Homeless Shelter Wins $25K Grant To Help Unhoused Residents

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Earlier this month, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to The Light House - A Homeless Prevention Support Center in Annapolis. The money will help the shelter serve unhoused Anne Arundel County residents.

"The Light House is a pillar of our community, offering hope and invaluable resources to our neighbors experiencing homelessness," stated Janet Currie, president of Bank of America Greater Maryland. "These efforts provide members of our community with access to the services needed to put them on a path to economic stability."

Shelter leaders announced the award on July 6. They said the funding is much-needed, given how many locals still seek aid because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The Light House continues to be wholly committed to responding to the heartbreaking increase in need we’ve seen since the start of this crisis," Executive Director Jo Ann Mattson said in a press release. "Our ability to remain adaptable is what has allowed us to fully support those who have been hardest hit by this crisis and ramp up our operations during this past year."

Since the pandemic began, The Light House has assisted 40 percent more people overall. Demand for its pantry programs increased by more than 200 percent. The organization also distributed more than 305,000 pounds of food and dished out 80,000 meals last year.

The shelter housed 169 people, including 32 kids, in 2020. The Light house additionally prevented 240 households from losing their homes.

"Keeping up with this dramatic increase in demand continues to be a challenge," Mattson added. "This funding from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will help ensure that the basic needs of our most vulnerable neighbors are met during this time of upheaval and economic distress."

Head to annapolislighthouse.org to learn more about the shelter.

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