Howard nonprofits providing homelessness support receive grants

Feb. 20—By Allana Haynes — ahaynes@baltsun.com

PUBLISHED:February 20, 2024 at 2:09 p.m.| UPDATED:February 20, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.

Bridges to Housing Stability, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and A Home Of Our Own Howard, Inc., are among the nonprofits selected to receive Community Foundation of Howard County 2023 Community Grant Awards.

The foundation distributed a total of $200,000 to 49 nonprofits, with the goal of improving the lives of residents across the community, according to its website. Eligible nonprofits in the county could submit a request for funding, and the grants allow for flexible use of funds for operating or programmatic needs.

Bridges to Housing Stability received a $5,000 grant toward its mission of "providing a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County," according to its website.

Established in 1990, the organization served 958 people, spending $1,690,170 on housing stability assistance for low-income households and providing 47 affordable rental homes to low-income households in the past year, according to its website.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center received a $4,000 grant toward its mission of "providing free, 24-hour access to quality behavioral health, crisis intervention and homeless services to individual and family consumers in need," according to its website.

Grassroots operates a 24-hour general crisis line and a free, 24-hour walk-in counseling program, a 33-bed emergency family shelter, an 18-bed individual shelter, a Cold Weather Shelter program and Howard County's Code Blue Shelter during cold weather emergencies.

Mariana Izraelson, executive director of Grassroots said the organization applied for the grant to further support the services it provides.

"We [offer] completely 100% free services for anybody," Izraelson said, "so we don't bill any clients. This particular grant is to support the crisis services that we provide in Howard County."

A Home Of Our Own Howard, Inc. received a $3,000 grant toward its mission of "providing furniture and household items at no cost to individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing in Howard County," according to its website.

Scott Maclean, transport team member and treasurer at A Home Of Our Own Howard, Inc. said the grant will help the organization purchase household items for those transitioning out of homelessness into a home.

"The most important thing is that when the clients get into their new apartments, we want to be able to deliver the items that they need to have a safe and comfortable home for their family as soon as possible," Maclean said.

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