Housing

Emergency Shelter

The Prince George’s County website listed below provides information on emergency shelter, who is eligible for it and what documentation is needed in applying for assistance.

Prince George’s County shelter hotline: (888) 731-0999

www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1672/Emergency-Shelter

Low-Income Housing

Here’s help in finding low-income apartments in Prince George’s County as well as nonprofits that provide assistance with low-income housing needs.

www.lowincomehousing.us/cty/md-prince_georges

Prince George’s County and Community Development

County Administration Building

14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/983/Services

Family Unification Program

Hundreds of young adults, 18 to 21, age out of foster care each year in Maryland. Many are soon homeless or forced to rely on public assistance. The Family Unification Program can help. A collaborative effort between the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Department of Human Resources, it provides vouchers to help youth obtain housing from private landlords, paying as little as 30 percent of their monthly adjusted gross income toward rent and utilities.

Brandi Stocksdale

Central Office Maryland Department of Human Resources

(410) 767-7561

Email: brandi.stocksdale@maryland.gov

Independent Living Services

Maryland Independent Living Services or Ready By 21 Services are available to youth ages 14 to 21 in out-of-home placement and are designed to prepare youth to transition from foster care into self-sufficiency. Each of Maryland’s twenty-four local departments of social services has an Independent Living Coordinator (ILC). They assist youth and their caseworkers with all independent living services in the following areas:

Housing
Health Care
Education
Employment
Financial Literacy
Social and Emotional Well Being

dhr.maryland.gov/foster-care/youth-resources/independent-living/

Department of Social Services (DSS)/Prince George’s County

6505 Belcrest Rd # 100A

Hyattsville, MD 20782

(301) 209-5000

www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/212/Department-of-Social-Services

DSS Ready by 21 Unit

Maryland’s “Ready by 21” Program helps foster children 14 and older prepare for independence when they turn 21. Ready by 21 provides assistance with accessing education or training programs; finding and keeping a job; developing a supportive network of family and friends; finding housing; training to manage your own finances; and getting access to healthcare.

Maryland Department of Human Resources

MAIN OFFICE:

311 West Saratoga Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

(800) 332-6347

dhr.maryland.gov/local-offices/howard-county/child-family-adult-services/hcdss-ready-by-21-program/

More Youth Independent Living Skills Resources

CASA volunteers of teenagers (17-20) should begin the process of incorporating independent living skills into their relationship and activities with the youth. This is an opportunity to practice life skills and explore the resources within the community.

Youth can be guided through the online learning sites listed below:

Youthhood.org: youthhood.org has information for youth regarding health, education, social situations and self-advocacy.

Mapping Your Future: www.mapping-your-future.org/planning/ has information on planning a career, selecting and paying for school.

Banking on Our Future: www.operationhope.org/banking-on-our-future is a computer series that teaches financial literacy to youth.

Prince George’s County Family Self-Sufficiency Program

Section 8 participants voluntarily enter a five-year contract during which they receive supportive services (education, job training) to enable economic independence.

(301) 883-5501

Bethel House

Provides emergency food pantry, financial assistance for rent and utilities, domestic violence and sexual abuse counsel, substance abuse support meetings, and a youth mentoring program

6810 Floral Park Road

Brandywine, MD 20613

(301) 372-1700

www.ubame.org/outreach