What Opportunity Provides: Resources & Activities in Opportunity Areas

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When families in the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program move into opportunity neighborhoods for the first time, they look for the best environment and support, not only for them, but for their families. Opportunity areas provide quality education, green spaces, family and youth support, and economic mobility that our participants can experience firsthand when searching for opportunity.

Research reveals that resource-rich opportunity areas constitute an essential pillar supporting families’ social and economic mobility, providing access to quality education, steady employment, healthcare, and safety.

With BRHP’s housing mobility services, we offer pre- and post-move support geared toward preparing our families for the best experiences with their new move to opportunity areas. Our pre-move services provide participants with housing search assistance, lease-up workshops and, after our families move into their new home, they can access ongoing services like landlord mediation to receive continued support toward successful tenancies.

This month, we are celebrating resource-rich neighborhoods and spotlighting resources and activities in opportunity areas across the region.Each opportunity area offers BRHP families something different.

Whatever obstacles they may face, families in the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program have the resources to succeed. Highlighted resources can be found below for each opportunity area:

Anne Arundel County

Low-Cost Aquatic Centers – Anne Arundel County provides access to low-cost aquatic centers for its residents.

Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, Inc – The Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency provides community resources including health and wellness and youth development services.

Anne Arundel Works – Anne Arundel Works helps prepare and train workers and offers services that help businesses find talent.

Baltimore City

Enoch Pratt Library – Enoch Pratt Library services include book rentals, on-site computer and internet access, computer and internet devices, computer training, printing services, job and career services, and community and meeting rooms.

Baltimore City YouthWorks & MOED Youth Services – YouthWorks and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) connects young people ages 14–21 to summer jobs, career exploration, WIOA youth training, and pathways like the YH2O pre-apprenticeship program.

Parks & People Youth Programs – Parks & People offers a free SuperKids Camp for rising 1st–5th graders and paid green-career internships for high school students, blending environmental education, workforce development, and college/career readiness.

Baltimore County

Holt Park and Center for the Arts / Nature Centers –Baltimore County’s summer programming includes art-making, nature activities, and outdoor exploration at places like Holt Park, Cromwell Valley, Marshy Point, Oregon Ridge, and Lake Roland.

Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Summer Program Guide – Baltimore County Recreation and Parks offers a Summer Program Guide designed to inform residents about upcoming summer events, available activities like fitness and sports, and other programs offered.

Career Centers | Baltimore County Government – Baltimore County government provides residents with access to career centers in three locations across the county. Career centers provide access to computers, job search assistance, labor market information, virtual career development workshops, and more.

Carroll County

Recreation and Parks Summer 2026 Guide – Carroll County’s Summer Guide for 2026 provides residents with recreation resources which includes adaptive recreation programs, art and enrichment, special events and programs, health and wellness resources and more.

Small Business Support at the Library – Carroll County Public Library hosts one-on-one appointments with Small Business Administration representatives.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County provides healthy, supervised after-school programs and activities for youth and their families.

Harford County

Low-Cost Fitness Membership – Howard County provides $36 per year fitness memberships for use at their six recreation centers in the area.

Resource Guide – This resource guide provides services and opportunities for living well in Harford County. Listings include public libraries, parks, community centers and recreation programs; services for veterans, children, and seniors; resources for mental health, food pantries, and more.

Susquehanna Workforce Network – The Susquehanna Workforce Network provides job seeker services, youth career resources, business services, career readiness workshops and job fairs.

Howard County

Child Care Resource Center – The Child Care Resource Center helps parents with locating licensed childcare and with the MSDE Child Care Scholarship Program and provides training for child care professionals and parents to expand their knowledge of early childhood and best child care practices.

Columbia Workforce Center – The Columbia Workforce Center hosts career readiness workshops to help individuals ace interviews, write their resumes, and network. Columbia’s Workforce Centers provide job search and resume assistance, local and national job listings, on-line job applications, workshops, youth services, and more.

Columbia Association – Youth and Teen Center – The Columbia Association provides preteens and teens in 6th-12th grade with a fun, supportive place to call their own. Young people can enjoy making new friends, recreational activities, and our mentorship programs throughout the year.

All Opportunity Areas

Maryland Sun Bucks – Maryland SUN Bucks helps families with school-aged children who receive free or reduced-price meals buy groceries during the summer break when school meals are unavailable.
Summer Food Service Program – The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Maryland’s Children Health Program – The Maryland’s Children Health Program provides free coverage to eligible uninsured children whose family earns too much to get Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance. Some benefits are dental care, doctor visits, hospital care, immunizations, lab work, prescription medications, and vision care.
Maryland Workforce Exchange – This site provides an online job seeker/workforce services system specifically designed for job seekers, students, case managers, employers, training providers, workforce professionals, and others seeking benefits and services.
Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship – The Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to students enrolling in an approved non-credit certificate program leading to apprenticeships, employment, licensure, or job skill enhancement only at a participating Maryland Community College.
Recreation and Parks – Enjoy the outdoors and find a list of free parks and playgrounds in your area.
- Anne Arundel County – Parks & Trails | Anne Arundel County Government
- Baltimore City – Department of Recreation and Parks | Baltimore City
- Baltimore County – Parks Directory | Baltimore County Government
- Carroll County – Parks – Carroll County Tourism | Carroll County, Maryland
- Harford County – Catalog – Harford County, MD
- Howard County – Parks, Playgrounds & Trails | Howard County

Written by: Savanah Winn, Communications Associate