Southwest Visions, Inc. (SWV) is a community housing development organization founded and incorporated in 1983 by Sr. Katherine Nueslein, a Sister of Mercy and other neighborhood residents. As volunteers, they worked to create holistic solutions to problems of poverty, unemployment, unsafe vacant properties, and the lack of affordable housing in southwest Baltimore City. In 1985, the group began to specifically address the lack of decent, affordable housing in the Hollins Market and Union Square areas of southwest Baltimore.

For the first eight years after its founding, SWV was managed by a group of neighborhood volunteers who rehabilitated one house at a time and utilized community resources to provide support services for its residents.

In 1996, SWV formed an ‘alliance’ with Light Street Housing and Tri-Churches Housing, two local non-profits that target neighborhoods adjacent to SWV, to streamline efforts to address community-development needs. The first paid staff was hired in 1992.

A contract with Civic Works allowed local youths to participate in renovation projects and learn construction skills. A partnership with the Center for Values and Services at Loyola College brings student and faculty volunteers into our community based projects. The organization also invites and accommodates many out-of-state groups that come to Baltimore for an “urban experience” and volunteer on rehab projects.

In July 2001 SWV contracted with the Towner Management Co., to handle the day-to-day management of 12 rental properties that SWV had acquired and rehabilitated. This arrangement enabled staff to devote more time to affordable homeownership development.