Bridge Housing Program

Address: 5000 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

Phone: (443) 826-0123

Fax: 410-276-0897

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Program Description
Transitional housing (TH) is designed to provide homeless individuals and families with the interim stability and support to sucessfully move to and maintain permanent housing.

Facility Description
The Bridge To Housing Program share a building with VOAC Re-entry Program Downtown Baltimore City, MD. Transitional housing (TH) is designed to provide homeless individuals with the interim stability and support to successfully move to and maintain permanent housing.

Persons Served
The Bridge Housing Program provides shelter and Rapid re-housing funds. Bridge Housing Program (BHP) opened January 2018. BHP is a 40 bed unit for men, women and disabled participants.

Services Provided
Direct Assistance
Homeless Prevention provides monetary assistance in the form of a check to landlords, mortgage companies, and utility companies. Residents receive well balanced meals three meals a day for 3 days.

The Staff conducts an interview which includes an explanation of the crisis and proof that the crisis exists, i.e a summons, warrant for removal or shut off notice from the utility company. Staff may also request verification of a precipitating event that caused the crisis such as medical bills, unemployment stubs or restraining order.

The Staff will also assess if financial assistance will enable the family to keep their current housing and if the family has the resources to continue to make payments.

Case Management
An experienced staff under the supervision of the Program Director will provide assessment and assistance to applicants who experience crisis. Without intervention, this crisis would result in homelessness, hunger or exposure to the elements (i.e. cold). Individuals are screened for the following minimum requirements:

• Baltimore City residency
• Proof of income
• Proof of crisis

It is then determined if the services we provide would assist the resident through this crisis. The applicant must show how they will maintain themselves after the crisis.

Every applicant receives information and referrals to other agencies within the county to address other needs. The case manager has phone and/or written contact with all landlords, property managers and utility companies before payment arrangements can be made.

Food
The program provides food our Bridge to Housing residents who have exhausted all other resources and can not provide food for themselves.

Homeless Prevention maintains an on site food pantry for the distribution of food in boxes prepared by trained volunteers and staff. The food consists of perishables and non perishable food items, supplemented with USDA food and items donated by local churches, restaurants and other non- profit organiztions

Staffing Pattern
The Bridge to Housing Program staff consists of one Program Director, one Intake Coordinator/ Admin, one Housing Locator, two Case Managers, and seven Residential Service Workers.

History
In January 2018, Terry Hickey, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Human Services announced that the Baltimore Sun and Press that the city will provide beds for up to 40 homeless men and women in a dormitory in East Baltimore where they can receive three meals a day, access to case managers and transportation to jobs and other services. Hickey also mentioned the Baltimore’s new $1.5 million program is intended to eliminate barriers, such as mandatory drug screenings, that keep some people sleeping on the street. Russ Snyder, President of Volunteers of America Chesapeake, opened the facility for the people at the encampment until housing is provided for each person. The tent community encampment stretched from Guilford Avenue and Bath Street to the shuttered Hollywood Diner near Baltimore City Hall.