTIMORE. THESE MESSAGES ENSURE THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST BALTIMORE ARE CONSISTENTLY AWARE OF CRIME TRENDS, PERTINENT CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, INFORMATION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT, NUMEROUS EVENTS, AND ISSUES THAT WOULD AFFECT A RESIDENT'S QUALITY OF LIFE, THE SERVICES OF OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE AREA, AND KEY GOVERNMENTAL CONTACT INFORMATION. THESE MESSAGES THROUGH VARIOUS FORMATS REACH MORE THAN 1,000 HOUSEHOLDS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT HE COMMUNICATES WITH MORE THAN 3,000 RESIDENTS A YEAR THROUGH PERSONAL, PHONE, ELECTRONIC CONTACT AND ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS IN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WITH MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENTS. HE COORDINATES THE EFFORTS OF THE NORTHEAST CITIZENS ON PATROL, A PARTNERSHIP OF HARBEL AND THE BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NORTHEAST DISTRICT. THE VOLUNTEER GROUP IS COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF OVER 30 COMMUNITIES WITH MORE THAN 800 VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST BALTIMORE AREA.

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