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Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces more than $7.6M in Grants to Support Safer Neighborhoods and Lovable Places in the Baltimore Region

New Carrollton, MD. (July 25, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced it has awarded more than $7.6 million in grants to improve health and safety of neighborhoods for counties in the Baltimore region and Baltimore City through the department’s Community Health and Safety Works (CHSW) program. 

Local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible for CHSW grant funding to implement crime prevention strategies through physical design improvements, operational activities and other community-driven strategies. CHSW projects are required to be located in Baltimore City or an area designated as a Maryland Sustainable Community elsewhere in the state.

“One of DHCD’s key missions is creating lovable places in Maryland where pride-in-place is strong but reinvestment is needed,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The projects funded through the Community Health and Safety Works program will not only make Maryland neighborhoods safer, cleaner and more lovable, but will support community-driven efforts that will have an impact on generations to come.”

CHSW awards fall into one of four competitive categories: 

  1. Community Placemaking: Community-led collaborations that engage artists and designers to create lovable and safer spaces for community use. 
  2. Environmental Health and Justice: Elimination of predatory and unhealthy practices such as illegal dumping, litter and traffic hazards and address urban heat islands and other conditions related to climate change. 
  3. Cameras, Lighting, and Related Safety Services: Increased surveillance of illegal and dangerous activities in communities through lighting, camera strategies and related community safety services and technology. 
  4. Technical Assistance for CHSW Initiatives: Nonprofit providers that will provide project design and implementation support to the awardees of CHSW project funding. Grant amounts are determined by the scope of services provided.

A total of 108 awards worth $9,750,000 were provided in the Fiscal Year 2024 round of funding across 20 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. 

In the state’s Baltimore region, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties, along with Baltimore City, received a combined $7,669,200 to support 81 total projects.

Some local awardees include: 

  • The Complete Player Charity/ TCP Youth Empowerment organization in Anne Arundel County will use $50,000 for student-led litter clean-ups and creation of plans for use of open space in the community.
  • The Greater Baybook Alliance, Inc. in Baltimore City will use $100,000 to launch a Baybrook Lighting and Camera fund for a commercial corridor for future improvements to the area. Those improvements will include installation of exterior lighting in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Baltimore and Old Riverside Park and a series of block party-style celebrations to increase visibility and community cohesion.
  • The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster in Carroll County will use $56,000 to upgrade City and privately owned properties and install a license plate reader in the area.
  • The 755 Alliance Inc. in Harford County will use $100,000 to transform open space into a destination for family wellness outings and community gatherings as part of the Cedar Drive Skatepark and Fitness Trail Project.

Here’s what local leaders are saying about the announcement: 

“We are honored to have the support of DHCD through the Community Health and Safety Works program,” said Meredith Chaiken, executive director of the Greater Baybrook Alliance. “These funds will be used to support resident-led initiatives to improve environmental conditions in our neighborhoods, including training and supporting residents’ 311 calls for code violations, facilitating clean streets with shared dumpsters and public trash cans on our commercial corridors, and beautification of underutilized green spaces.”

“Thank you DHCD for believing in and supporting 755 Alliance’s mission to revitalize the Edgewood community,” said BangTam Miller, President of the 755 Alliance Inc. “The grant funds will be used to redevelop a dilapidated space into a vibrant community space, to include a public skatepark surrounded by a walking fitness trail with a center Zen rock garden. This project will serve as a positive change agent for Edgewood’s image and transform it from an area of blight to a family friendly recreation destination.”

“Being a Baltimore Region DHCD Community Health and Safety Works award recipient will provide our Brooklyn Park middle school youth an opportunity and platform to develop, create and implement community improvement projects, demonstrating their leadership skills and potential,” said Andy Schindling, founding executive director of the Complete Player Charity.

“In collaboration with the American Legion Cook Pinkney Post, Maryland Reentry Resource Center will revitalize their green space into a haven for a social connection and healing,” Vanessa Bright, Founder & Executive Director of Maryland Reentry Resource Center, said about the organization’s award. “By incorporating nature-inspired therapy, we will address mental health challenges in returning citizens, veterans, and the broader community. This collaboration destigmatizes mental health issues and promotes wellness in the community.” 

“Essex Community Development Corporation is thrilled to have the opportunity to further our mission to build a strong, vibrant and economically viable community here in Essex,” said Chrissy Erb, Executive Director of the Essex Community Development Corporation. “Having access to this funding through DHCD allows us to support more of our local businesses by installing security camera systems in targeted areas. It will give police more access to crime footage via direct feed into the Essex Police Precinct and continue to build a sense of safety and security for business owners, residents and visitors alike. Essex is a great place to be – and we’re excited to support those business owners who are making an investment in this vibrant community.”

“These funds will improve public safety through the installation of security cameras in Edgewood’s Harford Square neighborhood, at the request of the community residents,” said Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly. “I would like to thank Secretary Day and the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development for this vital funding to help my administration and our community partners enhance the quality of life in southern Harford County.”

More information on the Community Health and Safety Works program and how to apply can be found here.

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