We write in support of recent concerns expressed by Westminster Mayor Mona Becker and members of the Westminster Common Council regarding Access Carroll Integrated Health Care’s plan to build space in the Distillery Building in the heart of Westminster to house homeless patients who have been discharged from Sinai Hospital, a part of LifeBridge Health Network and a partner of Access Carroll.
Based on information presented by Access Carroll to the Board of County Commissioners in October 2024, this “Medical Respite Program” will entail an 18-bed unit providing medical care to homeless persons discharged from Sinai Hospital and other patients “within the LifeBridge Health system service area.” The program is expected to serve 100 homeless people a year with an average stay varying from weeks to months.
We share the mayor and council’s deep dismay at not having been informed and consulted on this move that will have a huge impact on the quality of life for Westminster and Carroll County residents in terms of increased crime and increased strain on public resources funded by the wallets and pocketbooks of local taxpayers.
We understand it is very costly for LifeBridge Health to keep these individuals in a hospital bed, but saving money by exporting individuals with substance, behavior and/or mental health issues who have no ties to Carroll County to participate in a voluntary program that one can walk away from hardly seems an ideal solution for the folks who do live, work and pay taxes in Westminster and Carroll County.
We further understand that Access Carroll is currently housing and providing services to homeless individuals who have been discharged from Sinai in Baltimore City at the Best Western Westminster Hotel, and that one of those individuals was picked up on an outstanding criminal warrant. If we had been informed of Access Carroll’s plan beforehand, we could have discussed the importance of screening individuals for criminal backgrounds and dangerousness before dumping them into our community without notice. Generally, law enforcement has noticed a substantial uptick in criminal activity involving the homeless in the vicinity of the Distillery property, with the most glaring example being the unprovoked assault on a local pastor who was punched in the face by a homeless man with mental health issues while walking his dogs.
We have been informed that members from Access Carroll and Lifebridge Health met with Mayor Becker, interested council members and other city officials regarding this Medical Respite Program proposal. We respectfully ask for the same opportunity to formally weigh in from a public safety standpoint regarding this planned program and would urge the commissioners to reconsider their decision from October.
Jim DeWees is the Carroll County sheriff. Haven Shoemaker is the Carroll County state’s attorney.
