Philanthropists are increasingly willing to support direct cash assistance. Foundations and individual donors have supported a range of emergency cash relief for various crises throughout the years, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region has been no exception. Private philanthropy is also working with the current wave of government-sponsored cash assistance pilots. This virtual convening highlighted Urban’s findings on philanthropic support and will gather speakers to reflect on the implications and future of philanthropic efforts aimed at transferring cash directly to individuals. 

 Research Presentation:

• Benjamin Soskis, Senior Research Associate, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute

• Sonia Torres Rodríguez, Research Assistant, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute

• Fay Walker, Research Analyst, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute

Panelists/Discussants:

• Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center, Urban Institute

• Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Office of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka

• Nisha G. Patel, Creative Catalyst, Powered by Shakti

• Paula Sammons, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

• Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation

• Shena Ashley, Vice President, Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute (moderator)

Didn't catch our Tuesday Talks series? We’ve made it easy for you to catch up on what you missed by watching the recordings! This virtual series for Community Foundation donors, which ran from March through July, offered updates on our COVID-19 Emergency Response work and what learned about the needs of our community in the areas of hunger, housing and homelessness, medical access, employment and small business, the arts, and more.

• July 28, 2020: Arts and Culture in the Wake of COVID-19

• July 14, 2020: Hunger Relief

• June 23, 2020: Medical Care and Access

• June 9, 2020: COVID-19 Impact on Workers and Small Businesses

• May 26, 2020: Housing and Homelessness

• May 12, 2020: Education and Youth

• April 28, 2020: Community Update #3

• April 14, 2020: Community Update #2

• March 31, 2020: Community Update #1

Personal experiences with homelessness are widespread across DC, according to our recent VoicesDMV Community Insights survey. Nearly 1 in 3 DC residents knows someone who has experienced or is at risk of becoming homeless. With the rate of homelessness expected to increase by up to 45% in the U.S. due to the impact of COVID-19 and the economic crisis, the need for more stable and affordable housing is now more important than ever for the health and well-being of our entire community. 

Last year, we joined forces with the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness to launch The Partnership to End Homelessness, the first-of-its-kind initiative in DC to bring together the public and private sectors to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. This month, we are reflecting on our work and impact during the first year of the Partnership, and how COVID-19 has changed the way we provide services and support to our neighbors without a stable place to call home. 

On July 30, we hosted a webinar for Community Foundation donors and partners to learn about what we’ve accomplished in the fight to end homelessness, what’s next as we continue this work, and how to get involved.

Speakers included:

• Jennifer Olney and Silvana Straw, Partnership to End Homelessness staff

• Kristy Greenwalt, Director of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness

• Waldon Adams, a Leadership Council member who is an advocate with lived experience

The Partnership to End Homelessness Donor Learning Series:

The Truth about Chronic Homelessness

You may think you know what a person without a home looks like – but people who experience homelessness are often misunderstood and misrepresented. As we move into the colder months of the year, join us to learn more about the causes of chronic homelessness and how we as a community can change the lives of people sleeping on the streets and in shelters. Join us for an engaging conversation about chronic homelessness in DC -- what it is, who it affects, and how you can be part of the solution. 

Speakers include:

• Neil Albert, President & Chief Executive Officer, DowntownDC Business Improvement District

• Scott Schenkelberg, Chief Executive Officer, Miriam's Kitchen

• Schroeder Stribling, Chief Executive Officer, N Street Village

• Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation

• Rhonda Whitaker, Consumer Advocate

This event is for local businesses, private foundations and Community Foundation donors interested in homelessness and affordable housing issues. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Yates at [email protected].

About the Partnership

The Partnership to End Homelessness, led by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the District Government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, brings together the public and private sectors to advance effective and innovative solutions to accelerate the development of affordable housing and ensure homelessness in DC is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. We believe that ending homelessness is possible if we work together — and it is a smart investment in our city’s continued prosperity. 

DC is known for its prosperity, power, and economic growth and development. It is also increasingly being recognized as one of the least affordable cities in the country. Affordable housing is the cornerstone of every healthy, safe, and economically vibrant community. The lack of affordable housing diminishes the quality of life for all of us. Mayor Bowser has set a goal of creating 12,000 new affordable housing units by 2025 – but local government cannot solve the housing crisis alone.

On October 8 we will host a conversation with local housing leaders to learn more about affordable housing challenges and how philanthropic investment can make a difference.

Speakers include:

• Waldon Adams, advocate who has formerly experienced homelessness

• Kristy Greenwalt, Director, DC's Interagency Council on Homelessness

• Jim Knight, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jubilee Housing

• Ed Lazere, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute

• Christy Respress, Executive Director, Pathways to Housing

• Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation

This donor event is invite-only. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Yates at [email protected].

About the Partnership

The Partnership to End Homelessness, led by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the District Government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, brings together the public and private sectors to advance effective and innovative solutions to accelerate the development of affordable housing and ensure homelessness in DC is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. We believe that ending homelessness is possible if we work together — and it is a smart investment in our city’s continued prosperity. 

As a key business leader in our region, you are invited to a Corporate Symposium and launch of the Partnership to End Homelessness.

Join the conversation with Mayor Bowser and senior executives from Cisco, Kaiser Permanente, Salesforce and Zillow, companies that have made a major commitment to address homelessness and housing affordability in cities along the West Coast and across the country. These corporate leaders will share lessons learned and ideas for how the private sector can make strategic investments and engage in community efforts to ensure all our neighbors have a safe, stable place to call home.

SPONSORED BY

about the partnership to End Homelessness

The Partnership to End Homelessness, led by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the District Government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, brings together the public and private sectors to advance effective and innovative solutions to accelerate the development of affordable housing and ensure homelessness in DC is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. We believe that ending homelessness is possible if we work together — and it is a smart investment in our city’s continued prosperity. 

The Symposium is part of a new education series The Community Foundation is hosting as part of the Partnership to End Homelessness in DC. If you are unable to join us on June 6 but would like more information about the Partnership, please contact Angela Willingham, Associate Vice President of Development, at [email protected]. 

Because capacity at this event is limited, we are not able to accommodate RSVPs from nonprofits for the Corporate Symposium. Our nonprofit partners have been integral to our work shaping the Partnership’s strategy and investment vehicles, and we will soon announce an open grant opportunity for nonprofits to apply for funding this August.

Media Partner

The Greater Washington Community Foundation launched Voices of the Community (VoicesDMV), a new initiative designed to hear directly from residents about the challenges and opportunities facing our region. Community conversations play a vital role in surfacing resident stories and perspectives from across the region that can be shared with community organizations, funders, businesses, government, and others who are working to make a positive difference in our region. The evening included large and small group conversations on issues such as health, education, housing, transportation, crime, and overall community well-being.This initiative will help to inform a collective vision for the region’s future and efforts to improve equity, access, and opportunity for all.