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DENTON – A grant program approved by the Caroline County Commissioners has allowed a Ridgely-based non-profit agency to strengthen its services to those experiencing homelessness in Caroline County.
Deborah Vornbrock, executive director of Martin’s House and Barn, attended the Commissioners’ meeting Oct. 28, 2025, to thank them for their continued support and report on how the program has helped.
“Through this CDBG grant program, the partnership has allowed us to strengthen our case management services for families experiencing homelessness here in Caroline County,” Vornbrock said.
As their first resolution of 2025, the Commissioners on Jan. 7 authorized Martin’s House and Barn’s application for a $175,000 grant from the Maryland Community Development Block Grant Program through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The grant’s purpose was to enhance essential case management services for high-needs families in a year-round shelter.
As a requirement for continuing the grant process for its second year, the Commissioners approved the next step at the Oct. 28 public hearing.
“Through this grant we were able to hire Samantha Barauskas, our full-time case manager, who began providing services in the spring,” Vornbrock said. “She has become an integral part of our team, offering consistent, individualized support to families facing serious challenges, such as mental health needs, disabilities, trauma and chronic health conditions.”
“Many of the families we serve also face barriers like limited transportation and access to care,” she said. “Having Samantha on site every day has made a tremendous difference in their ability to move forward.”
Eight months into the 2-year grant period, the organization had served 56 beneficiaries, Vornbrock said, “putting us well on track to meet or exceed our goal of 100 clients. Each of those numbers represents a family, parents and children finding stability and hopefully being able to rebuild their lives.”
During fiscal year 2024, Martin's House and Barn provided 12,439 bed nights to families in crisis, and 63% of those served were Caroline County residents.
Of the current shelter population, 78% of clients are from Caroline County, Vornbrock said. “These are our neighbors, families who live and work and go to school right here in the community.”
The food pantry continues to serve approximately 350 families, or about 1,500 individuals each month. “This program not only helps families stay in our shelter, but also hundreds of Caroline County households who rely on us for basic nutrition,” she said.
County Deputy Administrator and Finance Director Daniel Fox complimented Vornbrock on the organization’s reporting compliance, saying they have done a “phenomenal job.”
As part of the CDBG grant, a grant manager will soon be hired to help ensure the long-term sustainability of services.
Martin’s House and Barn is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and accepts volunteer help as well as tax-deductible contributions. For more information, visit www.martinshouseandbarn.org/
