Homeless Services

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For more than 25 years, the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) has played a direct, hands-on role in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. That work expanded significantly in 2019 with the opening of the Downtown Day Services Center (DDSC)—a state-of-the-art facility, largely funded by the DC Department of Human Services and operated by the BID. This facility offers life saving resources and housing support.

Located at 1313 New York Avenue NW, the DDSC serves as a weekday center for individuals experiencing homelessness, providing a one-stop site for essential care grounded in a housing-first approach. Today, the DDSC serves an average of 225 guests daily and tens of thousands of unique clients a year.

The BID’s outreach team, in partnership with H3 Project, engages individuals on the streets of Downtown D.C. through regular wellness checks, emergency needs assessments, and distribution of essentials like clothing, toothpaste, and first-aid kits, while working to get individuals off the streets and into a safe housing situation.

Monthly Homeless Counts

On the third Thursday of each month, the BID conducts a count of unhoused individuals in Downtown D.C. in order to collect essential up-to-date data on needs and challenges in our community. Beginning at 4:00 a.m., a team of staff and volunteers canvasses the DowntownDC BID’s 140 blocks. Counts take place year-round, regardless of weather. Contact the DowntownDC BID Outreach Team at outreach@downtowndc.org for volunteer opportunities.

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Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

The DowntownDC BID partners with the First Congregational United Church of Christ and Sasha Bruce Youthwork to offer the Downtown Drop-In Center for youth and young adults ages 11 – 20 who are unhoused or at risk of being unhoused.

With the help of an annual grant from the BID, the Drop-In Center provides essential resources for individuals through programs like “Sunday Supper,” where youth and staff share meals together, Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s counseling and case management services. This collaboration and space also offer youth a safe place to rest, shower, and receive educational, mental health, and employment services.

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DowntownDC Foundation

The DowntownDC Foundation, founded by the BID in 2019, plays a critical role in sustaining and expanding these and other homeless services in downtown by funding staffing, facility improvements, and critical resources such as meals, winter gear, on-site dental care, and outreach support. Support from the Foundation ensures we can meet urgent needs and establish meaningful programs and partnerships to advance our goals to save lives, reduce homelessness, and create a safer, stronger community for all.

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DC Homeless Shelters and Food Service Resources