Health Care for the Homeless of Maryland began as part of a nationwide demonstration project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust and the US Conference of Mayors.
In 1985, HCH operated two small clinics in My Sister’s Place, a day shelter for homeless women, and Christopher Place, a shelter for homeless men. Each clinic served between 8 and 15 people per day.
By 1987, the organization consolidated both clinics in a central location and moved to its current 111 Park Avenue facility in 1992.
Today, between 150-200 people come to the clinic each day seeking medical care, mental health services, social services and addiction treatment. HCH also provides funding to the Children’s Health Outreach Project of Mercy FamilyCare and to clinics in Frederick and Montgomery County. Statewide, HCH provided its comprehensive range of services to approximately 8,500 different men, women and children last year – only a small fraction of the 50,000 Marylanders thought to experience homelessness during the same time period.
Timeline
2005: HCH marks its twentieth anniversary and begins
studying possible sites for a new facility. A Board and staff committee
completes a 3-5 year strategic plan which re-affirms the HCH mission
statement and adopts four strategic goals: service expansion, enhanced
financial development, capital planning, and expanded advocacy capacity.
HCH begins providing medical outreach at You Are Never Alone (YANA), a
program for indigent women. Average number of clients seen per day at
HCH: 130-150. Number of staff: 100
2004: To address growing demand, HCH expands its hours by
opening at 7:30 each morning. Staff document more than 2,000 occasions
of turnaway due to limited resources. HCH receives funding from the
state AIDS Administration to implement “rapid HIV testing.”
2003:
HCH is re-accredited by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. HCH restructures again: a
jail diversion initiative, the Cornerstone project, is born and the
Mental Health Case Management and Intake Services teams are created.
Having outgrown our
2002: HCH begins participation in the federal Diabetes
Collaborative to improve health outcomes for homeless individuals
with diabetes. The External Affairs Team is created, uniting under one
functional team the agency’s public policy, financial development,
community relations, and public benefit education staff. HCH initiates
new drug purchasing program in partnership with Mt. Vernon Pharmacy –
allowing for a reduction in prescription costs. Average number of
clients seen per day: 100-120. Number of clients served in
2001: HCH receives commendation from the federal government
for leadership in the delivery of HlV/AlDS care. The Maryland Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene provides a capital improvement grant
allowing HCH to redesign the first floor and add 15 additional work
spaces throughout the building.
2000: Health Care for the Homeless becomes the first
independent HCH project in the country to receive accreditation from the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
The Board of Directors adopts a new mission statement: "We provide
health-related services, education and advocacy to reduce the incidence
and burdens of homelessness." The accompanying strategic plan
reaffirms the agency’s commitment to advocacy and expands services to
certain populations at risk of homelessness. HCH receives a large grant
from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing
support services to people with HIV/AIDS; the Connect Team is born. Number
of staff: 74
1999: A local "redevelopment" bill threatens to
condemn the
1998: Under new leadership, HCH restructures, reducing
administrative costs. A staff committee focuses on diversity and
participatory democracy. The agency enters a partnership with the Pfizer
Foundation to make managed care work for vulnerable populations. The HCH
Mental Health Team enters a partnership with
1997: HCH receives state certification for its outpatient
addiction treatment program. The Writers’ Group is organized.
Consumers are added to the HCH Board of Directors. HCH begins the
Physicians’ Advocacy Campaign, a financial development program headed
by prominent Baltimore-area doctors.
1996: HCH forms an Addiction Team to conduct outreach and
operate an in-house treatment program. HCH advocacy results in Medicaid
managed care legislation recognizing people experiencing homelessness as
a "special needs population" with the right to enhanced
services.
1995: HCH marks its tenth anniversary. The Governor
eliminates financial assistance for individuals with disabilities. HCH
helps mobilize a successful State-wide advocacy effort to restore
financial and medical assistance to persons with disabilities. In July,
Baltimore Magazine gives HCH a Best of Baltimore award for its
mobilization efforts. The Art Expressions Group is born. Number of
staff: 45
1994: Due to the increasing number of clients in need of
medical attention, a formalized "triage" system begins at the
clinic. HCH receives its first policy advocacy contract – from the
National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
1993: HCH provides increased HIV services through Ryan
White Title I funding in collaboration with Johns Hopkins’ Moore
Clinic. A federal grant makes possible the computerization of the entire
agency, allowing intake and registration services to flow more smoothly.
HCH organizes busloads of staff and clients, beginning an advocacy
effort which would restore partial medical coverage for individuals with
disabilities.
1992: HCH outgrows its facility and relocates, along with
other homeless service organizations, to The Center at
1991: In response to increasing rates of substance use in
1990: The Vision Van, through the Maryland Society for
Sight, begins providing eye care services at HCH. Staff organize the
first Annual Comedy Care, a local fundraising event modeled after Comic
Relief. HCH begins its relationship with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps
and creates a
1989: Mitch Snyder, nationally recognized homeless
advocate, hits the streets of
1988: HCH adds a formalized volunteer program and
incorporates as a private nonprofit agency. The previous "governing
board" becomes the first Board of Directors.
1987: HCH relocates to a centralized clinic (an old savings
& loan building) at
1986: The first Comic Relief show takes place in L.A. Billy
Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams head a group fifty comedians
in an event to benefit the National Health Care for the Homeless
Program. HCH is a recipient of funds.
1985: Made possible through a research demonstration grant
from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust and
the U.S. Conference of Mayors, HCH begins providing primary medical care
at two day shelters operated by Catholic Charities: My Sisters Place and
1984: A
1983: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Pew
Charitable Trust and the US Conference of Mayors announce plans to begin
funding for the National Health Care for the Homeless Program.
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