Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) has received a $37,500 grant from the Albert and Diane Miller Fund, a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation (MSCF), to expand support for seniors experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Talbot County.
Seniors are the fastest growing segment of the Mid-Shore’s homeless population. Older neighbors living on fixed incomes are increasingly unable to keep pace with rising rents and living costs. A health crisis, a lost apartment or the death of a spouse can be all it takes to put stable housing out of reach. Seniors are a growing share of the individuals and families who turn to TIS for help.
The Miller Fund grant specifically supports seniors as they move through TIS’s S4 Program — the step-by-step model of Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success that guides every guest toward self-sufficiency. In just the first three months of funding, that support has already taken shape on the ground: covering emergency lodging for seniors in crisis, helping others stay housed through rental and utility assistance, providing a year of bus passes for reliable transportation, supplying nutritious food, and moving five seniors into permanent homes of their own.
“Homelessness among older adults doesn’t always make headlines, but it’s one of the most urgent trends we’re seeing here on the Mid-Shore,” said Julie Lowe, Executive Director of Talbot Interfaith Shelter and member of the Talbot County Senior Citizens Task Force. “Every senior we serve has a different story, but the same need — a safe, stable place to call home. We’re proud to be part of a community-wide effort to meet that need, and we’re deeply grateful to the Mid-Shore Community Foundation and the Miller Fund for helping us respond alongside the many partner organizations working every day to support our older neighbors.”
The funds came from the Albert and Diane Miller Fund, a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. The fund is administered by MSCF’s grants committee and supports initiatives that improve the quality of life for seniors (60 and over) in Talbot County.
TIS will continue to use the grant throughout the year to provide housing security deposits, rental and utility assistance, transportation, and nutrition support for senior guests across its shelters and transitional apartments, helping more older neighbors move off the waitlist and toward stability.
About Talbot Interfaith Shelter
Talbot Interfaith Shelter is dedicated to fighting homelessness on Maryland’s Mid-Shore by providing Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success for local families and individuals in need. TIS’s innovative and comprehensive S4 Program is designed to guide guests step-by-step from homelessness to self-sufficiency through safe shelter, rigorous case management, connection with service providers, and life skills training. TIS also manages 22 off-site transitional apartments, where guests who need more time to reach full independence can continue to receive case management and life skills support while working toward long-term stability. Learn more at talbotinterfaithshelter.org.
About Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Mid-Shore Community Foundation (MSCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. MSCF works with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen communities through charitable giving, grantmaking, scholarships, and philanthropic partnerships. By connecting donors with the causes they care about and providing resources to local nonprofits, MSCF helps build a stronger Mid-Shore today and for generations to come. For more information, visit mscf.org.
