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Montgomery County honors Project Safe after volunteer-led eviction-prevention effort
Summary
Council recognized Project Safe for a multi‑agency, volunteer-driven eviction-prevention campaign in East County that county and nonprofit staff say helped prevent housing loss for hundreds of residents, many of them from refugee communities.
Council members on July 22 presented a proclamation honoring Project Safe, a coalition of resettlement agencies, faith groups, nonprofit partners and county staff that mounted rapid-response eviction-prevention services in East County. Council Member Kristen Mink said the volunteer network provided culturally and linguistically tailored case management, helped families secure housing and connected residents to food, clothing and English classes.
"We have together helped to prevent the eviction of hundreds of people," Council Member Kristen Mink said, thanking partners including the Muslim Community Center, Lutheran Social Services and the International Rescue Committee. Christine Hong, chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, told the council the effort impacted "close to 400 people's lives, more than half of whom are children." She credited a mix of county staff, faith communities and resettlement agencies for the outcome.
Several Project Safe volunteers and partner organizations introduced themselves to the council during the recognition. Tania Chestnut, president of the Enclave Tenant Association, described the rapid-response work to move residents, secure trucks and make sure people had safe places to stay. The proclamation filed by the council said the collaboration provided culturally competent services in Pashto, Dari and Arabic and raised funds and material support to prevent well over 300 evictions.
The council framed the recognition as an example of cross-sector collaboration between residents, nonprofits and government. No formal action was required or taken beyond the ceremonial proclamation.
