The Arnold House was founded when it was discovered that many families and individuals were living in tents on undeveloped land throughout the county or living in local hotels because they cannot afford housing. There is also a growing number of the “working poor” and/or those on a fixed income that once the bills are paid little or no money is left for food. That discovery led us to take action on educating the community and getting their support to address this national issue at the local level. The Arnold House partners with citizens, commercial businesses, public and private organizations to deliver meals and other basic necessities to those in need. According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data, in 2014, the total homeless population in Maryland was 7,856 individuals. The majority of Maryland’s homeless population are individuals (63%) rather than people in families (37%). The number of homeless unaccompanied youth and children increased by 7.3% to 41, while there were 654 homeless veterans. Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties contained the second highest share of the homeless population (14.5%). Our goal is to increase the overall well being of the homeless population through education, advocacy, and social programs designed for sustainable living.
