Thursday, August 27, 2009

Get a free, private voice mail number in DC.

Would you like a Community Voice Mail Number, or do you know someone who needs other support services? Perhaps this list can get you started.

You may note that it’s best to call ahead, before requesting a community voice mail number. Some agencies may have certain procedures, so please use this list to obtain further information, and also confirm the accuracy of details which could be subject to change. Oftentimes, individuals who need voicemail services need additional assistance. For this reason, we hope to play a part in connecting those in need, while leading them toward additional services provided by our partners. Agencies and organizations that are listed with expanded profiles are marked with a star. We appreciate their cooperation. More details will be added, if further information becomes available.

Thank you,
CVM DC

Community Voice Mail Participating Agencies:
* Bread for the City

The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Since we have a limited supply of boxes and it is nice to be able to have that connection to clients utilizing the services, we give Community Voice Mail preference to clients who are enrolled in programs at Bread for the City such as Social Services, Medical or Legal Case Management, but the service is open to anyone who presents a need.
Building Hours: Monday –Thursday 9am-5pm. Service hours vary by program.

Bread for the City NW Center
1525 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20002
202-265-2400

Bread for the City SE Center
1640 Good Hope Road SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-561-8587
http://www.breadforthecity.org

Capitol Hill Group Ministry
1338 G Street SE
Washington, DC 20002
202-544-3450

Catholic Charities Downtown Family Center
924 G Street NW
Washington, DC
202-772-4300

Provide crisis intervention and referral services, counseling, and
various adult education classes.
* No case management is required to obtain a Community Voice Mail number.


Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter
2700 MLK Avenue SE (801 East Building Shelter)
Washington, DC 20032
202-772-4307
Provides 12-hour and 24-hour emergency shelter and comprehensive case management services to homeless single adult men 18 years or older. Hypothermia Shelter.


Community Connections
http://www.communityconnectionsdc.org
Our Mission
Community Connections provides comprehensive, respectful and effective mental health and residential services to residents of the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland.


801 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Suite 201
Washington, DC 20005
202-546-1512

District Alliance for Safe Housing
www.dashdc.org
The mission of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) is to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for victims of domestic violence through the development and management of safe housing and related services, while increasing the capacity of other community-based organizations to expand housing for victims throughout the District of Columbia.
202.462.3274

East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership
Further details coming soon

Emery House
1725 Lincoln Road NE 20002
202-635-1041


Families Forward
Families Forward serves homeless and low-income populations.
Services: case management, GED, job training , job placement, and transitional housing.

1012 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-639-9760

Friendship Place
http://www.cchfp.org/
Mission Statement:
To enable people in the upper Northwest area of the District of Columbia who are, or have been, at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with the involvement of the community.
4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington DC 20016
202-364-1419


Green Door Clubhouse

Agency Mission: To prepare men and women with serious and persistent illnesses to work and live in the community. Our goal is for our members to take responsibility for their own recovery and rehabilitation. Green Door is recognized nationally as one of the most successful programs for people with a mental illness.

1623 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Green Door Core Service Agency
1221 Taylor Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202 939 7690

http://greendoor.org/


Green Door Core Values:
We treat everyone with respect, dignity, and empathy.
We provide high quality, relevant services.
We provide a friendly, attractive, and safe environment.
We are recovery-based with the goal of returning to independence.
We focus on the whole person and emphasize a person's strengths.


Golden Triangle Bid
First Helping
Provides meals, referrals and counseling to homeless District residents. Provides services at one street site in Foggy Bottom (7:00 am -9:00 am) and three emergency shelters (evening)-Crummell, Randall and Martin Luther King Avenue. Combines the resources of D.C. Central Kitchen and Clean and Sober Streets (the District's largest privately funded drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs).
Walk-In, services offered at the sites and times listed above. Outreach work done on foot in the greater downtown area. Clients may present themselves to the First Helping Winnebgo.
Intake Number: (202) 387-2015
Administrative Number: (202) 234-0707
http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/program.php?id=4
http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/firsthelping-blog/about/




Homeless Children and Youth
*Coming soon*
202-939-3506

Homes for Hope Inc.
The Homes for Hope:
It is the intentional and implied obligation of this organization to provide affordable housing to people living with chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS as a means of developing quality lives, stable environments and support resources to those persons who would otherwise be unable to sustain positive lifestyles as a direct result of inadequate care and housing instability.

3003-A G Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-582-0169
http://homesforhopeinc.org/

* Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center
Our Wellness & Resource Center is open to all individuals wanting to participate in peer supported activities, regardless of participation in psychiatric treatment or involvement with traditional case management. Communication & Education, Work Enhancement Skills & Computer Training, Wellness/Recovery & Peer Support , Advocacy , Creative Arts Social Activities are all services that are available at the center.
This center does accept walk ins, if someone would like a Community Voice Mail. No case management is provided. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., and Sauturday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
1338 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 101
Washington, DC 20002
202 684-7015 or 899-851-4945
http://www.idamaecampbell.org/



Jobs Have Priority
http://jobshavepriority.org/
JHP is committed to helping the homeless transform their lives by obtaining meaningful employment, permanent housing and breaking the cycle of homelessness.
1526 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-544-9128
La Casa
1234 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-8870

Latino Transitional Housing
http://www.layc-dc.org/
1545 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-518-6606


Miriam’s Kitchen
Miriam's Programs
The coupling of our meals with the delivery of case management services allows us to serve our guests most effectively. The draw of a healthy meal brings guests who may otherwise not seek out assistance, into our dining room. Once there, we are able to connect them with critical services that improve their quality of life and increase their self-sufficiency. Our programs are low-barrier, meaning we do not ask our guests for identification and do not deny services.

2401 Virginia Avenue NW
Washington. DC 20037
202-452-8926
http://www.miriamskitchen.org

*N Street Village
We serve homeless and low-income women who are 18 years old and over. We are a recovering community, so we cannot serve someone who is obviously high or intoxicated. This agency does not accept walk in Community Voice Mail services. The person needs to be enrolled in N Street Village's services. Case management is required. Those interested should call Nancy Nerad at 202-939-2077. New participant intakes are usually conducted on Monday and Tuesday mornings.Our drop in day center, Bethany Women's Center, is open Monday - Friday from 7:30am-4pm and weekends and holidays from 9am-4pm.

1333 N St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-939-2076
http://www.nstreetvillage.org/

*National Student Partnership

Our mission is to alleviate poverty in our communities by engaging our nation's college students in this effort. NSP recruits and trains a diverse corps of undergraduates who make a rigorous and sustained commitment to service while in school. Our student advocates work side-by-side with low-income community members, first helping them address immediate needs (e.g. employment, housing, health care, public benefits, and/or education), then providing comprehensive, long-term support designed to help families break the cycle of poverty.
We are always accepting new clients and we do not have any eligibility requirements. We accept walk-ins, except for CVM numbers. Our services are completely free, and we will serve anyone. Please contact the office at 202.289.2525 to schedule an appointment. If calling specifically for CVM numbers, ask to speak to a Site Coordinator to inquire about the availability of the numbers.
Our normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9-5. Because we are staffed by college students, there are some periods where the office is closed and/or is open for odd hours. We usually have abbreviated hours in late May and late August, and we are usually closed for 2 weeks around the winter holidays. It is always best to call for availability. The office is closed for the rest of May. We will open 6/2-6/5 (9-5), and 6/11-6/12 (9-5), and then will be open M-F, 9-5 (with the exception of one hour weekly staff meeting soon to be scheduled) until late summer. Again, it is always important to call to see if the office is open and if there is availability whenever possible.


128 M St. NW Suite 320
Washington, DC 20001
202-289-2525
http://www.nspnet.org/offices/washington.htm



Neighbor’s Consejo

We provide comprehensive outreach, social and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, employment counseling services to Spanish speaking homeless men and women who live in DC.


3118 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20002
202-234-6855
http://www.neighborsconsejo.org/


*PATHWAYS TO HOUSING
Provides permanent housing and supportive service to persons who are homeless and living with psychiatric illnesses. Pathways to Housing works with individuals who have been turned away from other programs because of active substance use/abuse, refusal to participate in psychiatric treatment, histories of violence or incarceration, or other behavioral problems. This agency does not accept walk ins, if someone would like a Community Voice Mail number.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M.

101 Q Street NE, Suite G
Washington, DC 20002
202-529-2972

http://pthdc.org/



Perry School Community Services Center
Agency mission- End poverty, and promote training and development.
128 M Street Suite 335
Washington, DC 20001
202-312-7154
http://www.perryschool.org/

SOME Center for Employment Training
The SOME Center for Employment Training’s mission is to empower people out of homelessness and poverty and into living wage careers through marketable skills training, human development, basic education and job development. SOME offers three courses of study to prepare students for living wage careers in high-growth fields.
*CET only offers lines for actively enrolled trainees or alumni of the program.
Admissions appointments every Wed. and Fri. from 8:30a.m.-11:00 a.m. In order to
be seen for a walk-in appointment, a person must bring a photo ID, Social Security Card, a recent TB test from the last 12 months, and have no pending court dates at the time of walk-in. The three programs are: Business and Customer Relations Associate, Building Maintenance Service Technician, and Medical Administrative Assistant.

2815 O Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-583-4655
http://some.org/

*Thrive DC!
Thrive DC serves anyone in need, providing services to men and women of all ages and backgrounds. We meet an individual’s most basic needs: twice daily meals, free showers and laundry, mail, telephone, and computer access, personal care and safety supplies, medicine, and vitamins, transportation assistance, emergency clothing. Thrive also provides an employment training program for training to homeless individuals, and brings together the resources of the community to ensure that people have the opportunity to achieve their personal goals.

Hours: AM Breakfast Program, Men and Women Welcome!: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.PM Women's Dinner Program, Women Only!: 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Showers, Laundry, Toiletries, Referrals, Mail, Phone Calls, peer Support Groups, Case Management, Employment Services, Computer Lab

309 E. St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-737-9311
www.thrivedc.org

Valley Place
*Coming soon

Washington Area Women in the Trades
624 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-626-0700

Census 2010. Take the test, apply for a job!

Be a part of the 2010 Census team. Call to schedule an appointment to take the test and apply: 1-866-861-2010. Visit www.2010censusjobs.gov. Some assistance with this process may be available from Aug. 27- Sept. 29th at the Naylor Road One-Stop Career Center in SE DC. Call 202-645-3413 for further details. In person, ask about Census jobs at the front desk. Practice tests for field employees may also be obtained.

Best wishes,

CVM DC

Important information from DOES- Naylor Road One-Stop Career Center. 8,000 toward school!

Are you ready for a new career, or would you like to make a change? The Naylor Road One-Stop Career Center in DC may be able to help, if you're a DC resident. Attend an orientation 8:30-8:55, or from 1-1:25, and 1:30-2:30, Mondays and Tuesdays. Register, then meet with a case manager. Ask him or her about a CASAS assessment.

If you can pass this test, which requires 8th grade level skills, you may be elgible to recieve help toward college or trade training/ and or certification. The test is administered during designated days, and you must have a referral from a case manager. To learn more about this, and to confirm specific details related to CASAS, please call 202-645-3413.

DOES is located at:
2626 Naylor Road, SE
Washington, DC 20020

Online, visit: www.dcnetworks.org

Good luck,

CVM DC

DC Aging and Disability Resource Center Medicaid and food stamp help. (ADRC)

ADRC information:

Medicaid and SNAP (Food Stamp) applications will be accepted and processed every Thursday and Friday, from 9-3, for disabled individuals (28-59), and the elderly (60 plus). This assistance is for DC residents. Appointments are recommended.

Call: ADRC at 202-724-5626 or visit
1134 11th St. NW
Washington, DC 20001

Best wishes,

CVM DC

Investment in hope can pay off in huge dividends. Closing comments. (My AmeriCorps term is complete!)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-26-homeless-chefs_N.htm

Hello DC and beyond!

This is nearly my final blog posting, but creating this blog has helped me to connect more people with others who can help them.

I'm sitting at N Street Village, in the job search lab. Several ladies here are tapping away on computers, job hunting, and brushing up on their skills. On my way here this morning, I considered how blessed I was to have had the opportunity to become a Community Voice Mail Manager and AmeriCorps volunteer. The last six months of my life have been challenging, but I can truly say that what I've taken away from this experience has taught me valuable lessons about the human condition.

We can all invest in others, in various ways. Although I served full-time, there are various ways to help each other. The article above proves that investing in others can pay off in dividends. In a world that tends to judge, we must pause to remember that all of our stories in life are different. We come to the world with different experiences to share. We come to the world holding different experiences in our hearts. What we can extract from them speaks to how we relate, to whom we feel that we can relate, and why. The beauty lies within our ability to evolve past our comfort zones. When we enounter others beyond our typical scope of understanding, isn't that where true learning begins?

CVM is still up and running in DC, but the National office will be managing the program here, until further details develop. They are currently seeking a new host for this new program, as well as a manager. In the meantime, a great number of people in the DC area use CVM to stay connected, until they can afford to turn on their landline service at home, or until they are able to maintain a cell phone account.

In closing, if you see something around you that you believe could make a difference, please consider investing in change. Your efforts can contribute to a greater good. If you're already doing that, please accept my thanks. If I've met you during my CVM travels, it was a pleasure working with you. My stint as a volunteer added something meaningful to my existence, and I will never forget it.

If anyone reading this is still in need of a free voice mail number, in the DC area, please read what is below. I reposted each participating agency, as well as their missions. Please continue to visit the blog and read through our archives.

Very best wishes,

Andrea Blackstone
Former CVM DC Program Manager



Would you like a Community Voice Mail Number, or do you know someone who needs other support services? Perhaps this list can get you started.

You may note that it’s best to call ahead, before requesting a community voice mail number. Some agencies may have certain procedures, so please use this list to obtain further information, and also confirm the accuracy of details which could be subject to change. Oftentimes, individuals who need voicemail services need additional assistance. For this reason, we hope to play a part in connecting those in need, while leading them toward additional services provided by our partners. Agencies and organizations that are listed with expanded profiles are marked with a star. We appreciate their cooperation. More details will be added, if further information becomes available.

Thank you,
CVM, DC

Community Voice Mail Participating Agencies:
* Bread for the City

The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Since we have a limited supply of boxes and it is nice to be able to have that connection to clients utilizing the services, we give Community Voice Mail preference to clients who are enrolled in programs at Bread for the City such as Social Services, Medical or Legal Case Management, but the service is open to anyone who presents a need.
Building Hours: Monday –Thursday 9am-5pm. Service hours vary by program.

Bread for the City NW Center
1525 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20002
202-265-2400

Bread for the City SE Center
1640 Good Hope Road SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-561-8587
http://www.breadforthecity.org

Capitol Hill Group Ministry
1338 G Street SE
Washington, DC 20002
202-544-3450

Catholic Charities Downtown Family Center
924 G Street NW
Washington, DC
202-772-4300

Provide crisis intervention and referral services, counseling, and
various adult education classes.
* No case management is required to obtain a Community Voice Mail number.


Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter
2700 MLK Avenue SE (801 East Building Shelter)
Washington, DC 20032
202-772-4307
Provides 12-hour and 24-hour emergency shelter and comprehensive case management services to homeless single adult men 18 years or older. Hypothermia Shelter.


Community Connections
http://www.communityconnectionsdc.org
Our Mission
Community Connections provides comprehensive, respectful and effective mental health and residential services to residents of the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland.


801 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Suite 201
Washington, DC 20005
202-546-1512

District Alliance for Safe Housing
www.dashdc.org
The mission of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) is to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for victims of domestic violence through the development and management of safe housing and related services, while increasing the capacity of other community-based organizations to expand housing for victims throughout the District of Columbia.
202.462.3274

East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership
Further details coming soon

Emery House
1725 Lincoln Road NE 20002
202-635-1041


Families Forward
Families Forward serves homeless and low-income populations.
Services: case management, GED, job training , job placement, and transitional housing.

1012 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-639-9760

Friendship Place
http://www.cchfp.org/
Mission Statement:
To enable people in the upper Northwest area of the District of Columbia who are, or have been, at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with the involvement of the community.
4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington DC 20016
202-364-1419


Green Door Clubhouse

Agency Mission: To prepare men and women with serious and persistent illnesses to work and live in the community. Our goal is for our members to take responsibility for their own recovery and rehabilitation. Green Door is recognized nationally as one of the most successful programs for people with a mental illness.

1623 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Green Door Core Service Agency
1221 Taylor Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202 939 7690

http://greendoor.org/


Green Door Core Values:
We treat everyone with respect, dignity, and empathy.
We provide high quality, relevant services.
We provide a friendly, attractive, and safe environment.
We are recovery-based with the goal of returning to independence.
We focus on the whole person and emphasize a person's strengths.


Golden Triangle Bid
First Helping
Provides meals, referrals and counseling to homeless District residents. Provides services at one street site in Foggy Bottom (7:00 am -9:00 am) and three emergency shelters (evening)-Crummell, Randall and Martin Luther King Avenue. Combines the resources of D.C. Central Kitchen and Clean and Sober Streets (the District's largest privately funded drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs).
Walk-In, services offered at the sites and times listed above. Outreach work done on foot in the greater downtown area. Clients may present themselves to the First Helping Winnebgo.
Intake Number: (202) 387-2015
Administrative Number: (202) 234-0707
http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/program.php?id=4
http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/firsthelping-blog/about/




Homeless Children and Youth
*Coming soon*
202-939-3506

Homes for Hope Inc.
The Homes for Hope:
It is the intentional and implied obligation of this organization to provide affordable housing to people living with chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS as a means of developing quality lives, stable environments and support resources to those persons who would otherwise be unable to sustain positive lifestyles as a direct result of inadequate care and housing instability.

3003-A G Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-582-0169
http://homesforhopeinc.org/

* Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center
Our Wellness & Resource Center is open to all individuals wanting to participate in peer supported activities, regardless of participation in psychiatric treatment or involvement with traditional case management. Communication & Education, Work Enhancement Skills & Computer Training, Wellness/Recovery & Peer Support , Advocacy , Creative Arts Social Activities are all services that are available at the center.
This center does accept walk ins, if someone would like a Community Voice Mail. No case management is provided. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., and Sauturday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
1338 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 101
Washington, DC 20002
202 684-7015 or 899-851-4945
http://www.idamaecampbell.org/



Jobs Have Priority
http://jobshavepriority.org/
JHP is committed to helping the homeless transform their lives by obtaining meaningful employment, permanent housing and breaking the cycle of homelessness.
1526 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-544-9128
La Casa
1234 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-8870

Latino Transitional Housing
http://www.layc-dc.org/
1545 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-518-6606


Miriam’s Kitchen
Miriam's Programs
The coupling of our meals with the delivery of case management services allows us to serve our guests most effectively. The draw of a healthy meal brings guests who may otherwise not seek out assistance, into our dining room. Once there, we are able to connect them with critical services that improve their quality of life and increase their self-sufficiency. Our programs are low-barrier, meaning we do not ask our guests for identification and do not deny services.

2401 Virginia Avenue NW
Washington. DC 20037
202-452-8926
http://www.miriamskitchen.org

*N Street Village
We serve homeless and low-income women who are 18 years old and over. We are a recovering community, so we cannot serve someone who is obviously high or intoxicated. This agency does not accept walk in Community Voice Mail services. The person needs to be enrolled in N Street Village's services. Case management is required. Those interested should call Nancy Nerad at 202-939-2077. New participant intakes are usually conducted on Monday and Tuesday mornings.Our drop in day center, Bethany Women's Center, is open Monday - Friday from 7:30am-4pm and weekends and holidays from 9am-4pm.

1333 N St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-939-2076
http://www.nstreetvillage.org/

*National Student Partnership

Our mission is to alleviate poverty in our communities by engaging our nation's college students in this effort. NSP recruits and trains a diverse corps of undergraduates who make a rigorous and sustained commitment to service while in school. Our student advocates work side-by-side with low-income community members, first helping them address immediate needs (e.g. employment, housing, health care, public benefits, and/or education), then providing comprehensive, long-term support designed to help families break the cycle of poverty.
We are always accepting new clients and we do not have any eligibility requirements. We accept walk-ins, except for CVM numbers. Our services are completely free, and we will serve anyone. Please contact the office at 202.289.2525 to schedule an appointment. If calling specifically for CVM numbers, ask to speak to a Site Coordinator to inquire about the availability of the numbers.
Our normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9-5. Because we are staffed by college students, there are some periods where the office is closed and/or is open for odd hours. We usually have abbreviated hours in late May and late August, and we are usually closed for 2 weeks around the winter holidays. It is always best to call for availability. The office is closed for the rest of May. We will open 6/2-6/5 (9-5), and 6/11-6/12 (9-5), and then will be open M-F, 9-5 (with the exception of one hour weekly staff meeting soon to be scheduled) until late summer. Again, it is always important to call to see if the office is open and if there is availability whenever possible.


128 M St. NW Suite 320
Washington, DC 20001
202-289-2525
http://www.nspnet.org/offices/washington.htm



Neighbor’s Consejo

We provide comprehensive outreach, social and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, employment counseling services to Spanish speaking homeless men and women who live in DC.


3118 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20002
202-234-6855
http://www.neighborsconsejo.org/


*PATHWAYS TO HOUSING
Provides permanent housing and supportive service to persons who are homeless and living with psychiatric illnesses. Pathways to Housing works with individuals who have been turned away from other programs because of active substance use/abuse, refusal to participate in psychiatric treatment, histories of violence or incarceration, or other behavioral problems. This agency does not accept walk ins, if someone would like a Community Voice Mail number.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M.

101 Q Street NE, Suite G
Washington, DC 20002
202-529-2972

http://pthdc.org/



Perry School Community Services Center
Agency mission- End poverty, and promote training and development.
128 M Street Suite 335
Washington, DC 20001
202-312-7154
http://www.perryschool.org/

SOME Center for Employment Training
The SOME Center for Employment Training’s mission is to empower people out of homelessness and poverty and into living wage careers through marketable skills training, human development, basic education and job development. SOME offers three courses of study to prepare students for living wage careers in high-growth fields.
*CET only offers lines for actively enrolled trainees or alumni of the program.
Admissions appointments every Wed. and Fri. from 8:30a.m.-11:00 a.m. In order to
be seen for a walk-in appointment, a person must bring a photo ID, Social Security Card, a recent TB test from the last 12 months, and have no pending court dates at the time of walk-in. The three programs are: Business and Customer Relations Associate, Building Maintenance Service Technician, and Medical Administrative Assistant.

2815 O Street SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-583-4655
http://some.org/

*Thrive DC!
Thrive DC serves anyone in need, providing services to men and women of all ages and backgrounds. We meet an individual’s most basic needs: twice daily meals, free showers and laundry, mail, telephone, and computer access, personal care and safety supplies, medicine, and vitamins, transportation assistance, emergency clothing. Thrive also provides an employment training program for training to homeless individuals, and brings together the resources of the community to ensure that people have the opportunity to achieve their personal goals.

Hours: AM Breakfast Program, Men and Women Welcome!: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.PM Women's Dinner Program, Women Only!: 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Showers, Laundry, Toiletries, Referrals, Mail, Phone Calls, peer Support Groups, Case Management, Employment Services, Computer Lab

309 E. St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-737-9311
www.thrivedc.org

Valley Place
*Coming soon

Washington Area Women in the Trades
624 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-626-0700

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference...details and national policy news.

What's going on, in the light of housing and economic challenges? If you'd like to know, here is your dose of policy news and views...

Toward the end of July, I volunteered with The National Alliance to End Homelessness. Attending the conference afforded me with an opportunity to find out just how widespread the issue of homelessness is. Participants gathered from around the country to find out what's going on, and what is on the agenda to do something about it. Workshops included everything from providing better services for homeless children, to how to reach out to chronically homeless individuals. The link between healthcare reform and housing was also apparent. Preventative strategies to stop people from becoming chronically homeless makes moral and financial sense.

Moreover, people with disabilities often slip through the cracks. What about those who are classified as disabled, by law? In Priced Out; THe Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities (2008), it was reported that, "In 1998, there were 44 housing market areas, across 13 states, where a person with a disability needed to pay more than their entire monthly income for housing costs. Ten years later, 219 housing market areas, across 41 states, had modest on-bedroom rents higher than monthly SSI." This hidden housing crisis is growing, not shrinking. What are signs of progress? What costs more, in the long run? Seniors are also another often overlooked population. Attending the conference made it clear that the issue is broad and deep. It's hard to imagine that most individuals wouldn't want to keep abreast of Federal Policy agendas, alternative shelter models, and local policy that comingles with supportive housing.

The last day of the conference, many participants took a trip to The Hill. We spoke to our representatives about the aforementioned issues, in addition to a great deal more. Appropriations are important to meeting the needs of countless Americans. In light of the economic crisis, many Americans need practical help just to survive.

Just to re-cap, here are some major points that offer probative discussion:

1.MCKinney Appropriations- HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants funds numerous homeless assisstance programs, but due to the crisis at end, The National Alliance supports an initiative to increase funding to $2.2. billion.

2. To encourage stability of families released from shelters, The Alliance desires to close the gap between those who can and cannot afford housing. Increasing vouchers would include HUD Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Programs, as well as funding for 200,000 new vouchers. SERVA, (The Section Eight Voucher Reform Act), could also foster easier use of moving with vouchers, revise how apartments and homes are rented by voucher holders, and streamline the program.

3. Strengthening the health care system by recommending that every American living below the federal poverrty level being elgible for Medicaid.

4. Requesting service funding for SAMHSA homeless programs, which include mental health and substance abuse treatment for homeless families, youth, and individuals.

5. In keeping with President Obama and Department of Veterans' Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's effort to make ending verteran homelessness a top priority, pass legislation to increase funding to assist veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. These recommendations include rapid rehousing, emergency services, and also outreach activities.

6.The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act needs increased funding to offer crisis services for homelesss youth. Recommendations include increasing funding by $50 million over the FY 2009.

7. The Services for Ending Long Term Homelessness Act, (SELHA), should be supported by funding for targeting services to permanent supportive housing. This would move individuals experiencing chronic homelessness to move toward recovery, as well as self-sufficiency.

8. Lastly, it was reported that The National Alliance to End Homelessness urges Congress to provide more support to those who often return from jail or prisons. The Second Chance Act was identified as "the first step in developing a more effective federal response to the problem of people leaving corrections without adequate support." The Alliance urges Congress to provide $100 million for the program, int he 2010 fiscal year.


If you would also like to read about HUD Secretary Donovan's speech to attendees, please visit the link that is listed here. http://www.ich.gov/


This concludes our policy and advocacy news for the summer, here at Community Voice Mail, DC.

Thank you for visiting our blog,

Staff

High tech company in DC staffed and managed by the homeless.

http://www.wildtech.org/v2/Locations/WildTechCCNVHomelessShelter/tabid/93/Default.aspx


WildTech-CCNV
The World's First High Technology Company
Managed and Operated by the Homeless

WTA created a partnership with the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) and began operations of WildTech/CCNV, a high technology company operated and managed by the homeless. It is located in the CCNV, the largest homeless shelter in the United States, just three blocks from the US Capitol building in Washington DC.


WildTech/CCNV starts by training the homeless in technology skills. They then gain work-based learning experiences by providing technology products and services to other shelter residents and low-income community embers . The most experienced homeless staff members provide services to government agencies and nonprofits...all at far below market rates! Many are technology professionals with years of experience who have had some tough breaks (it could happen to any of us). Initial enterprise activities include electronics recycling, refurbishing PCs, software application training and more.WildTech/CCNV actively seeks volunteers, donations and technology training services from individuals, foundations and corporations

We also seek paid work from non-profits and government agencies in Washington DC. From providing refurbished Pentium-4 computers and repairing PCs, to software training classes, networking services, and electronics recycling, please give the less fortunate a chance. The WTA, CCNV and homeless staff members split the revenue from their work. The WTA and the CCNV re-invest their portion of the revenue to sustain the program. If you need tech services, call us and save money while helping a tech-savvy homeless person!



Why you should support WildTech-CCNV


CCNV shelter & WildTech/CCNV Homelessness is a huge issue across our nation. It is often perceived that drug abuse or behavioral issues are the leading causes of homelessness, yet unemployment is by far the leading cause. Over 80% of the residents at the CCNV shelter are unemployed, and with the lack of affordable housing, they have nowhere to turn to except the shelter. In addition, studies have long indicated that technology access and skills are divided along racial and economic lines. Nowhere is thismore evident than in the CCNV shelter. Very few residents have technology skills, in a world where most jobs are obtained on the Internet and performed on a computer. WildTech-CCNV was created to help end this. Join us and be a part of the solution!


WildTech-CCNV empowers the homeless with technology skills, work-based learning experiences and a paycheck!
Our country is built on the entrepreneurial spirit that is demonstrated by the homeless at WildTech-CCNV!
We challenge government agencies, corporations and nonprofits to consider WildTech-CCNV to dispose of their surplus electronics, provide them with refurbished computers, or even their technical training!

Foreclosure to Homelessness reports findings.

Report on Foreclosure to Homelessness Released
August 3, 2009by NCHV
Category: News || Foreclosures | No CommentsWashington, D.C. - August 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A coalition of homeless advocacy agencies have released a report called “Foreclosure to Homelessness.” The report provides insight into the contribution that foreclosures have made to current homeless populations.

The report was based on surveys completed by organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness. These services include food assistance, legal aid, emergency shelter and transitional housing, among others. Respondents were asked to estimate the percentage of their clientele who were accessing services as a result of foreclosure. This survey was administered between January 15, 2009, and February 21, 2009, and the information gathered reflects the 12-month period ending the date the respondent took the survey.

Key findings include:

Housing providers (including emergency, transitional, and permanent housing) estimated that 5 percent of their clients experienced homelessness as a result of foreclosure; all respondents estimated that 10 percent of their clients experienced homelessness as a result of foreclosure.
Those homeless due to foreclosure tended to be renters – not owners.
Many of those who faced homelessness as a result of foreclosure – both renters and owners - did not seek legal advice in foreclosure proceedings.
Additional information gathered by the Alliance shows that while foreclosures have contributed to homelessness, financial obstacles, addiction, and eviction remain the leading self-reported reasons of homelessness.
“Local reports indicate that homelessness is on the rise and this report gives us insight into the role that foreclosures may be having on that increase,” said Nan Roman, president of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “We’re grateful that since the time this data was collected, federal actions have provided communities with resources to prevent and end homelessness in the form of stimulus dollars and renter protections.”

The report and corresponding information can be viewed here.

http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/data/interactivemaps/foreclosure