BALTIMORE (Map, News) - About 250 local families are being helped in a holistic, “Housing First” way.

The premise of Baltimore’s Housing First initiative — a precept of Community Housing Associates — is that having a place to call home is a fundamental principle of good mental health.

And it’s a concept, advocates say, that is not only psychologically sound but fiscally frugal.

“Community Housing Associates was established to develop and manage affordable housing for adults and families with mental illness in Baltimore City,” Carolyn Ames, CHA’s executive director, told The Examiner. “Since 1989 we have purchased and developed a number of properties, and we rent from private landlords in the area.”

The seven-employee, $2 million-a-year nonprofit owns 107 housing units — group homes, single-family homes and multiunit buildings — and rents 144 apartments for qualifying low-income clients. The clients pay 30 percent of their income toward their housing.

“It’s an initiative to house people who have been street-dwelling or have been in and out of hospitals and jails — services that are very expensive,” Ames said of the approach. “But once someone has a house, those services are used much less. ... And having a place to call home gives people a quality of life that they did not have previously.”

“It’s very nice,” said Bernadette Henderson, a mother of three and CHA client of two years. “The property is very well kept up. The people are friendly. Everybody’s real nice. I’m very satisfied.”

“We also help them to link up with city services for their mental health or other medical needs,” Ames said. “We try to meet people where they are.”

The demand for CHA’s services is growing. “We actually have a two-year waiting list right now,” Ames said, adding that the nonprofit is planning to purchase an additional 20 housing units in 2008 and 40 more in 2009.

It also will cooperate with two other nonprofits — Empire Homes of Maryland and People Encouraging People — to add 1,800 court-ordered, subsidized units for the nonelderly disabled.

“Their work is excellent,” said Jane Plapinger, president of Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Baltimore City’s mental health authority and a parent agency of CHA. “Through them we house about 250 individuals who otherwise might be on the streets. And it’s been very successful in keeping people in housing.”

Comments from Examiner Readers

11:57 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ministry stresses local entrepreneurship"

Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.

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4:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Washington-area nonprofits coordinate different crisis-management strategies"

Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.

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8:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007 re: "Study: Nonprofit employment growing faster than private sector"

Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.

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11:40 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Marian House helps at-risk women cultivate independence"

Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.

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8:50 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007 re: "Martha�s Place promotes hope for women overcoming addictions"

Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!

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12:18 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 19, 2007 re: "Health Care for the Homeless to expand services"

Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!

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12:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "D.C. charity helps kids pump clean water in Africa"

Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.

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7:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Advisory board trims list of nonprofit grant applications"

Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?

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