Anna’s House, a Baltimore Catholic Charities outreach, helps at-risk women and children secure permanent housing and build more stable lives.
“The mission is to serve the neediest of the needy, and we definitely do that,” said Program Director Patsy Jackson of the two-house, eight-quarters complex. “Our program helps women achieve self-sufficiency by setting up a case plan designed to identify goals they need to address to achieve self-sufficiency and/or to transition to permanent housing.”
For the 20 or so families that rotate annually through the group’s one-year program goals often involve substance abuse, mental health, employment, parenting and educational issues, said Jackson.
Case managers then use the case plan to refer clients to suitable outside programs and resources.
“It’s a very positive program in the community,” said Pam Abramson of Harford County’s Child Protective Services. “We often seek them out for assistance for women looking to change their lives and add some stability to their families.”
Client life skills and parenting training — as well as career counseling and job placement — is provided in-house by the federally funded, faith-based group.
It was a circumstance that inspired Rod Bourn, professional development coordinator for Harford Community College, to form Anna’s Guys.
“We sometimes go out there with life coaches,” Bourn said, observing that during this training, resident children were often idle. “So I networked with my personal and professional contacts, and I got 33 guys to sign on to come out either on a Wednesday night or Saturday afternoon and play with the kids for 90 minutes.”
Anna’s Guys starts in November.
“We’re excited about the men’s program,” Jackson said, “because the children here don’t have male role models in their lives.”
Anna’s House, which last year served 52 women and children and now has 13 in residence, is limited by space availability and funding, Jackson said, but often succeeds in placing clients in nearby, leased permanent housing — and into steadier lives.
“The success rate is pretty good,” Jackson said.
How to help
To donate time or money to Anna’s House, call
410-803-2130 or visit catholiccharities-md.org/children/annas-house.html.
