Give people a place to use drugs safely
Op-ed excerpt by President and CEO Kevin Lindamood
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past 35 years, it’s that housing is health care. But until our nation reinvests in affordable housing, the daily realities of homelessness remain devastating to health.
People without homes are far likelier than their housed counterparts to die prematurely. Their deaths result from increased exposure to violence and the elements along with a variety of health conditions, including addiction. The opioid epidemic is all too real for many people served by Health Care for the Homeless.
This year, Maryland has an opportunity to save lives by adopting a proven strategy to reduce overdose deaths and promote access to treatment: overdose prevention sites. Bills proposed in the Maryland General Assembly (H.B. 464/S.B. 990) would establish these indoor spaces where people could use their own drugs while finding immediate access to life-saving interventions, medical and mental health treatment, emotional support and non-judgmental therapeutic relationships.
One of our patients, Mark, was admitted to a Health Care for the Homeless recuperative care program with multiple abscesses on both arms — limbs so swollen they resembled tree trunks. Over decades, he had tried both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation to stop using heroin and had been brought back on countless occasions from the brink of death. By the time one of our nurses met him, Mark was in his fifties, newly diagnosed with HIV, completely hopeless and full of regret. Fearful of being judged for his addiction, he told the nurse he wished there was a place he could have gone to use safely until he felt ready to stop...
Read Kevin Lindamood's full op-ed on the Baltimore Sun here.
More Recent News
On July 24, Health Care for the Homeless hosted its second annual Client Resource Fair, creating a one-stop opportunity for clients to connect with resources across Baltimore and Maryland. More than a dozen city agencies and community partners participated, helping clients explore legal services, employment opportunities, food resources, reentry support and other services aligned with their goals.
Registration is LIVE for the 2026 Rock Your Socks to Health & Home 5K! Join us Saturday, November 7 at our new location, Lake Montebello, as we lace up our sneakers to end homelessness in Baltimore.
After nearly eight years with Health Care for the Homeless, Tammy Montague, PhD, LCSW-C is stepping into a brand new Director of Recovery Services role! After roles in our Housing Services team as a Therapist Case Manager (TCM) for clients with HIV and Lead TCM, Tammy most recently oversaw the agency’s administration of the Assistance in Community Integration Services Program (ACIS), a state Medicaid program that provides care and support to help people maintain their housing after experiencing homelessness. Read on to learn what drew Tammy to this exciting opportunity...
Nine Health Care for the Homeless staff members have taken on new roles this year at the agency. See who they are and what they are looking forward to in their new positions.