The Samaritan Community
The Samaritan Community provides support to families and individuals who are in crisis, using an individualized approach that addresses the unique needs of each client. The vast majority of clients served are unemployed, and many have chronic illnesses, including mental health and substance use disorders. The center’s programs include a food pantry, emergency financial assistance, individual and group counseling, and referrals. This grant supports the Samaritan Community’s general operations.
Rose Street Community Center
Since February 2000, with support from the Abell Foundation, the Rose Street Community Center (Rose Street) has offered small weekly stipends to community residents in exchange for participation in daily community cleanups or gang mediation meetings. Last year, Rose Street served more than 120 people per week. Nearly 20% of those served each week (an average of 22 people) reside in Rose Street’s five transitional houses. Those residing in the houses participate daily in community cleanups. Once they have secured employment, Rose Street staff assists them in obtaining permanent housing. Roughly a third of those served each week (30 to 40 people) are in recovery or active addiction. They participate in a morning motivational meeting and receive a small stipend for bus transportation. Over half of those served each week (approximately 70 people) are high-risk youth ages 15 to 24. Rose Street holds morning meetings with the youth where the youth identify and de-escalate disputes. Rose Street also connects the youth to programs and services available in the community.
New Leaders – Baltimore
With the help of Abell Foundation start-up funding in 2005, the New Leaders Program has trained 375 leaders and developed 126 new principals making them the leading provider of training for principals and school leaders in City Schools. The New Leaders program seeks to train high quality principal candidates to lead schools, support teacher retention, and build teams. There are currently 112 New Leaders alumni actively working in education in Baltimore City, including 46 principals representing 29% of all principals in the district.
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service provides legal assistance, dispute resolution, and connection to services, benefits, and tax credits for low income homeowners facing unaffordable water bills and municipal taxes. Left unpaid, these municipal liens could result in the loss of the home to tax sale foreclosure. Outreach and advocacy on water bill and property tax affordability are ideally approached jointly because for so many residents these two issues are linked. MVLS will conduct outreach to the more than 900 homeowners who were removed from 2021 tax sale due to COVID-19 forbearance by Mayor Scott. And MVLS will leverage community relationships to enroll homeowners and tenants with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line in the Water for All Program (Water Accountability & Equity Act).
Maryland Dental Action Coalition, Inc.
The Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC) is a statewide dental access advocacy group. Over the past several years, MDAC has been steadily building the case for expanding access to comprehensive adult dental coverage for all Medicaid recipients. This grant supports MDAC’s efforts to pass such legislation in the upcoming 2022 session.