History

Hearts & Homes for Youth, originally as Boys’ Home of Montgomery County, began its long history of helping youth in need in February, 1964. At a time when many young men were labeled “delinquent” or “incorrigible” and incarcerated rather than advocated for, an attorney named Mel Feldman began a quest to change the way that these young men were viewed and treated. This quest would span over 40 years and encompass professionals, government agencies, community groups and individuals who shared the same vision- to provide care in a home-like community setting where each young person would be given the opportunity to grow and mature in a wholesome, family setting.

The Honorable Alfred D. Noyes, Judge of the Juvenile Court of Montgomery County, agreed with Mr. Feldman’s assessment and, with a group of like-minded supporters, incorporated The Boys’ Home of Montgomery County, Inc. as a non-profit agency. The first “Boys’ Home” had its humble beginnings in the attic rooms of an old farmhouse in Rockville, MD., which was being run as a halfway house for psychiatric patients. Four boys were housed in those two rooms; four boys who attended school during the day, were supervised and counseled in the morning and in the evening, and who proved that Judge Noyes and his supporters were indeed correct. Those four boys proved that in a home-like environment, supervised by caring, supportive role models, with counseling and direction, youth previously labeled “delinquent” could become valuable members of society.

And so the dream became a reality, and reality grew from two rooms to two houses, included homes for females as well as males, and expanded services to fit the ever-changing needs of the children and youth that we serve. The list of people who supported this dream continued to grow: Judge John C. Tracey, Dr. Cyril Hardy, Robert Bridges, and Rex Smith, to name a few. Through their efforts, and the efforts of hundreds of other dedicated supporters, the agency, now know as Hearts & Homes for Youth, has continued to grow and flourish as the need for services has increased.

Hearts & Homes for Youth now includes the only shelter specifically for children and youth in Montgomery County, eight group homes, three independent living programs, a therapeutic foster care program, a Runaway Prevention Program, Art and Recreational Therapy programs, and a staff dedicated to our mission of helping troubled children and youth who are abused, neglected or runaways become independent, productive adults.