Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello, Baltimore

Coordinates: 39°19′24″N 76°35′42″W / 39.32333°N 76.595°W / 39.32333; -76.595

Baltimore City College sits in the heart of the CHUM community

The Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community, aka CHUM, located in the northeastern section of Baltimore City, Maryland, is bounded by Harford Road on the east; Loch Raven Boulevard on the west; 25th Street on the south; and 32nd and 33rd Street on the north and includes Baltimore's scenic Lake Montebello.^[1] The neighborhood captures its name from the nineteenth century grandeur of Baltimore's elaborate summer estates but struggles with the twentieth century reality of boarded up rowhouses, crime and litter. Residents of CHUM actively work to better their neighborhood through the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello Community Corporation which meets every second Thursday at 7 p.m. on the campus of the Baltimore City College.

Demographics

The 2000 United States Census General Demographic Characteristics of CHUM show that there are 8,750 residents of which 99% are African American. There were 3,265 housing units of which 80% were single unit-attached (rowhomes). 84.5 of all housing units were occupied with 55.9% of them being owner-occupied. Nearly 32% of the residents are enrolled in school (grades pre-k to 12) and 60% of the residents have attained a high school diploma or better. The median family income is (dollars) $27,471.^[2]

Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello Community Corporation

CHUM Executive Director, Mark Washington directs July 2009 meeting

Members of the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community corporation at their monthly meeting(July, 2009)

In addition to meeting on a regular basis, holding community clean-ups and providing its residents with City government related information, the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community corporation also provides a variety of services and programs for its residents. The corporation provides housing counselors for its residents, a summer film series for families, women's self-defense classes, organized walks for seniors and the coordination free services for its residents.^[3]

Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community residents qualify for various programs including Project Lightbulb those that provide free energy saving lightbulbs, showerheads, kitchen faucets and water heater wraps.^[4] Community residents over age 60 are able to participate in Neighborhoods for All Ages, a pilot program offering home repair, transportation, referral and case management services.^[5] The Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community was also chosen as a Healthy Neighborhoods (Baltimore) community, thereby qualifying for home improvement loans at discounted rates. In addition Healthy neighborhoods co-sponsors with the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community corporation, events and block projects.
CHUM also provides a variety of services for the youth in the area including a summer camp, chess club, summer dance, tutoring and homework assistance, a computer lab and indoor basketball.

Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello Recurring Events

First Thursdays, Community Corporation Board Meeting
Second Thursdays at 7 pm, Community Meeting
Fourth Thursdays at 7 pm, Citizens on Patrol Walk
First and Third Fridays at 10 am, 6X Express Senior Shuttle
Second Fridays at 10 am, Senior Meeting
Fourth Fridays at 10 am, Lifelong Gathering
Every Friday during the summer (sundown), Movies in the Park

Government Representation

Delegates Anderson and McIntosh at CHUM's July, 2009 meeting

Community	State District	Congressional District	City Council District
CHUM	43rd	7th	14th
Representatives	Anderson, Doory, McIntosh	Cummings	Clarke

References

1. ^ http://www.chmcdc.org/
2. ^ "U.S. Census Demographic Profiles". Baltimore City Planning Department. http://censusprofile.bnia.org/. Retrieved 2009-08-01. 
3. ^ Mark Washington, ed (2009-07-01). The Porch Light. 2 Issue 7. Baaltimore, Maryland: Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello community corporation. 
4. ^ http://www.civicworks.com/energy.html Civic Works Project Lightbulb program description
5. ^ http://www.abagmd.org/usr_doc/February_March_2008.pdf Funding report, pg 3