Harbel Community Organization Inc

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 LISCENSED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE STANDARD AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS ON BOTH LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2.1(OUTPATIENT AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT LEVELS OF CARE). IN ADDITION, HARBEL ALSO PROVIDES COURT APPROVED DUI EDUCATION AND TREATMENT. HPRC IS ALSO ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITATION FOR HEALTH CARE (ACHC). PERSONS ARE ADMITTED INTO TREATMENT BASED ON ASAM (AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE). 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 INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE RELATED OFFENSES.

HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP IS SPONSORED BY THIRTEEN COMMUNITY BANKS AND SAVINGS AND LOANS, HARBEL HOUSING HAS GROWN INTO A MAJOR PREPURCHASE 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. GENERAL PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY SERVICESHARBEL'S COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM "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. HARBEL ALSO HAS A COMMUNITY RELATION DEPARTMENT. THIS DEPARTMENT 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 200 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 THE DIRECTOR SENDS MESSAGES VIA: A COMPILED EMAIL LIST, FACEBOOK, NEXT DOOR (A NATIONAL COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICE). IN ADDITION HARBEL SUPPORTS THE NORTH EAST CITIZENS PATROL. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/22, THE AGENCY ADMITTED 765 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 HOUSING LOCATIONS. PARTNERSHIP CONDUCTED 52 HOME BUYER WORKSHOPS WITH 2,510 ATTENDEES, AND 35 PRESETTLEMENT WORKSHOPS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 1,420, EXCEEDING OUR GOALS BY 48% AND 71% RESPECTIVELY. HARBEL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP COUNSELED 556 INDIVIDUALS DURING 485 COUNSELING SESSIONS. DURING THE YEAR, 154 HOMES WERE PURCHASED BY OUR CLIENTS, FOR A TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF 48.650 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 LONGTERM 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 LOANUNDERWRITER AND APPROVES ALL LOANS. HOMEBUYER WORKSHOPSA THREE HOUR COURSE OF PREPURCHASE 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. PRESETTLEMENT WORKSHOPSTHREE 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 HARBEL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, INC 52-0905968 AND MAINTENANCE, MAJOR REHABILITATIONS, AND REFINANCE. COUNSELING MAY BE ABOUT CREDIT AND SAVINGS, PREPURCHASE, OR BOTH CREDIT/SAVINGS ANDPREPURCHASE. 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 SERVICESHARBEL'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.