The Shelter Alliance's May Meeting: Homelessness Snapshot & What We're Doing About It

At The Shelter Alliance’s Community Meeting held on May 21 Kimrose Goodall, Executive Director, offered attendees an overview of homelessness in Kent County and the successful programs that The Shelter Alliance offers that move the unhoused to stable, sustainable lives. Indeed the numbers speak for themselves.

The homeless include men, women and children of all ages. The McKinney Vento Homelessness Act focuses specifically on youth in the public school system and is designed to address the educational barriers faced by children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Its annual study provides a snapshot of the extent of this problem on the Eastern Shore.

Youth homelessness in Kent County increased from 60 to 126 students since 2021-2022 representing a 110% increase. Currently about 7.92% of students experience homelessness or housing instability making Kent County the highest rate of increase within the Mid-shore region second only to Baltimore City.

While these numbers provide an overview of this one age group, we are seeing increased numbers in men, women, and families including the elderly and disabled. The Shelter Alliance’s Shelter Closet supports this trend. It provides free clothing, blankets, hygiene supply kits and more to those registered there as homeless. In 2025 alone 101 unduplicated individuals were served and the 2026 numbers to date are suggesting an increase.

The Shelter Alliance has developed an organizational framework known as the Bridge to Stability Model, a coordinated approach designed to move individuals and families from crisis toward long-term stability. The model recognizes that homelessness is often influenced by multiple interconnected factors and therefore requires more than temporary shelter alone. Through this approach, individuals are provided immediate safety and support while receiving structured guidance, planning, and resources aimed at addressing barriers to long-term stability.

The Bridge to Stability Model includes immediate access to shelter and supportive services, followed by the development of an individualized Life Plan within approximately 72 hours of engagement.

The Shelter Alliance currently operates two primary programs: the Emergency Shelter Program and the Rapid Rehousing Program. The Emergency Shelter Program is a motel-based placement program that provides immediate safety and basic needs support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The program serves as an entry point into services and is designed not only to address urgent needs, but also to begin the process of moving participants toward long-term stability through assessment, planning, and support.

The Rapid Rehousing Program assists eligible individuals and families in quickly transitioning from homelessness into stable housing. The program helps participants navigate the process of identifying appropriate housing opportunities, engaging landlords, and securing the resources necessary for a successful transition into permanent housing.

Integrated throughout both programs is The Shelter Alliance’s Case Management Service and Shelter Closet Program. Through individualized support, this service is designed to support participants to overcome barriers and move them toward long-term stability. It addresses the particular needs involved, including housing navigation, employment and workforce referrals, financial literacy and budgeting support, mental and physical health referrals, benefits navigation, follow-up and ongoing support. Of course, this list of extensive services reflects our outreach and collaboration with local agencies, non-profits, and churches.

We’ve had great progress over the past year. Here are the numbers to prove it.

·      121 individuals served

·      322 bed nights provided

·      6 individuals in stable housing

·      400+ hours of case management

·      124 unhoused individuals clothed.

Finally, Kimrose outlined the processes and regulations involved in homeless shelter development and nonprofit operations at the national, state, regional, and local levels. She emphasized that homeless response systems require coordination and collaboration to ensure services are safe, effective, and sustainable for vulnerable populations. Community members were encouraged to learn about these processes in order to advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness in an informed way and to better understand how to evaluate whether a shelter model is appropriately regulated, coordinated, and designed to provide safe and responsible care. Additional educational handouts and resources can be found on our website www.shelteralliancemd.org

Needless to say, The Shelter Alliance has made great strides in addressing the needs of the homeless while searching for an appropriate building for a year-round shelter where individualized wrap-around services can be provided efficiently and effectively.

The Shelter Alliance is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. To make a contribution please make checks payable to “Mid-Shore Community Foundation” with “Shelter Alliance” in the memo line. Mail your check to The Shelter Alliance, P.O. Box 2, Chestertown, MD  21620.