Food Security United States Project #20051

Help UPO Help the DC Homeless

by United Planning Organization

Project Report | Feb 3, 2026
"Support from the Ground Up for DC Residents"

By Vanessa Austin | Program Director, Permanent Supportive Housing

H.R. Crawford Gardens (from Soto Architecture)

H.R. Crawford Gardens in Northeast is Washington, DC’s new high-quality affordable housing community. All of the homes blend comfort, accessibility, and community support with the goal of helping seniors and families thrive, even when they’re emerging from homelessness.

UPO’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) team is helping residents take the first step to long-term stability, then walking with them down that path. UPO’s intensive case management and wraparound services are critical for our community’s most vulnerable residents — people who experienced chronic homelessness and are often navigating serious health challenges.

“We’re giving people a fresh start,” says Vanessa Austin, Program Director of UPO’s PSH program. “We support them as they take charge of their lives. Yes, they ask for help with health, education, and employment, but when they arrive without plates, towels, soap, or blankets, we help with those needs first to make it a ‘home sweet home.’ Once they have that dignity and can relax, then they can take more steps to independence.”

Designed with health in mind, the homes are surrounded by life-giving resources – hospitals, wellness centers, and a community center. And the supportive programs from Manna Resident Services and UPO improve residents’ quality of life.

The programs include:

Financial literacy and homebuyer workshops
Health and wellness events (diabetes care, caregiver support)
Employment readiness and vocational training
Computer and ESOL classes with the DC Public Library and UDC
On-site senior social gatherings
Community food and garden initiatives

The beautifully designed homes are “passive house certified” for a more sustainable future, with a high level of comfort and extremely low energy consumption. The building was designed by Soto Architecture & Urban Design and built by Bozzuto Construction for the developers, CRP Affordable Housing & Community Development and Manna Homes.

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Sep 22, 2025
Protecting the People Who Need the Most Help

By Dervin Brown | Program Director, UPO's Shelter Hotline Program

We distribute food, water & life-sustaining items.

On any given night in Washington, DC there are 3,782 single people and 440 families (with 1,356 adults and children) who are experiencing homelessness. UPO’s Shelter Hotline is the hub and primary gateway for any of these people who seek shelter and homeless services, including during severe weather conditions. Our outreach workers travel throughout the city to protect the health of people living on our streets and help get them the services they need.

Over the last several months, the District experienced periods of unusually hot temperatures, which triggered citywide heat emergency alerts for several weeks. During these times, the Shelter Hotline Team swung into action to ensure the safety of vulnerable people who were unsheltered.

Our Call Center dispatchers responded to hundreds of calls daily from customers seeking help and resources. Shelter Hotline drivers canvassed the city relentlessly, offering free transportation to shelters/safe spaces and engaging in outreach activities, including wellness checks of vulnerable people and distributing life-sustaining items such as food and cool beverages. People living on the streets were immensely thankful for the meals we were able to give them. However, food donations have been very limited recently and food insecurity remains a critical issue which is powerfully felt among people experiencing homelessness.

In the wake of the President’s Executive Order to clear out encampments across the city, Shelter Hotline was called on by DC’s Office of the Mayor and Department of Human Services to extend our hours of operation to accommodate people who wanted to go to shelters. The Shelter Hotline Team was responsive, providing additional support to people during this time.

Our Shelter Hotline Youth Transportation Initiative continues to be a unique component of the services we provide to our community. The initiative offers free daily round-trip transportation to youth (ages 18-24) from shelter to youth-specific daytime enrichment programs, which provide an alternative to engagement in negative activities on the streets. This is one way that Shelter Hotline is an integral part of a broader citywide continuum of care working together to address youth violence, crimes and promote healthy options for young people.

As we reach the end of summer, Shelter Hotline is preparing for “Hypothermia Season” (Nov. 1, 2025 – April 15, 2026). During the winter months, there is always an overwhelming demand for life-sustaining items such as blankets, socks, hats, gloves, long underwear, etc., to meet the need. And we will be there every day to protect and help.

UPO Shelter Hotline Statistics and Impact – October 2024-August 2025:

Emergency Calls Answered: 39,289
Rides Given to Shelter, Healthcare, Social Services, and Case Management: 75,831
Life-sustaining Items Distributed: 98,907
Assessments/Referrals to Emergency Rehousing: 102

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May 6, 2025
A Place to Call Home: How UPO Helps Seniors Rebuild Their Lives

By Giselle Logan | PR Communications Specialist

In Washington DC, the housing crisis doesn’t end with a roof over one’s head — for many, that’s just the beginning.

UPO’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program helps older adults take that first step and continue their path toward long-term stability. The UPO team serves some of the city’s most vulnerable residents — people who have experienced chronic homelessness and are often navigating serious health challenges.

For UPO, housing is more than just shelter. It’s a foundation for healing and opportunity.

Through a unique partnership with Dix Street Residences, UPO launched a new supportive housing initiative for residents aged 55 and older. The initiative combines accessible, thoughtfully designed housing with UPO’s signature intensive case management and wraparound care. Located near essential services, shopping, and wellness resources like PSI Mental Health and Human Services, the new residences are a testament to what happens when design, care, and strategy come together to support people.

Our PSH team works hand-in-hand with each resident, offering personalized support, connections to services, and the steady presence of someone who cares.

“We’re not just placing people in apartments,” says Vanessa Austin, Director of UPO’s PSH program. “We’re walking alongside them as they rebuild their lives.

“Moving into an apartment is a first step, but it's the little things — a warm blanket, a set of plates, a fork to eat with — that make it feel like home. Your gift brings comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging to someone who’s starting over.”

To further this mission, UPO recently renovated four of its own affordable housing units in the District, supported by a grant from the Truist Foundation. Kitchens and bathrooms were fully remodeled, offering incoming tenants a safe space that reflects their worth.

The tenants in UPO’s housing also receive wraparound care from the PSH team, including career training, financial coaching, and referrals tailored to their needs. The goal is not just to keep people housed, but to help them thrive.

Looking ahead, the PSH team has a new goal: raising $30,000 to support newly housed residents with move-in kits, furnishings, and essentials that make an apartment feel like home.

Every day, we are restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and creating a sense of community — one home at a time.

Links:

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