The Coordinating Center partners with Montgomery County and local nonprofits to support people who have experienced homelessness through two programs: Housing Initiative Program (HIP) and Street to Home (STH). Both programs are part of Montgomery County’s effort to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Housing Initiative Program (HIP)
The Housing Initiative Program (HIP) provides individuals with immediate access to supportive housing directly from a shelter setting. HIP is person-centered and is part of Montgomery County’s strategic plan to make homelessness a rare, brief, and non-recurring event. The Coordinating Center works in a cooperative arrangement with Montgomery County, Maryland’s Department of Housing and Human Services (DHHS) and their Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH) programs to provide service coordination and supportive services to formerly homeless individuals through the HIP Program.  Â
Who We Serve -
The Coordinating Center’s Service Coordinators provide HIP service coordination and supportive services to formerly homeless individuals. HIP participants have chronic healthcare needs such as asthma, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other challenges, such as long-term, chronic homelessness, mental health, or substance use. By working with a HIP Service Coordinator, program participants have an opportunity to overcome barriers to successful tenancy and to become self-sufficient in accessing medical care, behavioral health services, and other community resources.Â
Program Access Information -
HIP participants are referred to the program by the Montgomery County DHHS Coordinated Entry System (CES). To apply for HIP services through Montgomery County, individuals must meet certain technical and financial requirements. These criteria are available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/homelessness/
Housing prioritization and type are determined by the Montgomery County CES based on participant vulnerability and housing needs.
Participation in HIP continues for as long as an individual chooses, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements. These requirements include paying their rent on time, maintaining their rental unit, living in their rental unit, and completing recertifications in a timely manner. The county provides a subsidy to help the individual with paying rent. The amount of the subsidy is based on a generous formula that is related to the person`s income. Sources of income include public funding, such as traditional Social Security and Supplemental Social Security.Â
Montgomery County: Street to Home Program (STH)
Street to Home Program (STH) is an innovative collaboration between The Coordinating Center and Bethesda Cares, which provides enhanced outreach and service coordination in addition to direct access to medical and behavioral health service providers. The program began in July 2024 and is funded through a three-year HUD grant award.Â
Who We Serve -
The Coordinating Center’s Service Coordinators provide STH service coordination and supportive services to individuals who are considered difficult to house and who receive or are eligible to receive Maryland Medicaid. The program’s goal is to quickly move unsheltered individuals to independence through enhanced transition services toward supportive housing. Individuals must currently be unhoused or have a history of unsheltered homelessness to receive services.Â
STH differs from other service coordination programs because the Service Coordinators are certified as Critical Time Intervention Specialists (CTI). These Service Coordinators work closely with unhoused individuals, meeting up to six times per month to alleviate barriers that may arise and to streamline the housing process. Program participants receive support and guidance from their Service Coordinators, including assistance in accessing needed services such as supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP), Social Security and medical benefits. Â
Program Access Information -
STH participants are referred to the program by the Montgomery County DHHS Coordinated Entry System (CES). To apply for STH services through Montgomery County, individuals must meet certain technical and financial requirements. It is important to note that there are other housing options available through our partner agency, Bethesda Cares, each with slightly different eligibility criteria. Similar to HIP, STH participant prioritization and housing type are determined by the Montgomery County Coordinated Entry System based on vulnerability and housing needs.Â
For more information about the Montgomery County Coordinated Entry System and housing stabilization services, please visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/homelessness/, call the Montgomery County Homeless Information line at 240.907.2688 or visit the Crisis Center located at 1301 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MDÂ 20850.
