For more than 25 years, the DowntownDC BID has been committed to serving our unhoused neighbors. In 2019, opening the Downtown Day Services Center provided many life-sustaining tools and housing resources critical to individuals experiencing homelessness. Hands-on homeless outreach throughout DowntownDC by experienced BID staff ensure unhoused individuals receive priority survival assistance. Interested in reading more about the BID’s homeless services department? Click on each link below to learn more about the homeless services operation and how you can join us in our efforts.
Downtown Day Services Center
Since February 2019, the BID has proudly operated the Downtown Day Services Center. The purpose of the Center is to measurably reduce the number of homeless individuals on the street, providing daytime support and services for individual adults (aged 21 years and older) experiencing homelessness in order to promote self-sufficiency, wellness, recovery, and employment, with the end goal being permanent housing and stability.
The Center operates under three core actions:
- Ongoing outreach to connect with individuals living outdoors.
- Case management for individuals throughout the process required to secure permanent housing.
- Meeting individuals’ basic, daily needs to support their progress toward becoming housed.
When unhoused guests register for services at the Center, they meet with a case manager to assess their eligibility for housing, employment, medical, and other needs as identified during the visit. Unhoused guests who seek respite are allowed access to the Center’s garden area to enjoy a safe space for food and beverages.
Walk-In Services Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday
Adults experiencing homelessness can benefit from the following services:
- Amenities:
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Laundry
- Phone
- Computers
- Lunch meals, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Connection to housing services
- Mentoring
- Vital record applications
- Non-driver identification
- Medicaid application
- Healthcare, including harm-reduction assistance
- Mental health treatment
- Legal guidance
- Emergency clothing
- Arts and craft activities
Downtown Day Services Center numbers since opening.
- 70,000+ homeless individuals served
- 600,000+ lunches served
- 48,000+ clothing items distributed
- 10,000+ showers
- 6,000+ homeless individuals advised for housing
- 7,000+ loads of laundry
- 2,000+ counseled for employment
- 3,500+ computer sessions
The center is located in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue NW, on the basement level. For more information on center services, call 202-383-8810 or email center@downtowndc.org.
MORE: View the Downtown Day Services Center flier
Homeless Services Outreach
The BID along with its external contracted Outreach Team, H3 Project, regularly visits unhoused neighbors throughout DowntownDC to conduct wellness checks and assessments to identify any needs. Professional outreach workers conduct these checks to deliver essential resources such as toothpaste, clothing, first-aid kits, and more. In addition to checking an individual’s health and wellness, the outreach service process is a constant opportunity to offer housing resources, with the goal that the individual will agree to become housed. Additionally, the BID has a weekend homeless services program that serves as a space for community organizations, faith-based institutions, and individuals to continue to provide food, clothing, health, and wellness services. Saturday services are from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Downtown Day Services Center (1313 New York Avenue NW), and Sunday services are 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church (926 11th Street NW).
MORE: View the Downtown Weekend Services flier
Support for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The 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 to 20 who are unhoused or at risk of being unhoused. The Drop-In Center, with the help of an annual $30,0000 grant from the BID, works to provide essential resources for individuals through Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s counseling and case management services. The drop-in center is strategically located at the First Congregational Church (945 G Street NW), offering relationship and community building with initiatives such as “Sunday supper,” when meals are eaten communally. This is one example of efforts around building trust between youth and staff members to provide resources and housing more quickly. This collaboration and space offer youth a safe place to rest, shower, and receive educational, mental health, and employment services. For more information and hours of operation, visit the Sasha Bruce Youthwork website.
Monthly Homeless Counts
On the third Thursday of every month, the BID records the number of unhoused individuals in DowntownDC. Starting at 4:00 a.m., eight or more hired workers and volunteers walk throughout the BID with clipboards, maps, and pens to collect data, taking a count of individuals sleeping in the open, their specific locations, follow-up resources that may be needed, and any visible signs of health issues. The team also records encampments by noting the number of tents. These monthly counts are conducted regardless of weather conditions. To volunteer with the monthly homeless count, contact the BID outreach team at outreach@downtowndc.org.
Stakeholder Engagement
Maintaining professional relationships with DowntownDC businesses and residents is key to the existence and foundation of the BID’s homeless services. Many stakeholders desire guidance for managing and relating to unhoused individuals, as co-existing as housed and unhoused neighbors is necessary and sometimes challenging. Through a series of monthly and quarterly meetings, the BID homeless services department offers guidance and solutions to ensure a balanced existence that benefits the downtown community as a whole. New and long-established businesses are encouraged to join stakeholder meetings to learn valuable information and provide feedback.
Support Homeless Neighbors
An effective way to make an immediate impact on the BID’s homeless population is through a monetary donation to the DowntownDC Foundation. In addition, in-kind donated items can be dropped off at the Center, located at 1313 New York Avenue NW. Here is a list of most-needed items:
- Clothing: pants, T-shirts, button-up shirts, etc.
- Shoes: athletic and boots
- Knit caps, gloves, thick socks, and thermal underwear
- Winter coats, jackets, hoodies, and sweatshirts
- Fiction books and games
Please note: The Center is prohibited from accepting sleeping bags and tents. The Center does not accept children’s clothing, furniture, mattresses, or electronics. Note that due to COVID-19, donated clothing must be new or professionally laundered.
The Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for both individuals and groups. Volunteer positions include:
- Food service: Assist with the distribution of lunch meals during lunchtime, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Saturday and Sunday volunteer opportunities are available from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Laundry: Volunteers assist guests with operating washing machines and dryers.
- Clothing: Volunteers assist guests in choosing clothing from the closet and help sort items.
Volunteers must be ages 18 or older. All volunteers must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
It is our daily commitment to create healthy, balanced communities for all DowntownDC residents — those who are housed and unhoused. Thank you in advance for your interest in helping the BID work to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness reach the goal of housing.”
Staff
Michael Bunn, Lead Facilities Assistant
Montee “Angel” Saunders, Facilities Assistant
Mark Smith, Facilities Assistant
Take A Tour
Register now to come and visit the Downtown Day Services Center:
Other Resources:
Shelters
801 East Men’s Shelter and Housing
2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20032
202-561-4014
Serves men ages 18 and older
Adam’s Place
2210 Adam’s Place NE, Washington, D.C., 20018
202-832-8317
Serves men ages 18 and older
New York Avenue Low Barrier Shelter
1355 New York Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
202-832-2359
Serves men ages 18 and older
Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter
1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE Building #27, Washington, D.C., 20003
202-795-9966
Serves women
Saint Josephine Bakhita Women’s Shelter
6010 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20011
202-829-0420
Serves women 18 and older
Fortitude Housing at St. Francis Xavier Church
2812 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C., 20019202-338-3108
Serves formerly chronically homeless individuals who live in D.C.
Mt. Carmel House
471 G Place NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-289-6315
Serves women recovering from homelessness
Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program
33 N Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
202-526-0017 | 202-724-4208
Serves families experiencing homelessness
Central Union Mission Overnight Men Shelter
65 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-745-7118
Serves men
Luther Place Night Shelter
N Street Village, 1333 N Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
202-939-2076
Serves homeless and low-income women
Sasha Bruce House
741 8th Street SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
202-547-7777
Serves youth
Virginia Williams Family Resource Center
920-A Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., 20018
800-535-7252
Serves family, individuals, and youth
Casa Ruby
1635 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-355-5155
Serves LGBTQ+ community members experiencing homelessness
Washington DC Community For Creative Non Violence Shelter
425 2nd Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-393-1909
Bethany’s Women Center
1333 N Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
202-939-2060
Serves women
Christ House Temporary Residence
1717 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
202-328-1100
Blair Transitional Rehabilitation Program
635 I Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-547-1619
Serves men 18 and older with no communicable diseases
La Casa Transitional Rehab Program
1131 Spring Road NW, Washington, D.C., 20010
202-882-1237
Serves men 18 and older with no communicable diseases
Park Road Transitional House – Coalition For The Homeless
1318 Park Road NW, Washington, D.C., 20011
Serves men
Coalition for the Homeless – Webster Transitional House
4326 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20011
202-722-4544
Serves men
Georgetown Ministry Center Drop-In Center
1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20007
202-338-8301
Serves people experiencing and at risk of homelessness in the Georgetown/Foggy Bottom area
Crummel Emergency Shelter for Men
1901 Kendall Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
Serves men 18 and older
Rachael’s Women’s Center – Day Center
1222 11th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-682-1005
Serves homeless and formerly homeless women
Salvation Army – The Grate Patrol
1434 Harvard Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
202-756-2600
Serves men and women experiencing homelessness
The Alexander Social Services Corporation
4614 Benning Road SE, Washington, D.C., 20019
202-724-3932
Serves families experiencing homelessness
Federal City Shelter Washington DC
425 2nd Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-508-0500
Calvary Women’s Services
1217 Good Hope Road SE, Washington, D.C., 20002
202-678-2341
Serves women
Hyacinth’s Place – Transitional Housing For Women
1060 Bladensburg Road NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
202-618-3345
Serves women with mental health diagnoses
Thrive DC
1525 Newton Street, NW, Suite G1, Washington, D.C., 20010
202-503-1523
Serves all, with specialized programming for women
DC General Family Shelter
1900 Massachusetts Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
202-547-5702
Serves families
Catholic Charities 801 East Men’s Shelter
801 East Building, 2700 Martin Luther King Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., 20032
202-561-4014
Serves men 18 and older
Mickey Leland House
455-457 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-588-1375
Serves men
Weekend Food Services
Adam’s Place
2210 Adam’s Place NE, Washington, D.C., 20018
202-832-8317
Serves men ages 18 and older. Shelter open 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily.
Breakfast Ministry
106 W Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009
202-667-4436
Serves anyone in need from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. every first and third Sunday of the month
Café Capitol Hill
421 Seward Square SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
202-546-1000
Serves anyone in need from noon to 1:00 p.m., Sunday
Charlie’s Place
1820 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
202-929-0100
Serves people experiencing homelessness from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., Saturday
Feed-A-Soul
1332 I Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
301-650-1900
Serves anyone in need every second and fourth Sunday
Grace Table
1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007
202-333-7100
Serves people experiencing homelessness at 11:30 a.m., Saturday
Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter
1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE Building #27, Washington, D.C., 20003
202-795-9966
Serves women
Loaves & Fishes
1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20010
Serves homeless and low-income individuals from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sunday, and
federal holidays
McKenna’s Wagon
New Jersey Avenue & I Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
202-328-6608
Serves anyone in need from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., daily
875 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
202-328-6608
Serves anyone in need from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., daily
New York Avenue Men’s Shelter
1355 New York Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
202-832-2359
Serves men ages 18 and older staying at the shelter starting at 5:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Dinner Program
3211 Sacred Heart Way, Washington, D.C., 20010
202-234-8000
Serves homeless and low-income individuals at 4:00 p.m., Saturday
SOME (So Others Might Eat)
71 O Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
202-797-8806
Serves anyone in need from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., daily
Zoe’s Door Drop-in Center
900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C., 20018
202-248-2098
Serves youth younger than 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., daily