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Impact Stories
Waldon Adams
Waldon Adams was born in Washington, DC in the 1960s. He became addicted to a medication used to treat his asthma, which led to a long struggle with alcohol and drugs. He dropped out of college and was discharged from the Navy. He kept losing jobs and losing places to stay. He was homeless off and on until he visited a support center on 14th Street NW, and they connected him to his own apartment. Having a home without any pre-conditions gave him stability in his life for the first time. Today, he works as an outreach specialist, helping others exit homelessness.
Rashema Melson
Rashema Melson was born and raised in Southeast Washington, DC. She moved around a lot as a child, living in homeless shelters, public housing, and even an abandoned house. For much of high school she lived in a shelter, sharing a small room with her mother and two brothers. After graduating from Anacostia High School, she earned a full scholarship to Georgetown University. Now, with a degree in justice and peace studies, Melson has her sights set on law school and is working with community service organizations in DC to tackle youth homelessness.
Janet Starke
Janet Starke was laid off when the company she worked for shuttered its doors. She searched for a new job but while still unemployed, she lost her apartment. After staying in a shelter for five years, Ms Starke was at last able to find a place to live. With help from Open Arms Housing, she secured a permanent home where her grandsons could visit and sleep over at weekends. Eleven years later, Ms Starke is still enjoying her own space where she can cook, eat, and spend time playing in the backyard with her two grandsons and their puppy.
Shelley Gilbert
After leaving the Coast Guard, Shelley Gilbert worked as a dialysis technician while raising two daughters. One morning, just a few days before payday, she couldn’t make the rent. She was evicted. Shelley spent 17 months sleeping on friend’s couches, in hotels and in a shelter—all while working. After a back injury left her unemployed, she reached out to Friendship Place in Washington, DC. They helped her secure an apartment. With a place of her own, Shelley has been able to get her life back on track. She has a job she enjoys, and spends time with her kids and grandkids.
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