'Functional Zero' Homelessness Goal Set By Officials With New Strategic Plan

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — County officials unveiled their plan to end homelessness this week by compiling a comprehensive system of homeless services so to reach a level of "functional zero" in five years.

Functional zero is achieved when the number of people experiencing homelessness consistently sits below the community's capacity to house them so that homelessness becomes a rare, short-term crisis with rapid return to stable housing, officials explained.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball introduced The Path Toward Zero: Howard County’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 2025-2030 during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Celebrated annually the week before Thanksgiving, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week highlights the work the county is doing to solve homelessness and reflect upon how to better serve vulnerable residents.

“This week brings with it a renewed commitment to not only respond to homelessness, but to reimagine what is possible as we strive to end homelessness in Howard County. The Path Toward Zero builds upon our progress already made and further lays the foundation for transformative, long-term solutions that ensure everyone in Howard County has a place to call home,” Ball said at a news conference.

The Path Toward Zero plan will help the county and nonprofit partners make sure they're meeting the needs of the community and stay on task with relevant projects, such as the proposed non-congregate shelter along U.S. 1 in Laurel. On Dec. 3, Ball will break ground on the new 20-room facility designed to provide short-term private shelter comprehensive assessments and immediate referrals to housing and critical services. The facility also will serve as overflow capacity for the Grassroots Emergency Shelter, a Code Blue warming center, a backup for the county’s crisis beds, and commercial kitchen operations.

On Dec. 1, Grassroots Crisis Intervention’s emergency shelter with 88 beds will open.

“By achieving and maintaining functional zero, households facing housing instability will experience fewer waitlists, faster transitioning to housing, and robust wraparound supports. The creative solutions needed to achieve this efficient system flow is the primary objective of The Path Toward Zero,” added Kelly Cimino, DHCD Director.