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Human Services / Homeless Services

Homeless Services Program

It is estimated that there are 3,419 men, women, and children who are homeless in Baltimore on any given night. Four factors are primarily responsible for homelessness: lack of affordable housing, lack of affordable health care, low incomes, and the lack of comprehensive services. Chronic illnesses, including substance abuse disorders and persistent mental illness, and other physical disabilities create additional challenges in resolving homelessness.

Mission

The mission of Homeless Services Program is to make homelessness a rare and brief experience in Baltimore City by serving as a catalyst for the creation of affordable housing, the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based services and community-wide advocacy. Each year, the program, through a network of partner providers, delivers housing and supportive services to over 25,000 individuals and families. The Homeless Services Program administers approximately $40 million for homeless services which includes -- street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing, shelter plus care housing, permanent supportive housing, Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), meal programs, and eviction prevention.

The Journey Home, Baltimore City’s plan to make homelessness rare and brief focuses on four major goal areas that address the root causes of homelessness: affordable housing, comprehensive health care, sufficient incomes, and preventive and emergency services. With this plan, Baltimore has begun to implement specific actions to provide and maintain sufficient housing in order to re-house persons experiencing homelessness and to help them remain stably housed. The City of Baltimore led the planning process and is working with United Way of Central Maryland to recruit support, raise funds and implement the plan. An interactive website -- http://www.journeyhomebaltimore.org/-- has been launched by the United Way to further these efforts.

Contacts

Kate Briddell
Director
Homeless Services Program
4 S. Frederick Street
Baltimore MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-3757
Email Kate