Howard County Link
Click here to edit subtitle
let us bring light...
WHAT is WAS HOWARD COUNTY LINK? ;-(
Very sadly, HCLink Crisis Helpline
was forced to close its doors on
January 30, 2015
due to lack of funding.
BUT, there's also good news...
Our Emergency Resources are
STILL AVAILABLE, just click that tab above
for links to many valuable crisis aid &
money saving resources,
which should be available until this site closes
in July, 2015.
Very sadly, HCLink Crisis Helpline
was forced to close its doors on
January 30, 2015
due to lack of funding.
BUT, there's also good news...
Our Emergency Resources are
STILL AVAILABLE, just click that tab above
for links to many valuable crisis aid &
money saving resources,
which should be available until this site closes
in July, 2015.
Emory & Bethany United Methodist Churches
Howard County, Maryland
These pages offer a look at HCLink's work to aid our most vulnerable neighbors. Our special focus is on children, families and seniors, but we serve all Howard County residents regardless of faith, race, nationality, age or gender.
Howard County Link's outreach projects include:
♥ HCLink Crisis Helpline
Information ~ Referral ~ Advocacy
Our staff & phone volunteers guide callers with emergency needs to sources of aid for:
Eviction/Foreclosures
Utility Turnoffs
Food
Shelter
Medicine
Clothing
Jobs
Transportation
& other basic needs
We provide resource phone numbers, agency schedules and requirements, and advice on seeking aid.
In urgent situations, advocacy support is also offered. Our staff intercedes with aid agencies on the caller's behalf when they are unable to do so themselves or fast enough to avoid a crisis.
Money-saving resources are also provided to help pay bills and avoid future crises.
In addition to the Helpline, HCLink shares our emergency aid resources through this website (see Emergency Resource page), community events and human service partnerships.
Click here to see recent HCLink Crisis Helpline activity.
♥ HCLink Community Solutions Incubator
HCLink identifies county residents' unmet needs via the crisis helpline, then develops and nurtures community-based solutions, for example:
Our Brothers' & Sisters Keepers
Our latest project, launched in October 2010, is a semi-annual gathering of county faith groups, human service agencies and nonprofits, to work together to more effectively to help our neighbors in crisis. See more details on OBSK page.
♥ HCLink's Community Outreach
HCLink and its director's human service outreach includes:
>Member, past Chair, Emergency Food & Shelter Program (H.C.)
>Member, Providers Network (troubleshoots crisis cases)
>Member, Coordinated System of Homeless Services, H.C.
>Co-manager of Family Emergency Fund
>Speaker, human service panels, workshops, community fairs
>Advocacy Partnerships with:
- FISH of Howard County
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
- Community Action Council
- Office of People's Counsel
- Maryland Access Point (Office of Aging)
- Salvation Army H.C.
- Family & Children Services
- Dept. of Citizen Services
- Interfaith Coalition for Compassion
- Church of the Resurrection
- H.C. Public School System
- Mental Health Authority
- Numerous other human service & faith groups