History

The House Of Ruth Maryland was founded in May of 1977 by a coalition of women’s organizations, religious groups, service providers, and elected officials to provide a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and their children.  In November of 1977 we opened Baltimore’s first crisis shelter for these victims in a row house on North Calvert Street.  The shelter was staffed by one paid staffed person and a voluntary Board of Directors.

In November 1998 a new 84-bed shelter and 6 apartment transitional housing, featuring expanded services and programs, opened.  The new shelter has a holistic health and wellness program, including an on-site health clinic staffed by the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. 

Today the House Of Ruth Maryland is recognized as one of the nation’s most comprehensive domestic violence centers and has a staff of more than ninety.  Our voluntary leadership consists of a thirty member Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee.