Maryland Living Center

A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out: 

The Maryland Living Center works with homeless and transitioning youth between the ages of 16 and 21 in order to transition them from homelessness to independence by providing the opportunity to live in a safe and stable environment while focusing on gaining employment and developing necessary life skills.

"Being able to call an apartment home is something that they have given me when I didn't have anything and something I will cherish for the rest of my life"

The Maryland Living Center provides living accommodations, independent living skills training, educational opportunities, counseling, advocacy, referral services, and mentoring of youth, in a person-centered approach. Each youth's talents are identified and shaped to empower them with the tools necessary to transition from homelessness to a successful independent living situation. 

"Now that I have been here I feel confident about being on my own and being able to survive in this big world."

The youth served through the Maryland Living Center have become homeless after 'aging-out' of foster care, leaving abusive households, getting kicked out of living situations, and dealing with navigating independent life without the necessary skills. These youth are motivated to succeed and simply need the guidance and the support which MLC provides in order to become successful.

"The staff are very sensitive to the problems and situations that the youth are/have been faced with and listen with a desire to help us overcome them. They help us come up with a plan and steps that we need to take to handle the situation."

Since housing its first youth just a year ago, the Maryland Living Center has provided housing to 18 youth. Eight of these youth currently live in the MLC facility while nine others have successfully transitioned to independent living or more appropriate services. Fourteen of these youth have found employment and nine of these youth have been involved in some form of post-secondary education. All 18 youth have received their High School Diploma or their GED and all have been involved in local agencies to provide wraparound services.

"The most valuable lesson I have learned through MLC is that it is okay to ask for help."

Each youth plays a part in developing their unique, person-centered case plan and transition plan based on their individual needs and circumstances. A computer-based, life skills assessment is utilized in order to determine the skills a youth already possess, which will be strengthened, and the skills a youth does not yet possess, which will be developed. 

"Being a part of MLC is who I am today, and that is something I can be proud of myself for."

The Maryland Living Center is a place for homeless youth, who may have never had the chance to live in a safe environment, to finally take the time to develop life skills, pursue employment, learn who they are as individuals, and most importantly, to live an independent and successful life.

"Without MLC I'm not sure where I would be. The streets? Maybe. But they saved me from finding out."