MHP and Others Help Families Displaced by Flower Branch Fire

In collaboration with Montgomery County, the American Red Cross and other local nonprofits, nonprofit organization MHP is assisting families affected by a fire that occurred in the early hours of January 8, 2022, at the Flower Branch Apartments in the Long Branch community in Silver Spring. The tragic event displaced 56 individuals. Families were evacuated to the nearby Montgomery County Long Branch Library and then were provided temporary shelter in local hotels.

MHP has created a dedicated fund to receive donations that will provide financial support to meet their needs. One hundred percent of donations to the fund will go to affected Flower Branch residents.

Those who wish to help can donate to the fund here (mhpartners.org). As of mid-day on January 9, the fund has received $41,000 in donations, a reflection of the community’s great generosity.

Fifteen apartment units were destroyed or damaged by the fire. Many residents escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Affected residents are expected to have significant immediate and ongoing needs, including clothing and replacement of medical devices left behind and destroyed in the fire.

As a nonprofit with a long history of supporting the Long Branch community, MHP is honored to be able to step up and assist the impacted families. While Flower Branch Apartments is not an MHP property, the organization maintains strong ties with the Long Branch community through neighborhood revitalization work, developing and maintaining MHP affordable properties in the community, and offering preschool and after school enrichment programs and homework clubs.

The Flower Branch Apartments complex was the site of a tragic explosion and fire in August 2016. At that time, MHP managed a dedicated fund to help affected families.