Case for Support
Inspiring Hope
Serving Women and Children in Need
About Helping Up Mission
Helping Up Mission (HUM) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1885 to meet the needs of Baltimore City and the
surrounding counties’ poor and underserved residents. For 132 years, HUM has developed deep roots among the
inner city’s disadvantaged people, helping countless individuals overcome poverty, homelessness, and addiction.
HUM is located on the 1000 block of East Baltimore Street in the Historic Jonestown community of Baltimore City.
HUM is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, serving 500 men daily in eight distinctive programs:
1. Overnight Guest Services – Emergency overnight shelter (50 beds)
2. Spiritual Recovery Program (SRP) – 12-month substance use disorder recovery program (300 beds)
3. Internship Training Program – Leadership skills training program for SRP members (36 members)
4. Graduate Spiritual Recovery Program (GSRP) – 6-month relapse program (11 beds)
5. Graduate Transitional Housing Program – 2-year graduate aftercare housing and services (50 beds)
6. Graduate Supportive Housing Program – Semi-permanent graduate housing (16 beds)
7. Veterans Contract Housing Program – Bridge housing for homeless veterans (25 beds)
8. Johns Hopkins Hospital Contract Housing Program – Transitional housing for Broadway Center for
Addiction (48 beds)
Additionally, Helping Up Mission works in partnership with the Baltimore City’s Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services to provide
a day shelter program (2:00pm-6:00pm) for 70 women in safe, warm accommodations at 601 East Chase Street. In addition
HUM is developing a short-term (10 days or less) medically assisted residential program in partnership with Johns Hopkins
Bayview Medical Center; an emergency department diversion program in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Broadway Center
for Addictions (14 beds); and soon to begin HUM Spiritual Recovery Program (SRP) (20 beds).
Beyond meeting the basic needs of shelter, food and clothing, effectively we are addressing the underlying causes
of homelessness, poverty and addiction, empowering residents’ transformation to wholeness.
We track recovery growth in five key areas: Hope, Health, Home, Purpose, and Community. Since 1999, more than
1,489 men have graduated from the 1-year SRP, including 105 in 2017. Men achieve educational milestones (20 high
school graduations in 2017), return to gainful employment (115 in 2017), and progress from homelessness to stable
housing (50 in 2017).
1 in 9 people are fighting addiction in
Greater Baltimore.
The consequences extend far beyond
chronic homelessness. They affect us all . . .
In 1995, in order to address the needs of men struggling
with poverty and homelessness and to assist them with
their chemical addiction, HUM created the Spiritual
Recovery Program (SRP).
As the Spiritual Recovery Program (SRP) grew in size
and impact, HUM grew its facilities, now operating
in four structures comprising 110,000 sq. ft. With an
incredible level of public and private support, HUM
successfully completed a 2-phase capital campaign
in 2005 – 2008, raising $16 million to purchase and
renovate each of the structures on the main campus.
Yet, we cannot be complacent when we see how great
the need is for increased capacity for the men who
come to us for life-saving help and for the women in
need that we do not currently have the space to serve.
Alcohol and substance use disorders destroy families
and entire communities. In particular, the opioid
epidemic is ravaging the lives of Maryland families at
an alarming rate. It is directly linked to both violent and
nonviolent crime (80% of our SRP residents have been
incarcerated for criminal activities resulting from their
substance abuse). We are witnessing an unprecedented
increase in deaths associated with the use of heroin
and opioid pain relievers. Given the magnitude of the
problem, the Centers for Disease Control added opioid
overdose prevention to its list of top five public health
challenges in 2014. A striking feature of this epidemic
is the relationship between opioid pain reliever use and
first time heroin use. Four out of five current heroin
users report that their illicit opioid use began with
opioid pain relievers.
This opioid epidemic has no gender bias – women are
as susceptible to the disease of addiction as men. HUM
has long known the need to serve women in need with
programs providing the same whole-person care we
provide for men. While not exhaustive, initial survey
results found less than 250 residential recovery spaces
available for women in Greater Baltimore – a clearly
disproportionate number of beds. These programs
also vary widely in length and offer minimal in-house
support services beyond drug treatment.
Another survey of homelessness and co-occurring
conditions revealed there are 900 or more women
experiencing homelessness each night in Baltimore City
alone; 500 or more of whom experience addiction.
Clearly, addiction recovery in a safe, secure residential
environment for hundreds of women is desperately
needed.
The epidemic is growing to such catastrophic levels
that on March 1, 2017, Governor Larry Hogan declared
a State of Emergency to address and combat the
heroin and opioid epidemic. The number of fatal drug
overdoses has nearly doubled in each of the past three
years – and not only in Baltimore City, but also in each
county of Central Maryland: Anne Arundel, Baltimore,
Carroll, Harford, and Howard.
As the epidemic has grown, HUM has seen the need for
our services grow, both in numbers and in geographic
area. Though located in Baltimore City, our reach
is statewide, and beyond – more men than we can
presently serve. Many are in a medically compromised
state that we are not presently suited to serve –
needing medical detoxification from alcohol, heroin/
opioids, benzodiazepines, etc. The amount of available
community detox beds doesn’t come close to meeting
the incredible need.
Helping Up Mission is well-positioned and suited to
make a significant contribution in partnership in these
efforts. We have been successfully building our internal
expertise and collaborative partnerships in a myriad of
services providing wrap-around treatment designed
and focused to meet our resident’s needs. These
programs and services are life-saving and lead to lifetransformation
for the individual, restoration of family
relationships, rebuilding of vocational opportunities,
and ultimately returning to the community as a
contributing member.
1 in 9 people are fighting addiction in
Greater Baltimore.
The consequences extend far beyond
chronic homelessness. They affect us all . . .
Expanding the Reach –
Meeting the Enormous Need for
Women and Children
HUM recently purchased two additional properties in the Historic Jonestown
neighborhood, within sight of our current campus, with plans to develop
them to expand our reach. Our focus is the Inspiring Hope Women’s and
Children’s Center located at 1216 E. Baltimore Street. While there are several
goals for this property, the ultimate goal is to provide a minimum of 150 women
and children a place to call home.
Expand our recovery community to serve women in need, with basic services for their children.
• Semi-private residential rooms and bathrooms/showers
• Onsite counseling – group and individual
• Kitchen/Dining for residents, staff, and partners
• Fitness and recreational areas
• Dedicated area for childcare
Build a New Wellness Center (coed and community)
• Medical exam and primary care treatment
• Mental health counseling
• Dental exams and treatment (emergency and restorative)
• Eye examinations
• Lab/toxicology
• Health education and awareness
Create an Education & Workforce Development Center (coed and community)
• Teaching and tutoring for adult basic education (Maryland high school diplomas and college preparation)
• Computer learning lab
• Job readiness (resume building, interviewing, essential skills, etc.)
• Professional skills development
• Vocational training (food services, environmental, clerical/administrative)
• Job placement (gaining/returning to permanent, full employment)
Financing and Project Summary
The project priority is to build a 145,000 sq. ft. building in which we will provide professional services within a
nurturing, supportive environment where life transformation and rebuilding of families can occur.
Architecture/Engineering plans and renderings depict a seven-story above ground structure and a two-level
underground parking garage with 80 spaces.
Building
Property
Furnishings and Equipment
Start-up Operating Funds
Total Estimated Costs
$47,200,000
$2,625,000
$2,325,000
$ 9,000,000
$61,150,000
Giving Hope Together
Helping Up Mission is a community of hope. In our rich history,
we have always experienced hope, found answers and
experienced empowerment to change. Today, along with our
community partners, we are ready to pass along the same help
to all men, women and children who are in need.
So…if not us, then who? If not now, then when? We say it can be
done, and done now, when help is so desperately needed. And
we believe that together, with you and other community leaders
from all areas of Greater Baltimore –
we will continue to expand a community of hope.
Now It’s Up To Us!
If this community will join together to help women fighting addiction and homelessness, all Greater Baltimore will
be raised up along with them.
Helping up Mission is a community of hope.
We help individuals fighting addiction and homelessness restore their lives. Our comprehensive
recovery programs address root issues of substance abuse and poverty.
As one individual is healed, Greater Baltimore is raised up.
Our Mission Statement
Helping Up Mission provides hope to people experiencing homelessness, poverty or addiction by
meeting their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
Our Mission
Our Mission is transformation. We help rebuild the lives of broken people, and in doing so we are
building a better Baltimore.
Programs
The recovery journey begins with the basic needs of food and shelter but are only the beginning.
HUM’s programs are holistic and transformational.
Volunteer
There is no better way to make a difference for someone in need.
Ways to Give
Your gift can restore hope and renew broken lives. Choose how you can make a difference;
monthly giving, honor giving, legacy planning, gifts-in-kind, volunteer, stock, corporate matching
gifts, United Way, vehicle donations.
1029 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410.675.7500
helpingupmission.org
For more information please contact:
Kristen Anderson, Campaign Director
kanderson@helpingup.org or 410-675-7500 x127
1029 E Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21202