Support for Federal Workers Facing Career Changes

Workforce changes can be difficult, but you don’t have to face them alone. This page provides federal workers and others affected by recent government changes with tools and guidance to explore new career opportunities, improve their job search, and move forward with confidence.

Office of Workforce Development Interview

Popular Resources

Unemployment Insurance Support

Learn about the unemployment insurance (UI) process and access detailed information about common UI inquiries.

Support Finding Employment

Learn about the resources provided by the Howard County Office of Workforce Development (OWD).

Statewide Recruitment Events

Learn about recruiting events happening in the state of Maryland.

Bridges to Housing Stability

📍 9520 Berger Road, Suite 311, Columbia, MD 21046
📞 410-312-5760
Provides a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County.
🔗 Visit Bridges to Housing Stability website here for more information.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

📞 301-490-3660 or 410-715-0875
Offers Rent Assistance.

Community Action Council (CAC)

📍 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6440

First Month’s Rent – Assists with paying the first month’s rent, in advance, when moving into a new home. Eligibility is based upon income and you must be able to demonstrate the ability to continue to pay rent after assistance is provided.
One Month’s Rent – A private community organization which partners with CAC to assist with paying past due rent. Eligibility based upon income and evidence of crisis. Must be currently employed and able to demonstrate the ability to continue to make rent payments after assistance has been provided.
Eviction Prevention – Assists with paying past due rent. Offers one-time financial grant. Eligibility is based upon income and evidence of crisis such as a judgment of restitution. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to continue to pay rent after assistance is provided.

🔗 Visit the Community Action Council's website here for more information.

Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)

📍 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 1-800-332-6347
Provides emergency cash assistance to families who need help paying rent, utilities, or other emergency bills. This is offered to families with children under 21 living with them.

Gabriel Network

📍 2137 Defense Hwy, Crofton, MD 21114
📞 1-800-264-3565
Provides maternity housing, shelter, and referrals for women and families facing crisis pregnancies.
🔗 Visit Gabriel Network website here for more information.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention

📍 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD
📞 410-531-6006

Family Shelter Program – Operates the only general emergency shelter in Howard County. The program has 33 beds for families and single adult women experiencing a shelter crisis. Clients may stay up to 3 months, with possible extensions up to 6 months based on progress and circumstances.
Motel Shelter – Provides short-term housing (up to 15 days) for families when the main shelter is full.
Randy Sands Men’s Shelter – Can serve up to 18 single adult men, offering case management, employment support, and individualized housing plans.
Cold Weather Shelter – Provides overflow shelter from November through March, hosted by local congregations.
Day Resource Center – Open 3 days a week at 10390 Guilford Road, Suite A (first floor), Jessup. Provides meals, showers, limited laundry, fellowship, and other social services to homeless individuals in the Route 1 corridor.

🔗 Visit the Grassroots Crisis Intervention website by clicking here. Click here for more information for the Day Resource Center.

Heritage Housing Partners Corporation

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Dr, Columbia, MD
📞 (443) 518-7685
Owns and manages affordable housing for the disabled, senior citizens, and families at risk of homelessness.

HopeWorks

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 300, Columbia, MD
📞 24-hour Sexual, Dating and Domestic Violence Helpline: 410-997-2272
Provides support and advocacy to survivors of sexual, dating, and domestic violence.

Safe Shelter and Transitional Housing – 45-day crisis shelter for victims of sexual assault or domestic violence and their children. Offers transitional housing for up to six months with individual case management.

🔗 Visit HopeWorks here for more information.

Howard County Housing & Community Development

📍 Administrative Office: 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6318
Handles housing and community development services for landlords and rental residents (excluding MIHU).
🔗 Visit the Howard County Housing & Community Development website here for more information.

Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU)

📍 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6318
Howard County Housing offers new, quality homes and apartments through its MIHU Program, open quarterly.
🔗 Obtain more information here.

Salvation Army

📍 3267 Pine Orchard Ln, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-465-1060 or 443-656-3376
Provides First Month’s Rent and Eviction Prevention.
🔗 Click here for more information.

United Way of Central Maryland

📍 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 340, Baltimore, MD
📞 410-547-8000
Housing is provided by property management firms through the United Way/Maryland Multi-Housing Association Rental Connections partnership, which assists families in urgent need of affordable housing through reduced rent and waived background checks or deposits.
🔗 Click here to learn more.

Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Inc.

📍 7901 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD
📞 240-764-2631
Provides safe, affordable homes to formerly homeless and low-income families.
🔗 Click here to learn more.

CCCMD

📍 6315 Hillside Court, Suite B, Columbia, MD
📞 1-800-642-2227
Provides debt, credit counseling, credit report review, pre-purchase homeownership, reverse mortgage counseling and student loan debt counseling.
🔗 Click here for more information.

Coalition for Compassion

📍 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD
📞 410-997-2781
Open Mondays and Wednesdays
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Celebration Church

📍 6080 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD
📞 410-997-2088
Open Monday – Friday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Department of Social Services – Temporary Cash Assistance

Provides cash assistance to families in need with dependent children when available resources do not fully address the family’s needs and while preparing program participants for independence through work. Some families which need only short-term assistance receive a welfare avoidance grant equivalent to three months of TCA benefits. This grant is a one-time lump sum payment.
For information on how to apply, visit the Department of Social Services for more information here.

Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)

📍 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 1-800-332-6347
Provides emergency cash assistance to families who need emergency help paying rent, utilities, or other emergency bills.
For information and instructions on how to apply visit EAFC for more information here.

FISH of Howard County, Inc.

📬 P.O. Box 34, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-964-8660
Provides food, financial assistance, referral information and other aid to Howard County residents with legitimate emergency needs.

Jewish Federation of Howard County

📍 10630 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 400, Columbia, MD
📞 410-730-4976
Provides information and referral to social services and organizes support groups; assesses and provides emergency financial assistance to Jewish residents of Howard County on a case-by-case basis.
Visit the Jewish Federation of Hoawar County here for more information.

Just Living Advocacy

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. Ste. 319, Columbia, MD – 📞 410-972-8377 (by appointment)
📍 Multiservice Center, 9900 Washington Blvd, Laurel, MD – 📞 410-313-0220 (Tuesday only, by appointment)
Assists and advocates to ensure that income sustaining opportunities does not fall through. In partnership with licensed child/daycare providers, scholarships and/or waivers may be provided to bridge an applicant to work, from the unemployed-to-employed ranks. Provides State Childcare Subsidy Application Assistance.
Visit Just Living Advocacy here for more information.

Columbia Health Center

📍 8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-7500
Services: Immunization services, family planning clinics (for teens and adults), AIDS/HIV counseling and testing, pregnancy testing and counseling, takes part in the Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program, sexually transmitted disease investigations, operates a STD clinic, provides communicable disease investigation, and offers a supplemental food program for eligible pregnant and nursing woman infants and children.

Columbia Pregnancy Center

📍 10632 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 254, Columbia, MD
📞 410-730-3223 | 1-800-712-4357 (24/7)
Services: Pregnancy tests, Pre-natal vitamins and ultrasound, options information and counseling, material aid, post abortion support, pre-natal and parenting classes.
Visit the Columbia Pregnancy Center here for more information.

Clarity Hearing Assistance Project (CHAP)

📍 3290 North Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-698-6594
Provides hearing test, fit and maintenance of hearing aids to low-income individuals in Howard County.
For more information visit the Clarity Hearing Assistance Project here for more information.

Department of Social Services

📍 7121 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD
📞 410-872-8700
Provides assistance to low-income families with medical assistance.
For eligibility and medical assistance options visit the Howard County Department of Social Services here for more information.

Gilchrist Services

📍 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 434, Columbia, MD
📞 888-823-8880
Services: Medical care, pain and symptom management, hospice care, emotional and spiritual support, respite care, and bereavement support.
For more information, visit Gilchrist Services here for more information.

HealthCare Access Maryland

📍 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD
📞 410-313-4264
20+ programs are dedicated to making sure that ALL Marylander’s have equal access to health Care and services needed. Programs include Connector Entity, Population Health and Care Coordination services.
Visit here for more information.

Healthy Howard – the Door to Health Care

📍 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD
📞 855-288-3667
A unique program that helps identify the right healthcare for you and your family. We provide uninsured Howard County residents with the latest information about insurance and non-insurance options including Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Medical Assistance for Families, and PAC. Together we’ll determine the program(s) you’re eligible for, explain their benefits, and help you apply online.
For more info, visit Health Howard here for more information.

Howard County Health Department

📍 8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6300 | 1-866-313-6300 (Toll free) | 410-313-2929 (Emergency – 24/7)
Offers reproductive health services to the uninsured or underinsured women and teens. Payments for services based on a sliding fee scale. Child Health Program provides services to families that meet specific eligibility criteria.

Programs offered by the Health Dept include: Infants and Toddlers Program, WIC, Child Advocacy Center, Case Management for children with elevated blood lead. In addition, outreach, information and referral services are offered. Hearing and vision screenings are offered to students in specific grades within HC public and private schools.

Visit the Howard County Health Department here for more information.
To contact Children’s Health Programs, call 410-313-7500 or toll free at 1-866-313-3600 or email: askhealth@howardcountymd.gov.

Humanim

📍 6355 Woodside Court, Columbia, MD
📞 410-381-7171 Ext. 2220
Provides workforce development, residential, mental health, neuro-rehabilitation, and developmental disability services to children, adults and older adults.
Visit here for more details.

Just Living Advocacy

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. Ste. 319, Columbia, MD | 📞 410-972-8377 (by appointment)
📍 Multiservice Center, 9900 Washington Blvd, Laurel, MD | 📞 410-313-0220 (Tuesday only, by appointment)
Provide information for wellness check-ups and Heart Disease awareness and prevention, to combat this #1 killer among women.
Visit here for more information.

Local Behavioral Health Authority

📍 8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6202 | 24/7 services: 410-531-6677
Services: Plans, develops, and monitors all publicly-funded mental health services in the county, provides education and training on mental health issues.
For more information, visit here.

Loyola Clinical Centers

📍 5911 York Road, Suite 100, Baltimore, MD
📞 410-617-1200
Provides assessment and therapy services in Speech-Language Pathology and Pastoral Counseling to the Howard County community.
For more information, visit here.

Maryland Insurance Administration

📍 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD
📞 410-468-2000 | 1-800-492-6116 (Toll free)
Provides information regarding health care laws and procedures in the State of Maryland. Provides links to health care assistance services.
Visit here for more information.

Medicaid

📍 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 410-767-6500 | 1-877-463-3464 (Toll free)
Prepared by Office of Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive, 410-313-2013
Provides for the payment of medical bills for certain, income-qualifying individuals.
For more information regarding Medicaid, your eligibility or any other inquiries visit here for more information.

Office on Aging and Independence

📍 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6410
Serves older adults, their families, caregivers, adults with disabilities and agencies supporting these groups.
Visit here for more details.

Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP)

📍 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 1-800-332-6347
Helps low-income, disabled Marylanders while they are awaiting approval of federal disability support. The program is funded through the State of Maryland to provide help to individuals without dependent children.
For more details, visit here.
To apply for TDAP (subject to eligibility) visit here.

Utility & Energy Assistance Resources

Community Action Council

📍 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6440

Energy Assistance:
Provides utility assistance to households in imminent danger of utility cut-off in partnership with the Office of Home Energy Programs, BGE, Howard County Support, Fuel Fund of Maryland, and others.
Visit the Community Action Council here for more information.

Weatherization:
Assists low to moderate income homeowners and renters permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Services are based on an energy audit and typically include installing insulation, reducing air infiltration, sealing and repairing ducts, and tuning and repairing heating and cooling units.

Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)

📍 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 1-800-332-6347
Provides emergency cash assistance to families who need emergency help paying rent, utilities, or other emergency bills.
For information and instructions on how to apply visit here.

Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP)

📍 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD
📞 410-313-6440 or 1-800-332-6347
Visit here to learn more information.

Grants Offered

Arrearage Retirement Assistance:
Helps customers with large, past due electric and gas bills. If eligible, customers may receive forgiveness of up to $2,000 towards their past due bill. Customers must have a past due bill of $300 or greater to be considered eligible. Customers may only receive an arrearage grant once every seven years, with certain exceptions.

Electric Universal Services Program (EUSP) Grant:
Provides financial assistance with electric bills. Eligible customers receive help that pays a portion of their current electric bills. Customers who receive EUSP are placed on a budget billing plan with their utility company.

Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP):
Provides financial assistance with home heating bills. Payments are made to the fuel supplier and utility company on the customer’s behalf.

Utility Service Protection Program (USPP):
Designed to protect low-income families from utility turn-offs during the heating season. All MEAP eligible customers may participate in USPP. Participation also requires a year-round even monthly budget billing. Failure to make consecutive payments may result in removal from USPP.

Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Services:
Customer information is referred to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for programs that can provide improvements and repairs to homes at no cost. These improvements can help lower utility bills and make the home more comfortable. DHCD’s energy efficiency and weatherization programs support the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act.
For more information, call 1-855-583-8976 or visit here to learn more.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):
Operated by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Single Family Special Loan Programs (SLP) and helps low- and moderate-income households with the installation of energy conservation materials in their dwelling units. These measures both reduce the consumption of energy and make these homes more comfortable, safe and healthy. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Maryland and other resources. Residents must be income eligible (60% of statewide median) and able to prove ownership, sign a written agreement permitting the improvements to be done and not increase rent to income-qualified families for a specified period of time. Priority is given to residents who are elderly, disabled, have families with young children and have the highest energy burden.

Sponsored by the Howard County Community Action Council, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Box 226, Columbia, Maryland.
📞 410-313-6440
Visit here for more information.

Salvation Army

📍 3267 Pine Orchard Ln, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-465-1060 or 443-656-3376
Provides BGE assistance. Call for more details.
Visit here for more information.

Family & Housing Support Services

Bridges to Housing Stability

📍 9520 Berger Road, Suite 311, Columbia, MD
📞 410-312-5760
Works to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County.
Visit here for more information.

Springboard Community Services

📍 10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 100, Columbia, MD
📞 410-997-3557
Provides comprehensive sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse counseling services to children, adolescents and their families and general counseling for other mental health and emotional disorders including medication management and homelessness prevention.
Visit here for more information.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention

📍 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD
📞 410-531-6006

Family Shelter Program – Grassroots operates the only general emergency shelter in Howard County at 6700 Freetown Road in Columbia, MD. The program has 33 beds for families and single adult women experiencing a shelter crisis. All clients are accepted into the emergency shelter program on a provisional basis for a period of no more than three months. Each resident is assigned a case manager who works with them to develop a case plan designed to address their particular needs and challenges. Prior to the end of their 3-month stay, residents may apply for a 3-month extension, for a maximum stay of six months. An additional extension is granted only under extenuating circumstances such as medical necessity. Extensions of stay dependent on the resident’s progress achieving the goals in their housing plan (such as getting a job, saving money, attending addictions treatment, applying for benefits for which they may be eligible, meeting regularly with their case manager, etc.), their ability to function cooperatively in the group living setting, and their adherence to basic shelter guidelines.

Motel Shelter – As a back-up to Emergency Shelter, Grassroots has a capacity to house up to three families for up to fifteen days in motel when the shelter is full and there are no immediate alternatives. Staff work intensively with these families to help them find more permanent arrangements including other shelter, their own apartment, or relocating to be with family members or friends.

Randy Sands Men’s Shelter – Can serve up to 18 single adult men. The program serves about 55–75 men per year. Each resident has a primary counselor or case manager and an individualized housing plan which could include employment, a savings plan, addictions treatment, psychiatric treatment, training or GED, and debt management. All of the support services available to families are also provided to our male residents. The structure of the residents’ length of stay applies to the men’s shelter as well.

Cold Weather Shelter – Provides overflow shelter from November through March. Congregations host the shelter for one or two weeks and provide volunteers for transportation, meals, laundry, and to work shifts in the shelter.

Day Resource Center – Open 3 days a week and located at 10390 Guilford Road, Suite A (first floor), in Jessup. Provides meals, showers, limited laundry, fellowship and other social services to homeless individuals in the HC Route 1 corridor.

For more information about Grassroots Crisis Intervention and the services provided visit Grassroots here or Day Resource Center here.

HopeWorks

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 300, Columbia, MD
📞 24-hour Sexual, Dating and Domestic Violence Helpline: 410-997-2272 or 1-800-752-0191 (24 hours)
Provides support and advocacy to survivors of sexual, dating and domestic violence, and aim to be the catalyst in the community to change the cultural norms that allow sexual and domestic violence to happen.

Safe Shelter and Transitional Housing – 45-day crisis shelter for victims of sexual assault or domestic violence and their children. Transitional housing for up to six months; individual case management; services to adult and child victims of domestic violence, emergency shelter.
Visit here for more information.

Food Assistance

FISH of Howard County, Inc.

📬 P.O. Box 34, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-964-8660
Provides food, financial assistance, referral information and other aid to Howard County residents with legitimate emergency needs.

Food Supplement Program (FSP)

📞 1-800-997-2222
Helps low-income households buy food they need to maintain good health. Benefits are distributed through an Electronic Benefits Transfer System and used just like cash to buy food.
To find out how to apply, visit here.
(Funded by the Department of Human Resources)

Salvation Army

📍 3267 Pine Orchard Lane, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-465-1060 or 443-656-3376
Provides food.
Visit here for more information.

Maryland Food Pantries

Adventist Community Services, North America

📍 9705 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD
📞 443-391-7254
Services Provided: Food Pantry services
Visit here for more information.

Bridgeway Community Cupboard

📍 9189 Red Branch Road, Columbia, MD
📞 410-992-5832
Hours of operation: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 10am–12 noon and 30–40 minutes following each service.
Visit here for more information.

Bryant Woods Elementary School

📍 5450 Blue Heron Lane, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6859
Hours of operation: Tuesday and Friday, 9:30am–2:30pm
Visit here for more information.

Celebration Church (formerly Long Reach Church of God)

📍 6080 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD
📞 410-997-2088
Hours of operation: Fridays, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Visit here for more information.

Community Action Council (CAC)

📍 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6440
Food Bank Donation Center: 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6185

Distribution Hours:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays: 1pm–4pm
Wednesdays: 5pm–8pm (by appointment only)
Saturdays: 9am–12pm (by appointment only)

Listing for partnering food banks: Pantry and Partners PDF
See website for eligibility requirements and food assistance form.

Dasher Green Head Start Center

📍 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6210
Hours of operation: Thursday, 4–5pm

Elkridge Food Pantry

📍 5646 Furnace Avenue, Elkridge, MD
📞 443-535-1482
Open on the 2nd and 4th Fridays monthly, 4pm–8pm
Visit here for more information.

Ellicott City Head Start Center

📍 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD
Hours of operation: Wednesday, 4–5pm

Eva Johnson Foundation Food Pantry

📍 3588 Mount Ida Drive, Ellicott City, MD
📞 410-313-2670
Hours of operation: 10am–1pm and 4–7pm every 3rd Tuesday & Thursday of the month.
Visit here for more information.

Glenelg United Methodist Church

📍 13900 Burntwoods Road, Glenelg, MD
📞 410-489-7260
Hours of operation: 3rd Saturday, 9–11am
Visit here for more information.

Howard County Food Bank

📍 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6185
Hours of operation:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 1–4pm
Wednesday: 5–8pm
Saturday: 9am–12pm (appointment only)

Howard County Office of Community Partnerships Multiservice Center

📍 Patuxent Square, 9900 Washington Blvd (Route 1), Suite I, Laurel, MD
📞 410-313-0220
Hours of operation:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm
Wednesday: 10am–6pm
Visit here for more information.

Longfellow Elementary School

📍 5470 Hesperus Drive, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-6879
Hours of operation: Tuesday, 9am–2:30pm
Visit here for more information.

Mt. Pisgah AME Church

📍 5901 Cedar Fern Ct, Columbia, MD
📞 301-596-0936
Hours of operation: Monday–Thursday, 6–8pm
Visit here for more information.

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

📍 12430 Scaggsville Road, Highland, MD
📞 301-854-2324
Hours of operation: 3rd Saturday, 9–11am
Visit here for more information.

Old Cedar Lane Head Start Center

📍 5451 Beaverkill Road, Columbia, MD
📞 410-313-7246
Hours of operation: Tuesday, 3–4pm

Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation

📍 Elkridge Christian Community Church, 6327 Meadowridge Road, Elkridge, MD
📞 443-796-5162
Hours of operation: 4th Saturday, 10am–12pm
Visit here for more information.

S.A.F.E. (Supplying Allergy Friendly and Emergency) – Food Pantry

📍 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 316, Columbia, MD
📞 443-741-1060
Call for hours.
Visit here for more information.

St. Johns Baptist Church / Harper House

📍 5495 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD
📞 301-596-5571
Open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, 9am–1pm
(Funded by the Community Action Council)

Support for Federal Workers Facing Career Changes

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