Building Community: Remembering the Legacy of Joe Horning, Jr

Joe and Lynne Horning as featured in The Community Foundation’s 2004-2005 Annual Report.

The Community Foundation mourns the passing of Joe Horning Jr, co-founder of Horning Brothers development group.

Over Joe's 60-year career, Horning Brothers built housing in all eight of DC's wards -- with a particular focus on equity and revitalizing neighborhoods across the city. He collaborated with and supported nonprofit community development corporations from Anacostia to North Capitol Street to Columbia Heights. Attuned to affordable housing challenges in Washington, DC, he worked alongside and hired people who shared his commitment to the entire city, with a particular focus on Black residents and their communities.

"Joe was a deeply spiritual man, whose compassion guided a commitment to better the lives of those marginalized and less fortunate than he was," according to the family statement.

Joe Horning, Jr, with son Joe Horning, III (far left) and David Roodberg, Member of The Community Foundation Board of Trustees (immediate left)

In addition to his professional investments, Joe and his family were heavily involved in developing our region through their philanthropy. Together with his wife and four children, Joe established the San Miguel Foundation Fund (now the Horning Family Fund) at The Community Foundation.

The fund which was established in 1990 has distributed millions of dollars to causes across the region from education to the arts and helped transform the work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations.

Joe & Lynne Horning receive the Spirit of Philanthropy Award at The Community Foundation’s 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy.

The Community Foundation was honored to celebrate Joe and Lynne's legacy at the 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy as we presented them with the 2016 Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

"Joe was committed to connecting with community," the Horning family shared in a statement. "In lieu of flowers, show up, get involved, and be generous."

Washington AIDS Partnership Celebrates 35 Years of Philanthropic Impact in DC

Americorps Volunteers with the Washington AIDS Partnership pose with VP Al Gore and his wife at the unveiling of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall (1996)

One of the most successful philanthropic partnerships in our region’s history celebrated its final milestone last month, as the Washington AIDS Partnership closed its doors for the last time. Over the past 35 years, the Partnership distributed more than $35 million to 129 different organizations across DC.

“The work to address HIV and AIDS is not over,” the Partnership’s long-time Executive Director Channing Wickham shared. “Yet the Washington AIDS Partnership’s role in the fight to end the local epidemic is coming to a close.”

Channing Wickham, Executive Director of the Washington AIDS Partnership

“We are proud to have helped change how HIV and AIDS treatment and care are delivered in our region.”

“Philanthropy’s job is to identify problems and fund solutions,” Kathy Whelpley, former chair of the Washington AIDS Partnership Steering Committee added. “But best practices is to acknowledge when progress has been achieved and when there is more urgent need for those philanthropic dollars.”

The Washington AIDS Partnership was founded by a group of 20 philanthropic foundations -- including The Community Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Meyer Foundation, and others -- who came together to fund a response to an urgent public health crisis – the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In 1988, the Washington, DC region had the fifth-highest infection rate of HIV/AIDS in the nation. To date, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has claimed more than 700,000 lives nationwide. At the time, there was no real infrastructure to address HIV or AIDS – which had no known treatment or cure and was often fatal to those who contracted the disease.

Incubated by the Meyer Foundation and later housed at the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (now Philanthropy DMV), the Washington AIDS Partnership quickly established itself as the leading regional partner in the fight against the AIDS/HIV pandemic.  They collaborated with DC government agencies and nonprofit organizations to pilot a wide-range of programs including outreach and prevention initiatives like She Comes First – a program for Black women run by Black women.

As a philanthropic collaborative, the Partnership created long-standing relationships between local funders, government officials, and community members – especially those most impacted by the AIDS epidemic. They supported innovative community-driven strategies that have now been adopted as best common practices by AIDS prevention organizations across the country.

“We created a mechanism where community, philanthropy, and people with HIV could get together in the same room to talk through proposals and make the right decisions on where that money should go,” Wickham shared. “In doing so, we created a place where there was expertise that did not exist in individual foundations.”

The 2005 Annual Report Card for the DC Government’s HIV/AIDS Response

The Partnership’s holistic approach to tackling pressing issues helped lay the groundwork for future initiatives in the region, such as The Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness and others.

The Washington AIDS Partnership also advocated for changes in local and federal policy. The Partnership teamed up with DC Appleseed to release annual ‘report cards’ which included indicators on the DC Government’s response to the epidemic and where further investment and advocacy was needed.

“The Partnership’s ability to read what was coming down the line and be flexible and entrepreneurial – from grantmaking, to direct services, to policy work, to syringe exchange, to harm reduction….is why it thrived for 35 years,” Mardell Moffett, Chair of the Washington AIDS Partnership Steering Committee and Executive Director of the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation shared. “The organization changed as it needed to change over time to where the disease was moving.”

Part of that momentum was driven by the Partnership’s collaboration with the Americorps Program, which since 1996, has brought more than 300 volunteers to work and serve in the DC area.

Americorps Volunteers with the Washington AIDS Partnership in 2000

These Americorps volunteers were instrumental in providing health education services, HIV testing and counseling, and helping thousands gain access to primary and mental health care. Many of these volunteers have gone on to successful careers in the field of public health and continue to advocate for communities impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“The Washington AIDS Partnership truly laid the foundation for future philanthropists to follow,” Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation shared. “They demonstrated not only how to make a difference in public health, but also how to do so in a way that engaged and empowered the community in a just and equitable way.”

“Say Their Name, Say Their Name” Advocates Call for Action at Annual Vigil For Those Who Have Died Without Housing

Days before Christmas, friends and advocates for DC’s homeless community gathered around an empty coffin at Luther Place Memorial Church for the 11th Annual Vigil honoring DC residents who died without housing in 2023.

The event is an annual holiday tradition that many say they have become weary -- and wary -- of celebrating, as the number of those who died without housing in DC continues to rise.

“Ninety people died without housing this year,” Rachelle Ellison, Assistant Director at the People for Fairness Coalition shared to an audience of about 60 people gathered at the church.

“Last year it was 77 – more than 17% increase.”
“It’s so sad that the number of deaths just keeps going up.”

A young Vigil attendee and his mother pay their respects to the 90 DC Residents who died without housing in DC.

With local forecasters predicting above average snowfall this winter, advocates fear that unless more action is taken, the trend will likely carry over into the New Year.

“So many of these people - we don’t see their names – but they are humans. They matter,” shared Reginald Black, lead organizer with the People for Fairness Coalition.

“I spent 10 years – 10 long years homeless.”

“Any one of those years, I could have been one of the names; one of the initials; one of the ages on this list.”

“We need to raise our voices that housing is a human right and that those whom this casket represents were denied that right,” Black added.

Black also pointed out the need to incorporate racial equity into policies to end homelessness. Of the 90 DC residents who died without housing this year, 80 percent of them were Black.

“We can and must do better.”

Following the service, the participants filed out onto 14th Street where they followed the empty coffin on a mile-long march towards Freedom Plaza.

For some in the procession, this was their first time at the annual Vigil – which has become something of a somber holiday tradition in the homeless community.

The White House looms in the background as housing advocates gather at Freedom Plaza

For those at the front of the procession; the pallbearers – especially those with ‘lived experience’ of homelessness, the experience marks a milestone of far too many cold sleepless nights and far too many friends needlessly lost.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now,” one pallbearer shared at an open mic gathering held at the end of the march. “It’s sad to keep seeing the same results. But I know it’s important to put our heart on the line and raise our voices.”

“We need to advocate, to be concerned, and to raise awareness– this is an issue that can be solved.”

Perhaps most concerning to housing advocates is the number of deaths that were nearly prevented. Close to 70% of those on the list had received a housing voucher but died before they could be housed – that’s up from more than 60% in 2022.

The list of those who died without housing in 2022 compared with the list from 2023

The harrowing statistic outlines what advocates say is one of the biggest existing gaps in a housing system where people too often fall through the cracks.

“It is disappointing how often this city gives up on people who are unhoused,” Council Member Janeese Lewis (Ward 4) shared at the vigil. “We shouldn’t ever give up on anyone.”

Council Member Lewis and her staff attended the vigil to honor the memory of one of their constituents, David Ashmore, a lifetime Ward 4 resident and close friend of Council Member Lewis. Mr. Ashmore experienced homelessness for 30 years before he passed away in July 2023.

DC Council Member Janeese Lewis (Ward 4) at the annual Vigil for those who died without housing in 2023.

Council Member Lewis shared that, like many people who experience homelessness, Mr. Ashmore had lost faith in the government and the housing system.

“We spent months visiting with him, building a relationship with him, before he trusted us enough to help him with the housing voucher process.”

Council Member Lewis explained that although housing advocates had tried to help Mr. Ashmore with the housing voucher application in the past, few had taken sufficient time to guide him through the paperwork.

“All he asked was to know what he was signing,” Council Member Lewis explained. “It took us three hours to go through the application with him – but three hours is worth the time for someone who’s been on the streets for 30 years.”

Even after receiving his voucher, Mr. Ashmore still faced an uphill battle, as he now needed to find an apartment that would meet his needs and accept his voucher. Council Member Lewis and her team were in the process of helping Mr. Ashmore visit apartments when he passed away in July.

“Mr. Ashmore had so many people behind him – he had a DC Council Member behind him -- yet he died on the streets,” Council Member Lewis shared. “Mr. Ashmore deserved better from our city.”

DC Council Member Robert White (At-Large) at the annual Vigil for those who died without housing in 2023.

Also in attendance was Council Member Robert White (At-Large), who thanked advocates, including the People for Fairness Coalition for their efforts to raise awareness of the need for further investment and systems change in homeless services.

“Because of you all, I know there are folks in this city who care,” Council Member White shared. “Thank you for continuing to remind us of the work that is truly important – the work that needs to be done.”

The Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness is proud to partner with advocates like the People for Fairness Coalition in our efforts to end homelessness in DC.

The Partnership to End Homelessness is a public-private partnership that convenes government agencies, funders, and advocates to create more supportive and deeply affordable housing and lead strategic and sustainable investment in the homeless services system.

For more information, visit  https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/partnership-to-end-homelessness

Partnership to End Homelessness Continues to Invest in Systemic Change for Service Providers

In 2022, DC launched a new Medicaid benefit that can pay for permanent supportive housing (PSH) services for people experiencing homelessness – a major shift that allowed the city to leverage an estimated $20+ million in new, annual federal resources through Medicaid.

Since the launch, the Partnership has been working to help nonprofit providers take advantage of the opportunity and make the transition to billing the new Medicaid Benefit for permanent supportive housing (PSH) services for people experiencing homelessness.

Shortly after the change was announced, the Partnership provided an initial grant to provide technical assistance for twenty-six PSH providers through The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national leader in supportive housing. Providers were enrolled in CSH’s Supportive Housing Medicaid Academy, a six-week training series where they learned how to enroll clients, how to supervise, budget, and bill under the Medicaid model and how to comply with Medicaid regulations – filling a critical knowledge gap for many providers.

However, as the Medicaid Academy came to a close, it became clear that some providers needed more human resources, accounting, evaluation, and compliance capacity to meet Medicaid requirements.

The Partnership responded quickly to meet the needs of these providers. The Partnership provided $200,000 in additional Readiness Grants, administered by CSH, to seventeen of the PSH providers. Each readiness grant included a technology stipend of $5,000 for PSH providers who were implementing electronic medical record software to comply with Medicaid requirements. It also included support for increased overhead costs associated with the Medicaid transition, such as staff training, additional back office administrative support, and hiring and retention incentives.

The investments are already paying off. Since the launch of the new Medicaid Benefit in DC, providers have been reimbursed a total of $22 million for delivering housing supportive services to over 4,500 Medicaid beneficiaries.

“Partnership funding helped us get our infrastructure and initial staffing in place so we could hit the ground running and start serving people experiencing homelessness as soon as the city assigned them to our caseload,” Chapman Todd, Principal at Jaydot shared. Jaydot is one of DC’s newest PSH providers, and a Readiness Grant recipient.

“Thanks to their support, we are now serving 70 households.” 

“By reducing some of this financial burden, the Partnership has allowed us to focus on supporting and stabilizing our most vulnerable clients in housing,” added Brendan Haley, Director of Single Adult Programs at Everyone Home DC. “They helped to supplement the difference between our income and expenses while we transitioned our clients into housing – which helped us to grow and take on more clients.”

New PSH providers weren’t the only ones who benefited from the additional support. Long-time PSH providers also shared how the Partnership funding proved transformational to the way they operate.

“This grant has been critical to our ability to ramp up,” shared Corey Mendez, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Housing Up. “In addition to incurring hard costs for things like new billing software, we’ve incurred new costs given the need for increased staff time to manage the complex Medicaid billing process. Funding from the Partnership was essential to helping us make the transition to Medicaid.”

Cornelia Kent, Friendship Place’s Vice President of Administration and CFO, agreed. “The Partnership grant helped offset costs for our new Credible billing software system – a tool that allows us to bill both Medicaid and DC’s Department of Human Services accurately and efficiently, for around 400 participants each month.”

The Partnership is continuing to engage PSH providers and monitor the progress of the Medicaid implementation to identify additional systems investment opportunities. Ultimately, the Partnership hopes that these investments will not only continue to leverage millions of dollars in new federal resources but, most importantly, position providers to provide high-quality services and support to people experiencing homelessness in DC.

To learn more about earlier stages of this project, check out our previous blog posts Investing In the Future of Homeless Services: How Medicaid Is Driving Systemic Change In DC’s Fight to End Homelessness and  Investing in Nonprofit Capacity to Leverage Federal Funds to End Homelessness.

Ceding Power and Seeding Community Wealth Building in DC Ward 7 and 8

Earlier this month, The Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase convened funders and nonprofit partners at the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization to hear directly from community partners about the best ways to promote community wealth building and equitable development in DC Wards 7 & 8.

“We want to bridge the gap between funders and communities,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared. “We are here to discuss how philanthropy can aid community goals by supporting community controlled grantmaking and community led decision-making.”

The event was made possible by the East of the Anacostia River Equitable Development Fund – an investment of JP Morgan Chase dedicated to bridging the economic and racial wealth divide in DC.  

In a city where White wealth is 81 times that of Black wealth, 92 percent of residents living in Wards 7 & 8 are Black. For years, many of these have residents struggled to gain access to healthy food, medical care, employment and homeownership opportunities.

While traditional investments have been made from both public and private partners to help meet these needs, The Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase wanted to explore if ceding more power and resources to the community could be the key to seeding greater community wealth.

“Philanthropists and residents sometimes have a tendency to talk past each other when it comes to impact,” Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation shared. “The more we can empower and cede power to those within these communities, the better we can understand what it will take to really make a difference.”

The event kicked off with a conversation with Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute. Bogle, who was commissioned by JP Morgan Chase and The Community Foundation to conduct research on philanthropic efforts East of the River, talked about the need to prioritize community voice in ongoing efforts.

“The challenges that residents in Wards 7 & 8 face are different than those faced in other parts of DC,” Bogle shared. “Unique challenges, call for unique solutions – specifically, community-controlled grantmaking models.”

Bogle was followed by a panel of organizations from Ward 8 including Mustafa Abdul- Salaam who facilitated the Ward 8 Community Economic Development Report and Tiffany Williams, President & CEO of Martha’s Table.

“We’re at a moment when we have the opportunity to transform the relationship between philanthropy and community,” Abdul-Salaam shared. “If you want to make a change in the communities we live in, you will not do it unless you talk to me or my neighbors about the changes that need to be made.”

Abudul-Salaam recently released “A Dream Deserved: Realizing Our Collective Emergence” a detailed community-driven report that highlights the qualitative and quantitative needs of Ward 8 residents. The report was made possible by the Bainum Family Foundation, in addition to contributions from JP Morgan Chase, The Community Foundation, and others.

“Putting cash into people’s hands is one of the most effective ways to help them out of poverty,” Williams shared when asked about some of the most innovative ways to meet the needs highlighted in the report. Since the pandemic, Martha’s Table has been an advocate for innovative funding initiatives in Wards 7 & 8 including cash transfer programs and Community Impact grants.

“Until we have capital tied into a community like Ward 8, then nothing changes.” Abdul-Salaam added. “We have a poverty-building economy right now – we want to move towards a wealth building economy.” 

Among the ideas that Abdul-Salaam and Williams championed included a Black Think Tank that would leverage intellectual capital in Wards 7 & 8 to design and implement community-based innovations like guaranteed incomes, child saving accounts, broad based ownership models and strategic economic participation.

From Ward 8, the conversation then turned towards Ward 7 and a panel discussion with Mae Best, Executive Director of the East River Family Strengthening Collaborative and Babatunde Oloyede, President & CEO of Marshall Heights Community Development Organization who hosted the event.

“We have a unique opportunity to chart our own course,” Oloyede shared. “For communities to lead the effort and the change.”

“Rather than talk about what’s good and bad in our community, right now, let’s talk about the art of the possible.”

The Marshall Heights Community Development Organization is one of Ward 7’s oldest community development organizations that supports housing and economic development opportunities for residents.

“What many organizations in Ward 7 are doing right now is putting an emergency band-aid on families,” Oloyede described. “What we need to do is provide them with meaningful, generational wealth building opportunities.”

“We need the resources to help families and communities reach their highest potential,” Best added. “Right now, we’re really lacking in a number of things that could help make a family - and a community – whole.”

Best and Oloyede said they would love to see the same level of investment in Ward 7 as has been put into other sections of DC, including U St and H St.

“We want to see redevelopment in our commerce corridors like Minnesota and Pennsylvania Avenue,” Oloyede explained. “We want to see the same amenities that we see in other parts of the city – but we want it to be done in a way that ensures that the current residents are included; that they are able to participate in that development and enjoy those amenities.”

“The time is now! We need to be as intentional and proactive as we possibly can be; let’s work together so we can marshal the positive change to make this dream a reality for this community.”

The final panel discussion featured Dana Hall and Dan Tangherini of the Emerson Collective.

The Emerson Collective is a social impact collective with the goal of reducing barriers for people to reach their full potential by investing in ideas and social entrepreneurs. In June, they partnered with local organizations to help launch Sycamore & Oak, a new retail center for Black entrepreneurs living East of the Anacostia.

“We want a future where there’s more opportunities,” Tangherini shared. “Where people have more opportunities for expression, for growth, and for wealth.”

“That means creating a place where there is opportunity for Black-led organizations to collaborate and draw strength from each other.”

“We need to start thinking about the power dynamics in funding and how we can be intentional about tapping into those dynamics to promote positive change,” Hall added. “How do I make sure I have a diverse pool of thought when I’m engaging in this work? How do I create an environment where everyone feels like they have a place at the table?”

“Most importantly, we need to trust that the best way to get a better understanding of what the community is interested, is to start with the community itself.”

“We want to seed (with an ‘S’) growth; not just cede funding,” Tangherini said, referencing the title of the event. “That means this can’t just be a ‘grant-by-grant process. It needs to be a systematic examination of our systems to learn the lessons from what has been done -- and work together with the community to find ways to make them even better.

Click here for more photos of the event! For more information about how you can get involved in investing in Wards 7 & 8, contact Dr. Marla Dean at [email protected]

Health Equity Fund Celebrates One Year of Transformative Grantmaking

In October, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund celebrated an exciting milestone. In just 12 months, the record-breaking fund has awarded more than $21 million in grants to 46 organizations. The fund also recently announced a new grant round which aims to award at least twice that amount over the next 3 years – making it one of the most transformative impact funds in The Community Foundation’s history.

“Health and wealth are inextricably linked,” shared Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of The Community Foundation. “We are confident and excited that the investments that we have made – and will continue to make -- through the Health Equity Fund will be instrumental in improving health outcomes for DC residents.

Announced in March 2022, The $95 Million Health Equity Fund is the largest fund in The Community Foundation’s 50-year history and is dedicated to closing gaps in healthcare as well as addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

The Health Equity Fund and nonprofit partners celebrate the 2nd cohort in June 2023.

The inaugural grant round in September 2022 awarded $9.2 million to 32 DC nonprofit organizations with a focus on economic mobility and wealth building in DC’s historically underinvested communities including cash transfer initiatives, housing rehabilitation projects, wealth creation programs, and other innovative projects. Click here to learn more about the inaugural grant round.

The second grant round announced in June 2023 awarded $12.5 million – the largest single grant round in The Community Foundation’s history - to 14 DC based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives. Click here to learn more about the second grant round.

Convening A Community of Changemakers

However, the impact of the Health Equity Fund goes far beyond the funding provided.

“The more we take time to listen to each other - as partners in this work – the better we can understand from each one what success looks like and how we, as a philanthropic partner, can provide support that goes beyond the dollar figures,” shared Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund.

HEF Nonprofit Partners share experiences at the first Idea Summit in March 2023.

This principal has been established from Day 1, thanks in part to The Community Foundation’s partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), who serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund. AIR and The Community Foundation have hosted several Idea Summits, where nonprofit partners had the chance to network and work together collaboratively to identify the outcomes and actions they hoped to see over the next few years. These factors provide a more equitable framework for future evaluation and reporting.

“What we do is co-designing success,” Dr. Brandy Farrar, a Managing Director for American Institutes for Research (AIR) explained. “Instead of establishing an arbitrary checklist of universal benchmarks, we want to work with each of you to identify what success looks like and how can we measure it.”

From the outset, nonprofit partners have expressed excitement about being part of a “cohort” for change in the District of Columbia. Even though many nonprofit partners often compete for the same limited resources, bringing them together in this space has created opportunities for collaboration and discussion that many say is invaluable to the work that they do.

“The fact that we can come together and collaborate as one is so inspiring,” one nonprofit partner shared. “It helps build power and confidence in the knowledge that we are not alone in this work to enact change.”

Driven by this enthusiasm, The Community Foundation helped organized a Partner Learning Series to convene nonprofit partners around the issues that are most impactful to the work and mission of the Health Equity Fund. Events have been organized based on partner interest and have covered topics ranging from Guaranteed Income pilots to navigating the DC Budget process.

“It’s so important to leverage the power in this room,” Misty Thomas, Executive Director of the Center for Court Excellence shared at one event. “Even though we may advocate on different issues, we need to work together to make the budget more effective, more equitable, and more participatory.”

Investing in Disruptive Partnerships - The Health Equity Fund’s Largest Grant Round Yet

In that spirit of collaboration and partnership, The Community Foundation recently announced its third and largest ongoing grant round to date to invest in innovative partnerships that promote economic mobility and build community wealth in DC. The grant round is open through March of 2026 to proposals with two or more partner organizations.

“We recognize that the most innovative work occurs through partnerships between organizations,” shared Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund.

“We hope that this grant round will provide a catalyst for transformative partnerships that will reshape some of the most pressing obstacles to health and wealth for DC residents.”

Additional information on the latest HEF grant round can be found on our website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 2026 or until funds have been exhausted.

Partnership to End Homelessness Celebrates Four Years of Impact

On October 11th, friends and supporters of the Partnership to End Homelessness gathered at the Festival Center in Northwest DC to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Partnership to End Homelessness and discuss the progress in the city’s fight to end homelessness.

“We believe that ending homelessness in DC is possible. And it will take all of us working together to accomplish it,” Jennifer Olney, Senior Community Investment Officer with the Partnership to End Homelessness shared. “We have made progress, but we know we have more work to do.”

Since its launch, the Partnership has leveraged and aligned over $18 million in private sector resources. At the same time, advocacy efforts have resulted in over 4,000 permanent supportive housing vouchers to end homelessness for 3,106 individuals and 1,217 families.

The event focused on the Partnership and our community’s collective progress in the work to end homelessness and featured remarks from Theresa Silla, Executive Director of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness, key philanthropic partners such as Allison McWilliams, Executive Director of the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, and a panel of nonprofit leaders and advocates with lived experience of chronic homelessness.

Christy Respress, President of Pathways to Housing DC, has worked with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness since the ‘90s and has long been a champion of the “Housing First” approach adopted by the DC Government – a model that prioritizes permanent housing for individuals and families, which creates a platform for pursuing other goals.

“Housing First is a proven model,” Respress explained. “We know it works. Now we just need to get the resources and hold ourselves accountable to get things done.”

“We know we can end homelessness because we have made so much progress reaching families experiencing homelessness,” Silla shared. “What we need now is to apply that same thinking to our single adult population – and our unaccompanied youth – and invest in new resources to meet their specific needs.”

Attendees also heard from Rachelle Ellison, Assistant Director, and Robert Warren, Director, at the People for Fairness Coalition.

Rachelle Ellison (Assistant Director) and Robert Warren (Director) at the People for Fairness Coalition

 “I was homeless for 17 years before the Housing First initiative model helped me,” Ellison shared.

“Once you have that housing, you have the foundation – you can do anything you want to do.”

Ellison and Warren pointed out that while housing is by far the most critical (and costly) need, there are a host of other supports needed that help people stay in housing, such as access to healthcare and addiction recovery treatment, and access to case workers and service providers. Strengthening case management and service provider capacity has been a key focus for the Partnership for the past two years. Part of this work included helping permanent supportive housing (PSH) providers access new Medicaid funding that increases our community’s resources to invest in critical supportive services.

They also shared the importance in leading with lived experience and giving advocates who have previously or are currently experiencing homelessness a seat at the table with funders and government partners so they can better advocate for themselves and the needs of their community.

“We are so grateful for private sector funding that has given Rachelle and I a chance to advocate for change,” Warren shared. “Now we need your continued support so more can join us.”

“I know you see Rachelle and I sitting here; my hope is that you can see every unhoused member of the Washington DC community as well.”

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Partners then heard from Jim Knight, CEO of Jubilee Housing, a partner in the Partnership to End Homelessness’ impact investment efforts to build and preserve affordable housing for extremely low-income households.

“A vast percentage of people in our city are paying more in rent than they can afford,” Knight shared. “Investing in affordable housing allows us to alleviate that pressure so they can better provide for their future and their children’s future.”

“The impact of these investments can live on for generations.”

Thanks to partnerships with Jubilee Housing and Enterprise Community Loan Fund, the Partnership has helped create and maintain over 500 new homes affordable to extremely low-income households. Many of those are reserved for populations with specific needs such as seniors or returning citizens.

Martin Mellett, VP of External Affairs at Jubilee Housing leads a walking tour of Columbia Heights, including several service providers and affordable housing projects under development.

Following the panel discussion, attendees joined a walking tour around the neighborhood, which included stops at several affordable housing projects under development. Along the way, participants visited sites of multiple service providers including Mary’s Center, Columbia Road Health Services, Christ House, and the Sitar Arts Center – all within short walking distance of the homes. The hope is that the proximity, combined with new partnerships, will help residents gain access to all the resources they need to succeed.

“This Partnership is truly a partnership,” Olney shared at the event. “Nothing that we do would be possible without all of you working together with us. We thank you for your contributing your time, your expertise, and continued investment towards our shared vision to end homelessness in our city. Together we can build a community where everyone thrives.”

To learn more or to make a contribution to the Partnership to End Homelessness, visit our website where you can also learn more about Impact Investing and see our 2023 Impact Report!

For more information about how you can be involved in the Partnership to End Homelessness, contact Jennifer Olney at [email protected]

Changing Lives, One Student at a Time

OST Scholarship Recipient Kooper Brisbon enjoys time on the playground at an After-School Program

This Summer, The Community Foundation reached an exciting milestone, distributing more than $500,000 in funding to support students in DC. Established in 2021 through DC’s Learn 24 Office, The Community Foundation has distributed ‘Out of School Time’ (OST) scholarships to support more than 170 students and their families through a wide range of programs including:

Advanced Coursework

Research has recently shed light on a phenomenon known as the Achievement Trap -- the systemic neglect experienced by high-achieving students from lower-income families. In DC, there are thousands of such students that overcome challenging socioeconomic circumstances everyday in order to excel academically. However, even bright children need extra support to achieve their full potential. Extracurricular programs like writing camps and advanced STEM classes can stretch the minds of talented students and help them take their knowledge to the next level.

Remedial Programs

Starting-line disparities hinder educational mobility. Many DCPS students start school needing extra support. Others have special learning needs that require additional assistance. The extra support and additional assistance needed is often out of the financial reach of DCPS families. Through the Learn 24 OST scholarship grant, The Community Foundation has helped students and families access programs that provide individual tutoring that helps students build the foundation for academic success.

Nurturing Creativity

There are countless stories of the challenging child whose shining accomplishment is creative talent. By giving children the space, opportunity, and encouragement to pursue their own passions and dreams, self-confidence and feelings of love and acceptance are instilled. Since its inception in 2021, the Learn 24 OST grant has provided dozens of students the opportunity to explore their creative interests through cooking classes, art programs, and music lessons. Creating a natural culture of fulfillment that will have lasting effects well into their adulthood.

Social Support

Problem-solving, imagination, critical thinking… they’re all cognitive skills necessary to keeping a competitive edge in today’s ever-changing world. Developing these skills in socio-economically disadvantaged households often requires the type of wraparound services and support provided through the Learn24 network. Over the past year, through the Learn 24 OST grant, dozens of DC students have benefited from life-changing speech therapies, life-skills development camps, and world culture camps and classes that enrich their physical, mental, and emotional health.

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OST Scholarship Award Statistics

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Student Success Stories

We are excited to share the impact of this incredible initiative, including testimonials from several families who were beneficiaries:

“I can’t begin to explain the impact this grant will have on my son’s future and on his confidence. The past 3 years have been strenuous and the amount of assistance he needs is not easily found and funded.

This will make sure his transition into middle school will be a little less difficult and more importantly, give him the foundation he needs in order to succeed in life. Thank you thank you!
”

— Parent Allison Farouidi after her son Emil Farouidi was awarded $10,000 to support specialized tutoring for his needed for learning needs.

“I am truly thankful for this scholarship opportunity for my son Kooper. As a single mom, I did not have the resources to pick up my child at the regular dismissal time. Because of the OST Youth Scholarship Program, Kooper will be able to continue learning beyond the classroom.

I am also excited that Koop will be able to continue his studies at Lee Montessori-East End Campus. Thanks for giving my son the chance to thrive and become someone great in life!”

— Janille Brisbon after her son, Kooper was awarded $4,000 to support his academic after school programming at Lee Montessori East End.

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Due to high demand, the Learn 24 OST scholarship program is not accepting new applications at this time. For information about available grant and scholarship opportunities, please visit our website!

Connecting Budget to Advocacy

Earlier this week, the Greater Washington Community Foundation convened DC-based nonprofits for an in-depth conversation about how to leverage the DC Budget process.

Hosted by The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund, the event was the second in the Partner Learning Series designed to host convenings around the issues that are most impactful to the work and mission of the Fund.

Following the Fund’s historic $12.5 million investment in health advocacy, policy, and systems change, partners were interested in meeting with a major stakeholder in their advocacy work – the DC Government – to ask questions about how they can more effectively advocate for more equitable outcomes in the budget process.

In recent months, the DC Budget process has garnered national media attention– leaving many grassroots advocates wondering what they can do to strengthen their case for support with local leaders.

“It’s so important to leverage the power that’s in this room,” shared Misty Thomas, the Executive Director of Center for Court Excellence who proposed the event. “Even though we may advocate on different issues, we need to work together to make the budget more effective, more equitable, and more participatory.”

The event featured a panel discussion with DC Budget Director Jennifer Budoff, Budget Counsel and Chief of Staff Anne Phelps, and was moderated by Kim Perry, Executive Director of DC Action. The panel explored a wide range of topics from the timing of the budget process to how to structure a budget request.

“The DC Budget is a document that should represent the priorities of those that live in this city,” DC Budget Director, Jennifer Budoff shared. “That includes all of you, and the incredible advocacy work that you’re doing.”

Budoff and Phelps explained that, in accordance with the DC Home Rule Act, each year (usually around the end of March) the DC Mayor submits a budget proposal to the City Council. Over the next few months, the DC Council works with the DC Budget Office to review and make changes to the budget that reflect the community’s priorities as well as adjustments based on projected revenue streams.

What’s the best thing organizers can do to ensure their issues get funding? “Advocate early and often,” Phelps said.

“The earlier you reach out to the Mayor and DC Council, the more familiar they will be with the issues you’re advocating for and the more likely they are to champion you when it comes time to finalize the budget.”

Phelps and Budoff encouraged partners to begin their outreach in the fall and early winter – long before the public Budget Forums that the Mayor hosts in early February.

“Sitting down and talking to us about the work that you do is truly invaluable,” Budoff said. “We need to know these details – it is so helpful as we navigate the nuances of balancing a budget.”

Budoff and Phelps encouraged partners to find their champions within DC Council who could help advocate for their issues – even if that member doesn’t sit on the right committee.

“It’s important to understand who has an interest in your cause,” Budoff explained. “Even if they chair a different committee, Council Members will sometimes set aside surplus money from their committee and direct it to a different one if it means they can fund the issues they care about.”

“Obviously, you should start with the Committee that oversees your area of advocacy,” Budoff continued. “But it’s never bad to share your priorities with every Council Member you meet. You never know who could make the difference for you.”

On the subject of difference-makers, Phelps explained that when making a funding request, it helps to be as specific as possible – breaking down the costs into line items. This provides valuable context for Council staff during the budget reconciliation process. She also encouraged partners to print off their asks as a one-pager that can be left with Council Members and easily shared with budget staff during the reconciliation process.

Similarly, Budoff said that it also helps if you can list your budget asks in order of importance so Council staff can consider funding the most essential asks first. She explained that in some cases, some initiatives can be earmarked to be funded with ‘contingent revenue’ – meaning the funding is conditional on the outcome of the City’s Quarterly Revenue Estimates.

“Incrementalism is key, when it comes to budgeting,” Budoff added. “It’s about taking things bite by bite.”

Above all, Budoff and Phelps encouraged partners to be active in reaching out and engaging with City officials – especially when it comes to the budget process.

“Oversight, oversight, oversight,” Budoff insisted. “That’s the secret to success. Set up a time to meet with Council staff and help keep us in the loop.”

“Because of the work you do every day, you know what’s working and not working,” Phelps added. “Use that to build relationships with DC Council and their staff. Help inform us so we can do our jobs and get you to your end goals and budget.”

For more information on the DC Council Budget Process, visit www.dccouncilbudget.com.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund is excited to convene its nonprofit partners around the issues that matter to them. For more information about the Health Equity Fund, visit our website!

Martha’s Table, JP Morgan Chase, and The Community Foundation Expand Initiative to Strengthen and Support Grassroots Organizations in Ward 8

Our partners at Martha’s Table have announced 14 high-impact nonprofits in Ward 8 that will receive Community Impact Fund grants to support innovative solutions to community challenges, organizational infrastructure, and program operations.

Martha’s Table launched the Community Impact Fund at The Community Foundation in 2022, which initially supported 10 high-impact, local organizations with $10,000 grants. JP Morgan Chase and The Community Foundation partnered to match these initial grants through the Equitable Development Fund.

Building on the success of the Fund’s first year, Martha’s Table doubled down on its direct investment in Ward 8 communities, ensuring that every Washingtonian can thrive. For the second grant cycle, 14 high-impact organizations were selected to receive $15,000 each by a committee comprised of Ward 8 neighbors.

The organizations will also receive a matching two-year grant from JP Morgan Chase and The Community Foundation through the Equitable Development Fund.

“We are reimagining community investments; through the Fund, we are helping to scale and deepen the impact of frontline organizations whose leadership and staff reflect the backgrounds and lived experiences of the communities they work alongside,” said Tiffany Williams, president and CEO of Martha’s Table. “This work is made possible through critical partnerships with key local funders who are committed to creating a more just and equitable region.”

In addition to the Greater Washington Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase, the Bainum Family Foundation, the Horning Family Foundation, and the Leonard and Hilda Kaplan Charitable Foundation support the Fund.

Community Impact Fund grants provide up to $20,000 of general operating funds to support a range of capacity-building activities or targeted initiatives.

“At the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we understand the transformative power of philanthropy that is responsive to community needs,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are proud of this innovative partnership with Martha’s Table and JP Morgan Chase to increase and sustain funding to Ward 8-based organizations that make a profound impact on their local communities.”

“This work reflects our commitment to uplift community voice and involve more community members in the process and practice of grantmaking. Thank you to the community members who contributed their time and expertise to the grant review process and selection.”

This year’s recipients include:

• Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso

• Anacostia AMP Empowerment Center

• A Beautiful Balance Inclusive

• Traron Center

• William O Lockridge Community Foundation

• It Takes a Village

• Project Create

• Soul Trak Outdoors

• Recovery Cafe

• Best Kids

• College Tribe

• Fresh Start Catering

• Women Involved in Re-Entry Efforts

For a complete program overview and a list of current and past grantees, please visit https://marthastable.org/communityimpactfund/.

Let's Talk Endowments - Helping Nonprofits Invest for the Future

Earlier this month, The Community Foundation hosted a group of nonprofit leaders to talk about how to help nonprofit organizations prepare for their financial future through an endowment.

“For years, we at The Community Foundation have talked about what it would look to design a product that would allow nonprofits to coinvest in their future,” President and CEO Tonia Wellons shared with the group.

“Through this nonprofit endowment product, we’re excited to provide our partners with the infrastructure and investment support to sustain their mission and organization for years to come.”

An endowed fund is invested for long-term capital growth – rather than going directly towards a specific program. This allows the fund to accrue value over time, while a predetermined portion is set aside each year for distribution. Depending on market performance, these distributions have the potential to exceed the original value of the gift – providing the organization with a steady, reliable stream of income, as well as a nest egg that can be accessed in case of emergencies.

“At The Community Foundation, we want to make it easier for our nonprofit partners to provide for their long-term financial stability,” Tiffanie Purvis, General Counsel and Senior Philanthropic Advisor said.

The Community Foundation’s nonprofit endowment fund is designed to eliminate many of the traditional barriers that can prevent nonprofits from setting up an endowment - including limited investment expertise or capacity. Endowments set up through The Community Foundation are managed by our professional investment team – allowing nonprofits the freedom to focus on their mission rather than their long-term financial investments. Endowments have a $25,000 minimum and can be set up as a permanent long-term endowment or a quasi-endowment with an option to withdraw under limited circumstances).

The Community Foundation also provides services including planned giving expertise to help donors understand the value of an endowment over a short-term gift.

“Donors love creating endowments,” Rebecca Rothey, Senior Advisor explained. “However, sometimes they need a little more help before they grasp the concept.”

Participants heard from Mike DiMarco, Executive Director of Horizons Greater Washington, which recently set up an endowment fund with The Community Foundation in preparation for its 25th Anniversary coming up in 2025.

“For us, at Horizons, we make a long-term commitment to our students. We need sustainable long-term funding that’s there in perpetuity,” DiMarco shared. “Being able to budget the steady income from an endowment not only puts us in a stronger position in the long-term but also in the short-term as we’re able to get annual returns on that endowment.”

“Throughout the process, the Greater Washington Community Foundation was really helpful and patiently answering our questions and helping us understand the benefits and implications of starting this endowment account.”

“As we enter 2025, celebrating our 25th Anniversary, we look forward to taking this opportunity to grow the endowment and solidify Horizons’ future going forward.”

The discussion about endowments comes at a time when large bequests from donors to nonprofit organizations is on the rise. According to the latest Giving USA Report, the number of bequests from wills and living trusts increased by 2.3% in 2022 for a total of $45.6 billion dollars.

“There’s a temptation with surprise bequests to put it directly into the operating budget – put it straight into the community all at once,” Mary Pat Alcus, a financial planner and experienced nonprofit board member shared. “But if you and your board have the discipline to put that money in an endowment, you not only provide for the longevity of your organization – you also provide an easy answer to what can sometimes be a contentious question - ‘what do we do with this money?’”

“It’s about planning for the future,” Wellons concluded. “It’s about having the foresight to let your money work for you, while you continue to work for the community.”

The Community Foundation’s team stands ready and eager to help our nonprofit partners achieve their long-term investment goals. For more information about our nonprofit endowment services, visit our website for details or contact Tiffanie Purvis at [email protected].

The Faces of Health Equity: Meet Our Nonprofit Partners

On June 13, The Community Foundation announced $12. 5 million in Health Equity Fund grants to 14 DC-based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives that address the social and structural determinants of health.

We invited our partners to highlight their experiences working to address the social and structural determinants of health in the Greater Washington region.

• THE NATIONAL REENTRY NETWORK FOR RETURNING CITIZENS

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  We represent the criminal legal community in regards to incarcerated individuals and returning citizens coming back into our community. The issues that we advocate for are eliminating barriers to reentry, record sealing, expungement, and relief from fines/fees/restitution. We seek to change hiring practices that exclude returning citizens.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  The thing we find most meaningful about the work we do is evening the playing field, educating the public, and changing the criminal legal system. We are more proud of our longevity and being a one-stop-shop in terms of resources for returning citizens. We are proud to be a source of evidence of the success possible for returning citizens, and demonstrate the outcomes possible for people in the criminal legal system who are given an opportunity to thrive.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  We will be using funding to support our personnel and expand our programming. We will be hiring a community organizer and program manager, and will also utilize funding to cover training costs, event planning, meeting costs, program supplies, outreach and campaign materials, and to conduct evaluation of our work.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  We want people to understand that we have to stop throwing people away, as if they were human waste. We want them to understand that we need to take a closer look at the impact of the criminal legal system and its collateral consequences. If we do that, we will see that it is necessary to move in a different direction and to invest in supporting communities, families, and returning citizens.

  80% or more of people incarcerated are there for a non-violent crime. We can't incarcerate our way out of this. We have to address trauma, mental health, and underserved communities. Taking time to understand and acquire this knowledge will allow us to come up with effective alternatives and solutions.

• DC FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  DCFPI serves as central resource to advocates and community members, providing research, analysis, and strategy to inform just policy solutions and reform inequitable systems. We take aim at the compounding effects of structural racism, which have led to vast racial and ethnic inequities in education, housing, employment, income, wealth, and health, privileging white residents while leaving Black and non-Black residents of color more likely to struggle to get by and care for their children. We strive to root out anti-Blackness, promote economic mobility, and repair racist harms that set the conditions for consistently poorer economic and health outcomes for Black and brown communities.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  DCFPI leverages its analytic, programmatic, and legislative expertise for collaborative campaigns, helping to design both policy and strategy. DCFPI utilizes the power of progressive policy to support the economic liberation of Black and brown people in the District. We are most proud of our 22-year track record that has lifted up and protected economically struggling DC families.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  DCFPI, in collaboration with partners rooted in impacted communities, will pursue two critical areas of policy change: Establishing Guarantees for A Liberation Economy and Building Black Wealth. We will develop a pilot jobs guarantee for young workers, pursue a child tax credit and expansion of guaranteed basic income pilots, and spearhead a campaign for a more racially just tax code that pays for targeted investments that reduce Black debt, increase access to Black homeownership, and provide capital to support Black entrepreneurship.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  The District is home to incredible prosperity that is not equitably shared. Despite high incomes and high-paying jobs, too many residents—disproportionately Black and Latinx people—struggle to pay for basics or access good jobs. More than 100,000 DC residents live in poverty, the lion’s share being women and people of color. Centuries-long oppression of Black people through enslavement, segregation, and Jim Crow legislation has led to vast racial and ethnic inequities in education, housing, employment, income, and wealth creation. The legacy of these inequities and long-standing divestment from communities of color carries racial and economic exclusion forward today. However, before us stands a great opportunity to foster change that creates healthy, thriving communities where everyone has the nurture, sustenance, and safety every person inherently deserves.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  The power of tax justice as racial and economic justice. As a tool for liberation, tax policy should take aim at the anti-Blackness embedded within our tax systems by raising taxes on the predominantly white, wealthy households that have been economically privileged through the historic and ongoing oppression of Black and brown people. The revenue raised would be dedicated to public investments that predominantly aid Black households that are struggling to get by and are systematically denied, over generations, the fruits of their labor.

• MOTHERS OUTREACH NETWORK

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  MON supports the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation and advocates for the transformation of government income and child welfare laws, policies and practices from punitive to empowering. Our primary initiatives seek to empower Black families by working to enact publicly funded guaranteed income programs for low-income mothers, advocating for existing social safety net programs such as the 2021 Child Tax Credit, and transforming the $200 million DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) family regulation and foster system budget.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  Some of the most meaningful work that we do at MON involves working directly with Black mothers through programs such as our Legal Tax Clinic and our guaranteed income pilot program, Mother Up. This program is a cash transfer initiative for no- and low- income Black mothers in Washington, D.C. who are involved with the child welfare system. We plan to explore whether extra cash can cut family involvement with the child welfare system and to achieve narrative change that can transform policy in this field. We seek to ultimately enroll 100 mothers or more, in total in this: for 3 years, 50 mothers receiving $500 a month and an additional 50 mothers survey incentive stipends.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  We will utilize funding to support our guaranteed income program. These funds will provide for the following: mothers in our program receiving $500 a month; mothers in the control group receiving $40 a month; benefits counseling for the mothers; and hold harmless payments for the mothers to offset any benefit reductions.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  Black families in Washington, DC suffer over-involvement in the intersecting paradigms of racialized poverty and its poverty-driven government family regulation. Our goal is to transform the family regulation system to prioritize Black family economic security, racial equity, and family preservation.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  Our work confronts the child welfare system's role in failing to address Black family poverty and the system's policies that traumatize and rip apart Black families. Studies have demonstrated that alleviating poverty reduces reports of abuse and neglect, or child maltreatment. Our goal with the Mother Up program is to explore whether extra cash can cut family involvement with the child welfare system and to achieve narrative change that can transform policy in this field.

• COUNCIL FOR COURT EXCELLENCE

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) brings together an interdisciplinary group of D.C. residents, advocates, and members of the legal and business communities to collaborate and advance equity-focused changes to D.C. criminal and civil laws, regulations, court practices, and agency policies. Our work seeks to help D.C. residents who interact with the legal system, especially justice involved and impacted individuals.

  Throughout D.C.’s legal system, people of color are disproportionately impacted. While Black people make up 47% of D.C.’s population, they make up 86% of the people arrested, 90% of the people jailed, and 95% of the people in prison.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  CCE’s work has resulted in fewer D.C. children being funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline, fewer people in our community facing incarceration, and a decrease in the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction in the District. We are proud to increase awareness and thoughtfulness around justice system issues and spur a spirit of change to engage more people in the community who care about these issues, broadening the pool of those who are aware, engaged, and fighting for equity.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  CCE will utilize our model of interdisciplinary alliance to develop and implement strategic advocacy campaigns. We will convene partners and impacted people, conduct research, and collect data and feedback to ensure our priorities are community guided. CCE will develop policy reform campaigns from start to finish, and conduct activities to cultivate community and grassroots advocacy. Finally, we will educate the public on our campaigns, put public pressure on policymakers to enact reforms, and sustain community mobilization.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  One in seven adults in the District has a publicly available criminal record. The impacts of D.C.’s criminal legal system are not felt by all D.C. residents equally. Roughly 90% of people incarcerated at the D.C. Department of Corrections were Black, despite Black people making up a little less than half of D.C.’s population. Racial disparities persist in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), with Black people accounting for 95% of people incarcerated in the BOP for a D.C. Code offense.

  Legal system or court involvement – whether as a person who has faced a criminal charge or incarceration, as a victim of crime, or even as a litigant in a civil matter – can have dramatic impacts on a person’s well-being. Decisions made by judges, police, caseworkers, and others with power in the legal system can change a person’s life in positive and negative ways – which means it is vital that D.C.’s laws and policies are equitable, healing-focused, and anti-racist.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  It is important for people to know that the lack of statehood significantly affects D.C.’s criminal legal system and presents challenges in the pursuit of community-led justice.

  In D.C., the federal government plays several important roles in the local administration of justice but has no accountability to District residents. Presently, people convicted of D.C. offenses are sent to federal prisons, local Courts are funded by the federal government, and adults are prosecuted by federal prosecutors, among other powers.

• DC JUSTICE LAB

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  DC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts researching, organizing, and advocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia’s criminal legal system. We develop smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. We aim to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and make it a national leader in justice reform.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  The most meaningful aspect of our work is the ability to change the way people think about who we punish, how we punish, and why we punish. Helping Black people thrive is why we’re here – and reforming the criminal legal system is how we do it. We’re most proud of how we do the work. We lead with integrity and justice, engaging with and understanding the needs of the community where we live and work; forging strong connections; and prioritizing community-centered approaches to reform.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  As a proud Black- and woman-led organization, we plan to utilize funding to not only grow our impact, but the impact of other pro-Black organizations who are working to effect policy change, training the next generation of local advocates on the District's lawmaking process. Leveraging and lifting each other requires an intensive effort – including multi-day workshops that provide support, resources, and strategies that work to make the collective more effective in less time.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  Almost 90% of arrests in the District disproportionately target Black residents, and over 90% of those who are sentenced are also Black. Year after year, research has consistently shown that marginalized communities facing poverty, substance abuse issues, and high crime rates are disproportionately impacted by the consequences of the criminal legal system.

  Despite this evidence, our country and local leaders continue to prioritize tough-on-crime laws and policies that have fueled mass incarceration and worsened the conditions of our Black and brown communities. This is why we advocate for lawmakers to implement solutions that address the root causes of crime and violence, while reducing our nation's excessive reliance on police, prosecutors, and prisons in order to promote safety and freedom for all.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  We wish more people understood that mass criminalization actually causes more crime, making us all less safe. Not only does it perpetuate poverty, but it breaks apart (and breaks down) families who create thriving communities with generational wealth.

• LA CLINICA DEL PUEBLO

  1. Briefly describe (in 2-3 sentences) the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  La Clínica del Pueblo represents the low-income, Limited English Proficient, immigrant, Latinx communities in Washington, DC, facing health inequities and healthcare access barriers. We advocate for policy changes and system transformation to address these issues, including eliminating exclusionary policies, guaranteeing Medicaid-level coverage, and ensuring linguistically and culturally appropriate service provision.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  Through our advocacy efforts, such as involvement in passing the DC Language Access Act, we have played a pivotal role in ensuring equal access and participation in public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Our contributions to establishing the DC Healthcare Alliance Program and, more recently, simplifying its recertification process have also been sources of pride. This program, available to all residents regardless of immigration status, has reduced disparities and expanded access to healthcare for marginalized groups.

  La Clínica's ability to effect positive change through advocacy efforts demonstrates our dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system, making a meaningful impact on the lives of low-income immigrant communities in the region.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  We plan to utilize the funding to expanding our advocacy campaigns to raise community awareness and engage policymakers, enhancing our community mapping efforts to better understand the needs of low-income immigrant communities, and strengthening our partnerships and coalitions to drive systemic change. The funding will enable us to allocate resources for capacity building, staff training, communication strategies, and community engagement initiatives to advance our mission of improving healthcare access and addressing health inequities.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  One thing we wish more people understood about the community we represent, with a specific focus on health access as a human right, is that healthcare is essential for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic background, immigration status, or language proficiency. Access to healthcare is not just a privilege but a fundamental human right. Low-income immigrant communities, who often face additional barriers to accessing healthcare, deserve equitable and dignified care.

  Recognizing health access as a human right means understanding that everyone deserves equal opportunities to lead healthy lives, and it requires addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring that healthcare services are accessible, culturally competent, and affordable for all.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  We wish more people understood the intersectionality and complexity of the barriers faced by low-income immigrant communities in accessing healthcare. It is crucial to recognize that these barriers extend beyond immigration status and language proficiency. Systemic racism, social determinants of health, limited financial resources, and cultural differences contribute to health disparities.

  By understanding the multifaceted nature of these challenges, we can develop comprehensive solutions that address the underlying structural and systemic issues. It is essential to move beyond simplistic narratives and stereotypes and instead embrace a holistic perspective considering the interconnected factors impacting healthcare access for marginalized communities.

• WHITMAN-WALKER INSTITUTE

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all people are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing. The Whitman-Walker Institute combines clinical and public health research, public policy advocacy, and professional and community education, with the goal of expanding the body of knowledge and science needed to advance health and wellness, particularly for sexual and gender diverse communities.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  For almost fifty years, Whitman-Walker has been woven into the fabric of DC’s diverse community as a first responder and trusted resource for those living with and affected by HIV; a leader in LGBTQ care and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention science; a fierce advocate for health equity and inclusion; and one of DC’s dependable healthcare partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  As a nonprofit, grant funding is pivotal to expanding our capacity to advocate, research, and educate about the health needs of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Funding supports our research into the bio-psycho-social drivers of ill health and the interventions to address these causes. Grant funding supports the many services we provide that are not covered by insurance.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  As a community health center embedded in Washington, DC, I wish more people understood that DC is more than just nation’s capital, but it is home to a vibrant and thriving community. Far too often our community is used as a political tool, and this is disrespectful to the families that live and work in the District.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  WWI leverages the expertise across Whitman-Walker’s family of affiliates to advocate for structural interventions in local, regional, and federal law and policy. Much of our advocacy works to address the social determinants of health for our patient population.

• BLACK WOMEN THRIVING EAST OF THE RIVER

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  Black Women Thriving East of the River (BWTEotR) collaborates with Black women who live and lead organizational change in Wards 7&8. Together, we advocate for health and economic justice for Black women and their families and the collective wellbeing of Black people living east of the river. The systems we seek to disrupt and improve are the workforce development and healthcare systems in order to improve key social determinants of health for Black women in our community.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  We are most proud of working in authentic partnership with the community. BWTEotR works directly with community residents and leaders of Wards 7 & 8 who coalesced in pursuit of innovative solutions to the health and economic crises prevalent within the community. We continue to embrace an inclusive approach for engaging the community and reflecting its voice, that intentionally avoids employing tokenism and instead implements ongoing engagement to mitigate intractable issues.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  Black Women Thriving East of the River will use data, training, and advocacy to disrupt and create change in workforce development systems impacting Black women living East of the River. Our initiative will develop employer assessment tools and implement Employer Best Practices Thought Leader Forums, workgroups, and conferences. We will disseminate best practice employer tools and strategies for driving equity, inclusion, and sustainability in hiring and retention practices — better positioning Black women East of the River to acquire and maintain employment in health-related careers.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  There are many well-known challenges in our community. The way to solve them is by listening to those who are experiencing them daily. Our community is full of caring, insightful and brilliant experts. Let’s look to them first and often to inform strategies, programs and policies for lasting change.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  We wish that more people understood the magnitude of health disparities that Black women face, and that these disparities are a direct result of structural racism embedded in our healthcare, workforce, and other systems.

• MANY LANGUAGES ONE VOICE

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) is a Washington, DC-based movement organization, empowering immigrant and refugee communities of color with the tools to promote their own liberation. Our mission is to foster leadership and greater civic participation of immigrants and refugees who do not speak English as a primary language.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  We believe an actively engaged community that challenges existing inequities by dominant power is key to achieving systemic change. We are most proud of the leadership our community members display everyday for themselves and their communities.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  Through this project, we aim to contribute to greater health equity for all DC residents. With support from this grant, our BIPOC-immigrant-led community leadership development, power building, and advocacy will strengthen and advance language justice in DC, and consequently will promote improved health outcomes.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  As an immigrant and refugee organization, MLOV sees the day-to-day realities of health inequity and how various social factors contribute to creating and compounding barriers to health. Despite the 2004 Language Access Act being on the books, our DC immigrant neighbors continue to face language barriers in accessing services from DC government agencies, which negatively impacts numerous social determinants of health. Data collected by MLOV and our partners demonstrate that immigrants who do not speak English as a primary language are more likely to face barriers to healthcare, affordable and safe housing, and job security.

• Tzedek DC

  1.Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  Tzedek DC’s systemic Advocacy Reform program attacks at scale the structural economic underpinnings of health equity. We seek to reform debt-related laws in DC that in effect criminalize poverty, impose disproportionate burdens on Black and Latino residents and, by perpetuating DC’s vast racial wealth gaps, pose formidable roadblocks to health equity.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  The magic happens in the moments when our work both impacts the present and future of a community member's life and makes them feel heard, respected, and valued.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  Tzedek DC will use funds from this partnership to hire staff and consultants to build organizational capacity to mount winning advocacy campaigns that will increase wealth and health equity. We will expand our Policy, Organizing, and Communications capacity in this way.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  Poverty is not a crime. DC residents are hard-working, passionate people of many wonderfully diverse backgrounds and all deserve full economic citizenship.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  Systemic racism has produced a legacy that includes massive racial wealth gaps and a system of private debt collection and public fines and fees debt collection that has a disparate impact on Brown and Black residents. Our choices about allocating resources and changing the rules need to account for these realities. This approach can lift up the entire community.

• Emerald Cities Collaborative

  1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  ECC works with community organizations, government, the private sector, and directly with small, minority and women-owned firms to ensure that BIPOC and other underrepresented businesses/contractors benefit from major investments in clean energy. In addition to planning and technical assistance to improve public procurement systems, ECC offers training, coaching and support services so that these firms are committed to ECC’s high-road mission to strengthen the environment, economy and equity, especially within low-income communities of color.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  ECC has a 13-year track record helping city officials develop and implement economic inclusion policies, including community workforce and community benefit agreements in a range of green energy and infrastructure projects. This system-level work includes developing implementation tools to ensure public investments benefit communities most in need, such as establishing hiring/contracting targets by demographic groups, contractors’ selection criteria and requirements for solicitations/bid documents, and monitoring and evaluation tracking and reportings.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  The “BEPS BIPOC Contractor Incubator” will engage contractors to work on projects to improve building energy performance of affordable housing, public housing and community buildings in disadvantaged communities in Washington DC. Contractors will be recruited from across Washington, DC with particular focus on Wards 5, 7, and 8. Contractors will receive training on business opportunities and follow up support for their businesses.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  ECC’s focus on community contractors addresses both wealth and income inequality. Our labor market study revealed that neither minority businesses nor workers are well-represented in the emerging green economy in DC or elsewhere. A focused attention on increasing access for small, minority businesses, however, is foundational to inter-generational wealth generation. Moreover, research shows that minority businesses offer the most accessible and effective pipeline to job opportunities for minority workers.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  America’s economy was specifically designed for inequality. Low-income and communities of color are burdened by a legacy of discrimination with respect to access to home and home improvement loans, business loans and investments, job opportunities in high wage and unionized jobs, as well as business and hiring networks. The negative impacts are clear: poor health, poor housing conditions, rent burdens, utility burdens, income and wealth disparities, to name a few. America’s transition to a new ‘green economy’ to green our communities and our buildings provide a new opportunity to get it right.

• DC Reentry Housing Alliance

  1) Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.

  The DC Reentry Housing Alliance is a collective of local reentry and housing leaders who are dedicated to addressing the ongoing housing challenges experienced by individuals returning from incarceration in the District of Columbia. They represent and advocate for the needs and rights of returning citizens, aiming to improve their access to safe, affordable, and supportive housing options. The alliance seeks to bring about policy and system changes that will result in a significant increase of at least 500 new housing units dedicated to DC returning citizens by 2025. By prioritizing the voices of those directly affected and collaborating with housing providers, service providers, and advocates, the alliance aims to enhance housing options, support services, and opportunities for successful reentry and community integration.

  2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?

  At the DC Reentry Housing Alliance, we are most proud of centering the expertise of reentry leaders with lived experiences. By engaging the public, influencing advocacy, and prioritizing the needs of men and women returning from incarceration in Washington, DC, we strive to propose innovative solutions for improved opportunity, access, and equity. Our Advisory Council guides our strategy and approach, ensuring that we amplify the voices of those closest to the challenges and foster meaningful change for individuals transitioning back into the community.

  3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?

  As a collective impact initiative, we utilize funding to drive community empowerment and foster collaboration. Together, we will catalyze the creation of 500+ new supportive housing units by 2025, establish a stakeholder community dedicated to our mission, build sustainable infrastructure, and launch a compelling public campaign. Through data-driven efforts, community summits, a returning citizen advisory group, and advocacy activities, we will create transformative change and ensure the housing and economic mobility of returning citizens. Your support is instrumental in our collective journey towards a more inclusive and thriving society.

  4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?

  It is essential for people to understand the challenges and needs of individuals returning from incarceration. Incarceration forces individuals to make drastic adjustments for survival, and upon release, the struggle to reintegrate becomes apparent. The lack of support and government assistance, particularly in areas such as housing and employment, creates significant barriers for successful transition. There is an urgent need to address the disregard and stigma faced by justice involved individuals, and by providing proper safety nets and assistance, we can witness the transformative potential and achievements of these individuals in our society.

  5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?

  • Engaging relevant stakeholders is crucial: Advocacy led by individuals with lived experience, along with collaboration with state and government officials, is necessary to secure funding, policy changes, and insights for effective reentry programs.

  • Sustained support is crucial during the reintegration process: Reintegrating into society takes time and assistance, and simply releasing individuals without support can lead to setbacks and challenges.

  • Wrap-around services are vital: Comprehensive support services, including housing, employment assistance, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, education, and counseling, are essential for successful reentry.

  • Programs should prioritize asking individuals about their needs: Instead of assuming what people need, actively listening and empowering individuals with lived experience to lead ensures that support aligns with their actual needs.

  • Rehabilitation benefits individuals and society: By investing in rehabilitation programs, formerly incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to positively contribute to the economy, support their families, and participate actively in their communities.

• Fair Budget Coalition

  The mission of the Fair Budget Coalition (FBC) is to advocate for budget and public policy initiatives that address systemic social, racial, and economic inequality in the District of Columbia.

  More Information Coming Soon!

• Empower DC

  The mission of Empower DC is to build the power of DC residents through resident-led community organizing to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.

  More Information Coming Soon!

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $12.5M in Health Advocacy, Policy, and Systems Change Support

The Greater Washington Community Foundation celebrated $12.5 million in Health Equity Fund grants to 14 DC-based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives. This marks the largest single grant round in The Community Foundation’s 50-year history.

The historic investment comes from the $95 million Health Equity Fund (HEF) -- designed to address the social and structural determinants of health and to help achieve health equity for DC residents. It is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.

“We know that 80% of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, structural, and economic factors, with clinical care accounting for only 20%,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Health and wealth are inextricably linked – which is why we are confident that activating resources to change systems and policies as well as to increase economic mobility will be instrumental in improving health outcomes for District of Columbia residents.”

“In this round, we are investing in organizations who seek to change structural determinants of health over the long-term,” said Dr. Nnemdi Elias, Chair of the Health Equity Committee. “We recognize this mandate requires deep investment and collaboration, which is why our partners will also work together to share best practices and leverage their collective strengths as we build a healthier future for DC’s residents.”

Some of these investments include

• Black Women Thriving East of the River will support data, training, advocacy, and education to better position Black women living east of the Anacostia River to acquire and maintain employment in health-related careers.

• Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc. will develop a Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) economic inclusion initiative to create local-level business opportunities aligned with city-wide diversity and inclusion goals, and will strengthen the capacity of DC’s BIPOC contractors to execute and bid on BEPS project opportunities.

• La Clinica del Pueblo will support efforts to challenge citizenship as a determinant of social and legal belonging through advocacy work that addresses the health coverage exclusion of noncitizens and supports equal access to high-quality care, regardless of status.

• The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens will lead four years of advocacy to enact change through the Black-led #SafeAndFreeDC legislative policy agenda, which addresses health, economic, and racial equity through transformation of the criminal legal system.

• Whitman-Walker Institute will work with community organizations and District residents to develop a partnership framework that increases cross-sectoral collaboration in policy and advocacy efforts, which will then be used to develop a Queer and Trans Agenda for Racial and Economic Justice.

Additional grantees include: Council for Court Excellence; DC Fiscal Policy Institute; DC Justice Lab; DC Reentry Housing Alliance; Empower DC; Fair Budget Coalition; Many Languages One Voice; Mothers Outreach Network; and Tzedek DC.

Meet our Health Equity Nonprofit Partners!

Wellons and representatives from the DC Health Equity Committee, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield celebrated with the nonprofit organizations at a special welcome breakfast.

“Today represents the single most important philanthropic investment – not only in the history of The Community Foundation, but also in the history of Washington DC,” Commissioner Karima Woods with the DC Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking. “With this investment in policy, advocacy, and systems change, we champion the HOPE (hope, opportunity, prosperity, and equity) you will bring to the District.”

“The Health Equity Fund is an unprecedented, community-focused philanthropic endeavor, and this grant round mirrors the extraordinary nature of the fund with specific focus on programs that will create lasting structural and policy changes for our DC community,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). “We applaud the tireless efforts of the organizations selected as we work together to find ways to reduce the effects that social and structural determinants have on health outcomes. We are confident these organizations will help to change the economic, social and policy systems that often create and reinforce persistent health inequities in the District.”

With this exciting investment also came a call to action.

“We’re asking you to work together, as a cohort,” Juan Jara, a member of the Health Equity Committee explained. ““Your work – and the issues that your organizations address – are all interconnected. The more we can collaborate and work together, the better off we’re going to be as a community.”

The Community Foundation and its partners didn’t waste any time – launching straight into their second IDEA Summit immediately following the welcome breakfast. The event allowed partners to not only network, but also to ‘co-design success’ – working together to identify the outcomes, actions, and impact that they hope to see over the next few years. The summit was facilitated by a team from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), which serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund.

“This is a quality group,” shared one leader. “Everyone in this room has a drive and a passion to make a huge difference for this community.”

Bringing it All Home: How DC Can Become the First Major City to End Chronic Homelessness

Last month, The Partnership to End Homelessness hosted a special donor webinar to discuss a landmark report on chronic homelessness in DC.

The report by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI), “Bringing it All Home: How DC Can Become the 1st Major City to End Chronic Homelessness and Provide Higher-Quality Services” outlines a series of recommendations to DC policymakers and funders. The report also answers the ongoing question about the cost of ending chronic homelessness.

“The mission to end homelessness and create safe and affordable housing in our nation's capital for extremely low-income households has never been more important -- or more achievable,” shared The Community Foundation’s President and CEO Tonia Wellons. The Partnership to End Homelessness partnered with The William S. Abell Foundation to co-fund the report.

“[Ending chronic homelessness] is not only a moral imperative; it’s also a matter of racial justice,” DCFPI Executive Director Erica Williams shared. “Nearly 83% of individuals experiencing homelessness in the District are Black – even though Black residents make up just 44% of the District’s population and 73% of those living below the poverty line. Historic and current day racism are what got us to this result.” 

The recommendations come after DCFPI hosted a series of focus groups with experts, including case managers and individuals with lived-in experience with the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) system. DCFPI also conducted a thorough analysis of DC homelessness data, including the annual Point in Time surveys.

DCFPI outlines Chronic Homelessness Funding into three primary categories: Tenant Vouchers & Services, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Site-Based Funding, and Stipend Incentives for Providers and Case Managers. Of the three, PSH represents the biggest need for investment.

DCFPI outlines some of the average expenses in each category.

In addition to the budgetary recommendations, the report also outlined a series of five systemic changes where public and private funding is needed. These recommendations include speeding up the PSH leasing process, strengthening case management, improving and clarifying the rules of site-based PSH, addressing behavioral health needs, preventing homelessness, and better meeting the needs of the aging population.

When asked about some of the biggest challenges, Kate Coventry, DCFPI’s Deputy Director of Legislative Strategy who authored the report, pointed to inefficiencies in the PSH system and the alarming increase in the number of seniors experiencing homelessness.

Of 1,924 PSH vouchers made available in FY22, only 427 – just 22 percent -- were used to house individuals. The delays in implementing vouchers – which originate from a number of factors, including unwieldy application requirements and case manager shortages - can sometimes prove fatal; especially for seniors experiencing homelessness. Seniors account for nearly 40 percent of the region’s single adult homeless population.

Point-in-Time Counts for the Greater Washington Region by age demographic (Credit: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)

“We need to figure out why older people are experiencing homelessness more – and how we can better serve them within the PSH system,” Coventry explained. “Our shelter system is not designed to meet the safety and needs of older people. That’s why we need to prioritize getting them into stable, affordable housing.”

“Homelessness is not a lake; it’s a river,” Coventry added. “People are becoming homeless and exiting homelessness all the time – as providers, our objective is to keep people moving along their housing journey, while at the same time advocating to address the challenges that brought them here in the first place.”

Coventry was joined on the webinar by Rachelle Ellison, a Senior Mentor Advisor with the People for Fairness Coalition who participated in a focus group behind the report. When asked how philanthropy should get involved, Ellison emphasized the need to continue to fund service providers and advocacy efforts -especially those that are led by people with lived experience.

“What we need are more passionate people doing this work,” added Rachelle Ellison, Senior Mentor Advisor with the People for Fairness Coalition. “We need more case managers – and we need to re-examine the requirements to become a case manager so that more people with lived experience can become involved in the work.”

“The Partnership to End Homelessness recognizes the importance of building the capacity of the PSH system and of our PSH providers,” said Silvana Straw, Senior Community Investment Officer and Philanthropic Advisor with The Partnership to End Homelessness. “Together with our donors and investors, we continue to invest in the construction of more PSH housing units, and in the capacity of PSH providers to bill Medicaid and leverage ongoing federal funding.”

“The Partnership to End Homelessness is also committed to funding our advocacy partners who are leading this work around policy and practice change,” Jennifer Olney, Senior Community Investment Officer with the Partnership to End Homelessness added. “Without the public funding that they continue to fight for, much of this work would not be possible.”

“We look forward to continuing our investment in the capacity of PSH providers and building a more just, equitable system. Together, we look forward to helping DC become the first major city to end chronic homelessness.”  

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Jennifer Olney at [email protected] or Silvana Straw at [email protected] or visit our website to learn more about The Partnership to End Homelessness.

Peace for DC: Hope for Reducing Gun Violence in the District

By Amy L. Walter

My husband Chuck and I opened our donor-advised fund with The Community Foundation in 2020. At the time, we were eager to learn from The Community Foundation’s insight into local organizations and how they contribute to racial and economic equity. We initially focused on affordable housing and wealth building, which we viewed as foundational to people’s financial and overall well-being. We also participated in The Community Foundation’s Sharing DC program.

In the summer of 2021, our lives, and consequently the focus of our philanthropy, changed. During an after-dinner stroll in DC with our dear, longtime friends, Jerry Black and Cathy Feingold, gunshots rang out, and Jerry was struck and killed.

Cathy, in the midst of this unimaginable loss, focused attention on the gun violence so prevalent in many areas of our city and region. Gun violence in DC and other cities is a devasting problem. Homicides in the District nearly doubled in the four years leading to 2021. In recent years, an increasing number of gun violence victims have been children.

Cathy decided to establish a memorial fund for Jerry benefitting The TraRon Center, an organization providing art therapy and counseling to children affected by gun violence in Ward 8. The culturally responsive services The TraRon Center lovingly provides and the safe, healing space it creates have a demonstrable impact on children’s levels of PTSD.

Inspired by Cathy, I began learning about gun violence – from reading the research to attending panels to meeting with leaders of grassroots organizations. I met regularly with the founders of The TraRon Center and Guns Down Friday – an organization founded by Jawanna Hardy, one of The Community Foundation’s Black Voices for Black Justice DMV Fellows.

Here are some of the things that I learned:

• Research from around the country shows that community gun violence is a solvable problem. DC is learning from what works and targeting proven interventions toward the small number of people most likely to commit gun violence.

• ·Solving this problem is as much about racial equity and economic mobility as about safety and well-being. Black people are disproportionately the victims of gun violence in urban areas, and the communities affected by gun violence face significant adverse economic and educational consequences.

• In DC, there is momentum on this issue. For many years, community-based organizations (CBOs) with deep knowledge of the people and communities most affected have been working tirelessly to address this problem. More recently, the media are shining a spotlight on it, residents are demanding action, and the DC government is allocating greater resources to those doing this critical work.

This research led me to the Peace for DC Fund – a component fund at The Community Foundation that is playing a leading role in moving the District forward. Since its founding in 2021, Peace for DC has brought together CBOs, researchers, and the government to collaborate in solving the problem of gun violence. It has educated the public on proven solutions and supported the development of the District’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategic Plan. It has delivered financial and technical support to CBOs closest to the ground – all with the goal of reducing homicides in DC by 60 percent over five years.

In 2022, Peace for DC took the important step of launching the DC Peace Academy, grounded in the best practice of providing high-quality training to Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workers. These CVI workers put themselves at risk by connecting with the hardest-to-reach individuals, who are most likely to commit gun violence, so they choose another path. The Peace Academy gives CVI workers affiliated with different organizations the chance to learn from and support one another. In December 2022, Chuck and I were fortunate to attend the DC Peace Academy’s second cohort graduation ceremony, which we found deeply moving and inspiring.

Based on our strong belief in Peace for DC, Chuck and I have made a five-year financial commitment to support the powerful work they do. By contributing to Peace for DC, we not only help to heal and support people affected by gun violence; we help prevent gun violence-related deaths from ever occurring – a prospect that gives us hope for a safer future. We encourage you to learn more about Peace for DC’s visionary work in moving toward a District free from gun violence.

Amy L. Walter is an education professional with 20 years of experience combining classroom teaching, policy work, and nonprofit strategic planning and investment, in the U.S. and overseas. She and her husband, Chuck Szymanski, live in Washington, DC with their teenage daughter. For more information about the Peace for DC Fund, visit https://www.peacefordc.org/

Oh, What a Night! The Community Foundation Hosts 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy

Terri Lee Freeman is presented with the 2023 Spirit of Philanthropy Award. The award was presented by Charito Kruvant and Kenny Emson, who served as 50th Anniversary Co-Chairs for the event.

On May 3rd, The Community Foundation hosted the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy — celebrating 50 Years of History, Hope, and Healing in the Greater Washington region.

The evening began with a special VIP reception, where representatives from the Prince George’s County Government and Montgomery County Government presented The Community Foundation with proclamations, honoring the organization’s legacy and commitment to the region. The Community Foundation was also honored by the recognition of elected officials from DC, Virginia and Maryland — including a special video message from MD-Rep. Jamie Raskin.

After the VIP reception, guests were lead down into the theater by the Eastern Senior High School Blue & White Marching Machine, where they were greeted by the evening’s emcee, NBC4’s Shawn Yancy.

Richard Bynum, Chair of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees kicked off the program and introduced Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation, who delivered some brief remarks.

“Some say the racial wealth gap is too big to be solved, but we believe it’s too urgent to be ignored.”

— Tonia Wellons

In her remarks, Tonia paid homage to the incredible men and women over The Community Foundation’s 50 year legacy — including the late Bob Linowes and the Honorable Wayne Curry. She also expressed her gratitude for how far The Community Foundation has come — and the future it is working towards — closing the racial wealth gap in the Greater Washington region.

Following Tonia’s remarks, the 50th Anniversary Host Committee Co-Chairs, Charito Kruvant and Kenny Emson presented the 2023 Spirit of Philanthropy Award to Terri Lee Freeman.

Terri was the longest-serving and first Black female President and CEO of The Community Foundation from 1996-2014. During her tenure, Terri was recognized by the Washington Business Journal as one of its “Women Who Mean Business” and by Washingtonian Magazine as a “Washingtonian of the Year” and “100 Most Powerful Women of Washington”.

Since leaving The Community Foundation, she has pursued her passion for civil rights and social justice as the former President of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, and now as the Executive Director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore.

Following a special tribute video, Terri sat down with Shawn Yancy for a brief fireside chat, where they discussed aspects of Terri’s legacy and her aspirations for the future.

Following the fireside chat, guests enjoyed an evening of food, fun, dance and entertainment provided by artists and nonprofit partners from across the region.

A special thank you to Eastern Senior High School, Levine Music, Baila4Life, Sole Defined, Metrostage, Christylez Bacon, and DJ Face for sharing their time and talents with us. It was truly an unforgettable evening!

Click here for a complete recording of the Evening Program. Additional photos from the evening can also be found on our SmugMug Album.

Elected Officials Congratulate The Community Foundation on 50th Anniversary

The Prince George’s County Council represented by Council Member Krystal Oriadha (District 7), presented The Community Foundation with a proclamation in honor of its 50th Anniversary

The Montgomery County Council represented by Council President Evan Glass (At-Large), Council Member Will Jawando (At-Large), and County Executive Marc Elrich, presented The Community Foundation with a proclamation in honor of its 50th Anniversary.

The Community Foundation is proud to collaborate with local elected leaders to promote positive change and build stronger communities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, here are just a few of the leaders who send their well wishes to The Community Foundation and it’s supporters:

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser congratulated The Community Foundation on its 50 years of exemplary service to our communities.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) commends The Community Foundation for it’s contributions to a vast array of important causes in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) thanks The Community Foundation and its donors for unleashing the power of philanthropy to help “people of all races, places, and identities reach their full potential”

Governor Glen Youngkin (R-VA) commends The Community Foundation for being a beacon of hope for countless members of the community.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued this US Senate Citation in The Community Foundation’s honor, “with gratitude for its outstanding community investment and civic leadership….as the Washington DC region’s largest local funder”.

Congressional Recognition
Presented by the Honorable Donald S. Beyer Jr. of Virginia in the House of Representatives on the House Floor on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I, alongside my colleagues, Representative IVEY, Representative HOYER, Representative RASKIN, and Delegate HOLMES NORTON, wish to honor The Greater Washington Community Foundation for 50 years of service in the region. The Greater Washington Community Foundation will commemorate this momentous milestone on May 3, 2023, with philanthropists, nonprofits, businesses, and community members at the Smithsonian’s National Museum for African American History and Culture.

In 1973, a group of prominent business and civic leaders—including Henry ‘‘Hank’’ Strong, Polly Shackleton, Davidson Sommers, Bishop John Walker, and Joseph Whyte—came together to establish a local community foundation to ‘‘promote a permanent source of philanthropic capital for the Washington Metropolitan region.’’

Over time, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has grown to become the largest local funder serving this region, with more than $1.5 billion invested to build equitable, just, and thriving communities in D.C., Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Northern Virginia. Under the leadership of CEO Tonia Wellons, the Greater Washington Community Foundation continues to galvanize philanthropic resources and strategically invest in solutions to a wide range of issues impacting our communities—from education to housing stability, food security, workforce development, and crisis response.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is now committed to leading our community in a movement that will help increase economic mobility and close our region’s racial wealth gap to create a better future for our region where everyone prospers.

Please join the regional delegation and I in honoring the 50th anniversary of the Greater Washington Community Foundation on May 3, 2023. We urge all the citizens of the greater Washington area to join in celebrating this very special occasion.

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District) recorded this message for The Community Foundation's Celebration of Philanthropy, in honor of the organization's 50th Anniversary.

Faces of Sharing - Getting to Know Sharing DC Member Maggie Prieto

First-time Sharing DC members Maggie Prieto and her husband Mark Michael started their Donor-Advised Fund with The Community Foundation this past year.

“The Community Foundation really fit with our giving philosophy,” Maggie explained. “We were impressed with how purposeful and in sync they were with our philanthropic values.”

A former Civil Rights Disabilities Lawyer with the US Department of Justice, Maggie has been heavily involved in the DC nonprofit scene for several decades – generously donating money, time, and professional expertise to champion the cause of changemakers in the region. In addition to working at organizations like The National Council de La Raza (now known as UnidosUS) and Ayuda, Maggie has served on the boards of the Latin American Youth Center, Mary’s Center, and the Rosemount Center.

So when Maggie and Mark were invited to join Sharing DC, they were intrigued at the possibility of learning more about the evolution of a field they know so well.

Mark is an entrepreneur; a political science major who moved to DC from California with the idea of starting an up-scale catering company. Years later, Maggie and Mark say they have a deep appreciation for young entrepreneurs – especially in the social impact space.

“Part of why we joined Sharing DC was to learn more about ‘social impact entrepreneurs’ – smaller organizations with new and exciting ideas about how to make an impact in DC. We wanted to learn more about the work they’re doing and how it aligns with the organizations we already support.”

Maggie and Mark also enjoyed meeting and working with fellow philanthropists from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences.

“It is so important in philanthropy to have a diversity of voices at the table,” Maggie explained. “Diversity allows you to have a deeper and richer understanding of what’s possible and the resources, tools, and ideas that are required to do the work.”

As a daughter of immigrants who worked extensively with immigrant populations over her professional career, Maggie was able to bring a unique perspective to the group that helped inform the grantmaking process. She was also able to make a small personal grant to one of the applicants that didn’t receive funding.

“I think informed philanthropy is much more effective philanthropy. When you meet the leaders of an organization, learn about their mission, what drives them and the impact they’re having – you are empowered to do so much more compared to simply giving to an organization because a close friend recommended it to you.”

“If you’re committed to making your community better through philanthropy, Sharing DC gives you a great opportunity to gain invaluable insight and connect with other folks who are doing the same thing.”

Community Foundation's Sharing Community Funds Announce $810,000 in Funding for Regional Nonprofits

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is excited to announce $810,000 in grants awarded through its Sharing Community Funds this past cycle.

The Sharing Community Funds bring together donors who share our passion for building more equitable, just, and thriving communities.  With expert facilitation by Community Foundation staff, donors join together to learn first-hand about the challenges facing our community. Thanks to the generosity of this growing community of givers, together we discover and invest in visionary nonprofits working on the frontlines of our region’s most pressing needs.   

In alignment with our Strategic Vision, the Sharing Community Funds focused on the three intervention areas of the racial wealth gap — Basic Needs, Economic Mobility, and Community Wealth Building.

See Below for a complete list of our nonprofit partners for 2023, sorted by category.

Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Food Council

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners - Basic Needs

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Dreaming Out Loud (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to create economic opportunity for DC’s marginalized communities through creating a healthy, equitable food system by driving a new framework for sustainable economic development for Black and Brown DC residents, food entrepreneurs, and farmers in our region.

  DC Greens to advance health equity and systemic change through advocacy and direct service programs, including Food is Medicine and urban farming.

  DC Kincare Alliance (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide legal, financial, and related services to relative caregivers who step up to at-risk DC children in times of crisis when their parents are not able to care for them.

  Safe Sister Circle to provide holistic, trauma-informed services to Black women and girls from DC Ward’s 7 and 8 who are survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  AfriThrive to empower African immigrants to grow and share healthy, culturally appropriate produce with residents facing food insecurity.

  Black and Brown Coalition (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to engage underserved families to advocate for federal, state, and local supports of intensive and research-based academic interventions targeted toward students with the greatest need.

  Care for Your Health for culturally sensitive in-home health care for seniors.

  Community Bridges, Inc to empower girls in elementary, middle and high schools through leadership development, college and career readiness, and family support and mentoring.

  Crittenton Services of Greater Washington to help teenage girls achieve academic and personal success through virtual and school-based cohort programs.

  Crossroads Community Food Network to provide training and support for startup food businesses, healthy eating education, and farmers’ market nutrition incentives at the popular Crossroads Farmers Market.

  Horizons Greater Washington to support students from low-income families with academic, artistic, and athletic activities for nine years, from kindergarten through eighth grade.

  Manna Food Center to work to eliminate hunger through food distribution, healthy eating education, and advocacy.

  Mary's Center for health care, education, social services, and ongoing COVID-19 response that builds a healthier and stronger community.

  Montgomery County Food Council (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable local food system. Its leadership helps the many county food providers strategically work together to better serve the 100,000+ residents who do not know where their next meal will come from.

  Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc (MHP) to develop affordable rental housing and offer Community Life programs that support young children and their families at home, ultimately strengthening neighborhoods.

  National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montgomery County (NAMI MC) to provide comprehensive support, education, advocacy and public awareness to promote recovery for those affected by mental illness.

  Rainbow Community Development Corporation to fund food security relief and other services including eviction and utility cutoff prevention, and temporary shelter, job search and resume assistance.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Prince George’s County (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to partner with the juvenile court to improve the lives of children living in foster care who have suffered from abuse and neglect. With a strong commitment to diversity, CASA/ Prince George’s County trains and supervises volunteers from the community who advocate for the best interest of children, recognizing and respecting each child’s individual needs. By providing a voice to children in the foster care system, it’s goal is to help children and promote the timely placement of those they serve in safe, permanent homes.

  Community Crisis Services Inc. (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide compassionate crisis support through its hotline, safe-shelter programs and information and referral services.

  Community and Family Youth Services (CAFY) (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to guide child crime victims in Prince George’s County through the process of testifying in court. CAFY empowers victims and their families to gain the confidence to help hold offenders accountable, restore families and educate the community. They are the designated victim services provider for the four largest law enforcement departments in Prince George’s County. Their mission is “to embrace, educate, and empower those impacted, affected or harmed by crime or trauma on their journey to justice and healing”. All victims are embraced – irrespective of age, gender, religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

  Hillside Work Scholarship Connection (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide compassionate crisis support through its hotline, safe-shelter programs and information and referral services.

  Sowing Empowerment & Economic Development (SEED) to provide food, education, and training while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment directly to low-to-moderate-income families.

Photo Courtesy of CollegeTracks

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners - Economic Mobility

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Beloved Community Incubator (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to help workers create and maintain their own businesses through worker owned cooperatives, collective projects, and business ownership.

  Young Doctors DC to provide mentoring, educational programming, and service-learning opportunities to encourage high school boys in Southeast DC to pursue healthcare careers.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  Career Catchers (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide personalized employment and job skills counseling for low-income and chronically under-employed residents.

  CollegeTracks (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to improve college access and retention rates for students at risk of not attending college, primarily first-generation, low-income, minority, and immigrant youth.

  Future Link to provide career counseling, mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, scholarships, and internships to help connect disadvantaged youth to post-secondary educational opportunities.

  Generation Hope to mentor and provide scholarships for teen parents pursuing college degrees. It also delivers early childhood resources so scholars’ children begin kindergarten with a strong academic foundation.

  Identity, Inc to serve Latino and other historically underserved youths and their families. Identity helps youths develop social and emotional skills, excel in school, and get ready to enter the workforce.

  Interfaith Works to provide emergency assistance and counseling, vocational services, food distributions, clothing, and shelter for those experiencing homelessness.

  Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation to distribute food, diapers, and COVID-19 support at the East County Services Consolidation Hub, along with other public-private partnerships that address food security, health and wellness, education, employment, and housing.

  Montgomery College Foundation to support the Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program that provides underrepresented students with a seamless and supportive pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

  Per Scholas National Capital Region (NCR) to run an intensive technology training course that empowers individuals – especially people of color, women, and young adults – to pursue high-growth tech careers.

  Red Wiggler Community Farm to support on-farm training and education for adults with developmental disabilities. Half of its organic produce is donated to low-income households throughout the county.

  Sheppard Pratt (formerly Family Services) for clinical health services, rehabilitation services, services to children youth and families, and community and family services, such as Linkages to Learning and domestic violence supports.

  The Upcounty Hub to supply families with food, healthcare assistance, and connections to other essential resources, while maintaining their privacy and dignity.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  CASA de Maryland, Inc. (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities. Their vision is for a future in which immigrants stand in their own power, their families live free from discrimination and fear, and diverse communities thrive as they work with partners to achieve full human rights for all.

  Community Outreach & Development CDC to provide resources that meet the varying needs of households in a compassionate center approach, that focuses on the needs of individual households. Particular focuses of this grant will be to expand partnership with Oxon Hill Elementary School, increase healthy food options and emergency financial support.

  Ivy Community Charities to provide community outreach through education, health, leadership development, cultural arts and economic empowerment. Economic self-sufficiency programs cover financial literacy, budgeting, banking, investing, scholarships, career planning and work transition skills

  Joe's Movement Emporium to offer creative cultural experiences supporting arts education, job training, and building a creative community. Recently, the nonprofit’s work has included establishment of a Suitland location and expansion of their presence in the area.

  The Training Source to provide education, training, and services that promote positive economic mobility for residents. A priority of this grant would be to better meet the demand for services by expanding to serve additional clients.

Photo Courtesy of IMPACT Silver Spring

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners -
Individual & Community Wealth Building

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Empower DC (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low- and moderate-income DC residents through grassroots organizing, popular education style training, leadership development, and member-led campaigns strategically designed to influence pressing social issues impacting our constituency.

  Marshall Heights Community Development Organization to increase economic equity through advancements in homeownership, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and public safety.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  Capital Area Asset Building Corporation to provide financial literacy and matched savings programs, enabling low-income residents to become financially stable and pursue their dreams.

  IMPACT Silver Spring (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to fund community-building work for a racially and economically equitable community in which people can take collaborative action to enact lasting change.

  Montgomery Moving Forward to convene leaders from government, business, philanthropy, education, and nonprofits to solve complex problems facing the county. Through capacity building programs, MMF’s leaders advocate around pressing issues of economic opportunity and early childhood education.

  Nonprofit Montgomery to support local organizations with government relations, advocacy, strategic communications, financial management, metrics tracking, and cross-sector problem solving. With this support, grantees of Sharing Montgomery can access personalized support and connections to help deepen their impact.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization (CKAR) to implement projects in the Greater Riverdale community, including community and economic development, workforce training, environmental sustainability, business retention, and advocacy efforts. In part, this grant will support a café training program focused on financial stability for participants.

  Housing Initiative Partnership to provide neighborhood revitalization through innovative, green housing development and counseling – including bilingual housing counseling and financial coaching.

Statement on Proposed FY2024 DC Budget

As a foundation committed to ending homelessness and increasing deeply affordable housing - and to leveraging private sector investment for these purposes - we are deeply troubled that the proposed FY2024 DC budget represents a major step backwards in our collective effort to address homelessness and housing instability, after years of laudable progress. By cutting programs that prevent homelessness and by failing to expand housing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, the proposed budget would likely lead to a major increase in evictions, a growing number of residents living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, an increase in homelessness, and wider racial and economic inequity in DC.

Despite some signs of economic progress, the reality for most DC residents with low incomes, nearly all of whom are Black or Brown, is much starker. Rents are rising sharply, even in rent-controlled units, while high food prices are increasing hunger and food insecurity. The phase out of federal pandemic aid has led to cuts in SNAP benefits and a risk that many will lose Medicaid coverage. It is no wonder that nearly 40,000 DC renter households pay more than half their income for housing or that emergency rental assistance funds (ERAP) ran out less than half-way into the year. People are having to make difficult choices between paying for rent, food, or prescriptions.

This is no time to cut programs vital to ending homelessness and increasing housing stability. Yet, the proposed FY 2024 budget would cut ERAP by more than 80 percent and cut the Project Reconnect homelessness prevention program in half. It would provide no funds to expand permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, stopping progress that has been made every year since 2014.

We urge the DC Council to reverse deep budget cuts in critical housing and homelessness programs, and to use the budget to make continued momentum toward ensuring everyone in DC has housing they can afford.