CHESTERTOWN — Jake Day, state Secretary of Housing and Community Development, will talk about homelessness and the need for affordable housing on the Eastern Shore at an event sponsored by The Shelter Alliance on Monday, Sept. 15.
Day has considerable experience working with groups to find creative ways to address homelessness and the underlying related issues.
He will be introduced by Rebecca Flora, a Chestertown resident who is Maryland’s Secretary of Planning.
A news releases states, “Homelessness is an important topic for the Kent County community. We have all seen members of our community who are obviously homeless but there is a less visible crisis. In the school year 2023-24 there were 102 school children lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population is senior citizens who face unique challenges due to age-related issues: limited mobility, fixed incomes, and difficulty accessing and maintaining stable housing. The homeless problem here in Kent County and across the nation is growing more acute each year.”
The Shelter Alliance’s mission is to provide a year-round shelter and individualized support for community members experiencing homelessness in Kent County.
The Shelter Alliance’s inaugural event on Sept. 15 will celebrate the organization’s accomplishments over the past year and introduce Dr. Kimrose Goodall, its newly hired executive director. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Sultana Education Foundation headquarters, 202 S. Cross St. in Chestertown.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged by Sept. 10. Email contact@shelteralliancemd.org.
Goodall’s blend of medical, psychological and theological expertise has shaped her hands-on work as a physician and counselor.
According to the news release, at the Sept. 15 event Goodall will talk about how The Shelter Alliance is not only meeting immediate shelter needs but also building long-term solutions that help people rebuild their lives.
Goodall also will speak about how she and The Shelter Alliance’s part-time case manager are finding ways to expand the organization’s impact while continuing the work toward locating and operating a permanent year-round shelter in Kent County.
For event updates and information, visit The Shelter Alliance on Facebook.
The Shelter Alliance welcomes support from the public.
Checks payable to the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, with The Shelter Alliance in the memo line, may be mailed to P.O. Box 2, Chestertown, MD 21620.
The Shelter Alliance Inc. is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
