SCALING HOUSING PROGRAM
Scaling a $50K Regional Housing Repair Program Into a $3M+ National Model
Overview
A small housing repair program with $50,000 in funding was far too limited to meet rural Maryland's weatherization needs. The challenge wasn't just fixing the program—it was reimagining it entirely and building the infrastructure to take it to scale.
The Challenge
MRDC's Health, Housing & Energy (HeHE) Program needed a complete redesign to move beyond its constraints, integrate multiple funding streams, and demonstrate a replicable model that could attract significantly larger investment.
Client
Maryland Rural Development Corporation (MRDC)
Service
Operations Consulting
Industry
Energy
Year
2024
Process
What We Did
Redesigned the program model from the ground up
We braided DOE, HUD, MEA, and philanthropic resources, built contractor and intake systems, and established compliance protocols.
Built the operational systems needed to manage a larger, more complex program
Authored a white paper documenting the model for replication
Outcome
The Result
The program grew to a $3M+ regional initiative. The white paper was used to scale the model nationwide. MRDC gained direct access to federal funding streams and built lasting capacity to serve hundreds of households annually with energy efficiency upgrades, emergency repairs, and aging-in-place services.
