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Dental care gave David a chance against cancer

We don’t know what the future holds for David.*

Before he could get his late-stage cancer treated, David’s oncologist told him that his mouth had to be cleared of all infection.

Parita Patel, our Dental Director, did what she could. She conducted an exam and pulled many of his infected teeth. But David needed oral surgery with sedation to safely remove all the damaged teeth.

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Home is just the beginning

Charles Johnson

Two years ago, Charles Johnson was staying in abandoned rowhouses in West Baltimore with no insurance, no income and nowhere to turn for health care needs. “I’ve been pulling my teeth out with a pair of pliers and a wash rag,” he said back then. “And I don’t have my top teeth now.”

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"I see such great potential in our medical work. And now I get the great honor of leading the medical assistants. I’m looking forward to using all the different strengths of our CMAs to create a stronger team."

Rosita Harris, CMA , Lead Certified Medical Assistant

Statistics

On any given night in America, 60,000 families with children do not have a place to sleep.

This eight-year-old will inspire you

"I'm so grateful that people still care and are checking on me."

Client , during a telehealth phone visit

Linda Mason

Women in crisis have a safe space and excellent care because of you. Your support makes sure women like Linda Mason get care when they need it most.

Linda’s world flipped upside down when her cancer returned two years ago. Isolated and afraid, Linda turned to alcohol to numb the pain and fear. Luckily, she knew where she could go for help.

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There's PUMPKIN special about YOU!

Trust Tierra: Our clients do

Tierra Bolling connects with our clients in a way that few can.

As a child, Tierra watched both of her parents struggle with substance use, and she knows first-hand what it’s like to experience homelessness. Tierra’s early years taught her that hard times don’t define your future. Change is possible.

"This doesn’t have to be what your life is like,” she reminds her clients.

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"The quality team is here for three reasons—safety, effectiveness and efficiency. We’re not the folks providing the care, but we’re here to help those who are."

Tonii Gedin, Chief Quality Officer

Statistics

To afford a two bedroom rental home on a minimum wage job in Maryland, you would have to work 115 hours a week.

Thanks for Giving

Are you…

On your own and under 21
Living in a shelter
Staying with friends or couch surfing
Runaway
Getting out of the foster care or criminal justice system

…we can help!

Britney Dancy

Britney has an infectious smile. Her warmth fills up the room and it’s almost like you can feel the hope that’s bubbling inside her. Even when she and her four-year-old son Mason were bouncing around between different family member’s homes, and later living in a shelter, she remained optimistic.

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Adapting Quickly to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Nevaeh

Nevaeh lived with her parents in an abandoned building until she was one. Lead poisoning, severe speech delays and foster care followed. But now, Nevaeh is thriving thanks to the excellent care she's been receiving at Health Care for the Homeless.

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"Don’t pre-judge. Just because a person doesn’t have a place to stay doesn’t mean they’re like a bad person. Come here and spend a day with me or somebody at the clinic and you’ll see exactly how people are: people."

Kenny Willis , front desk

Statistics

Questions?

Contact Human Resources Manager Sabrina Harris, ext.1338

Getting Charles Back

“People say, ‘You don’t look homeless.’ I say, ‘What do you think homeless looks like?’ You could look like anything and be homeless.”

Ben And Mary

Do you remember the last time you moved? The excitement, the stress? Buying new supplies and home goods, getting water and electricity turned on and leaving a familiar community is hard for all of us—even in the best of times.

Imagine navigating this transition with little money for necessities and no family or friends to help. That’s what Ben and Mary are doing.

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We Need a Lot of Healing

Donnell Gamble

Donnell Gamble never knew his birth parents, but for most of his young years he knew stability. Then one day it was gone. Donnell grew up in the foster system until he was 8, when he was adopted. For the next decade, he lived in West Baltimore with his adoptive mother. He graduated on time from a small public high school that emphasized college prep. But the importance his school placed on college did not translate into a plan for Donnell for life after school.

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"One thing that drew me to Health Care for the Homeless is their attention to all people from all walks of life, sharing that compassion and humanity. I hope to accomplish that with medicine in the future, too."

Sachin Aggarwal, Help Desk Volunteer

Statistics

People experiencing homelessness are twice as likely as their housed counterparts to experience a heart attack or stroke.

From our hearts to yours - thank you!

“When we speak of homelessness, I speak of a person who doesn’t have a key to his or her own place.”

James Judkins , Client

Our pediatrics team is on the move

Our pediatrics team members usually don’t sit still. Sitting still means they’re not out meeting people—and meeting people is key. So they get out in the community a few days a week and visit shelters across the city. Nurse Practitioner Judy Kandel and Social Worker Debbie Wilcox visit Booth House on Wednesday mornings. Here, they share an office and together, helping connect families who are staying in the shelter to care.

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Get fired up for Lobby Day 2019

Damien Haussling

Damien was a young father and high school teacher when his wife was killed by a drunk driver. In the wake of the tragedy, Damien experienced further devastating setbacks. He became unemployed and lost his health insurance and his home. Stomach pains led him to Health Care for the Homeless where he was offered the support and care he needed.

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Everybody deserves excellent health care, no matter where they sleep at night. Our performance improvement work helps to ensure that we provide excellent care to everyone we serve.

Chuck Amos , Director of Performance Improvement

Statistics

More than 50,000 Marylanders are experiencing homelessness—that’s more than can fit in Oriole Park.

Having a home helps a lot...

"Anybody can face homelessness. It’s not just the people that you think are poor or rich, it’s everybody. Anything can happen to anybody at any time. I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve realized working here."

Kenny Willis , front desk

Kim Carroll on Eliza

For many years, Eliza cycled in and out of hospitals, jails and the street. For the last two-plus years she has been safely housed, and in the last eight months, she has not been admitted or incarcerated once. Her home, which she secured through the Supportive Housing at Health Care for the Homeless, is the symbolic center of her life.

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See Why We're Staying Open

Olivia and Caroline

An escape from domestic violence in summer 2014 quickly landed 22-year-old Olivia and her young daughter, Caroline, on Baltimore’s streets. With her mother no longer living, her father in prison and her siblings struggling with their own challenges, Olivia had no safety net and nowhere to go.

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"From 1952 until her death, my mother worked with chronically indigent mentally ill and mentally disabled homeless folks, finding them housing. I can't do that. But I can give money."

Claudia Burns , Health Care for the Homeless sustaining donor

Statistics

There are less than 5,000 shelter beds available across the state, but more than 50,000 Marylanders are experiencing homelessness.

My past is not my future

"The advocacy work of the organization is the backbone of it; it helps you bring more people in."

George Marsh-Bey , the sixth client to walk through the doors of Health Care for the Homeless in 1985

Julia O'Connor

I’m a proud two-year member of the Rock Your Socks 5K team, A Solid Case of the Runs.

All credit for the punny team name goes to my social work friend and team captain, Kim Riopelle—your Supportive Housing Coordinator at Health Care for the Homeless.

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There's more to health care than, well, health care...

Ray Fitzberger

Last winter, Ray Fitzberger got frostbite on his legs and feet. Doctors had to remove three toes on his left foot. Not long after the surgery, Ray was released from the hospital.

Every day, people we know and love undergo surgery to address life-threatening conditions. If they have no place to go, they get discharged back to the streets.

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"I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors and continue to work with the incredible leadership and staff at to help the organization continue to thrive and achieve its mission to prevent and end homelessness in our city."

Stuart Levine , Program and Performance Improvement Board Chair

Statistics

Men experiencing homelessness who are 45 to 64 years old are 40 to 50% more likely to die of heart disease than people who are housed.

Get Loud at Lobby Day 2020

"Everyone in the huddles is on the same page when it comes to how to approach a client regarding certain issues, and comes together to present things that others may not know. This happens often!"

care team member

Kevin Moore

“In 1985 I was charged with the murder of a law enforcement officer. I was given a 20-year sentence. I did 16 years and five months. All those years I lost family members. On April 12, 2002, I came home and my neighborhood was gone. Hollander Ridge. I have been bouncing around from house to house with friends. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to continue to look for a job, I’m 47 years old.

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Sojourner Place at Argyle Avenue—Welcome home

Thomas Riddle

Throughout his life, Thomas Riddle was passionate about music and cars. These things brought him happiness. But from the time he was a child, something was missing. It took a heroin habit and homelessness at the age of 50 for him to identify what that was. In his own words, Thomas talks about the importance of love.

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We advocate for individual clients, but we also advocate for policy change because it’s the only way to end homelessness for ALL our clients.

Barbara DiPietro , Senior Director, Policy

Statistics

In Baltimore, 21.8% of the population lives in poverty — more than double the state average

Art as Advocacy

"It’s better for a new client to hear from a person who’s been there—I know he has an understanding. You can get a better understanding of what’s going on if you can relate to people."

James Barnes , client

We're not so different, you and I

Kara Nelson signed up to volunteer as a way to get to know her Constellation coworkers better. But after helping nearly 200 people get warm coats and hearing their stories, Kara walked away with an entirely new understanding of homelessness.

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"Each person showed me there was somebody else here that could help."

Vanessa found her smile again

Vanessa has the kind of smile that lights up a room. But those perfect teeth, and the joy behind them, once seemed out of reach.

“I never thought I’d be able to have teeth,” she said, fighting back tears. “I thought I would never smile again.”

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"LGBTQ+ youth are 40% more likely to be homeless - it’s important to provide community and support."

Kara White , Behavioral Health Therapist

Statistics

A clean, dry, secure environment is fundamental to personal hygiene (including wound care and dressing changes), medication storage (refrigeration of insulin, safe storage of needles) and protection from assault and the elements.

Housing is health care

"Our compassion. It’s a real genuine place. We actually do care about what we do on a day-to-day basis. That’s why Health Care for the Homeless is special. I try to treat everybody with respect, and usually I get it back."

Kenny Willis , front desk

Stephen Davidson

“What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!” Expect a big smile and a joke like this one whenever you see Stephen Davidson. “I’ve got to learn a new way of living. A new way of dealing with things. It’s the first time I’ve experienced medical difficulties. First time I’ve been in a wheelchair. First time I can’t work. But I might as well have a good attitude about it.”

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Dental care gave David a chance against cancer

Home is just the beginning

Charles Johnson

"I'm so grateful that people still care and are checking on me."

Linda Mason

There's PUMPKIN special about YOU!

Trust Tierra: Our clients do

Thanks for Giving

Britney Dancy

Adapting Quickly to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Nevaeh

Ben And Mary

We Need a Lot of Healing

Donnell Gamble

From our hearts to yours - thank you!

Our pediatrics team is on the move

Get fired up for Lobby Day 2019

Damien Haussling

Having a home helps a lot...

Kim Carroll on Eliza

See Why We're Staying Open

Olivia and Caroline

Julia O'Connor

There's more to health care than, well, health care...

Ray Fitzberger

Get Loud at Lobby Day 2020

Kevin Moore

Sojourner Place at Argyle Avenue—Welcome home

Thomas Riddle

Art as Advocacy

We're not so different, you and I

Vanessa found her smile again

Housing is health care

Stephen Davidson