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BALTIMORE CITY

Mayor's Office of Homeless Services (MOHS)

  October 2023

Recent News

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a direct cause of homelessness for many individuals and families. When fleeing an abusive relationship, survivors often lack access to resources that can help them secure or maintain housing. If you or someone you know is a survivor in need of support, please contact the following organizations: House of Ruth Maryland (410-889-7884) TurnAround, Inc. (443-279-0379) CHANA Baltimore (410-234-0030) National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233)

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Application Portal for the Housing Accelerator Fund is Now OPEN!

The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs (MORP) announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to support the construction of Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals and families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The application deadline is November 20, 2023.

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Sarah Donates Hundreds of Period Products to People Experiencing Homelessness

For the past four (4) years, Sarah has celebrated her birthday with a Birthday Drive for Period Products. With the help of family and friends, Sarah collected hundreds of period products and donated them to the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services' (MOHS) Outreach Team for distribution to people in need.

MOHS is extremely grateful receive these donations for the second year; people experiencing homelessness often lack access to hygiene products or economic resources to purchase them. Thank you for supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, Sarah!

If you are interested in donating items to people experiencing homelessness, please email HomelessOutreach@baltimorecity.gov for more information.

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Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller Announce Additional Funding of $2 Million for Housing and Support Programs

On September 8, 2023, "Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller visited Baltimore Safe Haven, a transitional housing facility in Baltimore that provides services for Maryland’s transgender community. The visit, made in partnership with the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, provided an opportunity to tour the organization’s housing facilities, learn about the services they offer, and participate in a discussion about the needs of transgender Marylanders."

During the visit, the governor announced an additional $2 million in funding for housing and support programs.

Baltimore Safe Haven is also a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Participant, receiving funding from MOHS to support LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness. Thank you, Baltimore Safe Haven, for everything you do to help those in need.

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MOHS and Baltimore's Continuum of Care (CoC) attend Built For Zero's Learning Session in Washington D.C.

Built For Zero is a movement to measurably and equitably end homelessness by changing how local homeless response systems work. On September 20-22, MOHS and the CoC attended a two-day learning session to celebrate reductions in homelessness across the nation and to tackle ongoing challenges these communities face. Homelessness is a dynamic issue, working together allows communities to leverage knowledge, resources, and lessons learned.

Together, we can create a lasting solution and prove that homelessness is solvable.

Renee's Story

Renee first experienced homelessness after her transition, when medical bills piled up and her place of employment went bankrupt. She was connected to Health Care for the Homeless (HCH), where she received medical assistance and temporary housing assistance. As an advocate for transgender seniors, Renee was discovered by Iya Dammons, Founder of Baltimore Safe Haven (BSH). Renee is currently housed and serves as the Interim Director for Senior and Disabled Housing at BSH.

Upcoming Events

Join the Movement to End Hunger and Homelessness

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 11-18, 2023. This annual program brings people together to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness across the nation.

We encourage you to take action by hosting an event, volunteering at a local homeless service organization, and raising awareness about hunger and homelessness in your community.

Baltimore's Continuum of Care (CoC)

New CoC Membership Forms

The CoC is in the process of updating its membership systems and list of active voting members. Please be advised that all former/current members will need to re-enroll through the Member365 system. There are two membership types:  Agency Membership - Agency membership forms should be completed by a designated "lead" at your agency, who will then have an opportunity to add an unlimited number of affiliated members/employees.   Individual Membership - Individual membership is reserved for participants who are not affiliated with a participating member agency.

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2023 Shelter Standards of Care Policy Review & Comment Form

The CoC is seeking feedback on the 2023 Shelter Standards of Care Policy created by the Shelter Transformation Committee of the Baltimore City Continuum of Care (CoC). Please review the policy and provide comments, questions, and feedback on the form by November 1.

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CoC General Meeting

There is a CoC General Meeting on Thursday, November 2, 2023, from 2:00 - 4:00pm at Helping Up Mission (1029 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21202).