Harbor Baltimore secures more than $347,000 to keep survivor services running

Safe Exit Initiative’s Harbor Baltimore program won more than $347,000 in 2026 funding to continue outreach, overdose response and drop-in services for people impacted by trafficking, exploitation and the sex trade in Baltimore. The support helps the program maintain its Mount Clare center and expand connections to housing, healthcare and recovery.

Why it matters: - Harbor Baltimore is a low-barrier point of contact for people affected by trafficking, exploitation and the sex trade in Baltimore. - The new funding helps preserve services that connect participants to housing, healthcare, recovery and other supports. - Sustained support also keeps overdose response and street outreach available in the Mount Clare neighborhood.

What happened: - Safe Exit Initiative’s Harbor Baltimore program received more than $347,000 in 2026 funding. - The funding supports survivor-centered services for individuals impacted by the sex trade, trafficking and exploitation. - The program provides direct street outreach, a drop-in center, overdose response, harm reduction supplies, meals, hygiene essentials, clothing and case management. - Harbor Baltimore also connects participants to housing, healthcare, recovery and other supportive services.

The details: - The 2026 funding came from the Aegon Transamerica Foundation, the Baltimore Bar Foundation, the Maryland Office of Overdose Response, and the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy through the Maryland Victims of Crime program and the Performance Incentive Grant Fund. - Harbor Baltimore operates a drop-in center in Baltimore’s Mount Clare neighborhood. - The program is a designated Maryland Department of Health provider for overdose response resources. - In May 2026, Harbor Baltimore served more than 300 people through nearly 500 encounters. - Those encounters included street outreach, drop-in services, case management and resource navigation. - During that month, participants received referrals for housing, behavioral health and recovery services, legal services and employment assistance. - Over its most recent reporting period, Harbor Baltimore engaged 1,566 participants and completed 6,672 outreach encounters. - That total included 1,065 drop-in participants and 4,005 drop-in encounters.

Between the lines: - The funding reflects continued backing for survivor-led outreach and harm reduction in Baltimore. - The program’s repeated contact with participants suggests Harbor Baltimore is building trust over time, not just offering one-time services. - Safe Exit Initiative frames the work as both individual support and a public safety strategy. - The funding base also signals a broad coalition of public and private supporters behind the program. - Previous Harbor Baltimore supporters include the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement, The Abell Foundation, the Bank of America Helen Pumphrey Denit Charitable Trust, the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, the John J. Leidy Foundation, the Venable Foundation and Costco Wholesale Charitable Contributions.

What's next: - Harbor Baltimore will continue operating its drop-in center, street outreach and overdose response services with the new funding. - Safe Exit Initiative plans to keep strengthening partnerships with community organizations serving Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents. - The organization is directing people to Safe Exit Initiative’s website for more information, donations and involvement. - More information about Harbor Baltimore is available through the video “How Safe Exit Initiative is Changing Baltimore.”

The bottom line: - More than $347,000 in new 2026 support helps Harbor Baltimore keep a trusted, survivor-centered safety net in place for Baltimore residents facing exploitation and trafficking.