The Immigration Outreach Service Center has been serving Baltimore’s immigrant community from its location at 5401 Loch Raven Boulevard since the center opened its doors in June 2000. Its commitment to providing this support remains steadfast. However, in an effort to stay ahead of increasing funding demands the IOSC moved to the new space on August 13, 2024, and will begin operating from there as of August 20, 2024.
Over the past eighteen months the center has been dealing with the realization that demand for its services and subsequent cost increases continue to escalate during the post Covid-19 period. Therefore, the center needed to acquire additional funding to offset the increase in operational costs. During this same period, the center lost out on several grant opportunities that would have resulted in substantial funding. Despite their admiration for the work the IOSC performs, we did not receive these grants because of the funders’ requirements that their grant recipients either own or possess long-term leases on the facilities from which they operate.
The IOSC learned unexpectedly around late May 2024, that office space was available at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard. We eventually entered into a long-term lease agreement in late July 2024, beginning August 1, 2024. The move is part of IOSC’s plans to continue to seek appropriate funding. With the new location at 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard, the center is well positioned to continue its vital work.
Faith Presbyterian Church is no stranger to the IOSC. It is one of several churches whose parishioners worked with parishioners from St. Matthew to establish the IOSC as an immigrant center in 2000. The center will open Tuesday through Thursday, from 10:00AM to 4:30PM. The residents in our S4 Housing Program on the second floor of the St. Matthew convent building will remain in place until appropriate arrangements for their future accommodation are completed.
The center will continue to assume full responsibility for the welfare of the residents under the terms of a lease extension. We will continue to assess whether some of the center’s future activities can be conducted at this location.
As the IOSC approaches its Silver Jubilee in 2025, we look forward to expanding services to immigrants, strengthening our relationships with Saint Matthew, Faith Presbyterian, and our other church partners. We also plan to expand the relationships with our immigration service provider partners, supporters, and grant givers, all for the benefits of the immigrant clients we serve.
Our thanks to all for your continued support.