BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, December 4, 2025) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a significant partnership between the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), and local nonprofit service providers to prevent vulnerable youth and families from experiencing or returning to homelessness by ensuring they can be placed rapidly in permanent housing with adequate support and services to maintain housing stability.

"Every young person in Baltimore deserves a safe place to call home and the support they need to thrive. Tackling youth homelessness is not just about housing - it's about dignity, opportunity, and giving our young people the foundation to build a better future," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "This collaborative effort between Baltimore City agencies, the State of Maryland and dedicated nonprofit providers represents a significant step forward in addressing youth and family homelessness and ensuring vulnerable households have the support they need to achieve housing stability and self-sufficiency."

Under the agreement, BCDSS will identify older youth experiencing out-of-home care to live at Restoration Gardens 1 (44 units) and young families at risk of homelessness to live at the Y in Central Maryland's Geraldine Young Family Life Center (12 units). BCDSS will fund the case management services for the youth it refers, and MOHS will act as a fiscal intermediary and monitoring entity for the procured services.

"Our office is grateful for the opportunity to bring together key stakeholders that are dedicated to providing youth with an opportunity to enter adulthood with stable housing and supportive services as they exit foster care and enter the next stage of adulthood," said Mayor's Office of Homeless Services Director Ernestina Simmons, LCSW-C.

"The transition to adulthood is difficult for anyone, but for youth who have experienced trauma and instability, the risks are even greater. When housing is uncertain, these challenges multiply," said Baltimore City Department of Social Services Director Brandi Stocksdale, LCSW-C. "We are proud to partner in this work to ensure the young people and families we serve receive wraparound supports - education, employment, health care, and mentoring - so they stay permanently housed and have every chance to thrive."

At the Geraldine Young Family Life Center, the Y in Central Maryland will provide young parents and their children experiencing homelessness with comprehensive case management services, including life skills workshops, educational programs, connection to community resources, permanent housing, and one year of after-care support. The Y also focuses on employment and income support, connecting participants with job readiness training, resume-building workshops, career coaching, and partnerships with local employers and financial literacy initiatives. The Y estimates serving at least 10 individuals per year.

"The Y is thrilled to continue our partnership with MOHS and begin a new collaboration with BCDSS to support women, children, and young families. These funds will allow us to reduce barriers for individuals seeking to maintain stable housing in Baltimore City and help ensure that our communities continue to thrive. In alignment with our mission of developing the full potential of every individual through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, we are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and look forward to the new possibilities these resources will provide for families to build brighter, more stable futures," commented Donald Eaddy, Vice President of Youth Development and Community Health at the Y in Central Maryland.

MOHS also selected the University of Maryland, Baltimore/Uplift Alliance Inc. to provide youth living in Restoration Gardens 1 with comprehensive case management, employment and life skills coaching, and connections to basic needs assistance. Youth will have access to Baltimore City's Mayor's Office of Employment Development and YO Baltimore services, as well as workshops with the Eutaw Corridor Resource Center and grassroots community partners. An estimated 60 individuals will be served per year. Another key partner, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, is providing housing vouchers for the youth and young families.

Through the partnership, Homes for America, which owns Restoration Gardens 1, utilized an American Rescue Plan Act grant from Baltimore City, made possible by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, to modernize the units where youth will live. Restoration Gardens 1 opened in 2010.

"Homes for America is grateful for the incredible collaboration among so many public sector partners to bring both new capital investments and robust supportive services to the residents of Restoration Gardens. This alignment of will, resources and partnership will benefit the current and future residents for years to come," said President and CEO of Homes for America Dana Johnson.

"The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development supports evidence-based approaches to solving homelessness, including Permanent Supportive Housing, that foster fundamental human dignity and safety. Caring for our neighbors who need it most - especially our vulnerable youth and young families - is morally mandatory and critical to improving quality of life in any community," said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. "The Department is incredibly proud to be a partner in this project in support of our work to end chronic homelessness across Maryland."

The agreement for these services runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, with one-year renewal options.