Founded in 1988 by Bethesda area congregations, businesses, the county government and concerned individuals, Bethesda Cares, Inc. is a non-profit private agency serving the working poor and homeless people in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Bethesda Cares uses a two-prong approach in working to prevent and ease homelessness. One as an outreach program: services, counseling, referrals are offered to those clients living on the streets. The second through our eviction prevention program which offers aid to those facing an eviction and utility cut-off in an effort to prevent people from becoming homeless.
To those clients living on the street, we provide lunch six days a week and dinner on Sunday, clothing from our clothes closet, medical care, prescription assistance, toiletries, socks and underwear. In addition, clients may receive mail using our office address, use the facilities of our drop-in-center (phone, fax, copier, and computers) to get in touch with other social services, family, relatives and friends and search for job. We assist with resume writing, obtaining identification and other documentation. A full-time professional social worker counsels and refers clients to other social services. A psychiatrist is in one morning a week to provide therapy and medication checks. Bringing this service to those on the streets, lowers the barrier to seeking treatment for a population that is often treatment resistant, this is essential.
The eviction prevention counselor works with Emergency Services of the Department of Social Services as well as volunteer assistance programs to keep people in their homes and the utilities turned on. We provide assistance once a year and pay the landlord directly. No cash is sent to clients. While the people living on the street that we see are primarily men, we work mainly with women and children in this program.
Bethesda Cares, Inc. is able to provide these services with a small staff and funding because of the community’s involvement. We have more than 450 volunteers who cook and serve food, sort clothes, provide medical care, help in the shower program and in the office. Volunteers host toiletry, sock and underwear drives, help with fund-raisers and provide in-kind donations.
Also, Bethesda Cares works in concert with area congregations, schools, the county government, police and Chamber of Commerce. This open communication and working relationships help us provide and maintain a true community approach to working with the homeless. Daily, we prove that Bethesda truly cares.