Open Doors to a Brighter Future

At Bridges to Housing Stability, we believe every family deserves a safe place to call home and an opportunity to build a brighter future. A stable home means so much more than a roof overhead. It's where children can sleep safely, parents can plan for tomorrow, and hope has a chance to grow. When our community comes together for women like Teresa and her 3-generation household, we don't just provide hope; we open doors to lasting stability.

In 2015, now 56-year-old Teresa’s restaurant job didn’t pay enough for her family. Without a permanent place to live, they stayed in an extended-stay hotel, living week to week. After an appeal to Grassroots, Howard County’s homeless shelter, she was referred to Bridges. Our growing non-profit helped Teresa secure an apartment by providing her security deposit and first month's rent, find furniture, and offered additional support to allow her to live in dignity.

“I had felt that things were beginning to look up,” she recalled. “I thank God we were able to get into that program.”

But that was just the start of a decade-long struggle that continues today. She still had trouble affording the unsubsidized rent and later moved to a Bridges-owned townhouse where the rent was much lower.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, Teresa, her handicapped adult daughter, her grandchild and two adult sons all got COVID-19. Over time, she fell ill to the virus “5 or 6 times,” and more recently developed an ulcer that required surgery. Her symptoms from what is now called “Long COVID,” have never completely gone away, and she can no longer work. She also requires oxygen to breathe.

Despite everything, she has never lost hope and worked diligently to get help. Without Bridges' help, Teresa doesn’t know what would have become of her family. “We’d be homeless. I’m just hoping that all this stuff gets cleaned up, and one day we’ll get a house of our own.”

Open Doors to a Brighter Future:

• $50: Can cover bus fare and gas cards so families can get to work, school, and appointments as they rebuild stability
• $100: Can supplement a week of groceries for a Howard County family
• $250: Can cover utility bills for a Howard County resident, keeping their home warm in the colder months
• $500: Can help a Howard County family unlock the door to their new home by covering all or part of their security deposit
• $1,000: Can sponsor one month of critical housing stability services, ensuring families receive guidance, resources, and support from our dedicated team

Double Your Impact!

This holiday season, your support can open doors for even more of our neighbors. Thanks to a generous $15,000 matching challenge from an anonymous donor, your gift today will be doubled to help twice as many families step into safe homes filled with warmth and hope.

To show our gratitude for your support, every donor giving $250 or more will have a handmade ornament displayed in our office as a symbol of your compassion and care. When the season ends, we'll send it to you as a reminder that your kindness opens doors and keeps hope alive.

This Holiday Season, Help Us Open Doors to a Brighter Future for Howard County Families.

Your support is crucial in our journey to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County. Together, we can create a future where everyone has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home.