City of Salisbury Council discussed homelessness in the community

SALISBURY, Md. — The Salisbury City Council held its meeting this evening, where residents voiced concerns about affordable housing. State officials were brought in to share data and best practices on addressing homelessness and preventing more individuals from becoming unhoused.

Danielle Meister, assistant secretary for the Division of Homeless Solutions at Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development, said homelessness may seem intractable but is an issue that can be solved.

“The best way to combat this issue is through housing affordability,” Meister said. “And not enough access to jobs that pay living wages, or what we call a housing wage. Data shows that for every $100 increase in rent, homelessness goes up by 9%. There’s a direct correlation between the housing built in your community, how affordable it is, and the rate of homelessness.”

Meister also noted that Salisbury is one of the few cities nationwide investing in permanent supportive housing, which she explained is a key strategy in tackling homelessness.