June 23, 2026
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Maryland expands Medicaid housing support program for individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness
More than 1,000 additional Medicaid participants and five new counties will gain access to housing stability services
Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Health today announced a significant expansion of the
Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS) program under Medicaid, enabling more than 1,000 additional Marylanders and their families to concurrently access housing stability and healthcare support services. This expansion builds on the program’s previous success of helping more than two-thirds of the ACIS participants secure stable or permanent housing while simultaneously addressing critical health care needs.
“Secure, safe and stable housing is linked to a person’s overall health and well-being,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “This expansion will offer support to more Marylanders who are experiencing or facing homelessness, aiding in their ability to remain housed and ultimately improving health outcomes for themselves and their families."
Launched as a pilot program in 2017, the ACIS program helps Medicaid participants facing two or more chronic health conditions, frequent emergency department visits and housing insecurity to find and maintain stable housing while also helping them manage significant health needs. Case managers work with ACIS participants to develop person-centered service plans based on their individual needs, preferences, and housing goals. They also help participants access community resources to obtain stable housing, connect with social services and health providers, and coordinate medical and behavioral health care.
The expansion adds 1,070 participant spaces across Maryland, increasing the total number of allocated participant spaces from 620 to 1,690 annually — an increase of more than 170%. As part of the expansion, Calvert, Carroll, Garrett, Harford, and Howard counties will launch the program for the first time, while Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County will expand existing services. Cecil County continues to participate in the ACIS program without further expansion.
The current expansion builds on the program’s proven success. An
annual review (evaluation years CY 2019-CY 2023) by The Hilltop Institute found that over 76% of ACIS participants achieved stable housing between 2019 and 2023. Of those participants, nearly 80% secured permanent housing. These outcomes are particularly significant given the substantial barriers many individuals experiencing homelessness face in obtaining and maintaining housing.
National research demonstrates that coordinated housing and health care services improve housing stability and support better long-term outcomes for people with complex medical and behavioral health needs; without these supports, housing stability rates can fall below 40%.
The Hilltop review also reported fewer inpatient hospital admissions and a decrease in the number of participants with four or more annual emergency department visits to 36.5% post-enrollment into the ACIS Program between 2019 and 2023. These findings suggest that stable housing and coordinated care can reduce reliance on costly emergency and inpatient services while helping participants access more appropriate community-based care.
National studies have found that people experiencing homelessness who frequently use emergency services can incur tens of thousands of dollars annually in acute care costs, highlighting the potential value of interventions that improve housing stability and health outcomes.
For more information about the ACIS program, visit
health.maryland.gov/ACIS.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement.
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