Health Care for the Homeless

The mural “encapsulates what Health Care for the Homeless is trying to do—trying to bring people home, not just to housing, but to more sustainable communities.” For the past two weeks, local artists Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen, Gail Evans & Edwin Calderon have been restoring the mural on the side of our headquarters and largest clinic in downtown Baltimore. They wrap up today and will apply a protective clear coat to ensure its message remains clear for the work ahead: “Everyone deserves to go home.” Last week, Baltimore Fishbowl published Jenna Mattern’s compelling story about the mural’s restoration and original participatory creation 15+ years ago. Check it out (link in comments).

Uplifted by last week’s National Health Care for the Homeless Council membership meetings at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. For 40 years we’ve delivered quality care across the country to improve health and end homelessness. And annually we gather for strategic planning, sharing of best practices and collective encouragement. Great to renew longstanding friendships and welcome others into this lasting movement at the intersection of homelessness and health. We return home inspired by our colleagues and certain in the knowledge that we are not alone in this work.

Vaccines matter. Get a flu shot! For at least a dozen years, every October, Health Care for the Homeless has partnered with local businesses and health care providers on our annual Flu Vaccine & Coat Drive. It’s not a “drive” to gather these things — but to give them to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Get a flu shot and a winter coat! We served 130+ people today (10/14) with another clinic lined up tomorrow (10/15). Many thanks to students from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, HCH clients & staff, Constellation, MITZVAH FUND INC, Bikemore, Wegmans Food Markets Hunt Valley, Bombas and everyone who makes this possible.

“You start with housing…” On Thursday 10/9, Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day announced 2025 LIHTC awards. In this clip he lifts up the department’s focus on permanent supportive housing & homelessness preferences while powerfully making the case for including everyone… by starting with housing. (Video courtesy of Jill Steele, MPA)

Let there be housing! We got the exciting news today that the development team of Episcopal Housing Corporation, HCH Real Estate Company & Beacon Communities LLC received Low Income Housing Tax Credits (9% & 4%) from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)/CDA to develop Sojourner Place at the Falls, a combined total of 117 affordable apartments. Combining new construction and renovation at the site of two downtown hotels, Sojourner Place at the Falls will include 92 units of Permanent Supportive Housing for people exiting homelessness with onsite supportive services provided by Health Care for the Homeless. Today’s news follows extensive partnership with the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development, Housing Authority of Baltimore City, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Moseley, Southway Builders, Inc. and many more. https://lnkd.in/evEvJVwB As Secretary Jake Day said at the announcement, “If you want to end homelessness, start with housing…” Housing is foundational. Housing is health care. Housing is recovery. Housing is healing. Housing is home.