(Washington, DC) – Today, the Bowser Administration, led by the Department of Human Services (DHS), launched the District’s sixth annual “Home for the Holidays” campaign to transition residents experiencing homelessness into long-term housing during the holiday season. During this year’s campaign, DHS will be working with community partners and housing providers to place 900 families and individuals into housing.
“Home for the Holidays is an opportunity for housing providers to work with the District to make this an extra special holiday for families in DC,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “While we focus year round on moving residents into permanent housing, this campaign is about coming together as a community to get families and individuals into their own home in time for the holidays. If you can help us do that, we want to hear from you.”
The Home for the Holidays campaign supports Homeward DC, the Bowser Administration’s strategic plan for making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Since launching Homeward DC, the District has driven down overall homelessness by 47% and family homelessness by 78%. According to the 2022 Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in DC decreased by 13.7% from 2021 to 2022. Notably, there was a 12% decrease in homelessness among single adults.
“Through Home for the Holidays, we have the opportunity to not only support making the holiday season bright for individuals and families across the District – we have the opportunity to support brighter futures for hundreds of residents,” said DHS Director Laura Green Zeilinger. “We are incredibly grateful for the housing providers who have already stepped up to partner with us. Now, we’re asking every housing provider in the District to look at their inventories and reach out to DHS to learn how they can play a role in providing Washingtonians a home for the holidays.”
DHS manages the Home for the Holidays campaign, which spans from November 21 through February 28. Home for the Holidays first launched in 2017, and more than 2,000 total households have moved into permanent housing as a result of the campaign.
Through this campaign, the District is seeking to partner with local housing providers to identify approximately 2,500 new apartment units in the next three months. Community members can also support Home for the Holidays by donating new and gently used houseware to households. Housing providers who are interested in partnering with the District, or residents who have items to donate, should email [email protected] for more details.
To learn more about the Home for Holidays campaign, visit dhs.dc.gov/page/home-holidays.
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