Homeless Outreach In the News
Social workers Alexus Johnson and Ray Woodson who work in the Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) at the Baltimore VA Annex, spend eight hours a day, two days a week every week canvassing homeless encampments looking for Veterans experiencing homelessness.
They are part of a 14- member team who take to the streets and shelters looking for Veterans experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. These teams function throughout the VA Maryland Health Care System’s catchment area that spans from Eastern Shore through the Baltimore metro area and into Cecil County. Although they help everyone, their focus is assisting homeless Veterans or Veterans without permanent housing to get back on track.
“We are here to help Veterans experiencing homelessness and Veterans in need,” said Shanita Burch, coordinator for the CRRC, a drop-in center located at the Baltimore VA Annex where Veterans can go to wash their clothes for free, pick up some new clothes and shoes at the Clothing Boutique and, grab a bad of food from the facility’s pantry.
Recently, Barry Simms, a reporter from WBAL-TV 11, followed Johnson and Woodson and interviewed Burch to get a idea of how the VA Maryland Health Care System is serving Veterans struggling with homelessness. A story about the homeless outreach aired on Nov. 30 during the evening newscast.
Click Here to watch the story.