Homelessness and Housing Support
The Office of Transitional Services administers the following Homelessness and Housing Support programs:
Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)
The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funds provide limited grants or loans to households with a pending eviction, and in some jurisdictions, support counselors who work with tenants and landlords to prevent evictions. By providing short-term mediation or linkage to resources, the program helps families and individuals who are at risk for eviction to stay in their housing. Households are provided early intervention services to avoid a possible eviction.
Housing Counselor Program (HCP)
The Housing Counselor Program (HCP), operating in five jurisdictions, assists low income families who are homeless, or in imminent danger of becoming homeless, locate, secure, and maintain permanent housing. Counselors help these families establish adequate credit references and to apply for subsidized housing. The counselors can also help access local public and private resources for the first and last month’s rent, security deposits, utility payments, or donations of furniture. They develop and maintain relationships with landlords, often paving the way for people with credit or reference problems to obtain permanent housing. Other assistance may include helping families locate more affordable housing after a rent increase, or helping to find another apartment located near a bus route that is more suitable for a new place of employment. In many of the these instances, people are able to remain in housing or to find new housing before being evicted, and as a result, public and private agencies do not have to make outlays for sheltering these households.
The five jurisdictions served are: Baltimore County, Harford County, Montgomery County, Washington County, and Baltimore City.
For more information about the Housing Counseling Program, please call Tricia Joralemon on (410) 767-7182.
Service-Linked Housing Program (SLH)
Service-Linked Housing Program
The Service-Linked Housing Program (SLH) provides funds in thirteen jurisdictions for resident advocates to link low-income residents of permanent housing to community services. SLH stabilizes households that are in precarious situations, thereby avoiding episodes of homelessness. The resident advocates help link the residents to health services, education, job training, employment, addiction treatment, and other counseling.
The jurisdictions served are: Baltimore County, Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, Allegany County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Washington County, and Baltimore City.
For more information about the Service-Linked Housing Program, contact Tricia Joralemon on (410) 767-7182.
Emergency and Transitional Housing and Services Program(ETHS)
The Emergency and Transitional Housing and Services Program (ETHS) provides State funding for emergency and transitional shelters for people who are homeless. ETHS funds shelter beds and support services such as limited rent assistance, food, transportation, and case management. ETHS is administered locally with significant involvement of local homelessness agencies in each jurisdiction. The successful interaction of local and State groups demonstrate that partnerships are an essential element of this progam.
Freezing and Inclement Weather Plans describe specific procedures and detail the resources available to people who are homeless in each jurisdiction. The plans are updated and submitted to the Office of Transitional Services yearly.
The Office of Transitional Services publishes a Directory of Maryland Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs that can be used to contact ETHS funded and other shelter programs around the State. The Directory also includes summaries of each jurisdiction’s Freezing and Inclement Weather Plans. The most up-to-date Directory is available on this web-site.
http://www.dhr.state.md.us/transit/pdf/homelist.pdf.
Copies of the Directory can be obtained by calling the Office of Grants Management on (410) 767-7719.
Homeless Women - Crisis Shelter Home Program (HW-CS)
The Homeless Women-Crisis Shelter Home Program provides shelter, room and board, counseling, and referral services to homeless women and children. The shelters offer a 24-hour crisis hotline in addition to safe accommodations and meals. Other services include direct resource referral for housing, physical and mental health care, education, training, employment services, and case management.
This program is located in 15 jurisdictions in Maryland.
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Baltimore County Calvert County
Carroll County
Cecil County
Garrett County
Harford County
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester
St. Mary’s County
Worcester County
For more information about the Homeless Women-Crisis Shelter Program, contact Tricia Joralemon at (410) 767-7182.