The recent winter storm and lingering frigid temperatures arrived during the same week as the national Point in Time (PIT) count, reminding us how essential safe, affordable housing is for our neighbors.
I’ve always preferred a plan to a surprise. Yet at this year’s Heroes for Housing Celebration, I was reminded that sometimes the most meaningful moments are the unexpected ones, especially when they give us the chance to pause and celebrate one another.
I’ll let you in on a secret: public speaking terrifies me. Despite years in executive leadership and even serving as a Columbia Toastmasters president, the introvert in me still struggles every time I step up to the mic. But advocacy isn’t about being a perfect orator; it’s about your very important voice.
In this, my final newsletter message as Executive Director of Bridges to Housing Stability, I’m taking a moment of reflection, gratitude, and genuine excitement for what comes next.
This year marks my eleventh at Bridges — and it’s one for the history books. For the first time ever, we have helped to rehouse 100 households — comprising 305 individuals — in just the first nine months of the year!
My love for gardening, despite my admittedly lazy approach, offers a simple analogy for the Housing First approach to ending homelessness.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, which is why it was so nice to be surrounded by people dedicated to making a difference in our state and community at our Heroes for Housing event earlier this month. I was inspired by our awardees and their messages to us.
The cold weather in Maryland makes me so grateful to live in a warm, safe home. At the same time, I worry about our unsheltered neighbors and those facing utility shut offs. The latest national data available – from January, 2024 – revealed that over 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness, including 150,000 children. That is about 200,000 more people than live in Baltimore.
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. It has been a whirlwind for me. This month, our Coalition to End Homelessness convened to review a recent evaluation of our county’s coordinated system for homelessness services. The evaluation, conducted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, found that the system is doing many things well, yet there are definite areas for improvement.
As the air turns colder and our county gears up for inclement weather and code-blue shelter, I’m thankful to live in – and serve – a community that intentionally stretches resources and fosters collaboration between partners to help those without homes. On Dec. 6, we will celebrate the expansion of the shelter at Grassroots Crisis Center, which will provide thousands of additional and much-needed shelter bed nights each year. The Grassroots shelter gives people a place to stay as they work with Bridges and other partners in our Coordinated Homeless System to find housing.