Councilman and Advocates Press Homeless Services Director on Shelter Conditions and Housing Policies in Baltimore

In a recent City Council hearing on November 4, housing advocates and City Council members, including Councilman James Torrence, engaged in a two-hour discussion with Baltimore’s homeless services agency. The focus was on improving shelter conditions and housing policies, following a survey that revealed widespread dissatisfaction among residents. Torrence, who has personal experience with homelessness and chairs the Housing and Economic Development Committee, highlighted reports from unsheltered constituents about mistreatment and mold in shelter rooms. These issues align with findings from a report by Housing Our Neighbors, a nonprofit advocating for the rights of the city’s unsheltered population.

Torrence expressed concern over the lack of information provided by agency officials prior to the hearing. Survey results from 74 current and former shelter residents indicated an average satisfaction rating of 5.1 out of 10. The survey, conducted during the hot summer months, revealed issues such as insect infestations, brown-colored water from showers and faucets, expired or moldy food, and a lack of wheelchair accessibility.

Ernestina Simmons, director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, acknowledged the need for improvements in shelters and services. While she pointed to the agency’s own data and findings by Guidehouse, a Virginia-based consulting group, to counter the survey results, she emphasized the agency’s success in connecting clients to permanent housing. Simmons noted that nearly 32% of clients were connected to permanent housing this year, an increase from previous years.

Simmons also mentioned that while most clients reported satisfaction with facility cleanliness and case management services, complaints about food services and a lack of recreational activities persisted. She assured that all shelters comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s minimum habitability standards.

However, funding remains a critical issue. Despite a 19% increase in the agency’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year to $73.7 million, changes in federal funding priorities pose a threat to service continuity. This situation underscores the ongoing challenge of ensuring adequate shelter conditions and housing policies, reflecting the biblical call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in Matthew 25:35, which emphasizes feeding the hungry and welcoming strangers.

Source: Read the original report