2017 Impact Report 585973.Pdf 2 3/28/18 7:02 AM
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585973.pdf 1 3/28/18 7:02 AM 2017 impact report 585973.pdf 2 3/28/18 7:02 AM letter from Jean-Michel Dear Friend, connecting people to jobs. Most important, we’re saying What a year it was for “yes” to families who are Friendship Place! As you used to hearing “no.” know, Amazon came to us with a surprise $1 million Family Connect is just one of matching gift. the comprehensive array of services that Friendship Place Please know how very provides to prevent and end grateful we are to you. First homelessness. Collectively, of all, your past support these programs made a helped us develop the difference in the lives of more innovative solutions to than 3,600 people in 2017, homelessness that caught the 25 percent more than the attention of Amazon. Then, previous year. Thank you for with your continued support, making this possible. we met our match goal—in just six months. More news is in store for 2018. We look forward to With the new funding, last fall keeping you posted! we rolled out Family Connect. To date, this exciting With gratitude, program has helped 134 people in 41 families. We’re stopping evictions, helping Jean-Michel Giraud families sign leases, President & CEO 585973.p3.pdf 3 3/28/18 12:29 PM Darlene Thornton DC native Darlene Thornton everyone. At this stage in my is an Army veteran who was life, I didn’t see myself here.” stationed at Ft. Bragg and in Because she wasn’t already Germany for 14 years before out on the streets, she didn’t leaving the military to raise qualify for immediate help four children. After living in from several programs she Kansas for several years she approached. Then a social returned to the DC area in worker at the VA gave her a 2016 and found work with the list of other places to turn. Armed Forces Services “Friendship Place called me Corporation. Eight months the next day,” she says. later, she was laid off. “They’re providing two months’ rent and helping with She has her own apartment daycare so I can look for work.” and is raising a grandchild whose mother is struggling Darlene is currently looking with health issues. But when for work and feeling unemployment ran out last optimistic about being fall, her bills began piling up self-sufficient again soon. and she faced losing her “The people at Friendship home. “Most of my family is Place are very respectful,” living paycheck to paycheck, she says. “I walked out so reaching out to them is not feeling like 400 pounds had really an option,” said been lifted off.” Darlene, who is 55. “I used to be the one assisting 585973.pdf 4 3/28/18 7:02 AM Precious Middleton Precious Middleton is a Precious reached out to 36-year-old single mother of Friendship Place for help and two daughters, a 13-year - old was immediately referred to in 8th grade and a our new Family Connect 22-year-old pursuing a program, established with bachelor’s degree at Virginia support from Amazon. The State University. The family program quickly paid her moved from Kentucky to the back rent and connected her DC area two years ago so to other forms of assistance. Precious could advance in her Today, Precious has two career in human resources part-time jobs, and and escape the shadow of Friendship Place is helping family sexual abuse. She saw her complete her certificate the move as a fresh start. in HR and find a permanent, Soon after settling here, full-time position. “I have however, a change of strong faith that God would leadership at Precious’ never leave me,” she says. company left her out of a job. “Friendship Place helped She found part-time work in during my time of crisis.” her field, but a smaller paycheck put her behind in rent. Soon the family was facing eviction. “I told my a letter from daughters to start packing,” Precious says. Jen-Micheal 585973.pdf 5 3/28/18 7:02 AM Alan Woods Alan Woods joined the Navy According to Alan, “When after college and is still you become homeless, you exuberant about having go into survival mode, and it served his country. Years later, tests you. You think every he settled in Miami to raise a day, how am I going to take family, and purchased a home care of myself, how am I with the help of a Veterans going to eat, where am I Administration loan. But going to sleep?” when he fell behind on payments, Alan lost the Within three months, the house he’d owned for 27 program secured Alan an years. Out on the streets and apartment, paid his initial sleeping in his car, he rent, and provided wondered, “Where am I furnishings. The 71-year-old going to go from here?” retiree is now able to live comfortably. “Friendship Alan drove to Washington Place was great,” he says. and sought help from the VA, “I’m not in survival mode which connected him with the anymore; I’m in enjoying-my- Veterans First program at life mode.” Friendship Place. Supported by the VA, the program helps veterans who need a letter from short-term assistance to make the leap from homelessness Jen-Micheal into housing. 585973.pdf 6 3/28/18 7:02 AM Drop-In Clinic Many people come to the people who would otherwise Welcome Center looking for not have access to care. food, a hot shower, and other necessities of day-to-day Dr. Catherine Crosland, a living. Some, however, are general practice physician, searching for something works with Friendship Place much harder to come by: through the nonprofit Unity support in maintaining their Health Care, which provides physical and mental health. medical services to those To ensure that these unable to afford it. Dr. members of our community Catherine, as she’s called by are given the care they need, her patients, has been the Welcome Center works committed to addressing with healthcare professionals social injustices since early with a passion for helping childhood. Her passion has improved the lives of many patients, like Daryl Reed, a participant who sees her for lifesaving heart and blood pressure medication. “People who are experiencing homelessness have at least 10 needs that are prioritized before their health, such as applying to jobs, showering and finding meals,” Dr. Catherine explains. “They have a lot on their plate, so health is their lowest priority. Our welcoming environment keeps them coming back, and lets me catch other serious issues while they are here.” Not all health issues are physical, however. Dr. Melvin Williams, a psychiatrist, came to work at Friendship Place after years working with Unity Health Care. His experience there led him to seek part-time work at Friendship Place when he wanted to retire from full-time employment. Describing his patients, Dr. Williams says, 585973.pdf 7 3/28/18 7:02 AM improved the lives of many “These are people who with patients, like Daryl Reed, a medication can get off the participant who sees her for street and regain their sense lifesaving heart and blood of self in a community.” His pressure medication. “People kindness and empathy allow who are experiencing him to build rapport with homelessness have at least 10 patients like Carol Smith, a needs that are prioritized Friendship Place participant before their health, such as who struggles with applying to jobs, showering depression. “Friendship Place and finding meals,” Dr. saved my life,” she recalls. Catherine explains. “They “Even now, I still rely on the have a lot on their plate, so Welcome Center. I have health is their lowest priority. people to talk to here, Our welcoming environment people to run ideas by.” Her keeps them coming back, sense of community is exactly and lets me catch other what Dr. Williams hopes to serious issues while they are achieve. here.” “The comforts we provide Not all health issues are keep participants involved in physical, however. Dr. Melvin our community, and our Williams, a psychiatrist, came healthcare services help them to work at Friendship Place build the stability they need after years working with Unity to get back on their feet,” Health Care. His experience notes Welcome Center there led him to seek Director Sean Read. “Every- part-time work at Friendship body plays a part.” Place when he wanted to retire from full-time employment. Describing his patients, Dr. Williams says, 585973.pdf 8 3/28/18 7:02 AM William Spessard Before coming to Friendship sleep. William neglected a Place, William Spessard, 49, dangerously growing hernia, experienced homelessness in ending up partially paralyzed the DC area for more than 26 and hospitalized for several years. He is eloquent about months. He realized he had life on the streets. “When it to get serious about getting rains for a week, it’s the worst housing and becoming sober. thing,” he says. “Snow you While recuperating, he can brush off, but with rain, connected with Neighbors there’s no place to get dry. First, a program at Friendship You put your stuff in a bag Place. and it still gets wet.” William got keys to his new William is candid about how apartment a few days before his path through life led Christmas. Overcome with there. “I got into drugs in joy, he said, “When you guys high school. Was in a band. leave, I’m just going to cry. Got into the life.