Sarah’s House, located on Fort George G Meade, is a shining example of how the government and non–profit organizations can work together to provide services to those in need. A unique partnership between the United States Army, Associated Catholic Charities and Anne Arundel County, Sarah’s House was established in 1987 as a result of the McKinney Vento Act. The original purpose of providing services to those families in Anne Arundel County experiencing homelessness has grown in the over thirty years of operation, as the needs and barriers of those we serve have grown as well.
Today, Sarah’s House offers emergency shelter in conjunction with the Anne Arundel Coordinated Entry Program, project-based supportive housing in the form of 18 apartments located on our property and a rapid re-housing program that serves those that may not have as many barriers and are quickly ready to transition into the community. Serving 125 people daily, almost half of whom are children, our goal is to affect positive change in the lives of those that are experiencing homelessness through direct access to support services. Our guests receive intensive case management services, behavioral health services, transportation and useful skills through our Skills for Success Program which includes things such as
employment classes, parenting programs and financial literacy. Our dedicated staff is intent on forming relationships with those that we serve to support their transition to independent living.
In addition to the variety of services provided for adults, Sarah’s House also offers a Licensed Child Care Facility that is located on our property for children of our guests to utilize. With a capacity to serve 40 children on a daily basis, the Child Care Facility is both a hub of learning and fun for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Children over 12 years are able to take advantage of our FLASH program (Families Learning at Sarah’s House) which provides after-school enrichment, tutoring and homework help.
Kianna, a former guest who was in the program with her young son when she was 18 years old, had the following to say about her time at Sarah’s House and her relationship with her case manager: “She knew when to be my Case Manager, my mother, my sister, and my friend. She gave me positive reinforcement. She pulled me up and never once looked at me like I was different. I was more than a client at Sarah’s House; I was family. Those 6am conversations meant something. Even when she was busy, she made time for me. She never got mad when my son burst into her office late nights or early mornings because he had to speak to her. She and Sarah’s House helped me figure my life out. They helped me develop a game plan for my life. They gave me the tools I needed to be better. In a world where I felt like I was drowning, they saved me. In a nutshell, Sarah’s House was the village I needed to become the woman I am today.”
Kianna now has a Master’s Degree, is a homeowner and is working in her desired profession, one that she has a passion for. She still regularly comes to visit and speaks to both guests and staff about her experience, in the hopes that she can help make a difference in someone else’s life as well.
***Sarah’s House is always looking for community support, and our most recent endeavor is attempting to find sponsorships (either monetary or in the form of a silent auction basket) for our Annual Bull and Shrimp Roast, to be held on April 6, 2019. If you are interested in supporting the program, or the Bull Roast please feel free to reach out to Kelly Anderson at .
