Rebuilding Baltimore, One Home at a Time
We transform abandoned properties into modern, affordable, accessible homes for multigenerational families. We don’t just rebuild houses—we restore community
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Our Blueprint
Our Plan is Simple
Better-Baltimore was founded by lifelong Baltimoreans to solve two of our city's most pressing challenges: the crushing weight of thousands of abandoned houses and the silent crisis of our elders and neighbors with disabilities being forced from the communities they love for lack of safe, accessible housing. The physical decay of these structures is inextricably linked to the erosion of community well-being and human dignity. Our mission is to reverse this decline by restoring not just the buildings, but the sense of "home" they represent.
We don't just renovate houses; we rebuild homes. We transform distressed, vacant, and abandoned properties into modern, affordable, and accessible homes designed for multigenerational living, allowing our most vulnerable residents to age with dignity, in place.
Two Crises. One Baltimore. A Moment for Action.
Not Just Re-building - Re-Creating
Baltimore is at a critical juncture, facing two interconnected crises that threaten its economic health and the well-being of its citizens. Addressing them requires understanding their scale and recognizing their relationship.
Over-Supply
Vacant & Distressed Properties
Over 15,000 abandoned homes drain $200M yearly in lost taxes and public costs, lowering property values and fueling blight.
Demand
Accessible Housing Shortage
With 124,000 seniors and 94,000 residents with disabilities, less than 1% of homes are fully accessible, forcing many to leave their communities.
These crises are connected—and so is the solution. By transforming vacant houses into accessible homes, we rebuild neighborhoods and empower residents to age in place.
Universal Design
54 million Americans live with disabilities - yet less than 1% of housing meets basic accessibility standards.
A safe bathroom is crucial for seniors to prevent falls, the leading cause of injury. Universal design enhances accessibility, promotes independence, and may qualify for Maryland grants. Contact us to ensure your bathroom supports safe aging in place!
Key Statistics:
90% of seniors want to age in place
Only 3.5% of homes have essential accessibility features
1 in 4 adults live with some form of disability
Veterans are 8% of the population with unique housing needs
The shortage is real. The demand is urgent.
Universal Design
The Economic Deadweight of Vacancy
Baltimore's landscape is scarred by an inventory of over 15,000 vacant and abandoned properties.1 This is not just an eyesore; it is a profound economic drain. Each year, these properties cost our city a staggering sum, estimated to be at least $200 million, when combining over $100 million in lost tax revenue with an additional $100 million in direct public expenses for services like emergency calls, blight mitigation, and public safety responses.1 This is money that could be invested in our schools, our infrastructure, and our communities.The impact ripples outward, creating a "contagion effect" that suppresses the property values of hardworking homeowners by as much as 30% for homes within 200 feet of a vacant property.2 This burden falls disproportionately on majority Black neighborhoods, which have been historically redlined and continue to bear the brunt of disinvestment, thereby widening the racial wealth gap.1
Keeping Families together
A Silver Tsunami Meets a Housing Shortage
Simultaneously, our city is aging. Baltimore is home to over 124,000 residents aged 60 and older, a population that grew by over 17% in the last decade alone.4 They are joined by nearly 94,000 residents living with a disability.4 Yet, our housing stock is dangerously unprepared for this demographic reality.A recent statewide assessment confirmed a severe shortage of suitable and affordable housing options for older adults, many of whom wish to remain in their communities.6 Nationally, less than 1% of housing units are fully wheelchair accessible, and only about 4% are equipped for those with even moderate mobility difficulties.9 This isn't a gap; it's a chasm. The tragedy and the opportunity are one and the same: the thousands of empty houses across our city represent the single greatest resource we have to build the thousands of accessible homes our communities desperately need. This reframes the vacancy problem from a pure liability into the only solution available at the scale required to solve our accessibility crisis.
Our Simple 4-Step Process
A Clear Path to a Safer Home
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Free Consultation
We start with a no-obligation call to understand your concerns and needs.
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In-Home Assessment
We visit your home to identify fall risks and hazards and complete a detailed safety report.
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Customized Plan
We create a tailored safety upgrade plan, balancing practicality and comfort.
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Professional Installation
We install the modifications quickly and properly. We manage the entire process.
The True Cost of Inaction: Dignity, Dollars, and Displacement
Creating Homes, Not Houses
A Home is More Than a Place. It's a Lifeline.
The failure to provide accessible housing has consequences that extend far beyond inconvenience. It imposes a severe toll—on the human spirit, on family finances, and on public resources. The status quo is not only cruel; it is fiscally unsustainable.
Preserving our Communities
The Human Cost: Relocation Stress Syndrome
For many seniors, their home is a sanctuary of memories, independence, and identity. When a simple staircase becomes an insurmountable obstacle, or a traditional bathroom becomes a daily hazard, they face a devastating choice. Being forced to leave a lifelong home for an institutional facility is not just a move; it's an emotional trauma. Medical researchers have identified this phenomenon as "Relocation Stress Syndrome" or "transfer trauma," a condition characterized by severe anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, depression, and a loss of the will to thrive. A study by the American Society on Aging found that 63% of adults over 75 consider their home's emotional value more important than its monetary value.11 By failing to provide alternatives, we are abandoning our elders at their most vulnerable, and the emotional cost is immeasurable.
A Vision for a Better-Baltimore
The Financial Cost: A System Under Strain
This crisis of displacement carries a staggering price tag, borne by families and taxpayers alike. The financial case for aging-in-place is as compelling as the moral one. The current path of reactive, institutional care is unsustainable, creating a drain on public funds that could be better used for proactive solutions.For instance, falls among seniors—many of which are preventable with simple home modifications—are a public health crisis with enormous financial implications. In Maryland, fall-related injuries among older adults generate an estimated $759 million annually in direct medical costs.12 These costs are largely shouldered by public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.13 Every dollar invested in creating an accessible home saves multiples in future emergency room visits, hospital stays, and long-term institutional care. This is not just a housing policy; it's a fiscally sound healthcare policy.
A Partnership for Progress. A Victory for All.
The
"Win-Win-Win"
Our model is designed to create a powerful, positive feedback loop, delivering transformative results for every stakeholder. It is a uniquely efficient and high-leverage partnership opportunity. Every dollar of public investment is multiplied, simultaneously addressing housing blight, public health, and economic development. We are not just a recipient of funds; we are a force multiplier for a healthier, wealthier, and more equitable Baltimore. We call it the Triple-Win Solution.
A Win For Our City & Taxpayers
We turn tax-draining vacant properties into tax-generating assets, helping to restore the over $200 million in annual lost revenue and expenses to the city's budget.1 By providing safe, accessible housing, we dramatically reduce the public burden on emergency services and publicly funded long-term care facilities, creating a more resilient and fiscally sound city.
A Win For Our Neighborhoods & Communities
We eradicate blight, which research has directly linked to increased crime and lower property values.1 Each renovated home becomes a catalyst for block-level renewal, inspiring confidence and encouraging further private investment. We build vibrant, stable, multigenerational communities where residents can remain active and engaged members of their neighborhoods for life.
A Win For Our Most Vulnerable Residents
We provide a dignified, affordable alternative to institutionalization, allowing our seniors, veterans, and residents with disabilities to live with independence and security. We build homes where grandchildren can play with their grandparents, preserving family bonds and offering the priceless gift of aging in place.
Strategic Alignment with Public Policy
Our work is in direct alignment with the City of Baltimore's revitalization goals and Governor Wes Moore's landmark Reinvest Baltimore initiative, a collective effort to eliminate vacancy and revitalize neighborhoods.22 We are a shovel-ready partner with the certified expertise to effectively deploy resources from programs like the city's Developer Incentive Program and the Vacants to Value Booster 26, turning public policy into tangible results for the people of Baltimore.
Provide your details below, and we’ll contact you to discuss our upcoming projects. Let's work together re-build baltimore.
Let's Rebuild Baltimore's Promise, Together.
The challenges facing Baltimore are great, but our collective will is greater. The blueprint is clear, the need is urgent, and the opportunity for transformative change is right in front of us. Better-Baltimore is seeking to build powerful partnerships with organizations that share our vision for a more inclusive and prosperous city.