CHESTERTOWN — The Shelter Alliance has its first executive director, Dr. Kimrose Goodall, whose appointment is effective July 1.
“Dr. Goodall brings to the position a distinctive blend of medical, psychological, and theological expertise, shaped by years of hands-on work as a physician and counselor. Her deep commitment to holistic care uniquely equips her to lead The Shelter Alliance in its mission to serve Kent County’s unhoused population,” a news release states.
Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Goodall briefly lived in Baltimore during her youth and attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
Subsequently, she returned to Jamaica and completed the International Baccalaureate program at Hillel Academy in Kingston.
According to the news release, Goodall earned a Bachelor of Pure Science and a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of the West Indies.
After completing medical school in 2018, she served as a medical doctor at both the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Constant Spring Medical Center in Kingston for more than six years.
During her medical practice, Goodall developed a deep passion for addressing the psychological and emotional needs of vulnerable populations. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, where she graduated with honors in 2024.
As part of her graduate training, Goodall completed a clinical practicum at the A.F. Whitsitt Center in Chestertown, serving as a counseling psychology intern and working directly with individuals navigating substance use and housing instability.
Goodall’s academic and clinical background includes trauma-informed care, crisis intervention and multicultural competency, “equipping her to serve individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological backgrounds with both insight and empathy,” the news release states.
“Her approach is shaped not only by professional experience, but also by her own personal journey which includes a season of experiencing housing insecurity,” the news release states. “This lived experience fuels her passion for providing holistic, dignified, and compassionate care, and deepens her understanding of the complex barriers faced by those without stable housing.”
Founded in September 2024, The Shelter Alliance aspires to establish and operate a 24/7/365 shelter in Kent County, Maryland.
Since its inception, the organization has provided emergency accommodations in local motels — 97 bed nights to 38 individuals. It has assisted three of these clients in securing permanent housing in partnership with Deep Roots (Earleville), Maryland Rural Development Corporation (Chestertown) and Corsica River Mental Health Services (Centreville).
The Shelter Alliance welcomes support from the public.
Checks payable to the Mid-Shore Community Foundation with the designation 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.
