Lifestyles’ Day Program provides a warm and friendly environment with a lot to offer homeless individuals. Charitable Trust Staff visited their White Plains location to get a better idea of how they assist Charles County’s unhoused population. The Day Program was busy around lunch time with visitors enjoying a fresh meal, hot showers, watching tv, and just relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere. Open every weekday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, the Day Program is more than just a safe space to spend time, but also offers a variety of resources. For example, LifeStyles offers mailboxes free of charge for homeless individuals – a simple service that makes it easier to establish some stability despite changing living conditions. Lifestyles Outreach staff is also on location daily to connect visitors to services like SNAP assistance, mental health services, financial literacy workshops, employment connections, a peer recovery specialist and more. Sandy Washington, Lifestyles CEO, calls it a vital “one stop shop” to help meet basic needs as well as assist homeless individuals in taking next steps to gain stability.
Next door to the Day Program, Trust Staff also toured LifeStyles’ White Plains Emergency Shelter that has been in operation at this location for about 3 years. In the large, impeccably clean shelter space, one can find rows of beds that sleep up to 25 people every night, plus a kitchenette, lockers for personal items, tables and chairs, a kids’ area with toys and books, as well as full bathrooms and laundry facilities. Staff are on location at the shelter 24 hours a day to ensure safety and provide assistance to residents. Unlike many shelters, LifeStyles accommodates men, women, and children, whether they be individuals or families. There is a such a need for overnight shelter in Charles County, Lifestyles states their shelter is always at capacity and they have a waitlist of nearly 300 people.
HOW TO GET HELP: Stop into the Day Program any weekday 9-3 at 10453 Theodore Green Blvd in White Plains (near the Health Dept) or call for assistance at (301)609-9900 ext 400.
Visit https://lifestylesofmd.org/find-help-now/ for a full list of services through LifeStyles, Inc.
HOW TO HELP: LifeStyles accepts monetary and item donations for a variety of the services they provide throughout Southern Maryland. Please visit https://lifestylesofmd.org/ to learn more.
