We at Access Services strongly believe that people have the strength to heal and grow when provided with the support they need. How do we provide support to our unhoused neighbors? The increasing lack of answers to this question in the housing sector of human services led us to create solutions as best we could. We recognize it takes community response and effort to make lasting change. A crisis cannot be addressed by one organization alone. Over time, we found like-minded organizations and partners in other non-profits, medical service providers and county connections. Ideas became reality as we worked together in spaces to bridge gaps. In the last year, it became evident that our commitment to creating solutions needed to be more intentional.
Our leadership made the decision to move our various housing and homeless services out from under our Behavioral Health service line and into its own Housing and Homeless service line. This change enables our programs to expand their work across service lines and increase capacity to incorporate new programs and services. Housing is an integral part of healing and provides a foundation to build upon. While currently centralized in Montgomery County, the goal is to grow from what we have learned and continue to build collaborative relationships to ultimately meet needs in all fourteen counties where we serve.
As of January 1st, four programs will officially function under the Housing & Homeless service line: Street Outreach, Street Medicine, Rapid Rehousing, and Community Based Care Management. The Intersect program will continue to provide support to these programs through their Care Portal which connects donations with needs of those we serve through a network of faith communities and service providers working together. We are excited to see all the new ways that we can serve our communities as we strengthen our reach and relationships.
See our new Housing & Homeless Services page here.