Horizon Foundation

06/02/2026

"It's an honor to be included in the Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response established by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. We are committed to supporting programs and policies towards a more equitable and healthy quality of life for all residents in the county, including those with disabilities or mental health challenges. As a community, we must ensure that this tragedy never happens again," said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, our President and CEO.

The task force was created in response to a recent incident at the Patuxent Commons housing complex, where a young man with developmental disabilities was experiencing a mental health crisis and was shot and killed by police. Learn more:

The Task Force has been charged with evaluating and developing recommendations that strengthen the County’s response to crisis situations involving people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.

06/01/2026

Meet our new team member - Shari Arroyo-Brown! As Director of Communications, Shari will draw on her decade of strategic communications experience and passion for people-focused storytelling to amplify the Foundation’s mission and impact. Welcome to the team, Shari - we’re thrilled to have you leading our communications!

06/01/2026

Meet our new team member - Shari Arroyo-Brown! As Director of Communications, Shari will draw on her decade of strategic communications experience and passion for people-focused storytelling to amplify the Foundation's mission and impact. Welcome to the team, Shari - we're thrilled to have you leading our communications!

05/29/2026

What were the key takeaways from the 2026 Maryland Legislative Session? Join us for our next First Thursday gathering on Thursday, June 4th at 10 am to discuss the session and the next steps to continue advancing health equity. First Thursdays are a chance to connect and build relationships with local community leaders and nonprofit professionals.

To RSVP, please email our Senior Power and Movement Building Officer, Gerardo Benavides. DM us if you need his contact information.

05/28/2026

The Foundation held its first Renter Town Hall last night, and we are so grateful to all of the renters who came out and shared their stories with us and their ideas about how to make Howard County’s housing system more fair and affordable. We plan to host more of these conversations throughout the summer to ensure renters have their voices heard and can be part of solutions to come. Stay tuned for registration info for future Renter Town Halls!

05/28/2026

This , we are highlighting our new cohort of grantees working to improve community resilience and support mental health in our communities.

Read our most recent blog post to see how our grantees are embracing the power of storytelling to help change lives and communities for the better. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/telling-stories-to-combat-stigma-a-look-at-our-2026-mental-health-grantees/

05/26/2026

We're neighbors who want Howard County to be a place where people of all incomes can afford to buy a home. We're pushing for policy changes that build more places to live, strengthen renters' rights, and address unfair housing practices.

We need people like you to be part of our movement to transform Howard County's housing system.

Learn how to get involved at HoCoNext.org

05/22/2026

The deadline to apply for the Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program has been extended. Howard County residents can apply now through May 29 for this program designed to support families on their path to economic stability.

Selected households can receive $500 per month for 12 months. In addition, $500 per month will be set aside in a savings account and released in July 2027 upon completion of a financial literacy program.

Learn more and apply: https://cac-hc.org/gbi2/

05/21/2026

Health disparities exist in every state in the US, as this new report from The Commonwealth Fund shows. While Maryland has a relatively high health care "score", huge disparities exist across racial lines.

We cannot improve health without directly naming and addressing the impacts of systemic racism and inequality.

This report evaluates disparities in health and health care across racial and ethnic groups, both within states and between U.S. states.

05/19/2026

In Howard County, a fairly-priced place to call home can be hard to find. There are not enough places to live that people of all incomes can afford.

We’re a growing community of neighbors coming together to do something about it – pushing for policy change that builds more fairly-priced homes, strengthens renters' rights, and addresses unfair housing practices.

We want a thriving community where everyone – working families, established professionals, long-time residents, and those just getting started – can find a place to call home. And we need your help. We’re engaging people from all parts of the county, with a mix of skills and experiences to join in.

Find out how at HoCoNext.org