Professionals working directly with unhoused individuals statewide say persistent mental health and substance abuse challenges are complicating the housing crisis but progress is being made.
A two-part session at the 2025 MACo Summer Conference covered a wide range of topics affecting the housing crisis in Maryland. The session, “Housing for All − Part 2: Supportive Strategies for Stable Communities,” touched on affordable housing supply, resources to increase housing security, and how first responders in health, human service, public safety, and social service divisions can intervene.
This session kicked off with highlights from Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, covering a range of strategies they are employing to increase the number of housing units available in Baltimore. His remarks identified an all-the-above approach to getting people housed including renovating vacant houses, acquiring hotel properties, and using geographic information systems to track needs and progress. Assistant Secretary Danielle Meister of the Division of Homeless Solutions in the Maryland Department of Housing and Community, added to the positive notes shared by Mayor Scott. She said that Maryland is outperforming other states in keeping the numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity relatively low compared to increases nationwide. She did however highlight that the numbers are still problematic in specific targeted communities such as young and senior residents as well as those experiencing behavioral and mental health challenges. The agencies permanent supportive housing strategy was highlighted as a way to target uniquely vulnerable populations.
The final segment of speakers highlighted the efforts of first responders in Howard County, Worcester County, and the lower Eastern Shore in helping unhoused individuals access housing and other services that can help to stabilize their housing situation. In Worcester, Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli spoke about the partnership they have developed with non-profit agency Diakonia, where the law enforcement agency and the Diakonia mobile crisis team work hand in hand to dispatch housing support professionals with officers, and sometimes even in place of law enforcement. This establishes continuity in response, builds community trust, and serves to keep situations from escalating into unnecessary danger for first responders and unhoused individuals. Stephanie VanGasbeck, Mobile Outreach Team Leader at Diakonia and architect of the partnership in Worcester, followed up Sheriff Crisafulli’s overview with a detailed explanation of how their local process has evolved over time, successes, challenges, and perspectives for increasing progress.
The last speaker of the session, Ana Rivera Ortiz, Director of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion in Howard County, discussed similar strategies being employed in Howard and reiterated the need for multiple agencies to be communicating effectively to pool resources and bolster outcomes. Her position is housed in the local health department with collaboration and training for the program embedded in the State’s Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement agencies, detention centers, and the Public Defenders Office just to name a few. Their program received national recognition in 2021 by the National Association of Counties for Innovation in Criminal Justice.
- Speakers:
- Danielle Meister, Assistant Secretary, Division of Homeless Solutions, Maryland Department of Housing and Community
- Matt Crisafulli, Sheriff, Worcester County
- Stephanie VanGasbeck, Mobile Outreach Team Leader, Diakonia
- Ana Rivera Ortiz, Director, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, Howard County
- The Honorable Brandon Scott, Mayor, Baltimore City
- Moderator: The Honorable Bernice Mireku-North, MD House of Delegates
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