Department of Human Services Awards Friendship Place $400,000 Grant For New Housing Program in DC

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Friendship Place has been selected by the DC Department of Human Services to run a pilot project in the District. The program, which Friendship Place has named Home Now, will follow the rapid rehousing model, with a focus on moving individuals who are experiencing homelessness into housing as quickly as possible. The program is aimed at single adults in need of stable housing, but requiring only temporary assistance to do so.

Friendship Place was chosen by DHS to implement this pilot program because of the outstanding outcomes of our other programs employing the rapid rehousing model. This new initiative, led by Jill Carmichael, Friendship Place Division Director, helps individuals secure private-market housing, sign leases, and move into stable housing, while providing intensive case management, over the next four months. More importantly, case managers will help participants stabilize their finances, making sure they have sufficient income to sustain their housing permanently.

Friendship Place Executive Director, Jean-Michel Giraud said, "We are delighted to be partnering with DHS and the DC Council. We will draw from experience in two of our key programs, Veterans First and Direct Housing, to deliver services tailored for each participant in the Home Now program."  

With a dedicated team of four full-time staff members, Home Now is expected to serve about 50 individuals from now until September 30, 2014.

"We are extremely excited to begin DC's pilot rapid rehousing program for individuals," Carmichael said. "We know this approach is one of the best practices for someone experiencing homelessness and is aligned with Friendship Place's commitment to end homelessness in DC."

For more information about Friendship Place and Home Now go to FriendshipPlace.org.  

Friendship Place empowers individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with the involvement of the community. Through innovative leadership and community engagement, we provide effective, customized programs for those experiencing homelessness, including street outreach, drop-in, shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, health care, job placement, and advocacy. 

For more information contact:
Katie Hughes
[email protected]
202.503.2964

SOURCE Friendship Place