Homelessness and Housing

Millions are raised through government grants and star-studded galas, yet Baltimore's homeless services have been mired in bureaucracy and increasingly-harsh policy prescriptions, including encampment razing. Meanwhile, curled up in doorways and on friends' couches, thousands in the city still lack a place to call home.

As Baltimore’s mayor salutes hotels purchased for the homeless, residents are confined to their rooms

The lockdown was intended to protect privacy, say officials, who held a VIP ribbon-cutting to celebrate the $15.2 million purchase to create more permanent supportive housing.

Amid criticism of management of ARPA funds, Scott announces $30 million for affordable housing

Baltimore’s mayor chides “Monday morning quarterbacks” as political opponents note that only 28% of the city’s pandemic relief windfall has so far been spent. UPDATED

Early razing of Wyman Park encampment denounced as cruel to homeless and “a slap in the face” to advocates

Meanwhile, the issue is about to blow up at the Baltimore Continuum of Care, whose recent board chair acknowledges he was briefed months ago on the new encampment policy.

FOLLOW-UP: City’s decision to clear encampment is based on a “rubric” it won’t disclose

The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services says it has engaged people living at Baltimore’s Wyman Park for two years and “so far we’ve been able to house two households.”

No explanation given as Baltimore sets date for Wyman Park encampment clearing

Ahead of the latest eviction of homeless people, several have already set up camp elsewhere, while residents question the city’s posting of “No Trespassing” signs in a public park.

With another encampment clearing looming, a plea to Mayor Scott

Abandon Baltimore’s longtime cruel and ineffective policy and leave homeless persons alone until you make permanent supportive housing available. [OP-ED]

Remembering a fighter and passionate voice for homeless people in Baltimore and beyond

Anthony Wann Williams, who died earlier this year, emerged from the foster care system and a hard start in life to find purpose in helping others. The Brew pays tribute to a remarkable man.

Too many Baltimore tenants endure mice, mold and more, councilmen say

Calling the city not proactive enough, they have drafted a bill that would impose consequences on apartment buildings with a documented history of unsafe, unhealthy conditions.

Helping Up Mission now offers isolation beds for Baltimore’s Covid-positive homeless

After advocates bemoan the loss of safe spaces for infected people to isolate, Mayor Scott turns to a nonprofit.

“They put me out. I was cold. All I had on was a sweater.”

Since June, when the city closed the isolation center at the Lord Baltimore Hotel and “demobilized” other non-congregate housing, there have been few places for Covid-positive homeless to go to isolate.

Homeless individuals return and occupy area next to Baltimore Farmer’s Market space

Police say the man they tased was transported to an area hospital. Mayor Scott says the incident was handled properly by BPD.

Homeless camp clearing ends with splashed gas, a flame and a tasing

Tent dwellers push back as the city clears their encampment to make way for this morning’s Baltimore Farmer’s Market.

Rental assistance logjam in Baltimore is creating a wave of preventable evictions

Advocates call on Mayor Scott to staff up assistance programs that have been overwhelmed as rent court resumes and rents are on the rise. [OP-ED]

Ramos warns residents away from event by nonprofit that caused an uproar at City Hall

Councilwoman questions the business practices of mortgage lender NACA, while its leader again attacks her.

Confrontation and compromise at City Hall tent protest on behalf of homeless people

Scott administration persuades group to leave ahead of a back-to-school event, but promises a meeting next week with organizers.

Baltimore to use ARPA funds for hotel purchases and other programs to help the homeless

Pressed by advocates, Scott announces $90.4 million in federal Covid relief funds will go towards programs to prevent and mitigate homelessness.

Advocates for the homeless approach a still-closed City Hall asking the mayor to help

They want six projects to receive federal ARPA money and urge quick action, noting Baltimore is now moving people out of hotels where they’ve been housed amid Covid.

With Covid-19 resurgent, advocates call on Baltimore to again suspend evictions

More than 350 evictions are scheduled this week alone by the sheriff’s office.

Some tenants still without heat at Queen Esther Apartments, residents say

In a recent change of ownership, the sellers reaped $7 million more for the building than they paid for it, according to documents obtained by The Brew.

Court of Appeals decision favoring the Copycat landlord will hurt Baltimore’s most vulnerable

What our clients tell us about their living conditions is heart-rending. What the court is doing to take away one of their few protections is outrageous. [OP-ED]

With new funds to address homelessness on the way, old problems persist

Advocates propose innovative ways to address affordable housing using anticipated Covid relief funds and describe safety issues at one Baltimore shelter.

Rather than leasing rooms, Baltimore should buy motels to house homeless people

Minnesota and Vermont are leading the way, transforming these buildings into publicly owned, permanently affordable and democratically operated housing. [OP-ED]

She helped other homeless people stay warm, then died in the cold herself

Lisa Holmes was one of two women who died in the encampment that Baltimore tried to shut down, as the Scott administration inherits a problem his predecessors never solved.

Advocates urge rapid implementation of tenants’ right to counsel

A new law guaranteeing a lawyer for Baltimore residents facing eviction could take up to four years to implement.

In praise of a priest whose voice thundered for the unheard and homeless

Why we loved, and must learn from, Father Richard Lawrence, longtime pastor of Baltimore’s St. Vincent de Paul Church who died last month. [OP-ED]

Good news for Thanksgiving: Baltimore’s homeless will not be forced into shelters

In a triumph for homeless advocates, the city has found federal dollars to cover the cost of keeping about 400 homeless people in hotels over the winter.

Young administration says it will try to keep the homeless in hotels this winter

A change from its prior plan to reopen city shelters to house the homeless over the winter.

Young must do more for the housing insecure, marchers say

Protesters call on the mayor to provide permanent housing, halt a plan to reopen shelters and sign bills that would help people facing eviction and homelessness.

Since August, more than 400 people have been evicted in Baltimore

Public interest lawyers say they are overwhelmed with struggling renters and harsh landlords. A march today calls for relief for renters and the homeless.

After public outcry, Young administration drops plan to clear homeless encampment

After an advocate sounded the alarm, The Brew wrote a story and a city councilman intervened. The Young administration has now backed off.

Mayor Young poised to raze a homeless encampment amid pandemic surge

City officials, who plan to move the homeless out of hotels soon, say they are working to connect people to services and shelter with federal funding that soon may end.

Bill to replace Office of Homeless Services comes before the Council

Councilman Ryan Dorsey proposes a new agency to combat homelessness, while Councilman Eric Costello defends the acting head of homeless services.

Activists again call on the city to empty shelters to protect the homeless

Congregate living in two former school buildings is not safe, advocates argue.

Homeless people and their allies protest outside Mayor Young’s residence

The mayor does not engage with the demonstrators, who say more must be done to safely house people and protect them from the coronavirus.

Baltimore Homeless Services director placed on leave

Jerrianne Anthony has been placed on leave, one top staffer was fired and another has offered her resignation, Continuum of Care chair Winston Philip confirms.

Residents at a homeless shelter where staffers tested positive for coronavirus want testing

The director of Project PLASE defends the precautions taken by the shelter, but protesters today say more measures are needed.

Advocates disrupt news conference to demand Young house more of city’s homeless

After horn-honking protest, city officials say staffing issues prevent them from doing more.

Homeless scatter and struggle after church fences off their onetime haven

Parish leaders say drug dealing led to violence at St. Vincent Park; advocates say city leaders must do more for people without shelter.

How much housing discrimination to allow? None!

A call for Baltimore’s City Council to resist efforts to water down a bill banning discrimination against renters with housing vouchers and other subsidies. [Op-Ed]

Pennsylvania company charges illegal fees, Maryland tenants allege

“Fee-churning” by Morgan Properties Management Company, LLC hurts renters in Baltimore and beyond, lawsuit says.

Pro-developer amendments will undermine already flawed affordable housing bill

New amendments to the bill would benefit waterfront luxury projects. But the proposed Trust Fund was based on questionable financial assumptions to start with. ANALYSIS.

Of mice and mold and a new law that says renters needn’t put up with squalor

Advocates spread the word that one- and two-unit rentals in Baltimore must now be inspected and licensed.

UM Medical Center denies any role in death of homeless woman

Hospital denounces “unfounded speculation” about Karen Simpkins’ death, but says it is legally bound not to comment on her medical treatment or discharge.

Making the homeless disappear was goal of previous mayor

A retired pastor sees parallels between the city’s response to the homeless and the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policies at the border.

Sister of homeless woman found dead near city shelter seeks answers

Was Karen Simpkins, after brief stays at the city shelter and University of Maryland hospital, a victim of “patient dumping?”

Loved but lost, Lawrence Alexander is returned to his family

A mother and three siblings come to Baltimore to receive the ashes of a homeless man who died in front of City Hall.

Woman found dead near city’s homeless shelter

The woman appeared to be in her early 60s, a Baltimore police officer said.

Affordable housing advocates launch charter amendment drive

Saying Mayor Pugh and Council President Young have reneged on their promises, activists will take to the streets on Saturday to gather signatures.

City auditor: Homeless Services office comes up short by its own measures

So muddled were its targets that the auditor couldn’t pinpoint how much it lagged behind.

Collateral damage as Baltimore overhauls its rental property regulations: poor renters

As “bad” landlords’ licenses are revoked, more people will be evicted, but there is no requirement for the city to help them [OP-ED]

High hopes as City Council proposes to actually fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

A transfer tax increase bill has support from Council President, but no word yet from Pugh.

Another argument against encampment clearing – it drives homeless drug users into the shadows

Even when shelter is offered, evicting people from tents hurts more than helps. Op-Ed.

Panel steps away from partnering with city on street homelessness

Amid tension over Baltimore’s continued razing of encampments, the Continuum of Care Board proposes tackling street homelessness on its own.

Mayor Pugh’s latest homeless encampment clearing veers off script

Razing paused after city workers take a woman’s things without asking and turn away a church group trying to feed people.

10 takeaways from the clearing away of the homeless near City Hall

Papering over a big problem: Only a handful agree to go to the Volunteers of America shelter. “We’ll be back,” vowed one.

Activists face off with Braverman over affordable housing

“Not one dollar” has been put into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund 15 months after voters approved it.

Pugh plans to raze Guilford Avenue homeless encampment

Citing “health and safety concerns,” city says site will be cleared on January 26, residents will be offered “temporary bridge housing.”

Holiday Wish Part 2: That Baltimore’s leaders actually lead

A blueprint for tackling the deep-seated problems that have led to rampant homelessness.

Holiday Wish Part 1: That Baltimore’s leaders tell the truth about the homeless crisis

The mayor and the media are misrepresenting the number of city residents in dire need of shelter, a longtime activist says.

City says it’s prepared to shelter the homeless as winter approaches

There are 150 overflow beds and a shelter permitted for 360 more beds. A homeless advocate says that’s not enough.

Pugh says, “I share the vision of the 20/20 plan”

Without committing any funding, mayor says she supports the ideas behind Baltimore Roundtable’s housing plan.

Pugh pressed to keep her campaign promises on affordable housing

The money is there, the Housing Roundtable says, proposing a $40 million investment. “All it takes is shifting priorities.”

As they are moved from shelter to mission, uncertainty continues for Pinderhughes residents

Reporter barred from watching city move homeless group. For protest leader, a new apartment.

Praise and prayer as Ben Carson visits Baltimore’s Helping Up Mission

Faith-based recovery center and shelter a platform for Trump’s Administration on opioids and Pugh’s on homelessness.

Tent City leader blasts Pugh as city prepares to relocate homeless group

Smith accuses the mayor of breaking promises made to protesters: “She used me.”

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Blueprint for housing the homeless includes support and a sense of community

The Episcopal Housing Corporation launches a project on a blighted block of West Baltimore that it hopes will become a model.

Pugh’s solution on housing the homeless: Do it with private dollars

Plenty of hopes and plans, but few details at mayoral announcement that homelessness advocates found anti-climactic.

Pugh on defensive over handling of the Tent City protesters

Workgroup report on homelessness pushed back a week for “changes and editing.”

Mayor to announce plan on homelessness Wednesday

Given recommendations by her workgroup – and sharp prodding by the Tent City protesters – Pugh is taking action on the issue.

Drug testing – but still no permanent housing – for Tent City protesters

A month after Pugh moved homeless people off the City Hall lawn, they remain stuck in a former school in West Baltimore.

Applause for Tent City and a word of caution about the city’s promises

“Assessments?” Bureaucratese for “you’re back out on the street.” The real Rx: permanent affordable housing, veteran advocates say.

Tent City residents moved to shelter in a process organizer calls rushed

The future of their broader agenda murky, homeless protesters are now at a former West Baltimore school.

A “Tent City” outside City Hall to press the mayor on homelessness and more

Confederate monuments down, Baltimore must turn to other issues, advocates say.

Henry Anderson: “They did an excellent job!”

City shores up party wall, fixes damage after Sandtown-Winchester resident protests botched demolition job.

Cleaning or clearing? New signs posted at Fallsway had homeless fearing eviction

City: New cleaning policy “not a pretext to make the residents move permanently.”

Activists plan protest when Ben Carson visits Baltimore tomorrow

The neurosurgeon-turned-HUD-Secretary is scheduled to speak at an East Baltimore school.

Why Harbor Taxi “bike lids” were moved to Druid Hill Park

Homeless people were using the plastic covers for shelter and storage.

After a rocky start, Pugh assembles a “workgroup” on homelessness

Panel is to give Baltimore’s mayor an action plan in 60 days

“Winter sheltering” for homeless extended through end of March

Baltimore makes extra beds available when the temperature drops to 32 degrees or below.

Pugh “working on plan to address homelessness,” a spokesman says, after camp clearing

Six people moved from tents along MLK Blvd. to a hotel have received a commitment for housing vouchers, city reports.

Homeless camp clearing proceeds under advocates’ watchful eye

City promises to find MLK tent dwellers permanent housing. Attorney: “We’ll hold them to it.”

City to raze and fence off another homeless camp

Advocates “very disappointed” that this is new administration’s first act on homelessness.

Remembering those who died homeless, looking to City Hall for help

At the annual ritual, speeches and hope that a new administration will move beyond platitudes.

Elderly and homeless, stabbing victim had a name and a story

After years of hard times, things were looking up for Andras “Andy” Horvath.

Sharp spike in homeless deaths a focus of vigil tonight

Advocates report a 62% increase in the number of homeless people who died in Baltimore in 2016.

Life on the streets of a frigid Baltimore

For some, there’s no house, no bed and nothing more than a blanket.

Homeless brave the cold as city struggles with fewer outreach workers

There are 275 extra beds for the homeless tonight, but fewer outreach workers mean that many will still sleep in the streets.

Is Baltimore prepared to handle the homeless this winter?

Advocates hope Mayor Pugh makes a complex homeless shelter system work better.

Homeless man’s death outside City Hall spurs call for mayor’s help

With the temperature plunging, advocates for the homeless ask Baltimore’s new mayor to declare a “state of emergency.”

Mayor’s push to privatize homeless services nixed by providers’ group

United Way was ready to take over, but providers were wary of giving a private entity control of public dollars.

A poignant – and pointed – memorial for homeless persons who died in Baltimore

Remembering when they lived outside under an old quilt, thinking of those who died living on the streets of Baltimore, people came together last night to pray, sing – and exhort the city to do more to help those who are homeless.

City to open winter shelter to house homeless persons at higher temperatures

A city official says the zero-degree threshold for sheltering homeless persons was never approved by the mayor and was the result of “bad communication” at a meeting. BOTTOM LINE: City plans to open winter overflow shelter when temperatures drop below 32 degrees, not below 0 degrees.

City had plans to make zero degrees the trigger to shelter homeless people this winter

“It’s outrageous,” one homeless service provider said yesterday. “How would people on the streets even know something is open when it’s zero degrees?” “They would be frozen by the time they would know,” another person replied.

Mayor agrees to delay razing of Fallsway homeless encampment

After blistering criticism from her own advisory board – and a group of service providers at a meeting today – Rawlings-Blake said she would hold off on a plan to roust another group of people from their roadside tents, saying she is already working to improve the process of housing voucher distribution.

Stop clearing encampments, mayor’s panel on homelessness tells her

Decrying the fact that over 200 housing vouchers are not being used, the “Journey Home” board called for a moratorium on the razing of encampments until the city fixes what members said was a flawed process for distributing the vouchers to homeless people.

By razing encampments, Baltimore is abandoning a strategy against homelessness that worked

Advocate recalls how the “Housing First” ethos of 10 years ago helped city find permanent housing for people living in a downtown park

Evicted from MLK Blvd. encampment, homeless say they have nowhere to go

The city had trash trucks, city workers and police coordinated Friday to clear homeless people from an encampment on the west side of Baltimore. One thing they hadn’t done, people there said, was find some place for them to go or warn advocates about what was going down.

Inclusionary housing fund is running on empty

The fund has dwindled to just $70,000, and the chair of the advisory board says the law simply doesn’t work.

Housing the homeless in Baltimore’s vacants

HUD report decries city’s management of homeless funds, but says no fraud found

There have been wild rumors regarding what happened to a federal homeless grant that the city is now partially repaying. Based on our review of the full (and so far unreleased) HUD report, we move past the blame game.

Baltimore set to repay $4 million in misspent homeless funds

After all the finger pointing and denials, the city is forking out $3.7 million in hard cash to pay back the federal government for mishandled homeless money that was awarded as part of President Obama’s 2009 stimulus program. It’s another example of what can happen to the city that never audits.

Mayor and homeless providers praise grants faulted by HUD

Catholic Charities executive director today called HUD’s decision to order repayment of $3.7 million in homeless grants “atrocious,” while other non-profits rallied around Mayor Rawlings-Blake, who defended her administration’s handling of the grant money.

Documents show: HUD last year ordered review of 64 homeless grants

The federal government became so concerned with how the Mayor’s Office of Human Services was administering homeless programs that it ordered an “auto review” of $23 million in homeless grants, documents obtained by The Brew show.

HUD tells city to repay nearly $4 million in misspent homeless funds

The federal government downsizes its demand for misspent homeless funds by Baltimore City. Still, the $3.76 million ordered by HUD in a nearly final report is larger than any similar request from another city and an embarrassment to the mayor’s homeless agenda.

Questions but no answers on mismanaged homeless services grant

A meeting to introduce new board members for the mayor’s “Journey Home” initiative veered off script when questions – unanswered for a year – were asked about a federal audit accusing the city and United Way of Central Maryland of not properly handling the funds.

City reserves $7 million to repay mismanaged federal homeless grant

A year ago, the city said it would prove that “no waste, fraud or abuse” happened during its administration of a $9.5 million homeless grant. Now the city is preparing to return a sizable chunk of that money back to the federal government.

People sleeping once again at homeless camp the city cleared in March

Calling “Camp 83” a health and safety hazard, the city evicted 15 people living outdoors by a downtown JFX on-ramp and hauled their make-shift dwellings to the dump. These days a smaller group of people are living at the same spot.

Could you pass the Homelessness Challenge?

It’s like combating the flu with Kleenex, say the authors, of Baltimore’s attempts to hide the visible evidence of poverty and homelessness through tougher anti-panhandling laws. Perhaps putting the powerful into the shoes of the homeless, just for a day, could open up their hearts.

Changes in store for city homeless shelter under Catholic Charities

After two years of criticism by occupants of Baltimore’s homeless shelter – and a fatal stabbing – the center will be placed under the operation of Catholic Charities, which is planning some major changes. “Cherishing the divine within” is the group’s guiding principle.

Catholic Charities set to run city’s oft-criticized homeless shelter

Another homeless camp under JFX to be “cleared?” Or “cleaned?”

With the Baltimore Farmers’ Market resuming under the JFX this Sunday, the homeless who share space there with fresh produce and cheese sellers are preparing for a rugged weekly ritual – a city truck that removes their belongings and hoses down the area. Is the city going further this year?

Briddell and Singer square off on homeless policy in Baltimore

Why can’t the city do a better job getting people out from under bridges and out of doorways? Are they offering lame excuses or up against insurmountable challenges? This radio conversation between a city official and a longtime advocate kind of got down to it.

Housing the homeless in vacants – why not?

City reserves right to clear homeless camps before residents are resettled

Modern-day versions of “Hoovervilles,” the name for shanty towns built by the homeless during the Great Depression, are cropping up in Baltimore. Following last week’s razing of one such camp, the city has disclosed its “protocol” for dismantling homeless encampments.

The way to end the tragedy of homelessness: permanent housing

Why are people sleeping under bridges in Baltimore? It’s because the city has opted for unsafe and unsanitary emergency shelters to house the homeless rather than the more humane and effective solution of permanent housing, the director of a homeless advocacy group argues.

Housing found for homeless “campers” facing city eviction

Yesterday, homeless advocates and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke came up with temporary housing for the residents of Camp 83, on the eve of the deadline this morning for eviction. Expect some advocates still angry over the city’s handling of Camp 83, and police prepared to arrest any lingering “campers.”

Clarke seeks reprieve for homeless “Camp 83”

Hope and a haven for a neglected population – homeless teenagers

As sub-freezing weather strikes Baltimore, consider the fate of one of its least served populations – homeless teenagers. About one in seven people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore is under 25. A new drop-in center on Charles Street offers them a safe space and a helping hand.

Police break up homelessness sleep-out, but “nicely” this year

Outside City Hall: tonight, homelessness activists to hold “sleep-out”

Homeless told to leave city shelter for two hours

City to add 75 beds to emergency homeless shelter

A homeless man’s story: jobs, jail, a stroke and “one bad thing after another”

Why Linwood Hearne sleeps outside of Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore.

Homeless have been sleeping on clinic’s porch for months

It’s heart-wrenching for Health Care for the Homeless and a bit awkward – a steady stream of people have been sleeping outside its building on “the porch” since summer. What does this say about the severity of the homeless problem and Baltimore’s ability to handle it?

Homeless sleep outside of Health Care for the Homeless building

There’s been a threatened lawsuit about city homeless services, a solidarity sleep-out vigil dispersed by police and a City Council hearing where city officials said homeless shelters are meeting the demand – and yet people are still sleeping out in the cold.

VIDEO: Homeless Persons Memorial Day in Baltimore

Inside City Hall: Contractor protests his own bid, 34 cost overruns for new homeless shelter

Why the new shelter is smaller than the old one, and other homeless stories

The $8 million Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Housing and Resource Center has lots of amenities like game tables and a rooftop garden, but not enough beds – especially for women – to handle this winter’s demand by the homeless, critics say. Why one woman prefers Occupy Baltimore to the new facility.

Why I wanted to sleep-out for the homeless

Those attending the homelessness “sleep-out” Saturday – broken up by police outside of City Hall – have been described as troublemakers and Occupy Baltimore allies. A participant says they were really just people wanting “to be partners in solving the city’s enormous and embarrassing homelessness epidemic.”