Better BedRest

• Annapolis – Anne Arundel Medical Center | 443-481-6122 | www.aamcevents.org
• Annapolis – Heritage Baptist Church | Contact Amanda at women@heritagebaptistannapolis.org |  Click here for further details.
• Baltimore – Sinai Hospital | Contact 443-846-6287 *Effective March 2020, The Postpartum Support Group meetings will be held virtually/via video, until further notice. Please call Shelly Bray at 410-601-7832 or email sbray@lifebridgehealth.org for further information*
• Baltimore – Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center | Contact 410-550-5362
• Baltimore – Greater Baltimore Medical Center | Contact Lanny Dowell at 443-849-6287 or mdowell@gbmc.org
• Baltimore – Mercy Medical Center | Lactation Resource Center | 410-332-9060
• Baltimore – The Womb Room | Meets every Tuesday evening
• Elkton – Union Hospital | Contact lsafian@uhcc.com
• Fulton – Capital Women’s Care | Monday evenings at 7:30 PM | Contact Jennifer Riley, PSI Coordinator at rileyjennifer1023@yahoo.com | Click here for further details
• Frederick – Frederick County Perinatal Mental Health Support Group | Contact Jessica Kent at 240-285-3785 or thebirthingcircle@gmail.com
• Hagerstown – Women’s Health Center at Robinwood | Contact 240-217-5091 or info@hagerstownbirth.org
• Olney – MedStar Montgomery Hospital | FREE but must register before attending | Contact 301-774-8881 and press 3
• Silver Spring – Postpartum Depression Support Group | Holy Cross Resource Center | Contact 240-432-4497 or MDPostPartum@gmail.com
• Westminster – Tevis Center for Wellness at Carroll Hospital | Contact 410-871-7000 | If unable to attend a meeting, an OB navigator is available at 410-871-7403, Monday through Friday

Prevent frozen pipes: As we continue to move into winter months, it is important to protect your pipes from freezing temperatures. The Red Cross has created some tips on how to prevent water pipes from freezing and what to do if they do freeze.

DHS call center extends hours: Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) strongly encourages anyone who may be eligible for the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) to apply now and not wait for a turn-off notice.

There are a few ways you can apply:

1)      Go online and apply

2)     Call the DHS call center at 1-800-332-6347 and request an application be mailed to you. The call center has recently extended their hours.

         Monday-Friday 8AM-8PM and Saturday 9AM-4PM.

3)     Contact your local OHEP office to request an application be mailed to you. Some offices will allow clients to schedule an appointment or come to           the office to pick up an application. Call your local office for information on available services.

Fuel Fund of Maryland: The Fuel Fund of Maryland assists income eligible BGE customers with paying their utility bills after they complete OHEP. They have recently instituted some new rules that impact process and eligibility to effectively respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

1.      Waived the need for a turn off notice through 6/30/2021.

2.      Waived the need for seniors (age 60+) to complete OHEP before getting assistance from the Fuel Fund of Maryland through 6/30/2021. They will             mail the consumer an OHEP application as needed.

If someone is struggling with a utility bill, OPC encourages people to call their utility company and request a 12-month payment plan. For those that are OHEP certified, they are eligible for up to a 24-month payment plan.

Legal Representation: The Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP) through the Probono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC) provides free same-day representation for Failure to Pay Rent cases in Rent Court in Baltimore City as well as for some Consumer dockets in Baltimore City District Court and PG County District Court.  People can also contact PBRC for legal information and referrals related to evictions and illegal lockouts, repairs and escrow accounts, utility bill disputes and whether and how to attend scheduled court hearings. To connect with the CAP Team call the hotline at 443-703-3053. For more information about CAP or to schedule a presentation contact Project Director, Katie Davis at kdavis@probonomd.org. See attached for more PBRC programs.

For more information, please visit our website.

Be well.

The CDC issued a national moratorium on evictions 9/1/2020. The Fair Housing Action Center of Maryland published key points on the eviction moratorium.

• Tenants can still be evicted for other issues that don’t include nonpayment of rent.
• All adults listed on the lease must sign, in order to be protected under the moratorium.
• You must sign a declaration that states, among other things, that your circumstances were related to COVID, and be able to prove that if the need arises;
• You must declare that you have sought all available funding sources to pay your back rent, including government assistance;
• You must declare that you earn less than $99,000 annually (or $198,000 if you file taxes jointly with someone else), and;
• You must declare that you would become homeless if you were evicted, and have no alternative housing available to you.
• This moratorium expires December 31, 2020 unless amended.