Fast Fact: Between January and mid-May, eight staff members ventured into new roles at the agency. See who they are and read what they are looking forward to most!
12.13.18
When you grow up poor in Baltimore, the odds aren’t in your favor. Your life expectancy lags 20 years behind people from wealthy neighborhoods. You’re more likely to get diabetes and heart disease. You’re also more likely to experience trauma and suffer from behavioral health issues.
Terrell knows the odds all too well. He was nine the first time he experienced homelessness. His mother was a single parent and when she developed a substance use disorder, they lost everything. Moving through foster care programs, Terrell started experiencing depression and anxiety. Eventually, he started living on the streets and in shelters.
All over Baltimore, people like Terrell are plagued with health issues simply because of where they live. Also known as Social Determinants of Health (SDH), these environmental factors account for 20% of a person’s health, while health care accounts for just 10%.
We’ve begun assessing where our clients live and work in order to inform their health care plans. Now, every time Case Manager Eva Hendrix sees Terrell, she asks him a set of SDH questions—including where he sleeps.
“Our strategic plan says we want 100% of our clients to have access to affordable housing, so the first thing we ask is: where are you living?” says Eva. “Anything less than permanent housing is not what we want for our clients. Social determinants of health reinforce that mindset—and help us do something about it.”
Thanks to all the housing information Eva has been collecting, Terrell finally qualified for federal housing assistance in October. For once in his life, he feels lucky. “It was like winning the lottery,” Terrell says. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Next week, Terrell is going to look at apartments—and he can’t wait to live in a stable environment. “I want to focus on music, relax and just be healthy,” he says.
Fast Fact: Between January and mid-May, eight staff members ventured into new roles at the agency. See who they are and read what they are looking forward to most!
After five positions and nearly 20 years at the agency, we celebrate the promotion of Malcolm Williams, LCSW-C from Senior Client Relations Manager to Director of Community Relations & Engagement. In this new role, Malcolm will continue the work of centering client perspective and leadership at Health Care for the Homeless as well as leading important work toward racial equity and inclusion and strengthening community partnerships across our service areas. Get to know more about him and the new position.
Follow a “Day in the life” of Director of Public Policy Joanna Diamond, during the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session.
Pass the Mic features the voices and stories of people with a lived experience of homelessness. In this edition, hear from Michael, a Sinatra fan and Maryland transplant with advice for retirees on how to stay active.