Washington DC

This is page is dedicated to the Washington DC trip focusing on hunger and homelessness in our nation's capital.

Hello! I am Kristen and I will be the one coordinating the blog for the Washington DC trip. I am very excited and can't wait to share this trip with all of you following! To get this started I wanted to share some information about some sites we will be volunteering at for the week.

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless- volunteering there Monday 

The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless envisions a just and inclusive community for all residents of the District of Columbia, where housing is a human right and where every individual and family has equal access to the resources they need to thrive.

Our mission is to use the law to make justice a reality for our neighbors who struggle with homelessness and poverty.

Combining community lawyering and advocacy to achieve our clients’ goals, our expert staff and network of volunteer attorneys provide low barrier, comprehensive legal services at intake sites throughout the District of Columbia, helping our clients to access housing, shelter, and life-saving services.

Rooted in the experiences of this client work, we effectively blend system reform efforts, policy advocacy, community education and client engagement to advocate for long term improvements in local and federal programs that serve the low- and no-income community. 

For more information check out their site: http://www.legalclinic.org/

Rachael’s Women Center-volunteering there Monday
To provide homeless and formerly homeless women with opportunities to develop their independence, sense of self and hope by:

Providing safety, shelter, food, showers and laundry in a nurturing, homelike environment;

Helping women to reach their potential through intensive case management and programs that empower them to take control of their lives and advocate for themselves.

Rachael's also reaches out to individuals living on the streets, enabling and encouraging them to access services and benefits available to people who are homeless.

1979 - In response to community needs, Kathleen Guinan and volunteers open first Rachael's Women's Center at 11th and Q Streets, transforming the run-down house into a place of hospitality and hope.

For more information check out their site: http://www.rachaels.org/template/index.cfm  

Father Mckenna Center – Volunteering there all week
A stone's throw from our nation's capitol, the Father McKenna Center was established in 1983 to carry on the legacy of Father Horace McKenna, a Jesuit priest who devoted his life to the service of the poor and homeless. The poorest of the poor come to the Father McKenna Center each weekday to get their mail, take a shower, to get some clean clothes, to ask for job and drug counseling and to experience a safe and drug-free environment. The Father McKenna Center can either provide or efficiently refer guests to any service a homeless man needs. The Father McKenna Center is the last day-time drop-in center for homeless men in the downtown Washington, DC area. The Father McKenna Center serves men, women and families through its programs that include: 

•Men's day-time drop-in center;

• Food pantry serving families and senior citizens;

• Rent and utility assistance to prevent homelessness;

• Cold weather hypothermia shelter to prevent homeless
men from freezing to death on our streets;

• A small transitional living program.

The vast majority of those who come to the Father McKenna Center suffer from mental illness and addictions. The purpose of the Father McKenna Center is to uncover the reasons why a person suffers from poverty and homelessness and then through mental health, medical, addiction counseling and education to motivate a person to go beyond their current situation. Demand for the services of the Father McKenna Center increased significantly due to recession, chronic poverty and unemployment and remains high. 

For more information please check out the site: http://www.fathermckennacenter.org/

There are some great videos at this link about the Father Mckenna Center:  http://www.fathermckennacenter.org/video.html