2022 Youth REACH Count To Take Place In March In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — County officials will be obtaining information about those age 25 and younger who are homeless or experiencing housing instability. The 2022 Youth REACH (Reach out, Engage, Assist and Count to end Homelessness) count will be conducted from March 1 through March 14 by the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.

“We must identify the extent of youth homelessness in Howard County to provide support and resources to these young people,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “This count is another step to ensure that when homelessness occurs – especially for our youngest residents – it is brief, rare and non-recurring.”

Activities will include targeted surveying with the Howard County School System, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and other partners, as well as promotional advertising on social media, surveying at youth hotspots across the county and at youth events throughout March and April.

“The Youth REACH Count helps us identify the number, characteristics, and unique needs of Howard County youth and young adults under 25 who lack stable and permanent housing,” DCRS Director Jackie Scott said. “The data we collect will be used to improve the services and resources available to support these youth and young adults with the goal of ending homelessness in our community.”

Kim Eisenreich, administrator of DCRS' Office of the Local Children's Board, said in Howard County and across Maryland, this is a hidden population.

"We don't typically see youth experiencing homelessness on the streets or in shelters. Many go to work or attend school each day, but they lack a safe, stable place to call home. The reasons are varied – some have left abusive situations, others may have left the foster care or juvenile justice systems with nowhere to go, still others were rejected by their families for who they are, or their families may no longer be able to support them because of their own challenges," Eisenreich said.

"Young adults who couch surf may not view themselves as homeless," added Rose Burton, administrator of DCRS' Office of Community Partnerships, which coordinates the county's response to homelessness. "They usually don't show up at shelters or access community services where they’d be counted, which keeps them “invisible” and limits the resources and supports available to them.”