Homeless In Howard County Given Meals, Shelter During Coronavirus

COLUMBIA, MD — Howard County Department of Community Services has found non-congregate housing with a local hotel partner in Columbia for 27 homeless individuals, including children and unaccompanied youth, during the new coronavirus pandemic.

“Our community has truly stepped up to ensure our most vulnerable do not fall through the cracks during this pandemic,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball statement. “This has truly been a collaborative effort to create systems that will keep everyone safe, provide adequate shelter, and ensure access to healthcare."

The homeless individuals receive daily onsite case management and meals. The caseworkers and clients at the hotel site are provided with basic personal protective equipment like face masks and hand sanitizer thanks to donations from faith-based and community partners.

DCRS’ Offices of Community Partnerships and Aging and Independence are collaborating with several government agencies, community groups and faith-based organizations to coordinate homeless outreach. The coalition includes the Howard County departments of public safety, health and corrections in addition to Humanim, Grassroots and the Howard County General Hospital (HCGH) to provide these services. DCRS, HCGH and Grassroots are also developing a hospital discharge and triage plan for any coronavirus-positive homeless clients released from the hospital, to be implemented as clients present with diagnoses. HCHD will coordinate with Grassroots to determine appropriate levels of PPE at Grassroots and other triage locations, such as hotels, and will provide guidance to their medical providers.