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Carroll County highlights new family shelter, housing services and veterans' home designation
Summary
Commissioners summarized citizen services programs, including plans for a new family shelter (opening spring 2026), housing choice vouchers for older adults and people with disabilities, and a federal/state designation for a veterans' home in South Carroll.
County officials outlined the scope of the Department of Citizen Services and highlighted several programs and developments affecting housing, homelessness and veterans services.
Commissioner Kenny Kiler described Citizen Services as the county's "compassionate arm," identifying three service lines: housing and homeless services through the Bureau of Housing and Community Development; children, youth and family services overseen by the Local Management Board; and aging, disability, caregiver and veteran services administered by the Bureau of Aging and Disabilities.
Kiler said the county's Continuum of Care (CoC) homelessness board — a partnership of government agencies, nonprofit providers, law enforcement, education and faith-based groups — secured funding to relocate the existing family shelter. He said the new shelter is "slated to open in the spring of 2026" and will include space for up to 10 families experiencing homelessness.
Kiler also described the Bureau of Housing and Community Development's role as the county's public housing authority, administering the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Choice Voucher Program. "Over 93% of the voucher holders in this program are older adults and people with disabilities," he said. The bureau also provides housing stability coordinators who work with tenants at risk of eviction and attend eviction court alongside Maryland Legal Aid.
On veterans services, Kiler said Carroll County has a veteran services program serving approximately 800 veterans and has recouped $80,000,000 in pension and compensation claims for veterans over the program's life span. He said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families designated Carroll County as the location for a veterans' home to be developed in the South Carroll area.
Ending
County leaders presented these Citizen Services items as active projects with near-term milestones: a family shelter planned for spring 2026, ongoing housing stability and voucher administration, and a federally/state-recognized veterans' home site in South Carroll. Officials said they will continue to coordinate grants and partnerships to implement these services.
