MOHS Public Statement to OIG Report Release
The Office of Inspector General's released a report on August 12, 2026, based on a visit from July 2025, which is more than a year ago. At the time of the Office of the Inspector General’s visit in September 2025 the major issues noted in the report were already being addressed and resolved.
In late June 2025, our office received reports regarding maintenance concerns at the facility and conducted a walkthrough in July 2025. During the walkthrough, there were concerns identified and the vendor was responsive towards resolving the issues at the time they were raised by our office.
In addition, our office requested additional protocols be included in their process which included weekly room checks, developing a preventative maintenance schedule, and requesting additional pest control services at the site, all of which they agreed to do.
Since 2024, the city has made significant and unprecedented investments in creating non-congregate emergency shelters and the development of permanent supportive housing, including through the purchase of hotels. These investments have enabled the City of Baltimore to serve nearly 3,000 clients annually in our city funded shelters while also illustrating a 12% reduction in homelessness in our latest HUD PIT count in 2026.
We remain committed to continued improvements in our shelters, with a focus on connecting clients to housing stability so we can make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in the city.
Room in Sleep Inn as of 08/12/26
Bathroom in Sleep Inn as of 08/12/26
Baltimore Continuum of Care (CoC) Chair Public Statement to OIG Report Release
The Baltimore City Continuum of Care supports the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services and recognizes its swift response to the shelter maintenance concerns identified in 2025.
It is important to place the recently released Inspector General report in the proper context. The conditions described in the report were observed or reported in 2025. The mold testing cited in the report involved six rooms within shelter facilities containing more than 200 units. Of those six rooms, three showed elevated mold spore levels. These findings should be taken seriously, but they should not be presented as evidence that the same conditions existed throughout the facilities or that they reflect current conditions.
When concerns were brought to my attention in 2025, I personally visited the shelter sites and pressed for immediate action. MOHS responded swiftly. Urgent repairs were completed, deficient items were reinspected, and the affected areas were brought into compliance. The Inspector General’s report confirms that items identified as deficient during a September 24, 2025 inspection were reinspected and approved by September 29, 2025.
MOHS did not stop with the immediate repairs. The agency pursued a new facilities management vendor, strengthened preventive maintenance requirements, implemented a centralized system for tracking and documenting repairs, and established clear response times for emergency and urgent maintenance concerns. MOHS also expanded requirements related to environmental inspections, moisture control, pest management, laundry maintenance, and linen replacement.
The Continuum of Care supports accountability and independent oversight. At the same time, public discussion must accurately reflect the timing, scale, and corrective action associated with these findings. It would be misleading to characterize isolated conditions documented in 2025 as representative of more than 200 shelter units or as an accurate description of the facilities today.
MOHS demonstrated urgency, transparency, and a willingness to make meaningful improvements. As Chair of the Baltimore City Continuum of Care, I appreciate the agency’s responsiveness and remain committed to working collaboratively with MOHS, shelter providers, residents, and community partners to ensure that Baltimore’s shelters remain safe, sanitary, and dignified.
Nico Sanders,
Chair, Baltimore City Continuum of Care
Grant Opportunities:
CFY27 Winter Shelter Staffing RFP:
The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services has issued a Request for Proposals for winter shelter staffing services to provide emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness during Code Blue and Purple declarations. The Request for Proposal link and link to the information session is available on the MOHS website at: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/homeless/winter-shelter-staffing-rfp-cfy27
All application materials must be submitted via email to by Monday, August 31, at 5:00pm EST. Email application packages to mohs.hsp.application@baltimorecity.gov. All application requirements are listed in the Request for Proposal.
For questions, please email mohs.hsp.application@baltimorecity.gov
FY27 ACIS Expansion RFP (extended deadline):
The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) is seeking qualified providers to deliver services under an expansion of the Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS) program, which provides housing and tenancy-based case management services to eligible Medicaid participants experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The competition has been re-opened with an extended deadline of Wednesday, September 2, 2026. There was an information session on Tue, August 18 at 2:00pm. The Request for Proposal and link and link to the information session is available on the MOHS website at: https://www.baltimorecity.gov/homeless/resources-for-service-providers/grant-opportunities/fy-27-ac…
Authorized under Maryland’s §1115 HealthChoice Demonstration, ACIS supports participants in obtaining and maintaining housing, while increasing access to healthcare and community-based supports that promote housing stability and community integration. Program participants have significant health needs, including individuals with multiple chronic health conditions or frequent emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Through the program, participants work with an ACIS case manager to develop a supportive housing plan that helps them live safely and independently in the community. Baltimore City has implemented ACIS since it was a pilot program in 2017, with Healthcare for the Homeless as the current implementing partner.
MOHS received approval to expand the ACIS program by an additional 550 participant enrollment spaces, for a total of 850 enrollment spaces in Baltimore City. MOHS will expand the program to provide housing and tenancy case management with two new scopes. First, 247 ACIS enrollment spaces are set-aside to provide supportive services to new affordable housing developments coming online in the next year through initiatives such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), HOME-ARP, and the Housing Accelerator Fund. Second, ACIS services will be used to provide intensive street outreach to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to help them identify appropriate services and housing. The remaining ACIS enrollment spaces will continue to be paired with housing subsidies and vouchers for people experiencing homelessness.
For questions, please email ACIS@baltimorecity.gov
Important Information Regarding FY26 HUD NOFO:
This is a critical update regarding the FY 26 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The FY 26 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on June 1, 2026, is now void in its entirety. On August 7, 2026, the District Court, D. Rhode Island ruled through the State of Washington v. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (1:26-cv-00439) that "the 2026 NOFO may not proceed..." You may read the notice here. The Baltimore City CoC and Mayor's Office of Homeless Services is committed to providing updated guidance as it becomes available from HUD.
As a result of the ruling, the local Baltimore City Request for Proposal and funding competition published on June 10, 2026, is also null and void. All decision letters issued to applicants so far for the FY 26 CoC funds are also void until further notice. Additionally, the Baltimore City CoC Resource Allocation Committee (RAC) will not post the now-nullified project ranking. The CoC will await further instruction from the Court and HUD regarding how to proceed in applying for FY 26 CoC funding and notify the public when more information is available.
For current providers, note this does not impact FY25 CoC awards.
We deeply appreciate the work that has gone into applications, reviews, and long-term strategy up to this point, and for your partnership as we work as a city to provide housing support to our most vulnerable clients in Baltimore City."
Important Dates
CoC General Meeting: Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 2:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. at Helping Up Mission (1029 E. Baltimore St., 21201).
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MOHS will be at the 5th Annual
Charm City Live!
Please stop by MOHS's table at the 5th Annual Charm City Live this Saturday September 5th, from 12-6pm! We will be located in City Row near Holliday Street.
Thank you to the Mayor's Office of Arts, Culture, & Entertainment for inviting us to share our resources at the event!
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The MOHS Outreach Team is collecting warm clothing and essential items for our clients this winter season. If you have new or lightly used (and freshly cleaned) winter clothing that you would like to donate, please schedule a donation drop-off at our downtown office.
Contact Us at HomelessOutreach@baltimorecity.gov or 410-545-1862 (8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday)
Have Photos or Information You Want in Our Newsletter?
Are you a provider or partner that has a story or great thing that happened and want it highlighted? Have an event you want to promote or share photos from your previous one?
Please email the Communications team to have it in our upcoming newsletters. Please reach out to Jessica Robey jessica.robey@baltimorecity.gov or Sean Sass at sean.sass@baltimorecity.gov with the information.
Resource Guide Vendor Resources Survey
MOHS has published an updated resource guide for community members seeking information on services such as drop-in centers, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, and more.
If you are a landlord, employer or service provider and want to share your resources with clients experiencing homelessness, we need your support. MOHS is gathering resources available to be shared with our emergency shelters and street outreach teams.
If you want to share your resources and services, please send us your program brochures or materials and we will share them with our emergency shelter providers and street outreach teams. If interested, please fill out the form below.
Pay It Forward!
Help the MOHS Outreach Team support individuals experiencing homelessness this winter by donating new or freshly cleaned winter clothing and other essential items. Email HomelessOutreach@baltimorecity.gov to schedule a donation time.
Become a CoC Member Today!
- The CoC uses Member365 to manage communication, committees, voting, and more. Those interested in becoming a CoC member can either register as an agency or individual (please review details carefully).
- For non-members who want to stay up-to-date, be sure to subscribe for more CoC updates.
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