Housing

Community Housing

This page contains Community Style Housing. Similar to the traditional search, clients must still apply to these housing options and pay rent, but they often provide additional resources besides simply a residency for a discounted rate. These options include: Orchard Mews, St. Vincent De Paul, St. Ambrose Single Parent and Child Program, and the Gabriel Network.

Silver Park West (originally known as Orchard Mews)

Has a "Working Family Preference" program; means that a family with at least 1 working member (or if the head, co-head, or sole member is age 62 or older, or is a disabled person) will be given preference over all other nonworking applicants.

See brochure here: https://www.hmrproperties.com/wp-content/uploads/HMR-Orchard-Mews-Apt.pdf 

• 514 Orchard St.

• Baltimore, MD 21201-1946

• Phone: (410) 523-2021

• Walk-In Hours: Thursdays 10am-4pm (to join the waitlist)

• https://www.hmrproperties.com/wp-content/uploads/20-1250_HMR_SilverPark_Brochure_v4.pdf

Style Bed/Bath Sq Ft Rent Deposit

Two Bedroom 2 Bed / 1 Bath 667 $1,100 Ask About Our No Deposit Program*

Three Bedroom 3 Bed / 1.5 Bath 1114 $1,350 Ask About Our No Deposit Program*

Four Bedroom 4 Bed / 2 Bath 1236 $1,500 Ask About Our No Deposit Program*

Floor Plans and rates are subject to availability and income limits.

• Wait for 2 Bedroom: 2-3 Years

• Wait for 3 Bedroom: 3-4 Years

• Wait for 4 Bedroom: 5+ Years

• Conventional Housing: 30-60 days

St. Vincent De Paul 

The Program received a grant for their homeless housing resources and here are the five options that they suggest: 

• Home Connections is a "Housing First" permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless single men and women with disabilities, with scattered sites around Baltimore City. To contact Home Connections, call or visit our Beans & Bread Center, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at (410) 732-1892, or 400 S. Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231.

• Frederick Ozanam House, located in Fell’s Point in Baltimore City, is a Housing First, a recovery program for homeless families that provides transitional housing and supportive services in a semi-independent living environment.  Supportive services include intensive case management, psycho-education, recovery support and life skills development, employment assistance, linkages to mainstream benefits, and a continuum of substance abuse treatment through local addiction programs. For more information, call or visit our Beans & Bread Center, Monday through Friday at (410) 732-1892, or 400 S. Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231. 

• Cottage Avenue Community, located in Park Heights in Baltimore City, is a Housing First program that offers transitional housing for homeless families and supportive services including case management, employment assistance, and linkages to mainstream benefits. Contact Cottage Avenue for availability and requirements at 410-728-8741. Must enter a shelter first in order to be placed. Unfortunately, they are no longer accepting applicants because the housing is no longer temporary but now are yearly leases. The waitlist has currently over 50 applicants on it. They accept mothers and their children.

• Front Door offers rapid re-housing and shelter diversion for homeless families in Baltimore City and County. Front Door Program in Baltimore City receives referrals from United Way via 211 or through specific Baltimore City shelters. Front Door Program in Baltimore County receives referrals from the Department of Social Service: 410-853-3000 - Option 2. No walk-in shelters unless it is Code Blue (Below 32 F). Families must be homeless, have children in a BC school, and the family’s circumstances make difficult to place in a shelter (teenagers, infants, medical issues, etc). The family shelters do not accept applicants after 12 PM. Women and children can stay for up to 90 days, but a background check will be carried out. They can not have any open warrants or violent offenses. For the men's shelters, they cannot have open warrants. Background checks will also be carried out.

• Promise housing offers rapid re-housing services and permanent supportive supportive housing for young adults 18 - 24 years old

St. Ambrose Single Parent and Child Program

• This is similar to the Youth Choice program but accepts mothers with one child (age 12 or younger). If your client is in Mother Baby and just had her baby (and is therefore on maternity leave), it is recommended that the mother waits to apply for this program until she is healed and ready to return to work because the program does require income verification.

The Gabriel Network

• New Program with some success in providing temporary housing for pregnant mothers:

  • Contact at 800-ANGEL-OK (800-264-3565 ex.1), Monday-Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

• http://gabrielnetwork.org/home

• *** Warning Very Christian (As in We Don't Help You Unless It Prevents Abortion and then You Have to Do A Bunch of Religious Stuff to Make Up for Even Thinking About that Option) ***

Emergency Housing

Emergency shelter is a high priority and should be addressed immediately after the food need unless it is an overwhelming emergency that cannot wait for food options. Always confirm an actual emergency.

Before continuing with this need please contact your PM for guidance and support in addressing client needs before the end of the working day.

Confirm actual emergency

If the client has a roof overhead in any way, this is not an emergency situation and the client should be advised to look for affordable housing.  If the client has been evicted, determine if they are in need of legal advocacy (Eviction) or if they have another place to stay temporarily until affordable housing can be found.  If the answer to the above questions is no, then continue onto the next steps.

1. Refer them to Homeless Emergency Environmental Services Unit (HEESU) agency (need to get a referral first in order for them to be placed in a shelter) located at 2000 N. Broadway, 3rd floor, Baltimore MD 21213. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

2. Provide resources of different shelters available

3. A follow-up to confirm placement

After Confirming Emergency

Look into these questions to better choose shelters to recommend:

1. Is the client looking for shelter for him/herself and children? (if there is a man, consider Booth House)

2. Can the shelter accommodate additional family members? Men only? Women only?

3. What does your client need to bring? ID card? Referral letter? SS Card?

4. Does your client feel comfortable splitting up family members at different shelters?

List of Emergency Shelters that accept families:

Sarah's Hope, Mount Street located in Baltimore City

Services include intensive case management, meals, service linkage, health screenings, on-site infant childcare, and Early Head Start services, public school enrollment, youth activities and tutoring, adult education classes, and housing placement and referrals.

Please call Sarah's Hope at (410) 396-2204 to check availability.

Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Family Center

1114 N. Mount Street, Baltimore, MD 21217

Sarah’s Hope, Hannah More located in northwest Baltimore County

Services include intensive case management, meals, service linkage, health screenings, public school enrollment, youth activities and tutoring, adult education classes, and housing placement and referrals.

To be referred into the shelter, contact the Baltimore County Department of Social Services

12041 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136

(410) 773-0320

Other Options:

• HEESU (443) 423-6000

• Homeless Services Provider Director

• Directory of Maryland Emergency Shelters (pgs 6-24) Copy of this attached below

• Salvation Army Booth House Shelter The Booth House Shelter offers housing and meals for up to 9 days and transitional housing for up to 1 year

• Client confirms entry into the shelter

• Average time until successful resolution: 1 day

Housing Subsidy

This page includes Housing Subsidies that are a vital role in returning a client into a home and preventing a return into homelessness. Even if you are able to find your client housing, also consider these options as well: Rapid Rehousing Fund and Public Housing Subsidies.

Public Housing Subsidies (Rental Allowance Program or RAP)

This provides rent subsidies to low-income families who are either homeless or have an emergency housing need. The goal is to enable these households to move into more permanent housing and return to self-sufficiency. Local government administering agencies sign a contract with eligible residents to provide a monthly rental allowance payment for up to 12 months. The amount a household receives depends on the size and income of the members (see attached document). 

Incomes of assisted households cannot exceed 30 percent of the statewide or area median income, whichever is higher. Specific eligibility requirements are often changed. The most recent information for the program is on the below website.  

https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HomelessServices/Pages/default.aspx

To apply, you must contact the local RAP representative. This is the contact information for the RAP representative in Baltimore City. Contacts for other areas may be found on the website. 

Baltimore City

Housing Authority of Baltimore City

Department of Rental and Assisted Housing

1225 West Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21223

Corliss Alston, Director, Rental Programs

Norman Young, Program Manager 

443-984-2222 or 443-984-2228

410-361-9616 FAX

St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose offers a home-sharing program, home ownership counseling, information about foreclosure prevention, and financial counseling, as well as the Youth-Choice program described below.

Youth Choice: What is it?

Youth Choice is a match-based program. It uses an application and referral process to match homeless youth with host homes. Hosts are trained in a multitude of things (empathy, LGBTQ+, etc.) to work with young people who have experienced homelessness. Clients can stay in host homes for up to 90 days. The turnaround time is dependent on several factors (host availability, etc.), but it is important that clients have all of their ducks in a row and are ready to proceed. 

The average turnover time ranges from 3 days to 2 weeks.

How does it work?

    Youth clients complete an application packet. The most important part of this packet is the last page, which asks applicants to describe themselves. They can do so through any medium (artwork, poetry, writing, etc.), but they often need a little encouragement. It is important to emphasize to your client that this is what potential hosts will see. It is imperative that clients describe who they are right at this moment, not who they used to be or who they want to be. Once the applications are submitted, clients are matched with case managers. Then follows an intake process in which the case managers will meet the clients. Advocates are present during this conversation. Case managers can come to the hospital or wherever is convenient, and the intake meeting lasts approximately one hour. During this initial intake assessment, case managers will ask clients things regarding their homelessness (how they got there), their preferences and habits, they will perform a background check, and the clients are given the chance to be transparent. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to make it clear to your client that they need to be completely honest during this process. HONESTY WILL NOT DISQUALIFY YOU FROM THE APPLICATION PROCESS. It is better for the clients to tell managers the truth before the managers have to look them up. Chances are, things that clients assume will weaken their case will not. Case managers recognize and understand that there are two sides to every story. Clients have the chance to explain what happened from their perspective and discuss how they have grown. Unfortunately, clients with a history of very violent or sexual convictions cannot be placed into a home. However, misdemeanors and some assault charges are okay. At the end of this intake assessment, case managers will decide whether or not to move forward with the client.

    If case managers choose to move forward in the process, the next step is for the client to read over host profiles. The client will choose which host they would like to meet. All three individuals (client, case manager, and advocate) will then visit the host’s home together. We receive a full tour of the house and at the end, there is an open discussion. Intakes and hosts will communicate about things such as quiet hours, laundry, overnight guests--this is an opportunity to exchange expectations and questions. Again, honesty is crucial throughout the whole process. Some hosts are very lenient, others may not be. Clients are asked not to make a decision at the moment and are instead asked to give their case manager a call within 24-48 hours. If the client does not think the host is a fit, they can absolutely request to see another host. It is important to emphasize to your client that it is okay to take their time, don’t feel pressured!

    Once both parties are in agreement, a move-in day is scheduled. Advocates are expected to be present and assist during the move in. The program utilizes a peer-mover program, in which other youths in the program come out to help the new intake move in. This introduces a social aspect, but movers are also paid $25/hour for up to 2 hours.

Important things to note:

As soon as you begin working with the client, you should connect with a housing navigator. Also, there is a big push for intakes to be working. Without working and continually saving, this program is essentially a waste of time because the client will end up homeless again after the three months. The program requires bank statements to be submitted so that coordinators can track what you are spending versus what you are saving. Also, if intakes are not working, it may result in a strain with the host (who is working).

Amenities provided by Youth Choice:

The program provides free mental health services. If the client is already seeing a therapist, they are required to go for at least an assessment. If the client is not actively seeing a therapist, they must see the therapist at least 3x. The program has a specific therapist for the clients to work with. An Uber will be sent to pick up the youth for therapy and an Uber will then bring them back to wherever they need to go. Even after clients transition out of the program, their therapy will continue to be paid for. There is a level of expectation for clients, but Youth Choice will provide other amenities for clients if needed. Such amenities include, but are not limited to gift cards but include Aldi, bus passes for job interviews, and clothes. All of the youth in the program participate in a weekly social event led by the program coordinators. Events include fun outings like an O’s game or bowling, but also incorporate life skills, such as financial coaching workshops.

Steps

1. Contact a housing navigator and begin applying for rapid rehousing

   • Housing Navigator: Lani Walker, (443) 522-8553

   • “I have a person calling from ___, I am a partner with St. Ambrose and I would like to work to find them housing.”

2. Begin working on the Youth Choice application packet

   • Once completed, scan and email to Tanika

3. Begin successive meetings after application submission and approval

   • Intake, meet & greet, move-in

Gabriel Network Website: https://gabrielnetwork.org/get-help/

1. • First Step:

• "Please call or text our Helpline at 301-637-3223, Monday-Friday 9 AM to 3 PM."

• "Gabriel Network Staff members are waiting for your call or text. If we are not able to answer, please leave a detailed voicemail.  We will return your call within one business day." 

1. • The Gabriel House's Services:

• Housing: Gabriel Network's Maternity Home Program

  • "Our Maternity Home Program offers rent-free transitional community housing for women who are pregnant and looking for a safe and nurturing place to live during and after pregnancy. Our maternity homes are located in Bowie, Ellicott City, and Gaithersburg, Maryland. Every maternity home has private rooms for women and newborns with shared common spaces (ie. living room, kitchen, bathrooms)."

  • "Our Maternity Home Program is set up to support you and help you thrive. We offer individual and group case management, assistance with setting up social services, group devotional time, and classes offered by Gabriel Network Staff or trusted partners. Class topics may include Parenting, Personal Finance, Conflict and Stress Management and more. Case management provides time and resources to help you prepare for your future. If a client is invited into our Maternity Home Program, she will be expected to participate in all programming components offered."

• Angel Friend Program

  • Trained Angel Friends are ready and equipped to help you thrive. Learn more by calling us at 800-ANGEL-OK (800-264-3565)!

• Sparling Scholarship Program

  • The Lorraine Sparling Memorial Scholarship gives educational and professional development scholarships to current Gabriel Network clients. The scholarship provides up to $2,000 per year to women who wish to continue their education.

Traditional Search

This page includes search methods that are the most basic housing resources to provide for your client. They include: Public Housing (Section 8) and the Home search.

Public Housing in Baltimore City

https://www.habc.org/habc-information/programs-departments/public-housing-and-rad/

Wait time: The waitlist for public housing is currently closed and applications are not being accepted at this time.

Apply in Person: 417 E Fayette St, Suite 1339, Baltimore, MD 21202

Mail Application: 1225 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223, must call (443) 984-2222 before mailing

If your client is looking to apply directly to a specific apartment or house through Section 8 housing, there is a listing of available places at http://www.gosection8.com/Section-8-housing-in-Baltimore-Baltimore%20City-MD/. Here you may search by the price of the apartment. 

Home Search

If a client is willing to work with you for renting/buying options, this site allows individuals to search Maryland:

http://www.socialserve.com/tenant/MD/index.html?ch=MARY

1. Confirm that a client is willing to work with you on a traditional housing search (Remember this involves a fair bit of sensitive information such as budget)

2. Establish a price range and neighborhood

3. Identify key factors for search:

   1. Rental or Buying?

   2. Does the client want to be close to public transport?

   3. The number of bedrooms?

4. Offer your client multiple options as again, this is a big decision!

Facebook Marketplace

Search on Facebook for rentable homes in Baltimore. This option also includes renting out a singular room which may be more affordable. 

Hersch Lauren LLC

Connects families with low-income housing in the Baltimore area. This organization owns and manages affordable living spaces as well as manages the properties of other rental owners who have invested in the community. 

https://www.hlbaltimore.com

Security Deposit Assistance 

Eligibility:  

Tenants who:

• are Baltimore City residents

• have incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income

• have experienced negative financial impact due to COVID-19

How to Apply:

• Go to the Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success Website

• Click the Security Deposit Assistance button 

• This will take you to an online screening form; answer all questions 

• Provide contact information for you and your landlord 

• Click “submit” 

• In 24 hours you will receive instructions to upload documents (responses to weekend submissions will take longer) 

Documents to Apply

As a tenant applicant, you must provide: 

• A signed lease OR Letter of Intent to Lease from your landlord indicating: lease period (must be at least 6 months), rent amount, and security deposit amount 

• Proof of Baltimore City residency—MD state ID OR these ID options: Driver’s license, birth certificate, consular ID, passport, visa, Permanent Resident Card/Green Card company-issued ID, or U.S. Military ID 

• Proof of income at 80% or less of Area Median Income (AMI)—options: pay stub, W-2, employer letter, benefit award letter (TANF, SSI, Disability) OR self-attestation using a government benefit award letter dated after January 1, 2020 that verifies income status (TANF, WIC, SSI) OR the self-attestation form in the Security Deposit Assistance application 

• Proof of negative economic impact from COVID-19 (e.g., lost wages or child care)—options: letter from employer, letter from child care provider/school OR unemployment benefit letter 

The client's landlord will receive a request to provide documentation proof the unit is licensed—copy of license, signed electronic funds transfer document, voided check, completed W9, and invoice for total security deposit amount due 

Resolution time: one to two weeks