Advocates for the homeless in Baltimore are raising concerns about the city's handling of two hotels intended to serve as emergency shelters. According to CBS News Baltimore, the Holiday Inn Express on N. Gay Street and the Sleep Inn and Suites on N. Front Street, acquired initially to respond to the housing crisis, have instead become a "revolving door" returning families and individuals experiencing homelessness to the streets. Local leaders and grassroots advocates call for significant changes to how the shelters operate to ensure they are safe and effective.
During a press conference, homeless advocate and former Republican candidate Zulieka Baysmore expressed dissatisfaction with the city's efforts. Baysmore, who sought answers from the city on the effectiveness of these shelters, highlighted a lack of transparency regarding the support provided to the shelter residents. "It is unacceptable when we have put in the money to make resources available. Where is the housing coordinators? Where is the navigation when it comes to once they come in, we navigate them to where they need to be," Christina Flowers, director of Belvedere Real Care Providers, stated, as per CBS News Baltimore.
Flowers' concerns were echoed in tales of families left without proper care and support, including a family of five with a child with autism who was put out at 7 a.m. without a place to go. Shannon Kelly recounted her own experience to WBAL-TV, saying she and her children, including a newborn, were left without the promised housing, mental health counseling, or food assistance.
The current system's critics advocate for a more collaborative approach, urging the city to work with community partners and service providers to address the crisis. There's a sentiment that the city's processes fall short of addressing individual needs. Christina Flowers stated, "It's about triaging and assessment because once you realize the need, you can kind of accommodate it." In response, the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services has defended its practices by stating that each shelter resident receives a copy of the shelter's policies. An individual meeting will discuss case management and mental health treatment services, as reported by WBAL-TV.
