Audit finds Md. shelter spent grant money on car payments, snacks, drinks
Audit finds Md. shelter spent grant money on car payments, snacks ... The Washington Post
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The Only Homeless Shelter in Rural Somerset County Closes Amid Improper Spending
The Closure of the Shelter
The only homeless shelter in rural Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore closed with little warning over the summer after an audit identified improper spending, including covid relief dollars spent on an employee’s Jeep Compass — leaving the state’s poorest county without a shelter as homelessness spikes.
Impact on the Community
The nonprofit Somerset Committee for the Homeless Inc. shuttered the Princess Anne, Md., facility one day after receiving news that its state contracts would not be renewed, following the previously unreported audit by the county health department and the state housing agency. Twenty-three people who were staying in the Lower Shore Shelter had to move to hotel rooms temporarily, and just three landed in permanent housing, Danielle Weber, a health officer at the Somerset County Health Department, told The Washington Post. The rest moved to other shelters in neighboring counties, with 10 remaining homeless after the hotel stays ended.
Findings of the Audit
The audit prompted the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to cut off grants in mid-June that had provided $887,627 in funding over three years to the nonprofit that ran the Lower Shore Shelter. State and county officials listed 11 findings of deficiency that warranted corrective action and an additional six that inspectors found troubling. They found that shelter operators improperly used state dollars to make payments on a vehicle used for a staff member’s personal transportation, to purchase snacks and sodas for staffers and to pay administrative salaries for the executive director and other workers that were improperly billed as emergency expenses.
Efforts to Reopen the Shelter
Weber said the health department is searching for a new service provider to reopen the 24-bed shelter, which property records show was sold to the county for $0 in June.
Challenges Faced by the Community
The shelter’s closure reduced the number of critically needed individual and family shelter units in a region already short on emergency shelter space. Homelessness in the tri-county Lower Shore region hit a record low in 2021 but swiftly rebounded this year to its highest level since 2014.
Addressing Homelessness and Poverty
Somerset County has the state’s highest poverty level alongside the city of Baltimore, with 20 percent of residents living in poverty, according to 2020 census data. The county also has the state’s lowest per capita personal income of $32,531, which is more than $10,000 less than the next lowest county. Neighboring Wicomico County has the state’s fourth-highest poverty rate and the third-lowest personal income.
Efforts to Address Homelessness
As federal coronavirus relief dollars ran out this year, local governments and nonprofit groups struggled to keep up with an increasing number of calls for assistance with housing, utility payments, and food insecurity. Maryland is now focusing on quickly getting people into affordable housing rather than relying solely on shelters. The state has announced a $7.1 million investment to accelerate permanent housing placements and reduce the need for emergency shelter space.
Continued Challenges
But these efforts have not replaced the temporary relief provided by coronavirus-related programs. The end of rental assistance programs and eviction moratoriums has put many families at risk of homelessness. Service providers in the region are struggling to meet the demand for emergency shelter, with limited resources available.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to several SDGs. The closure of the homeless shelter in Somerset County, Maryland, and the increase in homelessness in the region are linked to SDG 1 (No Poverty) as it addresses the issue of poverty and lack of affordable housing. The article also mentions the strain on Maryland’s social safety net and the need for emergency shelter space, which relates to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as it highlights the challenges faced by individuals and families in accessing basic needs like food and shelter. The article also touches on the importance of good health and well-being (SDG 3) for homeless individuals and the need for proper services and support. Additionally, the article mentions the need for sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) to address homelessness effectively. Lastly, the audit findings and concerns about improper spending and lack of compliance with grant requirements relate to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) as it emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
- Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to eradicating extreme poverty (Target 1.1), ending hunger and ensuring access to nutritious food (Target 2.1), achieving universal health coverage (Target 3.8), ensuring access to adequate and affordable housing (Target 11.1), and developing effective and transparent institutions (Target 16.6).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line.
- Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
- Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services.
- Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
- Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services.
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards those targets. These indicators include the proportion of the population living below the international poverty line (Indicator 1.1.1), the prevalence of undernourishment (Indicator 2.1.1), the coverage of essential health services (Indicator 3.8.1), the proportion of the urban population living in inadequate housing (Indicator 11.1.1), and the proportion of the population satisfied with public services (Indicator 16.6.2).
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. | Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line. |
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. | Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. | Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. | Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services. |
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Source: washingtonpost.com
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