Housing Our Neighbors

HON was disappointed to hear that HB104, or the Homeless Persons Bill of Rights, will not be making it out of the committee this year. With executive orders and Supreme Court rulings seeking to further criminalize and marginalize those experiencing homelessness, we were hoping that in Maryland, we would protect the right of unhoused folks to engage in life sustaining activities.

While we are disappointed, we wanted to make sure that our voices were heard and that we didn’t go quietly into the night. We sent postcards to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Judiciary committee to let them know that there are people who support this bill and are willing to fight and support our unhoused neighbors.

Please call or email the chair and vice chair to let them know that this bill is important to you and you stand with unhoused people in Maryland. Link in the bio for contact information for the Chair and Vice Chair.

At this past year’s commemoration of Homeless Persons Memorial Day, HON member Miss Dee read aloud this original poem. The poem highlights the everyday moments we share with each other, and how they shape our human experience — whether we are housed or unhoused.

Thank you to volunteer artist for capturing the beauty of Miss Dee’s words in visual form!

All these supplies were generously donated by a supporter of HON! If you have need of them, please pick them up at Red Emma’s at your convenience.

Each bag contains:
- Socks
- Hat
- Gloves
- Emergency blanket
- Mask
- Washcloth
- Hygiene Kit

FIRST FULL MEMBER HON MEETING OF 2026!

Join us this Saturday January 24 from noon to 2 pm to help us take the next steps in HON’s ongoing campaigns against inhumane shelter conditions. We struggle for the dignity of people living in shelters as we also commit ourselves to the lifelong struggle for housing as a human right.

All are welcome to join, even if you’ve never been to a HON meeting before — come get plugged in!

Housing Our Neighbors is raising money for cold weather supplies to distribute to our neighbors who are currently experiencing homelessness. These funds will be used to purchase hand warmers, masks, and other items that will help keep people safe during the winter months. We will be distributing supplies at Red Emma's. Please follow our Instagram to get notified about distribution dates. Link in bio to donate now!

Join HON to honor and remember our neighbors who passed away in 2025 while experiencing homelessness. If you would like to honor someone who passed away in 2025 under these circumstances, please contact [email protected].

Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is observed in communities around the country on or near the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The event in Baltimore is being hosted by Healthcare for the Homeless, and we encourage community members to attend.

Please take a moment to read from this great piece by about the recent City Council hearing that discussed shelter conditions and the proposal to limit shelter stays to 90 days. Housing Our Neighbors members and supporters made our voices loud and clear that we oppose placing any limitation on shelter stays.

Read the full article at the link in our bio!

DATE CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

The MOHS oversight hearing that will discuss the shelter time limit proposal has been moved from October 28th to November 4th. The hearing starts at 5:15, but we recommend showing up early to ensure being present for the beginning.

NO TIME LIMIT ON SHELTER STAYS!

A proposal from the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services would place a time limit on stays in city shelters. HON asks that MOHS rescind this proposal.

We acknowledge that it is frustrating that there is not enough shelter capacity and that folks who need shelter resources may not be able to access them, but restricting access to shelters will only cause more harm. Ultimately, this is an issue of a lack of affordable and dignified housing options and people who are unable to afford rents or mortgages.

Join HON at City Hall later this month to pack the MOHS oversight hearing on this proposal:

🗓️ Tuesday, October 28
⏰ 5:00 PM
📍 Baltimore City Hall, 100 Holliday St

Upcoming HON events this month! New to HON and want to plug in? Our monthly member meetings are a great place to start. Join us Oct. 25, 12-2pm at Emmanuel Episcopal, 811 Cathedral St (come in via the basement door on the cathedral st side).

Also, keep an eye out for more information soon on joining HON on the City Council oversight hearing with the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, regarding the operation of city shelters. The hearing will be Oct. 28, 5:15pm at City Hall.

This month, a HON member reported out this story on what they've been experiencing the past couple of weeks in a Baltimore City shelter. From spoiled food that made them sick, to silence in response to their grievances, to fears of harassment, the treatment they have endured at the shelter is unacceptable.

In HON's shelter survey, respondents rated the grievance process an average of 4.3 out of 10. Less than half (45.95%) were even aware there is a grievance process at ALL.

Baltimore City shelters need to do better!

🎨 Thank you .crafts.are.beautiful for this amazing art! Want to join HON's new artist network to make art to tell stories of HON member's experiences in shelters and on the streets? DM us to get involved!

Housing Our Neighbors needs artists to help tell the stories of what is happening in Baltimore City shelters. DM to get added to the signal!

At monthly meetings, HON members report out on what has happened to themselves in shelters or to people they know experiencing homelessness in the past months. We need artists to help create visual depictions of these stories that maintain anonymity. Swipe on this post for some examples.

HON's ask is:
➡️ Join a signal chat to get the specific calls for art as they come in
➡️ Commit to making at least 1 piece for HON
➡️ If you take on a specific story, we ask that you complete it in about 1 month
➡️ We typically get 1-3 stories a month, and you can decide whether to take one on based on your availability that month!

DM here on instagram if you want to get added to the signal and can commit to making at least 1 piece for HON!