Deborah (Saint Martin’s House and Barn) updated the commissioners during a scheduled CDBG public hearing on Oct. 28 on the shelter’s use of Community Development Block Grant funding tied to expanding case management services.

Deborah said the CDBG funding supported the hiring of a full‑time case manager (Samantha Baraskas), who began in the spring and has provided individualized support to families facing mental health needs, trauma, disability and chronic health conditions. Station representatives said the program had served 56 beneficiaries in eight months toward a 100‑client target for the grant period. Saint Martin’s reported 12,439 bed nights provided to families in crisis in the last fiscal year and said 63% of those served were Caroline County residents; the current shelter population is reported as roughly 78% Caroline County residents.

The agency also highlighted its food pantry — providing food to about 350 families (an estimated 1,500 individuals) per month — and said it will hire a part‑time grant manager funded by the CDBG award to support sustainability and compliance. Finance staff said county reporting and grant compliance have been timely and that the county has received no adverse findings related to Saint Martin’s administration of the grant.

Why this matters: CDBG awards to emergency shelter providers support case management and basic needs, both of which county officials said are central to preventing longer‑term homelessness.

Ending: No members of the public signed up to speak. County staff closed the hearing after receiving the agency’s report and plans to file the required documentation with state and federal administrators.