About LAUREL ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL SERVICES, INC.

Location:

311 LAUREL AVE, LAUREL, MD 20707, US

Mission Statement

To enable homeless and low-income people in Laurel who are in crisis to achieve stability and long-term self-sufficiency.

Description

LARS is a non-profit serving homeless and low-income families and individuals in Laurel, MD. LARS was founded in 1987 by congregation leaders who sought a consolidated approach to responding to homelessness in Laurel. Today LARS is staffed by trained social workers and continues to receive support from its founding faith-based partners.

​Emergency Services are offered including financial assistance to for housing and utilities; vouchers for eyeglasses, clothing and furniture; referrals for shelter; and a food pantry which can be utilized by clients every 30 days. LARS also helps homeless clients with obtaining ID cards and birth certificates, prescriptions, drug treatment, and mental health needs. LARS hosts a representative from the Prince George’s County DSS who assists clients with submitting applications for federal benefit programs.

Supportive Housing provides subsidized housing and long-term supportive services to 22 chronically homeless and disabled individuals and families who live in local apartments leased by LARS. Referrals for these programs come directly from Prince George's County's coordinated entry system.

Self-Sufficiency Program provides more intensive case management/mentoring to 6 stabilized and motivated households who work closely with a LARS case manager to maintain permanent housing, improve financial habits, gain employment, and remove other barriers to self-sufficiency.