As we begin a new year, we want to thank our community for their support in 2024. Your generosity allowed us to continue serving 900 low-income families in Washington, DC. Since 1990, we’ve helped homeless and at-risk families thrive by providing affordable housing and opportunities for the entire family. We know that this combination sets the whole family – from kids to seniors – up for success.

Looking back on our work in 2023 and 2024, we are reminded that in the most challenging times, our community — the families we serve, the Housing Up staff that supports them and people like you that believe in our mission — is a resilient one. Family homelessness across the District rose a whopping 39% in the last year. The DC government, one of our major funders, is facing a number of budget challenges in 2025 and beyond. Despite the advocacy work by us and other nonprofits, those budget restraints have had a direct impact on key programs, such as rapid re-housing, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the Housing Production Trust Fund and other supports for low-income families.

We know there are tough times ahead for the families we serve and the organizations, like us, who provide critical services. But what we hope is that together, we can keep reminding people how much housing matters. Because of you, Housing Up is an integral part of the solution to end family homelessness and increase DC’s affordable housing stock. As 2025 begins, we want to share the impact

you’ve made on the families we serve through Housing Up’s 2023/2024 Annual Report.

Our Impact & Accomplishments:

For 35 years, Housing Up has served DC’s most vulnerable families. We enable homeless and at-risk families to end the cycle of generational poverty by providing stable housing and opportunities for the entire family, including youth, to succeed. In 2023: 

• 900 families served across all programs
• 542 units of affordable housing owned/operated
• 445 units of affordable housing in our pipeline (125 units to be completed in 2024)
• 91% of families maintained stable housing in 2023 (target was 85%)

• 60% of rapid rehousing families gained employment in 2023 (target was 55%)
• 37% of permanent supportive housing families gained employment in 2023 (target was 15%)

Our Families:

The past two years posed a number of challenges to the 900 primarily Black and brown families we serve Between the end of many COVID-era assistance programs and the ongoing difficulties of raising a family in DC’s expensive rental market, 2023 and 2024 have not been easy for many of our families. Despite the challenges, so many of our families have been able to continue thriving, accomplishing amazing achievements with the help of our supportive services and safe, stable and affordable housing.

“Kids Deserve to Feel Protected & Valued”

At our annual benefit in 2023, Living in the City, we shared the stories of the kids at Partner Arms II (PA2), a community that provides 12 units of permanent supportive housing. Adults in permanent supportive housing programs have a diagnosed mental or physical health condition. Tony, Housing Up’s resident services coordinator at PA2, has noticed that many times there’s a role reversal in this situation where kids assume responsibility for taking care of their parent(s). Learn how Tony makes sure these kids are safe, valued, and protected here. 

“Building Thriving Senior Communities”

At Living in the City 2024, we shared the stories of formerly homeless seniors who are now living in our newest affordable housing building in Takoma DC, Entwine Entwine has two on-site Housing Up case managers who help 24 permanent supportive housing clients with their mental and physical health and provide many other resources Aging in place is preferred by the vast majority of adults and can offer a plethora of health benefits. View how these seniors have built a thriving community and learn how we support seniors aging in place with dignity here.

Our Supporters:

The Housing Up community is something we aim to never take for granted. We have relied on community partners to support the families we serve since Housing Up’s start in 1990. In the 35 years since, we have built a powerful, constantly growing, coalition of partners that stands by families during every point of their journey – from moving into a new home, to finding new jobs to navigating a challenging post-pandemic education environment. Our community is made up of a vibrant mix of people from all walks of DC life and makes our work possible. Thank you, on behalf of the 900 families we serve.

In 2023, our community:

• Provided close to 500 volunteer hours
• Provided backpacks & holiday gifts to more than 1,000 families

Thank you for:

• Helping us fundraise over $735,000
• Donating more than 2,364 warm meals to families

A special thank you to:

• Our 2023 community partners, including Union City Church DC and American Bankers Association
• St. Columba’s Church and Union City Church DC for donating 264 Thanksgiving meal baskets
• Students from George Washington University and American University’s public health programs
• DC Central Kitchen and PLNT Burger for donating meals

For a closer look at your impact and to read about our financials, check out Housing Up’s 2023/2024 Annual Report here.