Christ House

Comprehensive health care for sick, homeless men and women and assistance in addressing critical issues to break the cycle of homelessness: 24-hour medical care, food services, addictions treatment and housing placement.

Why do we exist?

Christ House exists to provide a place of recovery and healing for sick, homeless men and women. Christ House is the only facility in Washington, DC, providing 24-hour health care for homeless persons in a residential setting regardless of how long they need care, and regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Since opening in December 1985, Christ House has provided patients with 24-hour medical care, case management, housing placement assistance, nutritious meals, clothing, and a wide range of other support services.

Christ House provides an opportunity for homeless men and women to heal and address the issues that may have led to their homelessness. Interdisciplinary teams composed of a physician, a case manager, the director of nursing, a nurse practitioner, and an addictions counselor meet weekly to discuss the ongoing treatment situation of each patient and to work with the patient in developing an individualized plan of action toward healing. This helps patients achieve their own goals while at Christ House and upon discharge.

Our broad approach to health care meets each patient’s physical, emotional, mental, and social needs. This approach fosters self-reliance because each patient develops respect for himself and others which eventually leads to him becoming a positive role model in the community.

What have you accomplished?

Since opening in 1985, Christ House has served over 7,000 homeless men and women. Our patients are treated for an array of illnesses and injuries including fractures, tuberculosis, foot or leg ulcers, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. We provide an average of 10,000 patient-days of care each year.

In 2010, approximately 87 percent of our patients had either HIV, drug or alcohol addiction, or psychiatric illness. Most of our patients have more than one diagnosis. Seventy-seven percent of our patients in 2010 were African American, 65 percent were over the age of 50, and 10 percent were veterans of the armed forces. Over 58 percent had no income and 62 percent had monthly income under $250.

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