ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the release of the County’s The Path Toward Zero: Howard County’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 2025-2030. Developed in partnership between the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Coalition to End Homelessness, this strategic plan outlines the major goals and interventions to achieve “functional zero” over the next five years, and to ensure a comprehensive system of homeless services to resolve homelessness in Howard County. Functional zero is achieved when the number of people experiencing homelessness is consistently below the community's capacity to house them so that homelessness becomes a rare, short-term crisis with rapid return to stable housing.
Ball made the announcement during “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.” Celebrated annually the week before Thanksgiving, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week highlights the work the County is doing towards solving homelessness and reflects upon how to better serve our vulnerable residents. The draft plan of The Path Toward Zero was released in July 2025.
This week brings with it a renewed commitment to not only respond to homelessness, but to reimagine what is possible as we strive to end homelessness in Howard County. The Path Toward Zero builds upon our progress already made and further lays the foundation for transformative, long-term solutions that ensure everyone in Howard County has a place to call home. I want to thank DHCD Director Kelly Cimino and the Coalition for their vision, persistence, and leadership in resolving homelessness in Howard County. Also, thank you to our committed partners – Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Bridges to Housing Stability, the Community Action Council of Howard County, the Howard County Housing Commission, and so many others who contributed to this comprehensive plan. Their expertise and deep relationships in our community continue to ensure that we are effectively and compassionately delivering essential services and housing solutions.
By achieving and maintaining functional zero, households facing housing instability will experience fewer waitlists, faster transitioning to housing, and robust wraparound supports. The creative solutions needed to achieve this efficient system flow is the primary objective of The Path Toward Zero.
The Path Toward Zero is a strategic document to ensure the work of the County and its non-profit partners meets the needs of the community. This includes furthering critical projects initiated during the Coalition’s previous five-year strategic plan, including DHCD’s first non-congregate shelter along US 1 in Laurel. On Wednesday, December 3rd, Ball will break ground on this new 20-room facility, which, when complete, will provide short-term private shelter, comprehensive assessments, and immediate referrals to housing and critical services. The facility will also serve as overflow capacity for the Grassroots Emergency Shelter, a Code Blue warming center, a backup for the county’s crisis beds, and commercial kitchen operations. The County has invested $10.6 million through local funds and American Rescue Plan funds to turn this shelter into a reality.
The new non-congregate shelter builds upon the completion of the County’s two-part renovation project to bring Grassroots Crisis Intervention’s emergency shelter capacity to 88 beds. In December 2024, Ball joined Grassroots to cut the ribbon on the first phase of the shelter’s expansion. On December 1, 2025, Grassroots will mark the completion of the project’s final phase, done just in time for the colder, winter weather months. In total, this project has increased capacity of the Grassroots Emergency Shelter by 72 percent, from 51 to 88 beds, reflecting the first major expansion of the shelter facility since 2008.
In addition to furthering critical projects, the key goals of The Path Toward Zero include:
- Restructuring the coordinated entry and assessment processes to increase access to appropriate services;
- Expanding prevention and diversion strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness; and
- Scaling effective housing interventions that lead to permanent housing solutions.
The Coalition to End Homelessness will also be expanding its At Large body to increase collaboration and invite input from all sectors of the community.
“The Path Toward Zero is an ambition plan. We look forward to bringing new voices to the table as we embark upon the next five years,” said Mark Huffman, Chair of the Coalition.
A copy of The Path Toward Zero: Howard County’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 2025-2030 can be found on DHCD’s “Homeless Services” website. From this same site, visitors will also find the County’s accomplishments and progress toward achieving functional zero updates posted throughout the year.
To learn more about the County’s homeless services and affordable housing initiatives, visit DHCD’s website at www.howardcountymd.gov/housing-community-development.