Hood College and SHIP Frederick Announce New On-Campus Partnership to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Hood College is proud to announce a new partnership with SHIP of Frederick County, a local nonprofit organization that provides critical resources and urgent services to hundreds of Frederick County youths who are experiencing homelessness. As part of the partnership, SHIP has relocated its offices to Hood College’s campus, strengthening access to educational, career and community resources for the students it serves.

The partnership is designed to reduce barriers for students navigating housing instability while pursuing educational and career goals. In moving to Hood’s campus, students supported by SHIP will benefit from direct access to technological resources within the College’s Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, individualized career support through the Catherine Filene Shouse Career Center and more. 

This partnership reflects Hood College’s commitment to education and community engagement in Frederick County and sets a standard for collaboration between educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Together, Hood College and SHIP Frederick aim to create a more coordinated, accessible support system for Frederick’s most vulnerable student populations.

“This partnership represents the natural evolution of Hood College’s longstanding relationship with SHIP Frederick,” said Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., president of Hood College. “By sharing space and resources, we are raising our collective impact and expanding opportunities for students who need support the most.”

"Helping our most vulnerable young people feel comfortable on a college campus has a lasting impact on their future planning,” said Melissa Muntz ’12, executive director of SHIP. “After only a few weeks, we are already seeing more doors open for our students and their families. This partnership allows SHIP to continue to do what we do best, remove barriers and provide opportunities for students experiencing homelessness."

Hood College and SHIP first partnered in 2022, when Hood established scholarships for all graduates of SHIP’s New Horizons Summer Academy, a five-week program that provides young people who are experiencing housing instability with academic enrichment and life skills instruction, helping participants prepare for college, careers and independent living. Since then, both organizations have continued to identify new ways to collaborate in support of student success.

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