SVDP Awarded $1.45M in Grants to Launch the Home Again Initiative
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore (SVDP) has been awarded $1.45 million in grants to support the launch of its Home Again Initiative. This initiative will provide low-income families exiting homelessness with quality affordable housing in a neighborhood setting, coupled with supportive services.
“The Home Again Initiative will create quality, affordable housing for low-income families, which is a huge need,” stated John Schiavone, President & CEO of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. “Through this initiative we hope to demonstrate a new, replicable model for converting a portion of the large vacant housing stock in Baltimore City into affordable housing that is coupled with services to promote housing stability for the families served.”
The first phase of the Home Again Initiative will focus on the development of 25 units of affordable housing over the next 24 months. This will be achieved through the rehabilitation of existing vacant and dilapidated rowhomes in Baltimore City, with initial efforts concentrated in the southern end of the Park Heights Impact Investment Zone, near Park Circle. SVDP has an established presence in the Park Heights Community, with three Head Start Sites, two Early Head Start locations, the Cottage Avenue Community affordable housing development, and the St. Vincent de Paul Center that serves as a base for its rapid rehousing and veterans housing programs.
The $1.45 million in investments include $1M from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, $200,000 from the Home Depot Foundation, and $250,000 from the Hackerman Foundation towards a total goal of $2.5 million for the first phase of Home Again. SVDP is also partnering with Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development for the acquisition of vacant houses.
“The Home Again Initiative will create quality, affordable housing for low income families, which is a huge need.”
– John Schiavone, President & CEO of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
The Home Again Initiative aligns with SVDP’s ongoing commitment to supporting families struggling with homelessness and housing instability, offering not just a place to live, but the resources and support they need to thrive.
Construction on the first set of houses is set to begin in early 2025, with families placed as soon as each house is completed.
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore will continue to expand its collaborations with investors, local partners, and other stakeholders to ensure the success of The Home Again Initiative and its long-term impact for families and the Baltimore Community.
GAF is SVDP’s Newest Community Partner
We are excited to welcome our new community partner, GAF, whose generous support has had a meaningful impact on our efforts. GAF supports Good Harvest Community Kitchen and the general operations of SVDP. Additionally, GAF has committed to being an Empty Bowls sponsor for the upcoming year, further demonstrating their dedication to combating hunger and homelessness, and supporting our local communities. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to working together to make a difference. To learn more about how you or your organization can get involved in our mission, contact giving@vincentbaltimore.org.
Pikesville - Owings Mills Rotary Club Serves Thanksgiving Dinner to the Families at Interim House
This past November, the PikesvilleOwings Mills Rotary Club sponsored and prepared a Thanksgiving dinner for the families at Interim House Family Shelter. The event provided a warm and festive meal, offering an opportunity for the families, staff, and club members to come together and celebrate the holiday in a community-oriented atmosphere. To learn more supporting the families in our shelters, contact giving@vincentbaltimore.org
Schinnell Leake of Extra-Ordinary Birthdays
Birthday parties are important milestones in a child’s life, and thanks to the amazing work of Schinnell Leake, Executive Director & Founder of Extra-Ordinary Birthdays, our families don’t have to miss out on these special moments because of their current circumstances. Once a month, Schinnell and other ExtraOrdinary Birthdays volunteers visit the Sarah’s Hope Family Shelter to customize birthday tables based on each child’s chosen theme, ensuring they each have their own special birthday party. Her thoughtful efforts create unforgettable moments for children in need, allowing them to experience the joy and excitement of a
birthday. As Schinnell says, “Extra-Ordinary Birthdays connects with children experiencing homelessness from a place of happiness rather than their current circumstances, giving them what other children enjoy on their birthday— feeling valued and knowing that they matter.” We are deeply grateful for Schinnell’s compassion, hard work, and the positive impact she has on these children’s lives.
Providing a Safe Space for Parents Navigating Homelessness and Parenthood
No one ever foresees the day they will experience homelessness. This experience can be particularly overwhelming for parents who balance addressing their own personal struggles alongside managing the needs of their children. Sarah’s Hope Family Shelter is a 36-unit, 150-bed shelter. Last year, Sarah’s Hope provided shelter to 83 families, including 98 adults and 177 children.
The Parent Café, led by Sarah’s Hope Resource and Education Coordinator, Rachel Wallace, provides a safe, nonjudgmental space where parents explore the challenges and victories of raising a family. Each week, parents gather in small groups for an hour, discussing specific topics that are designed to create meaningful conversations that relate to parenthood. Discussion topics include resilience, relationships, communication, knowledge, and support.
“The goal of the Parent Café is to strengthen families and build up supportive networks for communities to thrive by uplifting parents and caregivers. To accomplish this goal, we must work with the parents to identify and remove barriers to housing, while also acknowledging the complexities that
they face as they seek out better lives for themselves, and their children,” stated Rachel Wallace
Parenthood often brings unique pressures to the issue of homelessness, making it essential that families have access to supportive resources and a nurturing community. Parents are not only gaining skills in parenting techniques, conflict resolution, coping with stressors, decision making, critical thinking, active listening and community building, but Parent Cafés have also been proven to reduce child maltreatment and increase family functioning and resiliency.
Rachel added, “Homelessness can be a really isolating experience, especially for parents. At our Parent Cafés, we lean into the power of community by supporting each other’s growth. Together, we transform challenges into opportunities, and steppingstones towards stability and hope!”
Volunteers Needed at Good Harvest!
Volunteers are essential to the work we do at Good Harvest, and we need your support! Each month, Good Harvest serves over 100,000 meals to head start programs, daycare centers, afterschool programs, shelters and adult daycare programs. Good Harvest works to promote healthy futures for their clients by providing nutritious, fresh food at an affordable cost.
As a volunteer with Good Harvest, you’ll have the opportunity to directly impact individuals in your community—whether it’s assisting in administrative support or helping in the kitchen. Your efforts will contribute to improving access to healthy food and creating lasting relationships with people who need it most. This opportunity is perfect for individuals looking to volunteer regularly. Join us in making a meaningful difference! Your time and dedication can help build a healthier, more connected community.
For more information, and to sign up for the volunteer program, email info@goodharvest.org or scan the QR Code!
