District of Columbia Homeless Shelters

Ending chronic homelessness in DC is possible. Permanent supportive housing is the solution

The Spiritual Transformation Program is about changed lives-not just on the outside, but deep inside. The program gives dedicated students the tools they need to overcome addictions and other life-controlling issues. The 12-to-18 month intensive residential program for men offers counseling, educational opportunities, job and skills training, cultural exposure and work therapy projects. The focus is on renewing hope, restoring family relationships, and returning once-broken men to productive lives.

Calvary Women's Shelter is a 25-bed transitional housing program for women for all women in need. Support services ensure that women who stay at the shelter are able to make positive steps toward independence.

Ending chronic homelessness in DC may sound impossible, but it’s not. Chronically homeless individuals have disabilities such as serious mental illness, chronic substance abuse or medical issues, and are homeless repeatedly or for long periods of time.As of January 2012, there are 1,870 chronically homeless individuals in Washington, DC on any given night. The most successful intervention for ending chronic homelessness is permanent supportive housing, which couples permanent housing with supportive services that target the specific needs of an individual.

Central Union Mission is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the oldest private social service agency in Washington, DC.  In addition to its emergency shelter, which provides over 62,000 bed-nights each year, the Mission operates a holistic, Christ-centered transformation and workforce development program for men, provides benefits for veterans, helps people overcome addictions, operates a food and clothing distribution center, which provides food for over 4000 people each month, runs a camp for underprivileged children, and offers a ministry to families and senior citizens.  GuideStar has awarded Central Union Mission a Gold Seal for financial transparency, and GreatNonProfits has given Central Union Mission a Top-Rated award. The Mission is continually developing its programs to meet the changing needs of the community. Its programs serve homeless men, underprivileged women, children, seniors, families and veterans. One life at a time, the Mission works to help transform the area’s toughest rehabilitation cases—including drug addicts, gang members, criminal offenders and the chronically homeless—into productive members of society. The Mission’s programs have an extremely high success rate at helping individuals overcome addiction and homelessness and achieving independent living.