Volunteers Needed for the 2020 PIT Count

January 2020 is around the corner, which means that it's time to prepare for the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count. The PIT Count is an important service engagement and data collection strategy critical to advancing efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Volunteers are needed to canvass Baltimore City and administer surveys to individuals experiencing homelessness on Jan 26 from 5pm-11pm and Jan 27 from 6:30pm-11pm. All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Individuals who are bilingual are strongly encourage to sign up. For more information and to sign up, click here.

Save the Date: January 2020 YHDP Covening 

Please hold January 23rd and 24th on your calendar for an important Baltimore City Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) convening. In August 2019, Baltimore City was selected for the third round of YHDP and awarded $3.7M to develop and implement a comprehensive community plan to prevent and end youth homelessness.

This four-part convening will include:

1. A free Adultism and Equity Training facilitated by True Colors United that will engage homeless service providers and aims to foster authentic youth collaboration and build a better understanding on the mission and vision of the Baltimore City Youth Action Board.
2. A YHDP Public Forum to share important updates on local planning and soliciy CoC and community member feedback on the emerging plan.
3. A free Homeless Services Grants 101 Training facilitated by MOHS and Baltimore Funders Together to End Homelessness that will engage existing and potential grantees to better understand public and private grants and application processes.
4. An Education and Homelessness convening (invitation only) to engage key leadership from educational institutions on strategies to prevent and end youth homelessness.

Sign-Up for Action Committees

Action Committees for the Action Plan on Homelessness are set launch in January 2020. More information about the Action Committees is available here. Members of the Continuum of Care are strongly encouraged to join the committees to help oversee the launch and implementation of the Action Plan's key strategies. To join a committee, email journey.home@baltimorecity.gov with the subject line "Action Committees". 

Funding Opportunity
Wellness and Recovery Centers - Request for Proposals
Behavioral Health System Baltimore (BHSB) is pleased to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Wellness and Recovery Centers. More information can be found on BHSB's Funding Opportunities page.Through this procurement, BHSB is seeking qualified organizations to implement peer-run Wellness and Recovery Centers (WRCs) in Baltimore City.  May you have any question, please contact Jennifer Glassman at Procurements@BHSBaltimore.org.

Homeless Persons' Memorial Day

December 21st is winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It is also Homeless Persons' Memorial Day. Mark your calendar and show up at Preston Gardens Park on Saturday, December 21 at 5:00pm to celebrate the lives of those who died this year during or after an experience of homelessness.This event will take place rain or shine. See flyer below for more details. Please call 443-703-1335 if you have any questions.

• Earlier this year, the Continuum Board approved the three-year Action Plan on Homelessness.
• In July, Baltimore City's Homeless Services Program became the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), an independent agency tasked with preventing and ending homelessness in Baltimore City. 
• In October, the Continuum held a community lunch and fundraiser that broke a world record and began the process of re-branding the work of the Continuum with a focus on public engagement around the issue of homelessness.
• MOHS completed the initial shelter improvement plan initiated in partnership with the Lived Experience Advisory Committee. 
• Baltimore was selected for the national Pathways Forward Challenge to support system planning on employment and homelessness.
• Baltimore was also selected for the third round of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program and awarded $3.7M to support this effort.