FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009 

CONTACT:
Scott Peterson
Office of the Mayor
(443) 740-5412

 
Amrit Dhillon
United Way of Central Maryland
(410) 895-1475

 
Baltimore City Receives Emergency Grant from United Way of Central Maryland to Shelter Homeless

Baltimore, MD (December 10, 2009) – Baltimore City’s Homeless Services received $10,045 from United Way’s Emergency Response Fund to help expand its cold weather emergency shelter. 

The funds will be used to help provide 700 bed nights of overflow shelter at a downtown location. This year, Baltimore’s emergency shelter reached capacity sooner than expected. Due to growing need and lack of funding – including a 10% cut in all emergency shelter grant funding from the state – Baltimore City’s Homeless Services was unable to provide overflow shelter without these funds from United Way.  

“We have witnessed an unprecedented number of people seeking shelter,” said Mayor Sheila Dixon. “United Way’s generous grant helps us continue to serve our city’s most vulnerable citizens, a population that continues to grow in these difficult times. We are proud to continue working with United Way to make sure Baltimore’s homeless have a place to stay, particularly as the weather continues to worsen.” 

Last year, the city experienced a 12 percent increase in the number of homeless individuals and families on any given night. 

The overflow shelter opened on December 1, 2009 and will remain open through March 31, 2010. Transportation to the overflow shelter will be coordinated by the city-sponsored shelter located at 210 Guilford Avenue. 

United Way of Central Maryland currently partners with Baltimore City on The Journey Home, the city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. The regional nonprofit is committed to helping provide safe and stable housing for all people. 
 

About Baltimore Homeless Services
The mission of Baltimore Homeless Services is to make homelessness a rare and brief experience in Baltimore City by serving as a catalyst for the creation of affordable housing, Baltimore Homeless Services (BHS) was created in 1987 and is the entity that leads the Baltimore Continuum of Care and administers federal, state and city funding to over 60 nonprofit and faith-based organizations throughout the city. These organizations include emergency shelters, drop-in centers, transitional housing facilities and permanent housing programs. In 2008, Baltimore Homeless Services moved from the Health Department to the Mayor’s Office to implement Baltimore’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. For more information, visit www.baltimorecity.gov/mayor or call 410.396.7370. 

About United Way of Central Maryland
For more than 80 years, United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) has been the region’s human service leader. Its mission is to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. UWCM supports programs and initiatives in the city of Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. UWCM is dedicated to education, income and health & safety - making sure children get the early child care they need to succeed in school, that young adults graduate, that families have the means to access affordable and stable housing and that people are free from violence and abuse at home. By encouraging all people in central Maryland to give, advocate or volunteer, UWCM wants to show the power of living united. It’s about connecting people and creating communities. For more information, visit www.uwcm.org or call 410.547.8000.  
 

Please visit our website at www.baltimorecity.gov