Until We're Home, Incorporated
Organizing People, Issues and Government to End Homelessness in Washington, DC
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Develop People, Not Property

In one of the wealthiest, most powerful cities in the world, people who are experiencing homelessness have become invisible.  This society and government have cast a blind eye to a growing epidemic across this great nation

 

This should be everyone's concern.

Our mission is to ensure that all facilities that provide emergency housing for the citizens of the District of Columbia are retained and reformed into environments that will create a standard for the nation to follow and to promote the development of affordable housing in Washington.

 

Homeless, Not Helpless 

The Franklin School Shelter is home for 300+ men in the downtown area

 

 

UWH, Inc. is made up of currently and formerly homeless individuals as well as other concerned individuals who have decided to band together to affect a change in the way the District of Columbia deals with homelessness.

 

This movement began in the summer of 2006 when a handful of men fought to save the shelter they called home from development as a hotel for upscale clientele in downtown DC.  We, the residents of the Franklin Shelter for Men, the only low barrier men's shelter located in the downtown corridor, worked together to prevent this from happening, and this is how we did it:

 

Jesse Smith, our first President, speaks truth to power in front of the Wilson Building

 

  • We held rallies in front of the Wilson Building that were attended by members of the City Council.

 

 Franklin resident Eric Sheptock leads the march down K street

 

  • We organized, in conjunction with another group, a march down K Street in order to educate the public on the issue.

 

 David Pirtle and Jesse Smith with Eric Gaull, the first candidate of the 2006 campaign to be endorsed by the residents of Franklin

 

  • We attended various forums during the District’s Democratic Primary campaign season in order to keep Franklin in the forefront and to get a feel for the candidates' positions regarding the shelter.

 

  • Members of our organization met with the City Administrators Robert Bob and Ed Reiskin about the status of the Franklin School lease.

 

 David Pirtle looks on as Jesse Smith show's our Voting Guide to then mayoral candidate Adrian Fenty

 

  • The organization published a Voter’s Guide that was distributed at polling places and was instrumental in assisting uninformed voters about the candidates who were supportive of homeless issues.

 

Eventually Mayor Williams capitulated, and the shelter was, for the time being, saved. 

 

Unfortunately, the new mayor (Adrian Fenty) has decided, once again, that the shelter should be closed.  Once again the men, most of whom have moved out of Franklin, are working to prevent the loss of 300 beds that men desperately need in downtown Washington.

 

 

Until We're Home

 

Because the problems inherent in the District's homeless policies go far beyond the scope of Franklin Shelter, we have decided to create a new organization, Until We're Home, in order to tackle all of the issues effecting persons experiencing homelessness in Washington.  Some of our organization's early accomplishments have included:

 

  • Visiting New York City and meeting with Robert Hess, director of NYC's Department of Homeless Services, to find out more about that city's new Housing First model for ending homelessness

 

  • Helping to secure $300,000 for services in downtown Washington

 

  • Incorporating and applying for 501(c)3 status

 

  • Working with the DC Public Library to bring more outreach and services into what have become the District's de facto day shelters

 

We are continuing the struggle to alleviate homelessness in DC, but we need your support in order to complete the mission. Contact your District Councilmember and tell them that you believe the members of the homeless community should have a say in the future of Franklin Shelter, as well as any other decision affecting the way this city deals with the issue of homelessness in the nation’s capital.

 

Above are the members of our founding organization, the Committee to Save Franklin Shelter, as we posed for a picture published in Street Sense Newspaper to celebrate the preservation of Franklin for another year.