The Adrian Fenty administration recently announced that it housed 22 homeless seniors as part of the District’s long term efforts to provide housing to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. These individuals are now proud residents of the Wesley House Senior Apartments in Northeast Washington. Since last year, the administration has housed 144 homeless seniors, ages 60 and over, in permanent supportive housing units throughout the District. The seniors, who received keys to their units yesterday were chosen both through the Mayor’s Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative (PSH) and a new innovative collaborative between the DC Office on Aging (DCOA), DC Housing Authority (DCHA) and DC Department of Human Services (DHS). As part of its ongoing efforts, DHS helps District seniors select from a pool of senior friendly apartments, such as the Wesley House Senior Apartments. The complex, received $3.1 Million in financing from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the District of Columbia’s Continuum of Care services, assists with unit identification and security deposits; and provides funding for furniture and household move-in items. The purpose of the new, collaborative initiative is to provide additional housing resources to the most vulnerable residents. DCHA provided 100 housing vouchers split among the people covered under the “Money Follows the Person” program and the general senior and disabled population in the District. Twenty-five seniors living in shelters, the street or substandard living conditions were identified by DHS and recommended to the DCOA for housing placement.
“Today represents a great step forward in our efforts to provide housing for the homeless in the District,” said Mayor Fenty. “I applaud our agencies efforts working together for one common goal, providing more housing opportunities for our residents.”