Howard Charts Bold Course To End Homelessness With Five-Year Plan

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Director Kelly Cimino to announce the release of the County’s draft “The Path Toward Zero: 2025 – 2030 Plan to End Homelessness.” 

This draft plan outlines all the major goals and interventions DHCD seeks to accomplish over the next five years to achieve “functional zero” and ensure a comprehensive system of homeless services. Functional zero is achieved when the number of people experiencing homelessness is below the system’s capacity to house them. That is, the system has adequate capacity to respond to and resolve homelessness whenever it occurs, throughout the year.

From the county release:
“Today, we are not just responding to homelessness, we are reimagining what is possible. With this plan, we are building upon our progress already made and further laying the foundation for transformative, long-term solutions that ensure everyone in Howard County has a place to call home. I want to thank Kelly and her staff for their vision, persistence, and humanity, and for always rising to the challenge and centering people in every decision. Also, thank you to our committed partners – Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Bridges to Housing Stability, the Community Action Council of Howard County, the Howard County Housing Commission, and so many others, who walk with us in this work every day. Finally, thank you to all members of our Coalition to End Homelessness and the Continuum of Care Board, whose expertise and deep relationships in our community have helped us ensure that we can effectively and compassionately deliver essential services and housing.” – Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive
Currently, a household going through the County’s Coordinated Entry System of Homeless Services (CES) is immediately prioritized for services; however, they often experience a wait due to a lack of openings in programs as a result of insufficient nonprofit provider capacity or insufficient resources, such as bed spaces and permanent supportive housing. By achieving and maintaining functional zero, households facing housing instability will experience fewer waitlists, faster transitioning to housing, and robust wraparound supports.
A copy of the draft plan can be found on DHCD’s “Homeless Services” website.