Heartly House

Heartly House is Frederick County’s only provider of comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse. Its central access point is a 24/7 hotline: some callers need a supportive listener; others request hospital accompaniment, transportation, or emergency shelter. Heartly House provides these services and more, with survivors’ holistic needs in mind. The shelter is more than a place to sleep: food, clothing, and toiletries are provided, and supportive staff help clients navigate their next steps. Therapy services include group counseling specifically designed for Spanish-speaking women, male survivors of child sexual abuse, and LGBTQ+ survivors. Legal support – including court accompaniment, case preparation, and representation – empowers clients to seek justice. Heartly House served over 1,800 individuals last year, without charge. Your investment brings invaluable services to even more people who need them.

COVID-19 Update: Heartly House has seen a 24% increase in length of stays in its emergency shelter (as measured by “bed nights” per person). Initially, service requests dropped (in March and April) but they have since exceeded “normal” levels, especially for legal services requests. An increase in violent incidents has been reported by clients, coupled with an increase in the severity of violence (more gun use, strangulations, and even one murder). The stress of the pandemic and the challenge of living in close quarters with violent family members has made Heartly House services more important than ever.