The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center is spreading its wings — with a little help from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

The foundation recently gave a $400,000 capital grant to support the renovation and expansion of Howard County’s only emergency shelter for people who are homeless.

“We’ve always had 24-hour walk-in services,” said Executive Director Andrea Ingram, “but I think having more professional-looking facilities with greater visibility will increase the number of folks who just walk in.”

But the grant comes with one condition: Grassroots must raise $200,000 to match the Weinberg commitment.

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“I haven’t seen a final contract,” Ingram said. “As far as I know, that’s the only condition.”

It may be the center’s first Weinberg grant, but Grassroots is no stranger to community help. The intervention center receives funds from state bond bills, the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development and various community groups, such as rotary clubs.

Private contributions make up the more than $1 million raised, Ingram said, and the prospects of raising the $200,000 look good.

“We had a couple of requesters for significant donations,” Ingram said. “Should those come through, we’ll have a match.”

Funds go to the $5.5 million project, which will increase shelter beds from 32 to 55 and double the center’s size to more than 23,000 square feet.

“We’re actually hoping to get in there before the end of this year,” Ingram said. “But you know how construction goes.”

The center is working out of two locations while the construction goes on, a two-story cottage near Shepherd Pratt Hospital and a county-owned building on Vollmerhausen Road, Ingram said.

This winter, Howard County officials counted 171 people who are homeless.

In 2005, more than 2,000 people were denied shelter, Grassroots officials said.

The foundation could not be reached for comment.

kprahlad@baltimoreexaminer.com