About Baltimore Safe Haven

Community-rooted.
Outcome-driven.
Built to last.

Founded in 2018, Baltimore Safe Haven is a Black-led, community-rooted organization delivering housing stability, wraparound health services, and structured case management to individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to stability in Baltimore.

Baltimore Safe Haven community counseling session
2018
Founded

Born from community.
Built for community.

Baltimore Safe Haven was founded in 2018 by Iya Dammons — a Baltimore community leader who understood firsthand what it meant to navigate housing instability, an under-resourced health system, and a social safety net with real gaps. Rather than wait for someone else to fill them, she built something herself.

What began as community outreach has grown into Maryland's only organization of its kind: a Black-led wellness and housing center serving over 5,000 people across housing placement, health services, structured case management, and community support — operating from two locations in Baltimore City.

Today, BSH is a recognized partner within Baltimore's Continuum of Care system, coordinating with city agencies, healthcare providers, recovery services, and veteran-serving organizations to deliver the wraparound support our community needs.

"We lead by example — because we know exactly what our community needs, and we show up every day to provide it."

Iya Dammons
Founder & Executive Director, Baltimore Safe Haven

Evidence-based services.
Measurable outcomes.

BSH delivers services through a structured, outcome-focused model built on documented case plans, active service participation, and coordinated referrals to community partners. We meet people where they are — and we track every step of the path to stability.

01
Housing Stability Services

We provide emergency housing placement, Rapid Rehousing, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing — with structured occupancy agreements and documented service participation plans for every client.

02
Street Outreach to Housing Placement

BSH's street outreach teams connect individuals living in encampments and unstable environments directly to shelter and housing — tracking every placement and documenting positive exits from street situations.

03
Treatment & Recovery Connections

We maintain active referral partnerships with substance use treatment providers and behavioral health programs — connecting clients to on-site and community-based recovery resources and documenting all service referrals.

04
Structured Case Management

Every client receives a documented case plan with clear goals, milestones, and participation requirements. Our case managers track engagement, measure progress, and coordinate across service areas to ensure no one falls through the cracks.

05
Health & Behavioral Wellness

From HIV prevention and PrEP linkage to mental health support and peer counseling, BSH connects clients to comprehensive health services — coordinating with Baltimore City Health Department and FQHC partners.

06
Veteran & DV Coordination

BSH coordinates with veteran-serving organizations and domestic violence service providers to ensure specialized support reaches those who need it — including formal referral pathways and documented partnership agreements.

Outcomes that speak for themselves.

BSH tracks and measures what matters — housing placements, health outcomes, service engagement, and community stability. These numbers reflect real people, real progress, and real change in Baltimore.

5,000+
Individuals Served Since 2018
8 yrs
Continuous Service to Baltimore
2
Baltimore City Service Locations
100%
Community-Led & Baltimore-Based
Housing Placements
Street outreach to documented housing placement — we track every individual moved from street environments into shelter, transitional, or permanent housing.
Recovery Referrals
Active referral partnerships with substance use treatment providers — all referrals documented, tracked, and reported as part of our CoC coordination commitments.
Case Plan Participation
Structured case plans with written service participation agreements for every active client — measurable milestones, documented outcomes, and regular review.

Our values guide
every decision we make.

At BSH, values aren't words on a wall — they're the framework for how we show up every day for the people we serve, the partners we work with, and the community we're part of.

Community-Centered Leadership

Every decision starts with the community we serve. BSH is built by and for Baltimore — locally rooted, community-led, and accountable to the people in our care.

Person-Centered Care

We meet individuals where they are — with dignity, respect, and services tailored to their unique circumstances and goals.

Outcome Accountability

We document what we do, measure what works, and report transparently — because the people we serve deserve providers who are serious about results.

Coordinated Systems Approach

BSH doesn't work in isolation — we partner with healthcare providers, recovery services, veteran organizations, and city agencies to ensure wraparound support that no single organization can provide alone.

Stability as a Foundation

We believe housing stability creates the conditions for health, recovery, and long-term wellbeing — and every service we provide is oriented toward that goal.

Our Commitment
"We Are Community.
We Won't Be Erased."

Since 2018, Baltimore Safe Haven has stood as proof that community-led organizations can deliver high-quality, outcome-driven services — even in the most challenging environments.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a recognized Baltimore City CoC partner, and a trusted resource for individuals and families navigating housing instability, health challenges, and barriers to stability.

814 N. Collington Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202
baltimoresafehaven.org

Led by the community
we serve.

BSH's leadership team brings together decades of lived expertise, direct service experience, and organizational leadership — rooted in Baltimore and committed to our mission.

Iya Dammons, Founder and Executive Director
Iya Dammons
Founder & Executive Director · she/her

Iya founded Baltimore Safe Haven in 2018 and has led its growth from a grassroots outreach effort into a multi-program housing and wellness organization serving thousands of Baltimore residents.

Alexis Blackmon, Director of Operations
Alexis Blackmon
Director of Operations · she/her

Alexis oversees day-to-day operations across BSH's two Baltimore locations, managing program delivery, compliance, and organizational systems to ensure high-quality service for every person we serve.

Baltimore Safe Haven extended team and community
Our Extended Team
Case Managers · Outreach Workers · Health Staff

BSH's frontline team includes case managers, street outreach workers, health navigators, peer support specialists, and community advocates — all committed to Baltimore.

Coordinated care requires coordination.

BSH works in partnership with city agencies, healthcare providers, recovery services, and community organizations to deliver truly wraparound support.

Baltimore City Health Department Mayor's Office of Homeless Services Baltimore CoC Baltimore VA Medical Center Behavioral Health System Baltimore FQHCs & Community Health Centers Domestic Violence Service Providers Substance Use Treatment Partners Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland Baltimore City Schools
"We Are Community.
We Won't Be Erased."
Baltimore Safe Haven · Est. 2018 · Baltimore, MD