‘Buy Back the Block’ program helps over 60 residents become homeowners, Mayor Scott says

In a news release, Mayor Brandon Scott said, “We want every Baltimorean to take advantage of these resources.” Staff file

On Friday, Mayor Brandon Scott announced that the “Buy Back the Block” program has distributed over $750,000, making homeownership a reality for more than 60 Baltimore residents.

The program, funded through the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs with American Rescue Plan funding, aims to make living in Baltimore more affordable.

Live Baltimore Executive Director Meghan McCorkell expressed pride in the program’s impact.

“It has taken a great deal of dedication and commitment to make Buy Back the Block a truly beneficial program for Baltimore residents,” she said in a news release. “While we’re proud of the milestone number, we know each number signifies lives that have been changed by this program. Our entire team is so proud of the work and its impact on our community.”

The announcement was celebrated at the home of Ian Morgan, a recent grant recipient in the Northwest Community Action neighborhood. Morgan, who moved to Baltimore over a decade ago, received a $15,000 home purchase grant through the program.

He worked with Victor Akinnagbe, CEO of Baltimore Rebirth, to purchase his brand-new home, which had been vacant following an arson incident.

“To keep up Baltimore’s Renaissance, we need to make sure Baltimoreans can afford to live and stay here,” said Mayor Scott in a news release.

“Thanks to Buy Back the Block — a transformative program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered in partnership with Live Baltimore — more people like Ian will be able to do exactly that. We want every Baltimorean to take advantage of these resources, so they can build generational wealth and own a piece of their City. I encourage everybody to go to LiveBaltimore.com and make their dreams of homeownership a reality.”

The program still has over 40 additional grants available before Dec. 31, 2025. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to residents who have lived in a grant-eligible area for at least 12 months and intend to purchase a home within the area.

Eligible residents can choose between a $15,000 purchase grant and a $20,000 grant for purchasing and renovating a home.

Interested residents should visit Live Baltimore’s website to fill out an eligibility quiz and learn more about the program.

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