Grassroots Crisis Intervention announces the expansion of Howard County’s emergency shelter to 89 total beds with the addition of 18 new 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.
This significant expansion was made possible due to a transformational investment from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. County Executive Ball committed $1 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the completion of phases one and two of the renovation and expansion. The Howard County Department of General Services managed construction of the expansion across both phases. As part of this renovation, Howard County has also added new restroom and shower facilities, locker rooms, a new laundry facility, and ADA-accessible facilities within the emergency shelter. The renovation of the Grassroots Emergency Shelter was the first major expansion of the shelter facility since 2008. The Howard County Emergency Shelter is operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention.
The addition of the new beds comes at a critical time, as Grassroots launches the Cold Weather Shelter program for 2025-26. In total, 20 beds in the emergency shelter are allocated for this program, which provides overflow shelter for individuals and families during the winter. The program is run in partnership with the faith communities who provide meals, greeters, servers and other support during the 4-month program.
In Fiscal Year 2025, Grassroots provided emergency shelter to 238 clients for a total of 25,106 shelter bed nights. It supported an additional 39 individuals through the Cold Weather Shelter program and 258 individuals through the Code Blue shelter, which provides refuge for people when the temperature reaches 26 degrees or below. Grassroots provides emergency shelter residents with case management support services as a way to work with clients to accomplish a path towards independent living and finding permanent housing. Case managers also offer support with life skill trainings, job readiness activities, getting and keeping a job, accessing social services and mental health and substance use disorders treatment.
“For more than 55 years, Grassroots has provided safety and hope for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness,” said Dr. Mariana Izraelson, LCADC, Executive Director of Grassroots. “This expansion marks a commitment to meet the growing needs of individuals and families in Howard County. By increasing our capacity, we are ensuring we are able to provide stability and security for those who are most in need in our community. We are so appreciative of County Executive Ball for his leadership and partnership in growing this critical support in Howard County.”
“Our partnership with Grassroots reflects what we can accomplish when we come together to meet the needs of our community by providing emergency shelter for residents who are experiencing homelessness, treating them with compassion and dignity,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Through this transformational expansion, we have increased capacity at the Grassroots Emergency Shelter by more than 70% in the last year, ensuring more of our families have access to safe and comfortable shelter options when they need it most. By offering emergency shelter and supportive services, we are striving to ensure that our neighbors feel seen, heard, and loved, especially during the cold months of the holiday season.”
To access shelter services offered by Grassroots, residents can call the Grassroots crisis line at 410-531-6677 or walk in to the Grassroots crisis center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, Columbia, MD 21045 to complete a housing assessment.
In addition to emergency shelter, Grassroots provides free, 24-hour crisis, mental health and substance use services at its crisis center in Columbia. Individuals can access care via a 24-hour crisis line, walk-in crisis center and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, as well as a 24-hour food and hygiene pantry. Grassroots also operates Howard County’s Mobile Crisis Team, which responds to crises in the community. Grassroots supports unsheltered, homeless and low-income individuals with hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, case management, a food and clothing pantry and other resources at its Day Resource Center in Jessup.