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BALTIMORE, MD. (MAY 22, 2013) – Today, the Baltimore City Board of Estimates approved a contract with Catholic Charities of Baltimore to operate and provide shelter and supportive services to the homeless population of Baltimore at the Weinberg Housing Resource Center (WHRC) located at 620 Fallsway. Under the grant agreement, Catholic Charities will manage the shelter and associated programs. The period of the agreement is July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.
The Grant agreement was made following a competitive and public Request For Proposals (RFP) process. A review panel of seven people including a homeless client, City Agency Directors, the Weinberg Foundation, and a local business owner voted to recommend award of the contract to Catholic Charities of Baltimore.
“The review panel selected Catholic Charities because of their robust internal infrastructure to support such an operation, their network of other services that can provide a vital link to the clients of the WHRC, and their extensive volunteer network,” said Olivia Farrow, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Human Services. “We are pleased to work with Catholic Charities to support the Mayor’s goal to make homelessness rare and brief in Baltimore.”
According to Catholic Charities Executive Director William J. McCarthy, Jr.: “Catholic Charities has a long-term commitment to and experience in assisting people who are living in poverty and homelessness through a continuum of services. Last year alone, we provided over 370,000 meals to hungry people; intake, casework and emergency services to over 13,000 individuals and families; and employment and training to 1,034 people. Catholic Charities also provided transitional and permanent housing for 961 individuals and families dealing with homelessness at seven additional programs throughout the region as well as over 100 Community Housing units. Operating the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center is an extension of Catholic Charities’ commitment to reducing poverty in Baltimore and we are proud to join this critical effort for our community with Mayor Rawlings Blake and our other community partners.”
Catholic Charities welcomes and serves people where they are in their lives, connecting them to appropriate services that maximize their ability to become self-reliant. According to Mary Anne O’Donnell, Catholic Charities Division Director of Community Services: “We meet a person’s basic needs first. Then we help them to overcome their barriers to employment to stop the cycle of homelessness. In the end, we have a variety of programs that can assist them on their move from shelter to permanent housing. We share Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s vision of making homelessness in Baltimore rare and brief.”
Mr. McCarthy said: “At Catholic Charities, we cherish the Divine within all. As a result, our staff and volunteers respect the dignity of every person and support them on their way to a better life.”
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