BRIDGES TO HOUSING STABILITY INC

Solving Homelessness with Housing

aka Bridges to Housing Stability   |   Columbia, MD   |  www.bridges2hs.org

Mission

To provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County, Maryland.

Notes from the nonprofit

Bridges is a growing nonprofit. We have increased our capacity and our programs steadily over the past 30 years. We are proud to serve the residents and workers of Howard County. We're working to build an inclusive and economically diverse community.

Ruling year info

1991

Executive Director

Mrs. Jennifer Broderick

Main address

9520 Berger Rd Suite 311

Columbia, MD 21046 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Congregations Concerned for the Homeless

EIN

52-1723716

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (L01)

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

There is a shortage of 6,572 units of affordable rental housing for low-income households which accounts for 30% of Howard County renters. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the Howard County Public School System identified 494 homeless students. In Howard County, over 350 households evicted each year, 600 individuals without shelter experience homelessness every year, and more than four hundred households self-identify as homeless or within two weeks of becoming homeless on any one day. Twenty-five percent of Howard County renters are cost-burdened by paying more than 30% of their income for housing and another 22% are experiencing severe rent burden by paying more than 50% of their income on rent. Bridges is working to address the housing shortage, and make homelessness brief, rare, and non-recurring by increasing the availability of affordable housing, prevention, and rehousing services through targeted programs.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Rapid Re-housing

Within the Housing Stability Program, the Rapid Re-housing program assists displaced individuals and families into permanent housing quickly through a housing first approach. Once clients are rehoused, financial assistance can be given to jumpstart clients housing stability such as a security deposit, first months' rent, and/or a shallow subsidy. Clients work with case managers to obtain resources and work on goals such as increasing income and locating childcare.

Population(s) Served

The Alliance program provides affordable, below-market rental housing to low-income households. Today the program owns or operates 45 rental homes in the County. Households in the program participate in a “Circle of Support” designed to help them move along the path to self-sufficiency. In addition, tenants are offered regular education sessions related to financial literacy, budgeting and saving, credit repair, investing for retirement, and buying a home.

Population(s) Served
Families
Economically disadvantaged people

Within the Housing Stability Program, Shelter Diversion program is an alternative to traditional shelters for hard to shelter families with children. Through Shelter Diversion, we quickly place families with children within 30 days, and provide short-term comprehensive case management, rental and financial assistance, and life skills training for approximately 14 families each year.

Population(s) Served
Families
Homeless people

The Housing Connections Program provides outreach and support for landlords willing to rent to households with housing barriers. Housing Connections also provides assistance with the search to secure tenancy and prevent evictions for households facing challenges remaining stably housed, case management, ongoing employment services and access to community resources.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

Within the Housing Stability Program, HSSP provides housing rental subsidies to the chronically homeless Howard County residents often with disabilities. This population has exhausted all the services of local homeless prevention, housing stability, rapid re-housing and/or shelter programs available in Howard County and continue to be unable to secure affordable, stable housing. Tenants in the program receive ongoing case management and support from Bridges staff to remain stable and work toward long-term goals.

Population(s) Served

Within the Housing Stability Program, the Eviction Prevention Program's primary goal is to assist tenants who are facing an immediate eviction from their landlords. Individuals and families who are facing unforeseen hardship receive intensive case management and resources to provide emergency relief.

Population(s) Served
Homeless people
Economically disadvantaged people
Homeless people
Economically disadvantaged people

Our Housing Stability Programs are a multi-track component of Bridges to Housing Stability that utilizes case management as the primary tool for assisting homeless and at-risk households in obtaining and maintaining housing. Bridges to Housing Stability Programs operate from an understanding that affordable housing in the communities can solve homelessness. Bridges work to house homeless families and prevent homelessness among families facing evictions or without lease stability. As a partner in the Howard County Coordinated Entry System, Bridges assists Howard County families who are homeless or in danger of losing their rental unit within 14 days.

Population(s) Served

Within the Housing Stability Program, the Emergency Housing Program supports efforts to assist families and individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Funding provides short-term rental assistance to prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

Population(s) Served
Homeless people
Economically disadvantaged people
Homeless people
Economically disadvantaged people
Homeless people
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total number of clients experiencing homelessness

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Rapid Re-housing

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Includes total number of homeless individuals in Rehousing, Housing Stability Subsidy, Housing Location, & Shelter Diversion programs that were experiencing homelessness at entry.

Number of homeless participants engaged in housing services

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families, Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Rapid Re-housing

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Includes all programs: Housing Stability, Shelter Diversion, Landlord Engagement, Housing Stability Subsidy Program, and Rapid Rehousing, Bridges Alliance.

Number of households that obtain/retain permanent housing for at least 6 months

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families, Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

All programs: Rehousing, prevention, Bridges Alliance Affordable housing, Shelter Diversion, Housing Specialist, and Housing Stability Subsidy Programs.

Number of homebuyers/tenants with low incomes receiving housing subsidies as a result of the nonprofit's efforts

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Seniors, Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities

Related Program

Housing Subsidy Stability Program (HSSP)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Housing Stability Subsidy, and Shelter Diversion programs.

Number of people in the area with access to affordable housing as a result of the nonprofit's efforts

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families, Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Housing Stability Subsidy, Shelter Diversion, and Bridges Alliance programs

Number of children and youth who have received access to stable housing

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

All Children or youth that had stable housing in a Bridges program.

Number of households served with eviction notice or forced displacement

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

Rapid Re-housing

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

This is the number of evictions that were prevented during the fiscal year.

Number of people benefitting from intensive case management services

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Rehousing, Prevention, Landlord Engagement, Shelter Diversion, Housing Stability Subsidy programs & Housing Specialist.

Number of low-income families housed in affordable, well-maintained units as a result of the nonprofit's efforts

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families

Related Program

Bridges Alliance

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Bridges Alliance has continued to steadily build the Affordable housing program over the past 5 years.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

*Prevent Homelessness by providing financial assistance, case management, building community supports for individuals, and budget coaching.
*End Homelessness by rehousing individuals and families in housing they can afford, and sustain.
*Assist households in attaining self sufficiency by providing a tenant success certificate program, employment coaching, follow-up services, referrals to resources, and budget and goal planning.
*Provide affordable housing to low-income Howard County Workers by partnering with the Howard County Housing Commission, the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, and our 100 Homes for 100 Households partners to add additional affordable units to the housing stock in Howard County, and ensuring the rental burden is lowered so households can stay housed in the community where they work.

Our 2017-2020 Strategic Plan maps out the strategies that will help Bridges achieve its goals. Bridges' practices align with the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), focusing on the prevention of homelessness and Housing First model, an approach that stresses the placement of homeless individuals and families in permanent housing, not shelter. Bridges has been a leader and advocate in bringing the NAEH approach to Howard County, influencing the development of Howard County. Bridges has continued to expand Bridges Alliance, the affordable housing program, permanent supportive housing, shelter diversion, and Rapid Re-Housing. Bridges is part of the local Continuum of Care, and the Board to Promote Self Sufficiency.

Bridges has 12 skilled staff with a combined 70+ years of experience with low income housing, case management, or finance work in 3 programs and administration. All programs are focused on housing stability for low-income households with a vision of eradicating homelessness in our county. Case management services for homeless or at risk households follow a housing first model, are client centered, and employ a creative, problem-solving, empowerment approach to support housing stability. Case management includes creation of a plan that includes identified measurable goals. A majority of households remain housed long term. Bridges Alliance provides below market scattered site rental housing for 31 families working in the County. Partnerships ensure the program continues to grow by adding 6 additional housing units annually. Housing Connections provides housing location and case management for up to 18 months to low income tenants & supports landlords that rent to households with barriers.

In 2016 Bridges' completed the goals set out in the Strategic Plan created in 2012. Bridges has added 3 new programs in the past 4 years, adding new staff, and providing services to a broader spectrum of low-income homeless and at-risk households.

A new Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 was passed by the Board of Directors in June 2017. This plan focuses Bridges' work on case management leadership, expanding the Affordable Housing program (Bridges Alliance), involvement in the update to the County's Plan to End Homelessness, and becoming a workplace of choice for staff. Bridges will continue to expand on 3 current programs by increasing Affordable Housing units, Permanent Supportive Housing slots, and rapid-rehousing families served.

Financials

BRIDGES TO HOUSING STABILITY INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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BRIDGES TO HOUSING STABILITY INC

Board of directors
as of 11/09/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Ms. Jessica Zuniga

Foundation Development Group

Term: 2020 - 2022


Board co-chair

Mr. James Collins

Retired, US Army Lieutenant Colonel

Term: 2020 - 2022

Reid Spearman

Dakota Consulting, Inc.

Tracey Williams

Howard County Public Schools

Ruth Hoang

Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

Rogers Lewis

Retired

Cassandra Jones Havard

University of Baltimore School of Law

Jessica Zuniga

Foundation Development Group

James Collins

Retired

Patrick Curran

Crawford Advisors

Waqas Hussain

Humphrey Management

Dona Oldfield

Retired

Sara Johnson

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/9/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/09/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.