NPC:
Tell us a little bit about your organization. Why was it started?
Kevin Lindamood: Health Care
for the Homeless of Maryland provides health-related services, education, and
advocacy to reduce the incidence and burdens of homelessness. We began in
1985 as part of a national demonstration program sponsored by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, and the US Conference of Mayors
in response to the modern emergence of homelessness, of a magnitude unseen
since the Great Depression. Our goal was to identify the unmet health
needs of people experiencing homelessness.
NPC: Who does it serve?
Kevin Lindamood: Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) provides
comprehensive pediatric, adult, and geriatric medical care, mental health
services, social work and case management, addiction treatment, dental
services, outreach, prison reentry services, supportive housing, and access to
education and employment for men, women, and children experiencing
homelessness. We use the Department of Health and Human Services
interpretation of the federal definition of homelessness – “one who lacks a
regular, fixed nighttime residence.” This includes people living in
emergency and transitional shelter, in abandoned buildings, on the streets, or
“doubled up” with friends, neighbors, or relatives.
NPC: How long have you
been in operation?
Kevin Lindamood: HCH has been in
continuous operation since 1985. We were incorporated as a nonprofit
501c3 organization in 1987.
NPC: How many people did you serve your first year? And, this year?
Kevin Lindamood: In 1985, an HCH staff of four (two nurse
practitioners and two support staff) served 734 different people during 1,791
patient visits in Baltimore
City. In 2008, an
HCH staff of 125 (representing a full array of health professionals) provided
comprehensive services to more than 6,500 different individuals during nearly
55,000 patient visits. Statewide (including contractual relationships
with other organizations in Baltimore, Frederick,
and in Montgomery, Harford, and Baltimore Counties), HCH served nearly 12,000
individuals during more than 74,000 patient visits.
NPC: What is your
most difficult challenge as a nonprofit?
Kevin Lindamood: The most difficult challenge for Health Care
for the Homeless was planning, funding, constructing, and mobilizing political
support for a new comprehensive clinic and headquarters building at 421
Fallsway in downtown Baltimore.
In 2004, we realized we had outgrown our 20,000 square foot clinic and were
turning people away simply because we lacked the space in which to serve
them. More troublingly, lack of space caused us to turn away resources
from individuals and foundations who wanted us to provide additional
services. We feared we simply didn’t have the donor base necessary to
raise $15,500,000 to fund a building large enough to provide the range of
services necessary to end the homelessness of our clients. We’re very
proud to report that our Capital Campaign has generated more than $16,000,000
(toward a $17,500,000 goal) and that our new building will open in January
2010. The 60,000 square foot facility will allow for the expansion of
current services and will incorporate an onsite pharmacy, a pediatric clinic, Maryland’s first dental
clinic for homeless children and adults, and the expansion of our innovative
and effective “Housing First” program.
NPC: What was your most difficult challenge starting out?
Kevin Lindamood: Very early in our organizational development,
Health Care for the Homeless had a year-long conversation about what kind of
organization we were – were we a direct service organization or an advocacy
organization? People had very strong feelings on either side of this
question. Ultimately, we concluded that we were and had to be both.
We had to provide the comprehensive services that individuals needed now
while also working to change the public policies that created and recreated
homelessness faster than we could possibly stop it. The integration of
direct services and advocacy became and remains a guiding philosophical
principle of the organization. We can end homelessness by providing our
clients access to health care, housing, and a modest income while also working
on the level of public policy to provide the availability of these same resources
– comprehensive health care, affordable housing, and livable incomes – for
all.
NPC: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a
nonprofit?
Kevin Lindamood: Work to put
yourself out of business. Provide comprehensive services to improve the
lives of your clients – but also work at the same time to educate the public,
engage lawmakers, and change the public policies that create the need for your
services in the first place. Unfortunately, the homeless service field
has become an institution over the past three decades. We believe in a
society that provides sufficient resources for all its residents so that
individuals and families aren’t living in shelters or on the streets – and
we’re working actively toward a future without homelessness.
NPC: How can people get involved?
Kevin Lindamood: Find out more about homelessness and health.
Talk to your elected representatives about affordable housing,
comprehensive health care, livable wages, and other policies necessary to
reduce poverty and end homelessness. Learn more about effective models
like “Housing First,” through which HCH is helping our most vulnerable
neighbors remain in permanent housing and off the streets. Support the
work of organizations like Health Care for the Homeless. For more
information on HCH and our signature fundraising event The Chocolate Affair,
visit www.hchmd.org, contact us at info@hchmd.org, or call 410-837-5533.
*Kevin Lindamood is the Vice President of External Affairs for Health Care for the Homeless of Maryland.
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