Who Started GEDCO?
GEDCO was started by a dedicated group of seven pastors from different denominations and parishes in the northern Baltimore City neighborhood called Govans. Today, this group has grown to include over 50 Member Organizations.
When was GEDCO founded?
GEDCO began as “Govans Ecumenical Homes” in 1984. As we continued to expand our efforts and projects as a growing nonprofit that provided affordable housing, we became a development corporation in 1991. These changes were made in order to broaden the base of community involvement and to expedite the development of new projects. GEDCO is now an independent, interfaith, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.
GEDCO was started as a means of answering a strong community need for affordable, supportive living facilities for elderly congregants with low incomes and over 25 years has expanded to include a multitude of community engagement opportunities for seniors, emergency food and financial assistance, career counseling, permanent housing for men and women who were homeless, individuals with HIV/AIDS, and those battling chronic mental illnesses.
What makes GEDCO work?
Since GEDCO was started, we have grown from the united efforts of seven churches along the York Road corridor in the Govans community of northern Baltimore City to the nonprofit we are today with over fifty Member Organizations and thirteen programs. Through our community partnerships, our desire to serve our neighbors, and our strong team comprised of our Board of Directors, Member Organizations, staff, and volunteers, we now successfully provide community services, homeless and supportive housing, and senior services, while also contributing to real estate development in Baltimore City.