Maryland’s Workforce Development Response to Homelessness Across the State - Workforce Development & Adult Learning
Since 2014, Maryland’s Interagency Council on Homelessness has been tasked with examining statewide initiatives and recommending policy solutions to end homelessness in the state. Among those recommendations is a proposal to blend housing services with workforce development strategies in order to create a pathway to housing stability.
In partnership with the Department of Housing and Community Development, Labor released the Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Competitive Grant Solicitation in February of 2022. This initiative seeks to establish partnerships across systems to align and coordinate the delivery of employment and related services to individuals at-risk-of or currently experiencing homelessness. Successful applicants had to demonstrate that they could form a consortium that includes workforce development partners, organizations that provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness, and employer and industry partners.
A total of nearly $1 million was awarded to five grantees across the state. A summary of awarded projects is included in the table below:
| Applicant |
Amount Award |
Counties Served |
Numbers Served |
Brief Description |
| Allegany College of Maryland | $200,000 | Allegany and Garrett | 24 |
Allegany College will offer concurrent work readiness programming, housing, and supportive services for youth and families with children experiencing homelessness. |
| Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development (DEWD) | $200,000 | Baltimore | 75 | DEWD will hire a Homeless Services Career Consultant to co-locate employment services at shelters throughout the county. |
| LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, Inc. | $198,976 | Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s | 150 | LifeStyles will enhance their wraparound support for individuals experiencing homelessness by bolstering workforce services through the co-location of a Workforce Development Coordinator. |
| Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) | $200,000 | Baltimore City | 54 | Veterans experiencing homelessness who are enrolled into MCVET’s workforce development program will receive wraparound employment support and case management to augment vocational training. |
| Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) | $199,000 | Washington and Allegany | 65 | HGI will develop a construction career pathway for youth ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness. |
| Total: | $997,976 | 368 |
Application Materials
Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Solicitation
Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Narrative Application
Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Budget Application
Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Pre-Proposal Conference PresentationWorkforce Solutions to Address Homelessness Solicitation Q&A
Resources:
Homelessness Prevention Toolkit
2019 Point in Time Results from Maryland CoCs
Vital Role of Case Management for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
Practice Guides for Employment and Training (HUD Exchange)
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