The Anne Arundel and Annapolis Coalition to End Homelessness (the Homeless Coalition) is the collaborative planning body tasked with coordinating, developing and planning services and programs serving the homeless, and those at risk of homelessness, in Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis. Every jurisdiction that accesses federal funding through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must have a “Continuum of Care” planning body that is responsible for coordinating homeless services.
The Mission of the Anne Arundel and Annapolis Coalition to End Homelessness is to ensure homelessness is rare and brief through education and advocacy.
The vision and purpose of the Anne Arundel and Annapolis Coalition to End Homelessness, a collaborative and inclusive community based planning body, is to end and prevent homelessness in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including the City of Annapolis by: (a) working to facilitate an adequate supply of affordable permanent housing with supportive services for the homeless; (b) providing a vehicle for community investment in and support of the mission to end homelessness; and (c) establishing a collaborative partnership to ensure a coordinated delivery of services to end homelessness.
The Homeless Coalition is designated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the primary oversight board of the Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis Continuum of Care (CoC). ACDS is designated as the Lead Agency/Collaborative Applicant to provide administrative oversight to the Continuum of Care, including HUD-funded programs and activities. The Coalition is overseen by a 20 member Board of Directors, who are elected annually.
Membership
The Homeless Coalition consists of over 50 County and City of Annapolis agencies, concerned citizens, nonprofit homeless service providers, private nonprofit organizations serving special needs clientele, as well as others with interests and roles in ending homelessness in the County. The Homeless Coalition is a collaborative and well-coordinated community-based planning and advocacy organization that seeks to ensure the needs of persons who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness within the County are being met.
The Coalition invites all interested persons, including people who are currently or formally homeless, and organizations to become Coalition members. Members can provide input into the homeless system, receive regular updates on our progress, share information and troubleshoot policy issues, and participate in focus groups, committees, and workgroups.
Coalition meetings are held quarterly on the 3rd Friday of the month. Meeting minutes are available upon request.
Please contact Heather Donahue at hdonahue@acdsinc.org or 410-222-3958 to become a member, add your name to our mailing list, get meeting notices and request minutes.
More Information
For more information about the Homeless Coalition, please contact:
Heather Donahue – ACDS
(410) 222-3958
hdonahue@acdsinc.org
Funding Opportunities for Homeless Services (Continuum of Care Grants)
Homeless Resources & Information
Please see the Homeless Resources page here.
Homeless Data System
In compliance with HUD mandate, Anne Arundel and Annapolis Coalition to End Homelessness developed a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Many agencies in Anne Arundel County, which offer housing and services to people who are homeless, participate in this data system. It helps homeless agencies collaborate, coordinate care, and manage services. The value of this data system is to produce an unduplicated count of homeless persons, understand patterns of service use, and measure the effectiveness of homeless programs in Anne Arundel County.
Annual Homeless Report
http://www.aacounty.org/boards-and-commissions/coalition-to-end-homelessness/index.html
Each year, Anne Arundel County summarizes the number of people served by homeless providers across the County. This report not only outlines how many people entered the shelter system but also documents those who came in looking for services and able to avoid entering the shelter system.
Homeless Resource Day Information
A “one-day, one-stop” opportunity for individuals and families experiencing homelessness to access benefits, medical care, substance abuse resources and mental health counseling as well as a variety of social services which can ultimately lead to housing and self-sufficiency.
For more information on Homeless Resource Day, contact Justin Bieler, at justin.bieler@maryland.gov.