Baltimore homeless services providers say more people could be sleeping on the streets after the federal government cut $3.8 million in aid to a variety of nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
Federal officials say the cuts represent a shift in priorities as they try to redirect money around the country toward permanent housing for the homeless rather than temporary facilities.
Advocates for the homeless in Baltimore say they might have to close facilities and cancel services as a result. Organizations such as the House of Ruth, Associated Catholic Charities, Marian House and the Salvation Army were caught off guard last week when the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development decided to discontinue grants to 19 of 21 Baltimore-based programs that rely on federal funding to provide temporary housing and outreach services for the homeless.
"It's a huge impact," said John J. Schiavone, president of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, which provides shelters and housing for more than 1,000 people. "This is a setback for the city that we won't easily recover from."
His organization must absorb more than $200,000 in federal cuts to two transitional housing programs and to housing services at its Beans and Bread food program.
"These cuts will affect hundreds of beds across the city," Schiavone said. "When you have less beds in the system, that creates a ripple effect on the shelters, which are overtaxed. That, in turn, increases the rate of homelessness in Baltimore City."
The federal agency will still provide about $20 million in grants for homeless programs in Baltimore. The cuts come as the agency rewards programs that provide permanent housing for the homeless, in response to a series of studies that show that such a focus is more effective than temporary housing, officials said.
Brian Sullivan, a HUD spokesman, said federal officials asked jurisdictions across the country to prioritize such programs.
"We recognize that local planners are making tough decisions about the programs they support," he said. "We know how to end homelessness. While transitional housing can be an important tool in managing homelessness, we're encouraging communities to offer permanent housing solutions to an even greater number of persons and families who are experiencing homelessness."
Bill McLennan, director of Paul's Place, a community center in Pigtown, said federal officials warned organizations funding could be drying up.
"This is the year the hammer fell," he said. "It's very frustrating because we have a need for shelters and transitional housing. As a community, we're going to have to figure out a way to fund these programs since HUD won't."
City officials estimate there are more than 2,700 homeless people in Baltimore. Government and private shelters don't have enough beds for them all, a particular problem during the winter.
Though overall funding is being cut, federal officials noted they did include $1 million in new funding for a 55-unit scattered-site permanent housing project for chronically homeless individuals that will be operated by Health Care for the Homeless.
Vidia Dhanraj, director of the city's Homeless Services Program, said city officials plan to meet with shelter operators to determine how many beds the city will lose as a result of the cut.
"We will be meeting with programs over the next week to determine the impact," she said. "Some programs have indicated they will continue by identifying replacement funding from other sources, but some will close. We will know better after we meet with them."
Several City Council members expressed concern this week. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke said she was worried about people who rely on transitional housing as they move from one "catastrophe to another," such as those who are leaving prison, recovering from addiction or who were homeless for an extended period of time.
"They are not ready to get a mortgage," Clarke said. "What are we going to do? ... Do we have a game plan?"
Dhanraj said the city's Journey Home board — a collaborative made up of community members, homeless services providers and concerned individuals that evaluates the city's approach to ending homelessness — will "help address the gap and corral support" in coming months. The board is examining how services are being delivered to the homeless, and considering what changes should be made to improve practices and outcomes, she said.
Beth Benner, director of the Women's Housing Coalition, said organizations will have to scramble for donations and funds.
"These organizations are already lean and mean," she said. "These are good organizations that got cut."
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