Grassroots is seeking volunteers for both the Crisis Intervention Center and Shelter in Columbia and for the Day Resource Center in Jessup, according to Grassroots Volunteer Coordinator Monteith Mitchell. Volunteers are needed to serve as Office Assistants in Columbia on Thursdays and Fridays for two-hour shifts between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Two volunteers age… Continue Reading
Grassroots Cold Weather Shelter Ends Busy Season
Clients receive help applying for housing vouchers and health insurance, finding jobs, screening for substance use, replacing identification The Howard County Government, partnering with Grassroots and local faith communities, provided an expanded Cold Weather Shelter Program for 37 struggling individuals from the end of November until the end of March. People are referred to the… Continue Reading
Opioid Related Deaths Increase in 2020
Howard County saw a 43% increase in opioid related deaths in 2020, compared to 2019, part of a national and statewide trend as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated opioid and substance misuse, according to information provided by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Our community, like others, is suffering from the compounding of the coronavirus pandemic… Continue Reading
LGBTQ+ Community Provided Safe Space
More Trainers Needed to Support Program Grassroots is seeking applicants for “Safe Space,” its training and certification program to learn how to provide a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. The program helps attendees become more culturally competent in providing services and dealing with issues specific to the LGBTQ+ population. Since 2017, over 200 people have… Continue Reading
Grassroots Distributes Rent and Utility Relief Funds
Grassroots is distributing $1 million in Howard County COVID-19 Relief funds to help residents pay past due utility bills and rent payments to prevent eviction. The U.S. Treasury is providing the rent relief and utility assistance funding. In the two weeks since Grassroots partnered with the county to process applications and award the relief funds,… Continue Reading
Howard County Covid-19 Relief – Rental and Utility Assistance
Beginning March 11, 2021, Howard County residents may contact one of the participating providers to complete an application for assistance to pay past due utility bills and rent payments to prevent eviction. Maximum assistance per household is 12 months of rent and utility expenses. Residents that previously received rental assistance are eligible to apply for… Continue Reading
Online QPR Training Session Dates for March Set
Training helps to save lives from suicide. QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the… Continue Reading
Record Number Served in 2020 by Grassroots
The year 2020 will be remembered for the illnesses and deaths caused by coronavirus, economic hardship, public exposure of systemic racism, and political upheaval. It will also be remembered at Grassroots because of its record-setting delivery of services. 485 people, 91 of them children, were provided shelter 93 households were given Rental Assistance Funds 1,001… Continue Reading
Howard County Executive Ball Notes Concerning Opioid Trend in 2020
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County saw a 43% increase in opioid related deaths in 2020 compared to 2019, part of national and statewide trend as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated opioid and substance misuse. There was a 2.6% decrease in non-fatal overdoses compared to the previous year. Previously, Howard County noted a continued decrease in… Continue Reading
United Way Gives Family Stability Program Grant to Grassroots
Homelessness Prevention Funding Helps Keep Families in Own Home and Children in School The United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) has selected Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center to receive a Family Stability Program grant of $110,000 to operate a Homelessness Prevention Program serving Howard County from Jan. 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, Grassroots Executive Director Dr. Mariana… Continue Reading
Upcoming Online Training and Support Sessions
QPR Training • Teen Support after Suicide Loss • Safe Space Training Below are a number of upcoming free online training and support sessions available through Grassroots. QPR Training QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained… Continue Reading
Dottie Paxton Elected President of Grassroots Board
Fulton Bank Vice President/ Financial Center Manager Dottie C. Paxton has been elected President of the Board of Directors, succeeding Nicholas J. Langhauser. Paxton has been on the board since 2013 and served as Vice President, Chair of the Resource Development Committee and in other posts. She is a graduate of Leadership Howard County and… Continue Reading