Grassroots operates Howard County’s emergency shelter. The program includes 89 total beds – 65 beds for families and single women and 24 beds for single men.
In December 2025, Grassroots added 18 beds for individuals and families. This expansion is phase two of a significant renovation that started last year. Phase one added 20 new beds in November 2024, increasing capacity from 51 to 71 beds. Capacity at the Grassroots Emergency Shelter has now increased by 75 percent to a total capacity of 89 beds since November 2024.
Grassroots manages other emergency shelter programs within Howard County in order to support those who are most in need during the coldest months of the year. The Cold Weather Shelter, located at Grassroots, provides consistent overflow shelter from November through March in partnership with Howard County Government and the faith community.
Code Blue Shelter is activated during extreme weather nights, when temperature reach 26 degrees or below, and provides nightly shelter for homeless Howard County residents.
To access support, individuals should call the Grassroots crisis line at 410-531-6677 or walk in to the Grassroots Crisis Center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, in Columbia to complete a Housing Assessment. This process can also connect individuals with additional resources throughout the county.
Providing emergency shelter is the first step in Grassroots’ program to help people get back on their feet again. Residents of the emergency shelter work with case managers on life skills training, job readiness activities and assistance finding and keeping a job. Children continue their education in the schools where they are enrolled.
Each resident has a primary case manager and an individualized housing plan which could include finding employment, establishing a savings plan, receiving substance use disorder treatment or psychiatric services, job training or obtaining education referrals.
Grassroots’ goal is to help people resolve their immediate crisis and obtain the ongoing support they need to achieve and maintain permanent housing.
The Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is a partnership with the faith community and Howard County government and provides overflow shelter from November through March.
Congregations provide volunteers, meals and other support. Grassroots hosts the program in the emergency shelter and provides administrative coordination.
For more information on how your congregation can participate in the Cold Weather Shelter program, please email info@grassrootscrisis.org.
To meet the safety needs of those experiencing homelessness, Howard County ensures safe shelter overnight during dangerously cold weather (sustained 26 degrees or below). If conditions present, Grassroots will initiate a Code Blue event.
Individuals can contact Grassroots at 410-531-6677 for more information on Code Blue evenings.
Information about Code Blue events will be posted on Grassroots’ Facebook and Instagram pages.
Joe Eldred joined Grassroots in 2023 as director of Homeless Services where he oversees the emergency shelter programs and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. He started his career in homeless services nearly 20 years ago, having previously worked in education, after participating in a homeless count in Seattle. He has held every position in affordable housing from Onsite Property Manager to Director of Housing and Property Management.
Over his years, Joe has run all types of housing offerings including those for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use issues, seniors, farm workers, and those with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. He has also worked with many different types of funding programs including HUD, PRAC 202, PRAC 811, USDA Rural Housing funds and funding services designed to break the cycle of homelessness like Continuum of Care and the Maryland Homelessness Solutions Program. Joe has had the opportunity to see how housing programs differ throughout the country, working in Seattle, Chicago, Harrisburg, PA and Ventura, CA, among others.
Nancy Campbell supervises the operations of Grassroots, including HR, finance, emergency shelter, homeless services, case management and facilities. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing organizations’ operations activities, mostly in the human services field.
Community support is a passion for Nancy. She feels that mental health and homelessness often co-occur, and her goal is to develop strong strategic plans that meet the needs of Grassroots’ clients. She looks to make a difference by effectively working with our programs and staff to explore what we can offer to the community. She pays special focus on efforts that help individuals adjust while in the emergency shelter, as well as those that help them achieve stable housing. Nancy has her PMP, master’s degree in Psychology and MBA, and is currently in school to pursue a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Management.
Laura Willemin oversees all of the clinical and crisis services at Grassroots, including the crisis line, walk-in services, 988 crisis chat and text services, Mobile Crisis Team, substance use disorder program, urgent care mental health services and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. She joined Grassroots in 2021 having previously served as manager of the Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. She also worked in Prince George’s Child Protective Services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the community.
Laura’s career has been concentrated in intense, fast-paced, high-acuity, safety-related and high-risk areas of practice. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals and families during the most difficult or intense circumstances they may experience through the lifespan. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C).