Housing Up

Last week, students from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire joined our Community Engagement Manager, Shahidah, at our headquarters to learn about the history and mission of Housing Up, as well as the state of homelessness in Washington, DC. The students traveled all the way to the District for a service-learning trip and volunteered at several local organizations, including SOME, Martha's Table, and DC Central Kitchen. Thank you to the wonderful students who dedicated their time to learn about Housing Up's mission to end family homelessness in DC!

This week, Housing Up continues our throwback to the ABCs of Housing series. The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is designed to end homelessness. However, this program faces significant challenges amidst recent changes in staffing and funding ordered by the new administration. Many critical housing and homelessness service providers have yet to receive Congressionally-approved CoC grant funding. Delays in funding could cause these providers to experience extreme difficulty in serving their communities. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e_6dmnNf.

Welcome back for another installment of Housing Up’s Women in Housing series. Today we are honoring the work of Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). Prior to her role at NAEH, Oliva worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for ten years and is recognized for her efforts in reducing veteran homelessness. Throughout her career, Oliva has advocated for evidence-based policies and approaches to homelessness. To learn more about Ann Oliva’s contributions to homelessness advocacy click the link: https://lnkd.in/ehc8s-i6.

Last week President Trump called for Mayor Muriel Bowser to clear homelessness encampments throughout DC or the federal government would do so. Mayor Bowser responded within hours, informing an encampment on E St Expressway that they had one day to relocate. Learn more from housing advocates about what clearing encampments means for DC's vulnerable unhoused population: .

Throughout Women’s History Month, Housing Up is highlighting the women who have dedicated their lives to advocating for fair housing in our Women in Housing series. Today, we are recognizing Patricia Roberts Harris who was a woman of many firsts. Harris was the first Black woman to be a US ambassador, the Dean of Howard University’s Law School, and the first Black woman to serve in two different presidential cabinets, leading both the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As the Secretary of HUD, Harris focused her efforts on low-income neighborhoods and championing civil rights. To learn more about Patricia Roberts Harris’ story, click here: https://lnkd.in/gSjWz6cP.

Housing Up celebrates National Reading Month! Last night, our Associate Board members gathered for a reading and Oreos night with the children in our Fort View community. All of the kids took turns showing off their reading skills, helping each other out whenever a friend got stuck on a word. We are so thankful to our wonderful Associate Board members that made this night possible! If you are interested in serving your community and joining our Associate Board, please visit housingup.org/AB.

On Monday, the National Low Income Housing Coalition gathered housing advocates at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to deliver a letter to new HUD Secretary Scott Turner. The letter addressed DOGE's plan to terminate half of all HUD staff and the detrimental effects this will have on housing and homelessness services. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty delivered a powerful message of unity to the crowd of supporters: "This is our moment; this is our time. Let's fight for public housing, let's fight for affordable housing." While there is still a lot of uncertainty, Housing Up is incredibly proud to be a part of this amazing community. Let's continue to use our voices and fight for the right to affordable housing together. Click here to take action: https://lnkd.in/eJVN7wGb. Photo Credits: ABC7 News and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.

Happy Women’s History Month from Housing Up! Most of the families we serve are led by Black single mothers. Join us this month as we cover the unique issues that women face and the incredible women activists that have transformed the affordable housing community. Read more about the 2025 theme of “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” here: .

As Black History Month comes to a close, we encourage you to celebrate Black achievements and resistance all year long. Housing Up serves over 900 families, the majority of which are led by Black single mothers. While often erased from history, Black women have played a key role in advancing civil rights and housing rights. For our final #BlackHousingHero of the month, we are honoring Dorothy Height, a leader in housing, civil, and women’s rights. Height was a DMV native who grew up in Richmond, VA and spent much of her later life in DC. As the president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Height was instrumental in advocating for policies that led to the Fair Housing Act. Throughout her life, she continued to fight tirelessly for social equality and later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Click here to learn more about Dorothy Height: https://lnkd.in/eFjEbtwc.

In a recent Bloomberg article, Housing Up's Chief Development and Communications Officer, Christina Peay addresses how delays in federal funding are impacting critical housing and homelessness service providers. Learn more about the latest news in the affordable housing community here: .