The Numbers Tell the Story - From the CEO

courtesy of Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Dear Friend:

The surge in the number of neighbors in our region experiencing homelessness is deeply troubling. Results from the latest annual Point in Time census show a significant 53% increase in people experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County alone. We have been watching with concern as demand for our programs – beyond those responding directly to homelessness -- has grown.

The numbers tell the story.

Interfaith Works Shelter at Progress Place experienced a 140% increase in the number of people seeking emergency seasonal shelter in just the first three quarters of the current fiscal year compared to the previous year. And there is a bigger picture: we are seeing a surge in people seeking help from our programs offering emergency rental assistance, free clothing and food, and vocational services to achieve economic stability through better employment (see Lisa’s story).

This is a complex situation. It is triggered in part by the end of pandemic assistance programs and complicated by economic pressures from inflation and other factors. Other influences include limited access to affordable housing and increasing incidences of landlord discrimination against prospective renters. We also are seeing the regionalization of poverty, as a significant number of people from outside Montgomery County come to Interfaith Works programs seeking shelter and other help.

What can we do?  

There are actions we can take as an organization. But to succeed, we will also need support from the community and from those who provide IW and our partner social service organizations with resources, including Montgomery County.

We will be working with our partners to tackle this situation effectively, emphasizing prevention-oriented approaches over crisis intervention.  For example, we are committed to implementing and building on diversion solutions and programs such as our very successful rapid re-housing program. The IW Rapid Rehousing Program provides supportive services to men and women receiving temporary housing vouchers from Montgomery County Health and Human Services. The program helps individuals maintain apartments throughout the county and helps to increase their income, achieve self-sufficiency, and attain greater housing independence. Since this program launched, 95% of households in the program have graduated to self-sufficiency.

We are grateful for the support we already receive from Montgomery County government. But the reality is that there must be an expanded investment in nonprofit providers like us, who meet the community’s needs by operating shelters and offering supportive housing. We simply need more resources to address these growing challenges and have asked for additional support in the County’s FY24 budget to get the job done. 

Thank you for your commitment to the work we do to help our neighbors find stability. We have a difficult road ahead but knowing that you are on that journey with us gives us great hope.

 With gratitude,

Courtney Hall

CEO