Community Assistance Network operates Baltimore County's Westside Men's Emergency Shelter, located in Catonsville.
The shelter serves as an all-inclusive resource to help stabilize the homeless of Baltimore County through case management and housing navigation services..
CAN's purpose in operating the shelter is to provide a safe, clean, supportive community to help stabilize individuals experiencing homelessness in Baltimore County, by promoting self-worth, encouraging personal responsibilities, and providing linkages to community resources.
Shelter History
In February 1990, CAN opened Baltimore County's two freezing weather shelters. The shelters operated from November through April (1990-2001).
In 2003, CAN's homeless shelters partnered with Baltimore County to extend the vision of freezing weather shelters into an overnight emergency shelter program with the intent to eventually operate them year-round. This included both the Eastern Family Emergency Shelter, a 238 bed facility, located in Rosedale, and the Westside Men's Emergency Shelter, a 150 bed facility, located in Catonsville.
As of July 1, 2025, CAN will continue shelter services at Westside Men's Shelter.
Housing Navigation Services
Case Managers ensure that residents are able to live independently before finding them permanent, secure housing. They assist in identifying housing and initial, short-term rent and security deposits to enable residents to successfully move on from emergency shelter.




Westside Men's Shelter




Arbutus Permanent Supportive Housing
Arbutus and Samaritan Housing
The Samaritan Housing Initiative Program is a federally (HUD) funded housing project. To support HUD's goal of improving housing accessibility for persons with disabilities, the project houses chronically homeless men and women in Baltimore County who have been diagnosed with a disabling condition.