Emergency Services
The Frederick County Department of Social Services (FCDSS) provides services to strengthen and support Frederick County residents in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing, including emergency housing. Call 301-600-2450 for Housing Services. Verifications will be required for each application.

EVICTION PREVENTION
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION
SECURITY DEPOSIT OR FIRST MONTH’S RENT
With the goal of maintaining permanent housing, FCDSS provides a grant to maintain a resident’s current housing or assist a homeless family or adult obtain permanent housing. The resident must have the financial means to maintain the housing after the FCDSS grant. Applicants must apply in person at FCDSS during normal business hours.

HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION
For families with children and adults who are homeless, FCDSS works with all available resources- the person’s, the agency’s, and the community’s, to find immediate housing and to work toward a more permanent solution. Housing Services provides short-term motel placement for families and medically at risk adults; the Alan P. Linton, Jr., Emergency Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is available for adults during the freezing weather months. FCDSS and the Religious Coalition co-sponsor the CWS, with day-to-day management by eleven local churches and over 200 volunteers.

BURIAL
For families of deceased indigent residents who had no insurance or other resources for burial expenses, a $650 grant can assist five families per year using the County Commissioners Fund. In addition FIA/Emergency Assistance helps with burial expenses of deceased individuals who had receiving certain FIA program assistance at the time of their death. Family members must apply in person at FCDSS during normal business hours.

RYAN WHITE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Housing Services awards the Ryan White housing emergency assistance and monthly bus passes to residents who are open in HIV/AIDS case management.

PHONE INTAKE AND REFERRAL - ADULT SERVICES
Housing Services staff covers both the Housing Services intake line 301-600-2450 and the Adult Services intake line, 301-600-2635 which includes Adult Protective Services.

OTHER SERVICES

CASE MANAGEMENT/BUDGET COUNSELING
Trained case managers meet with anyone requesting housing. The FCDSS staff and applicant discuss the situation and jointly plan for its resolution. They review the household’s finances to determine if there is adequate income for the housing and energy needs and if there is management of the income to continue paying for them.

RENTAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM (RAP)
The Rental Allowance Program, a joint program between FCDSS and the County Department of Housing, provides short-term assistance to qualifying renters who are temporarily unable to fully pay for their housing. RAP can assist with a rental subsidy for six months while the renter becomes more self-sufficient, that is, able to maintain housing without the RAP payment. Case management assists the participant in achieving a self-sufficiency plan.