Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. (DC)

The Coalition for the Homeless provides transitional and permanent housing, employment placement assistance, substance abuse counseling and supportive social services to individuals and families who are homeless or vulnerable.

How do you help people in my community?

The Coalition provided services at 13 sites.  It help spans the Continuum of Care in housing for homeless families with children, and single men, ranging from overnight emergency shelters for men, transitional and permanent housing for men and families, and the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, which is the central intake office for all District families seeking emergency housing assistance and shelter.

The Coalition assisted 223 persons to obtain employment. The average hourly rate was $7 an hour. Participants collectively earned more than $3.4 million in taxable income. Program participants saved more than $60,000 in escrow. The funds placed in escrow are used to assist participants when they move into permanent housing to pay security deposits, first-month rent, and household furnishings. Fifty-one families were provided housing assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless.  The Coalition assisted 311 individuals and families to obtain permanent housing and live independently.

One of the Coalition's many success stories includes Ms. Linda Brown-Robinson who entered the Valley Place Family Transitional Apartment Program.  According to Ms. Robinson:
 Before I became homeless, I had a normal life going to school, working, taking  care of my family and my home.  Then it happened, I got sick.  Somehow I  developed a brain aneurysm.  I had to have some serious surgery.  Then I  got  behind in my bills, rent, and before I knew it I ended up in a shelter.

After living at Valley Place for three months, Ms. Robinson found employment and moved into her own apartment, paying market rent after six months.  In addition to becoming homeless, Ms. Robinson had to deal her son, who was seriously injured serving his country in the U.S. Army in Iraq and her own subsequent heart attack due to stress.  Ms. Robinson overcame these challenges and returned to college to study Criminal Justice at Gibbs College.  Her son has recovered from his injuries and is working.

Why do you need my support?

The Coalition needs continued community support in order to purchase food, bus tokens, household supplies, diapers, and other related items to support the 560 homeless men, women and children we serve daily. For example, with the support of the Philip Graham Fund the Coalition was able to install commercial kitchens at our Blair and La Casa Transitional Programs which have the capacity to serve 175 homeless men daily who are in recovery from substance abuse.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Based upon our annual external financial audit, .92 cents of every dollar received by the Coalition goes toward direct services for the participants in our program. We are audited by the accounting firm of Walker and Company. Copies of our annual report and audit reports are available by writing us at 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., or calling 202-347-8870, fax 347-7279.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Persons interested in volunteering should call the Coalition 202-347-8870, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Some volunteer activities include serving food, reading and tutoring children, and special repair and painting projects. If you have special skills such as legal, accounting, taxation and computers, we can use your skills to help our participants with their special needs. We are also looking for employers who are willing to hire capable individuals who have been pre-screened by our Employment and Training Division. If you are an interested employer, please call Linda Fields at 202-347-8870 for further information.