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.
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