Bon Secours Builds a Better Life
for Southwest Baltimore:
"Operation ReachOut Southwest"
Improves Housing, Community

To some, Southwest Baltimore is home to sub-standard housing, overgrown lots, and dangerous streets. But behind the statistics, these neighborhoods, also home to Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, are tremendously resilient, showing signs of new life, progress, and hope. Much of that hope was reborn in 1995, when the hospital launched a program to revitalize the neighborhood. The initiative was created when a newly formed community development department began to work with local organizations to improve the surrounding neighborhood. A committee of community, church and non-profit leaders formed a partnership with Bon Secours and the coalition of over 250 people became known as Operation ReachOut Southwest (OROSW).

The vision of OROSW is for the Southwest neighborhood to be known city-wide as a desirable place to live. By 2018, their goal is that the majority of houses will be occupied by homeowners, the streets clean and free of drugs, residents will be educated, and businesses will be flourishing. So far it seems they have met many of their expectations.

• " A Head Start classroom was opened in the Bon Secours Hollins Terrace building, as well as the Bon Secours Family Support Center. Affordable housing projects have been built, including 440 units of senior housing project and 119 units of family rental housing.
• " Our Money Place was developed by OROSW and local banking businesses to educate citizens on financial planning. It includes a career development program that offers job placement, training and financial asset building. Money services are also offered like check-cashing, bill payments, emergency short-term lending, and mortgages. In addition, Our Money Place has one-on-one and group financial counseling.
• " The "Clean & Green" project encourages residents to take care of their gardens and the streets by offering cash prizes for best appearance of their adopted site. Meanwhile, the Women's Resource Center has helped over 2,500 women, many of whom have been victims of domestic violence. It offers a variety of services for women, including hospitality services (laundry, meals, showers, etc.), a job skills bank, domestic violence counseling, and support groups.

With the improvements turning out better than expected, Bon Secours continues to make a positive impact on Southwest Baltimore.