Prince George's County Domestic Violence Work Group Meeting - May 18, 2026
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Prince George's County Domestic Violence Work Group Meeting - May 18, 2026
The Prince George's County Domestic Violence Work Group, chaired by Council Member Wanika Fisher, met on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 1:30 PM. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, a survivor testimony from the Family Justice Center, a presentation from the Home Builders Care Foundation, and a discussion on housing and services for domestic violence survivors.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The group unanimously approved minutes from the March 30, 2026 in-person meeting and the April 20, 2026 virtual meeting. Motion by an unnamed member, seconded by Miss Paris from DePI, with all present voting in favor.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Survivor Testimony (Ms. Brittany Johnson): Ms. Johnson, a client of the Family Justice Center (FJC), shared her positive experience with the FJC, detailing support received including mental health therapy, medication management, relocation assistance, legal aid for custody, and child essentials. She identified housing affordability and the need for an outreach program as key challenges. She praised her advocates, Miss Monique and Miss Smalls, for their help. Council Member Fisher thanked her for her vulnerability.
Discussion Items
- Home Builders Care Foundation Presentation: Director Patty B. King presented via video and slides. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with housing-related nonprofits. Key statistics: 24 projects in Prince George's County since 2020 (~$200,000 investment); $2.7 million in total projects across Maryland over five years; partnered with 55 nonprofits; upgraded 1,200+ shelter units; served ~30,000 men, women, and children. A notable project was a $100,000 renovation at the Community Crisis Center's Safe Haven shelter, including deck, windows, playground grading, and handicap ramp repairs. Ms. King noted challenges with permitting, e.g., needing a site plan for a front stoop replacement. The foundation does not fund individual homeowner repairs but works through nonprofits like Christmas in April. On a question from Ms. Jackie about survivor home repairs, Ms. King indicated the foundation could not directly fund such work but might contribute to a dedicated fund managed by a nonprofit. She mentioned a board member from Harkins Builders who could discuss tax-credit affordable housing projects.
- Housing Discussion: Council Member Fisher emphasized the lack of a comprehensive county plan for domestic violence housing. She raised the possibility of using surplus county property for shelters or long-term housing and incentivizing partnerships with houses of worship. The Redevelopment Authority (Ms. Smith) noted ongoing collaboration with a special projects manager for a women's shelter and mentioned a future project: "Suitland Women and Children's Family Supportive Housing" with Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Investments. Lori Paris (DePI) offered to assist with permitting issues. The group agreed to invite developers and the Harkins Builders representative to future meetings.
Key Outcomes
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 1:30 PM. The topic will be housing, with invited representatives from the development community including Harkins Builders.
- Action Items: Mr. Tut will follow up with Ms. King to invite her board member to the next meeting. The group will share information about the Home Builders Care Foundation's upcoming outreach breakfast. Council Member Fisher directed Mr. Tut to collect contacts for a potential new fund for small security repairs in survivors' homes.
- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Miss Paris, seconded, meeting ended around 2:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. It's so uh great to be here for our monthly uh domestic violence uh work group meeting today is Monday, May 18th at 1 30 uh p.m. Um very excited uh to continue uh with our work uh to help move our domestic violence issues here in Prince George's County forward. My name is Wanika Fisher. I chair a public safety, health and human services for Prince George's County Council. Um, and I have the honor of chairing this work group um for the duration of its time. I know uh we're gonna get into the adoption of the minutes, some of our presentations and discussions for recommendations today. Um really excited to begin. And I will now turn it over to the director of the Health and Human Services, uh Public Safety Health and Human Services Work Group and uh the director for this work group, Mr. Nathaniel Tut. Mr. Tut, go ahead. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I will be very brief with two administrative items. You should have uh attached to the meeting invitation the minutes from the March 30th meeting, and you should also have meetings, excuse me, meeting minutes from our last meeting. Um and uh I would love if you would review those and let us know if you have any changes or corrections. If not, we would take a motion to approve the minutes. Motion to approve the minutes from um our last meeting. Actually, the last two meetings, madam chair. Oh, for our last two meetings, our first in person and our virtual meeting last month in um April. April 20th. April 20th. Can I get a second from someone on the call? Second. Thank you. I have a motion to approve the minutes and a second by Miss Paris from DeepI. Um, all those in favor say aye or raise your hand. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you, Mr. Tutt. Thank you, madam chair. And at this time, I think we're gonna turn into um you're gonna go with the Family Justice Center client first and then the Home Builders Care Foundation. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Um, Mr. Tuff, you can introduce um, or I think you're introducing uh Dr. McCain to introduce the FC FJC client for us. Yes, I would like to, if we could turn to Dr. McCain. I know she's been on the call since the very beginning uh to uh make introductions and we'll have a special guest this afternoon to hear some information about what things look like from the inside. Um Dr. McCain. Are you still with us? I see um her here, but um I don't know if she's here here, but she's all right. We for another second to join the call. And then of course we have our second presentation, which may end up being our first presentation today. I know Miss McCain had another engagement, and I believe she was in the office, but I know that she was um on the call earlier and ready to go. Okay. Do you want to go to the oh uh there she is. Okay.
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