Ocean City is committing $250,000 to Diakonia's Supportive Living Campus capital campaign, expanding a longstanding partnership with the Lower Eastern Shore nonprofit.
Town officials announced the investment Sept. 16 and said the funding will support Diakonia's effort to bring housing stability, food security, veteran services and homelessness-prevention programs together on a new supportive living campus.
Diakonia has served Ocean City and surrounding communities for more than five decades. The town has supported the organization through annual operating grants, but the new contribution is a larger capital investment aimed at expanding the nonprofit's physical capacity and range of services.
According to Ocean City's announcement, Diakonia provided intensive housing stabilization and case-management services to 1,175 people in 2025. The organization also provides food assistance, emergency housing, veteran support and help connecting residents with longer-term housing.
The investment is notable for Ocean City because seasonal tourism and a high-cost housing market can create different pressures for year-round workers and residents than those visible during peak visitor months. Local officials said the campus is intended to make services easier to access and strengthen the region's safety net.
The American Desk will follow the campus project as fundraising, construction and service expansion move forward, including any additional public commitments or major project milestones.