Governor Moore: We Want Safe Shelters Now!
Governor Wes Moore
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Maryland residents deserve safe shelters now! Under current law, homeless shelters in Maryland are not required to follow any minimum health or safety standards. Issues with basic sanitation and safety are pervasive across the state and go unaddressed. For example, in one women and children’s shelter in Baltimore City multiple residents did not have AC for several weeks during the summer.
Please sign and share the petition demanding that Governor Moore and the State of Maryland address conditions in the shelter system by enacting a shelter certification program. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Sponsored by
To:
Governor Wes Moore
From:
[Your Name]
I am writing to address the pervasive issue with abhorrent conditions residents confront in our state’s shelter system. Issues include violence, mistreatment by staff, non-functional facilities like showers, toilets, and air conditioning, and moldy and expired food.
The conditions are so bad that many people choose to sleep outside, risking exposure to the elements.
Despite these issues, there are currently no standards enforced at the city or state level for shelters. While hotels, rental housing, and even animal shelters require licensing– our state’s homeless shelters go completely unregulated.
Maryland residents deserve safe and dignified housing. I am calling on you to support passing shelter certification legislation during the 2026 MD General Assembly legislative session and want to see it made a priority at the state level.