Emergency Shelter and Permanent Housing from MCCH in Montgomery County
The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) is one of the primary organizations in the county working directly with people experiencing homelessness — operating emergency shelters, permanent housing programs, and an affiliated housing development arm that builds and owns units for formerly homeless residents. This page will help you understand what they do and who to access their services. Its programs are specifically for people who are currently homeless or transitioning out of homelessness into stable housing.
MCCH's administrative office is at 2301 Research Blvd, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20850. The main number is (301) 217-0314. However, if you need shelter, calling MCCH directly is not the right first step — read the section below on how to actually access services. The number to dial is (240) 777-4000 as MCCH takes referrals from that crisis line.
How to get help — the referral path matters
MCCH does not accept self-referrals. People in need of shelter or housing services are connected to MCCH through county agencies, not by contacting MCCH directly. If you are a single adult in Montgomery County who needs shelter tonight, the entry point is the Montgomery County Crisis Center, which operates 24 hours a day at (240) 777-4000. The Crisis Center is located at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville and can be reached without an appointment. During the winter months, same-day shelter for adults is generally available. During warmer months, an assessment and referral are provided, but wait times for an available bed are common.
Families with children should contact the Department of Health and Human Services (website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-health-human-services) during business hours — DHHS has offices in Rockville, Germantown, and Silver Spring.
Emergency shelter
MCCH operates three emergency shelter programs that collectively serve more than 800 men and women each year. Shelters provide a safe place to stay along with case management services, basic needs support, and connections to longer-term housing. The goal of MCCH's shelter programs is to move people through emergency housing as quickly as possible and into stable arrangements — not to warehouse people indefinitely. All shelter placement goes through the county referral process described above.
Permanent supportive housing - long term, income-based housing
For people who have moved beyond crisis and are ready to transition into stable living arrangements, MCCH runs ten permanent supportive housing programs serving approximately 800 residents across more than 400 households throughout Montgomery County. These are not temporary programs — residents have actual leases and stay as long as they need to. Clients contribute 30% of their income toward rent regardless of how much they earn, with the remaining balance covered through housing vouchers or MCCH funding.
What makes these programs different from simply having a subsidized apartment is the ongoing support structure. Each resident receives case management tailored to their situation, which may include mental health services, connections to employment, help managing benefits, and other support designed to keep housing stable over time. The programs serve single adults, families, seniors, and veterans.
Veterans - help for homeless veterans in Montgomery County
MCCH runs dedicated programs for veterans experiencing homelessness, which draw on both federal veterans housing resources and MCCH's permanent supportive housing infrastructure. Veterans who need help should still initiate contact through the Crisis Center or county referral system.
Coalition Homes — affordable housing development
Coalition Homes is MCCH's nonprofit housing development affiliate and, according to the organization, the only developer of permanent supportive housing projects in Montgomery County. It currently owns and manages more than 140 housing units spread across the county, providing permanent homes for formerly homeless individuals and families. This arm of the organization focuses on expanding the physical supply of affordable housing rather than on direct services.
Language access
Montgomery County has one of the most diverse populations of any county in Maryland, with large communities of Spanish-, French-, Korean-, and Amharic-speaking residents. MCCH's crisis resources are available in all four languages through mcch.net, which is relevant for immigrant families and others navigating services without English as a first language.
MCCH has operated in Montgomery County since 1990 and employs more than 160 people. It works in close coordination with the county government, DHHS, and other nonprofits rather than operating as a standalone organization — which is why the intake process runs through county systems.
Contact information
As noted, people that need support need to go through the crisis line at (240) 777-4000. As Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless does not take “walk-ins” or provide direct support. The main website is https://mcch.net/.
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