John L. has been a fixture on Downtown streets for more than 20 years, primarily sleeping along 14th Street and New York Avenue and in Franklin Park, where the Downtown Homeless Services Team caught up with him more than a year ago. The senior citizen requested help from the team getting his life back on track. The team moved quickly to get him a much-needed ID. Following this action, John began to trust the team more, sharing additional details about his life.
But finding D.C. housing for an elderly individual on a fixed income proved challenging. Reasonably priced apartments advertised through formal channels typically rented quickly. Plus, John was ineligible for mental health services, and he did not require skilled nursing care. An extensive search began for a place within his price range, with a dedicated team member searching affordable housing ads and apartment listings and contacting management companies and senior citizen homes on his behalf. The team member filled out applications and visited complexes to apply in person, and followed up on calls in hopes that something would come through.
During the wait for housing, John stayed in touch. The team always welcomed him to visit the office to clean up or work on other priorities. He also used the office as a refuge, finding peace from the busy streets where he lived. Eventually, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) selected John for rental assistance. He was placed on the waiting list at a senior citizen apartment complex in Northeast, D.C. A member of the team worked diligently to get the required documents in order. Four months later, the word came that John would be able to move into an available unit the next day!
Upon hearing the news, John, homeless since the 90s, was overwhelmed with joy and relief. He expressed excitement about finally being able to doze peacefully in his own apartment after sleeping in parks and shelters for so long. In a nutshell, he felt like a new person, someone given a second chance at life.
Unfortunately, John had no furniture for his new place or a security deposit. But working with Pathways to Housing DC, where the Downtown Homeless Services Team is based, the DowntownDC BID donated $800 to fully furnish his new apartment and another $265 to cover his security deposit. John is now settled happily in his new home and connected to his new community.