Speaking before the Chestertown Town Council this week, Shelter Alliance Executive Director Kimrose Goodall offered an update on the organization’s work addressing homelessness in Kent County and outlined plans to establish the county’s first year-round shelter.
Goodall, who has served as executive director for about nine months, said the nonprofit’s primary goal is to create a 24/7, 365-day shelter with comprehensive case management and community-based support services by 2026.
“We are the only nonprofit organization in Kent County with the sole purpose of providing a year-round shelter,” Goodall said. “But we don’t work in isolation. Our role is to serve as a bridge—connecting people who need help with the many resources that already exist in this community.”
Goodall emphasized that Shelter Alliance has intentionally focused on building partnerships rather than duplicating services already offered by other organizations. By learning what different nonprofits provide—from financial counseling to mental health care—the group aims to coordinate support more effectively for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Over the past 18 months, the organization has already provided significant assistance. According to Goodall, Shelter Alliance has delivered 280 bed nights of emergency shelter, served more than 90 individuals, and provided over 270 hours of case management in seven months. The organization has also helped four individuals secure lease-based housing.
Much of the emergency shelter work currently involves temporary motel placements, coordinated with other organizations and agencies when necessary.
“We’re not just trying to provide shelter indefinitely,” Goodall said. “Our goal is reintegration—helping people move from crisis to stability.”
To strengthen that effort, the organization has hired its first full-time case manager, Tynette Christy, who began work this week. Christy’s role will focus on helping individuals transition from unstable housing situations—such as living in cars or temporarily staying with friends—to more permanent housing arrangements.
Goodall stressed that Shelter Alliance uses a trauma-informed approach to case management, recognizing that many people who experience homelessness have also endured significant personal hardship.
“Going homeless is traumatic,” she said. “If our services aren’t trauma-informed, we risk overlooking the full human needs of the individuals we serve.”
The organization also operates a Shelter Closet, located next to Dollar Tree, which provides free clothing to people in need. Over the past year, more than 100 individuals experiencing homelessness have received clothing at no cost.
Goodall shared two stories to illustrate the varied circumstances that can lead to homelessness. In one case, a 50-year-old mother lost her job and was evicted after falling behind on a $2,000 electric bill. With coordinated help from community partners, she eventually secured stable housing and regained financial footing.
In another case, a highly educated woman who moved to Kent County found housing costs so high that she ended up living in her car before community members intervened.
Goodall noted that homelessness in Kent County is often less visible than in larger cities, with many individuals “sofa surfing” by moving between temporary living arrangements.
“Homelessness doesn’t look the same for everyone,” she said. “It can affect people from many different walks of life.”
