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Carroll County to apply for up to $803,896 in state homelessness-solution grants
Summary
County officials will submit an FY26 Homelessness Solutions Program application; staff prepared two budgets — a base award and a higher option — to reflect state uncertainty. Funding would support street outreach, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and administrative monitoring.
Carroll County officials told commissioners on April 10 that they will apply for FY26 Homelessness Solutions Program funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
"The funding that's veil to Carroll County this fiscal year, is kind of a 2 phased approach," said the department representative. The county prepared two budgets: one for a base award of $635,006 and a second that assumes a 30% increase for a total of $803,896.
Why it matters: The grant funds local homeless-response activities that include street outreach, night-by-night shelter operations, rapid rehousing for youth and adults, prevention payments and limited administrative support. The county said the program allows flexible "wraparound" services often not possible with more restricted federal dollars.
Citizen Services Director Celine Steckel and staff reviewed planned uses. The briefing paper submitted to the board proposed funding allocations that include street outreach, youth rapid rehousing, adult rapid rehousing subgrants to Human Services Partnership (HSP), a night-by-night shelter, homeless prevention and a small allocation for stipends to households with lived experience to participate in planning and oversight. The county also proposed using $35,500 for administration and monitoring.
Steckel said the award amount will be uncertain until the state finalizes allocations but explained the county prepared both budgets and will submit both. "We will be submitting for both. Obviously, we're prepared for the lesser end, which was what we had received in FY 24 as, our award," she said.
Commissioners asked about program oversight and measures. Staff said the county relies on HSP for leasing and some case-management services while county staff will operate youth rapid rehousing and prevention work. Danielle Yates, bureau chief for housing and community connections, was singled out for recovery of misspent funds in prior cases. Commissioners applauded the office's fraud-detection work: staff recovered more than $32,000 from one case, the county said.
The board voted to submit the application and to accept the award if offered; Commissioners voted "Aye." No commissioner recorded a dissent during the April 10 vote.
Ending: County staff said the state will notify local jurisdictions when awards are finalized. The county plans to continue flexible, locally managed prevention and rehousing services while monitoring award levels.
