Today, the Fenty administration announced that it housed 22 homeless seniors as part of the District’s long term efforts to provide housing to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. These individuals are now proud residents of the Wesley House Senior Apartments in Northeast Washington.
Since last year, the administration has housed 144 homeless seniors, ages 60 and over, in permanent supportive housing units throughout the District. The seniors, who received keys to their units yesterday were chosen both through the Mayor’s Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative (PSH) and a new innovative collaborative between the DC Office on Aging (DCOA), DC Housing Authority (DCHA), and DC Department of Human Services (DHS).
“Today represents a great step forward in our efforts to provide housing for the homeless in the District,” said Mayor Fenty. “I applaud our agencies efforts working together for one common goal, providing more housing opportunities for our residents.”
These seniors will continue receiving housing and ongoing wrap around case management services in addition to furniture and household items, which they receive at move-in. “The number of senior residents that must use our shelter system as their only home is intolerable, and this represents a down payment on changing that.” said Clarence H. Carter, Director of DHS.
The purpose of the new, collaborative initiative is to provide additional housing resources to the most vulnerable residents. DCHA provided 100 housing vouchers split among the people covered under the “Money Follows the Person” program and the general senior and disabled population in the District. Twenty-five seniors living in shelters, the street or substandard living conditions were identified by DHS and recommended to the DCOA for housing placement.
“We are committed to providing assistance to two of the District’s most vulnerable groups in dire need of housing, seniors and homeless individuals,” said DCOA Executive Director Clarence Brown, Ph.D.
As part of its ongoing efforts, DHS helps District seniors select from a pool of senior friendly apartments, such as the Wesley House Senior Apartments. The complex, received $3.1 Million in financing from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The apartment complex includes a spacious, light-filled community room, activities room, library, three multi-purpose rooms and outdoor walking path.
Meanwhile, community-based partners are providing additional support for the seniors housed through this collaborative project. Family Matters, a DCOA Senior Service Network provider, is providing the case management services needed to sustain the seniors to live independently. The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, a non-profit organization that coordinates the District of Columbia’s Continuum of Care services, assists with unit identification and security deposits; and provides funding for furniture and household move-in items.