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Officials give residents ways to help: hotline, volunteers and donations
Summary
County staff asked residents to volunteer for the January point-in-time count and local homeless resource events, offered guidance on donations (gift cards, household items) and gave a hotline for immediate referrals: (240) 907-2688, plus 311 and 988 for general housing or behavioral health help.
Committee members asked how constituents who want to help can be directed. SEF staff described volunteer needs, donation suggestions and the county's referral hotline.
Chief Hong recommended volunteering for the January point-in-time count and said volunteers are also needed for resource days; she asked the council to publicize the county's volunteer opportunities. "If there is an interest in understanding homelessness in a direct way, we would love to have volunteers for the point-in-time count," she said.
Staff described needed donations and volunteer roles during the holiday season: gift cards, "angel tree" gifts for youth, welcome-home baskets and basic household items to help families moving into permanent housing. Charlotte Taylor and Denise Anderson also urged mentorship and skill-building volunteers for adult shelter residents.
For immediate referrals or diversion-screening, staff gave the homeless information line: (240) 907-2688. They said callers can access diversion services, referrals to shelter after business-hours triage and general resource information via 311; for behavioral-health crises, they recommended 988.
