A funding program that puts Baltimore's neighborhoods first​

Dear Baltimorean’s,

One organization provides housing counseling to residents of a community hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.

Another nonprofit offers re-entry services and provides transitional housing and adult education.

And dozens of others provide the citizens of Baltimore with everything from job training to lead abatement as part of this year’s crop of recipients of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

On January 11, I had the opportunity to join Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, and Baltimore Housing Commissioner Michael Braverman to announce the awarding of $19 million in grants to local nonprofits that are on the frontlines of working to improve our city.

Since 1976, Baltimore’s housing department has awarded more than $1.1 billion in federal grants to nonprofit and public agencies that support housing and public-service programs. For more information on Baltimore’s CDBG program, please visit http://habc.baltimorehousing.org/cdbg

Sincerely,

Bernard C. "Jack: Young
President, Baltimore City Council

Baltimore to offer first parking amnesty in 15 years

Baltimore City is offering an enticing carrot to delinquent motorists who haven’t paid outstanding parking fines.

On Wednesday, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and City Council President announced a parking amnesty program to waive late fees on outstanding parking fines in Baltimore.

People with unpaid parking tickets can pay the base fine on Feb. 1 or Feb. 2 and late fees and other additional charges will be waived.

It’s the first such amnesty on late fees in 15 years in Baltimore.

Baltimore City estimates more than 500,000 parking citations owed by more than 320,000 motorists may be eligible for amnesty.  A parking amnesty notice will be mailed to all eligible motorists by mid-January.  Additional notices will be provided online and in the Abel Wolman Municipal Building at 200 N. Holliday Street. 

To qualify for the Amnesty, the full original fine amount must be paid.  The Amnesty will be a waiver of all accumulated monthly penalty charges for unpaid parking citations and the City’s $25 flag fee.  Fees assessed for bad checks, towing, booting, and lot storage of impounded vehicles and the state of Maryland’s flag fees and court costs will not be waived.

For more information, please visit http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov/parkingfines/

Monitoring team seeks public feedback on draft plan to reform city’s police department
 

The team charged with steering the court-approved consent decree between the City of Baltimore, the Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking feedback from the public on a draft of its first-year monitoring plan.

The public comment period runs through January 29 and citizens can submit feedback by doing one of the following:

·         Complete an online feedback form

·         Visit the monitoring team’s office at 6 Redwood Street in Baltimore and complete the form in person

·         Mail a letter to the monitoring team at BPD Monitoring Team, c/o Kenneth Thompson, Venable LLP, 750 East Pratt Street, Suite 900, Baltimore, MD 21202

The draft plan requires the police department to develop new training curriculums related to community policing and procedures for stops, searches, arrests and voluntary police-community interactions.

The federal reform of Baltimore’s police department was put in motion in 2014 by City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, who personally experienced unwarranted stops by the police and understood intimately the toll that discriminatory policing exacts on a city.

More than two years ago, well before the tragic death of Freddie Gray while in police custody shook Baltimore, Council President Young called for a full-scale investigation of Baltimore’s police department by the U.S. Justice Department.

The current consent decree offers a blueprint for establishing constitutional policing in Baltimore and will likely reduce crime as residents, long burdened by the inappropriate actions of a minority of officers, become less afraid of police and more likely to work with them when it comes to reporting neighborhood crimes.

To read and comment on the plan, please visit the monitor’s website at www.bpdmonitor.com.

WINTER SHELTER STATUS:  ACTIVE
Saturday, January 13 until Friday, January 19 @11am

The Mayor’s Office of Human Services (MOHS) will provide emergency shelter to all people experiencing homelessness on nights when the temperature with wind chill reaches freezing (32 degrees and below). 

MOHS has partnered with several existing emergency shelters to increase the number of shelter beds available.  Shelter utilization is closely monitored on winter shelter nights.  If existing facilities reach full capacity on a winter shelter night, MOHS will activate an additional overflow shelter that can accommodate families, adults, and unaccompanied youth (under 25).

Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness can access overflow shelter and transportation through two hubs: 

Adult-Only Households
Weinberg Housing and Resource Center
620 Fallsway
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-478-3777     

Families with Minor Children
Sarah’s Hope
1114 N. Mount Street
Baltimore, MD 21217
410-396-2204

Shelter seekers should plan to arrive at the appropriate hub for their household type by 6pm to allow sufficient time for transportation to overflow shelter facilities and dinner service.  Transportation to overflow shelter will be available until 11pm. 

Participating shelters will provide accommodations from 6pm to 11am the next morning.  Each person will be provided with dinner and breakfast, access to shower and laundry services, and transportation to/from the shelter.

Choice applications for the 2018-19 school year are due back to schools by January 19, 2018

At City Schools, students choose what middle or high school they attend. With a variety of schools offering a range of programs, families have the chance to explore options and find the school that is the best fit for each student.

To download applications and for more information visit  http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/choice

Out and About in Baltimore

Council President  Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Vice President Sharon Green Middleton meet with State Senator Joan Carter Conway in her Annapolis office on the first day of the Maryland State Legislative Session. 

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Coming up in Baltimore

LIVE Baltimore Trolley Tour
January 27, 2018 from 8:30am -1 pm
The University of Maryland Baltimore; Southern Management Corporation Campus Center, 621 W Lombard Street Baltimore, MD, 21201
Join us for a comprehensive introduction to Baltimore City living! Take a narrated bus tour of more than ten neighborhoods, meet with real estate professionals and community organizations, sit in on expert-led workshops, AND become eligible for $5,000 toward the purchase of a home anywhere in Baltimore City! Thirty incentive awards are available through each event, for a total of 60 Buying Into Baltimore awards each year. Individuals ready to make their home purchases and apply for an incentive, as well as those just beginning to research the homebuying process, will benefit from this fun and informative event! Event cost: $10.00. Register Now: https://livebaltimore.com/events/details/trolley-tours/#.Wk52C1Q-d7M

Presentation for parents as part of Baltimore Ceasefire February 2018
February 3, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m
Enoch Pratt Library -- Pennsylvania Ave Branch 
The presentation at Enoch Pratt Library will be titled "Where are the jobs and how do we prepare our children for them."  Presenters include representatives from: Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, MileOne Autogroup, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, Northrop Grumman and University of Maryland Medical Center. The goal in hosting this presentation is to provide hope to the Baltimore City community. Specifically letting parents and other caring adults know that there are many career opportunities available to our children but our children must be prepared for them.

FRESH at the Avenue
Every Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Avenue Market, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave
Proudly selling produce grown in 21217. Featuring produce from local farms. Quality prices!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake
Volunteers Needed!
www.biglittle.org/volunteer
Becoming a mentor is easy. Mentoring is about real relationships that help young people overcome obstacles and thrive. From education to extracurricular activities to community engagement, young people benefit from mentoring. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake Community One-to-One Mentoring Program connects young people with caring adult mentors. Matches are provided with professional supports, inclusive of a case manager, and monthly low to no cost activities. We ask that volunteers commit to mentoring a child for a minimum of one year and to plan two to three match activities per month. To apply contact Leticia Sharp at 410-243-4000 or visit www.biglittle.org/volunteer to complete an online application . Visit Big Brothers Big Sisters on Facebook: BBBSGreaterChesapeake, Twitter: @bbbsgc and instagram: bbbsgc.
 

Online Homebuyer Education Course
24 hours a day/7days a week
www.ehomeamerica.org/
Looking to buy a home? Don't just take your best shot, make it a slam dunk! eHome America can help make your homebuying experience a winning experience! Learn what you need to know about the homebuying process, on your own schedule, from any computer. The cost is low, but the information is invaluable. Visit us at www.ehomeamerica.org/ for more information, or to register online. Information courtesy of Steven C. Kinney of the GO Northwest Housing Resource Center on 2300 Garrison Blvd., Suite 140. For more information e-mail skinney@go-northwesthrc.org or call 410-947-0084.
 

GO Northwest HRC Free Foreclosure and Prevention Counseling
Wednesdays, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM by appointment only
2300 Garrison Boulevard, Suite 140
This workshop is for individuals who are behind on their mortgage and/or facing foreclosure. Free workshop and free parking! Appointment is required. Call 410-947-0084 x104 for more information.
 

Adult Education Classes in Baltimore City
Locations throughout Baltimore City
The Baltimore City Community College and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City will offer Basic Skills (Pre GED) Classes at the following locations: Eager Street Homes, 709 E. Eager Street; Gilmor Homes, 1515 Vincent Court; O'Donnell Heights, 1200 Gusryan Street; Pleasant View Homes, 201 N. Aisquith Street; Westport Homes, 2343 Norfolk Street; Brooklyn Homes, 4140 Tenth Street. You must be at least 17 years of age to enroll. For more information call 410-396-3212.