The Basics
Back in 1972, members of the Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington DC provided refuge for eight homeless women in the sanctuary of the church. After that, the church members vowed to do something about the homelessness and abject poverty that they witnessed daily on the streets of their neighborhood and N Street Village was born. N Street Village offers a plethora of programs including the Luther Place Night Shelter that provides temporary housing for homeless women, Recovery Housing, which offers transitional housing for women in recovery from addiction and co-occurring disorders and the Permanent Supportive Housing program for women who have been clean and sober for at least six months. Residents receive additional services including outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment, case management, food and clothing.
Accommodations and Amenities
N Street’s Recovery Housing program accommodates 21 clients dorm-style while Permanent Supportive Housing serves 42 clients, who live in studio or two bedroom apartments. N Street Village has two sister programs which include the Bethany Women’s Center, which is a drop-in facility where clients receive access to laundry facilities, bathrooms and showers. The Bethany Women’s Center also provides breakfast, lunch, snacks, clothing, and basic hygiene items. The other sister program is the Wellness Center which offers outpatient substance abuse and addiction treatment, as well as dual diagnosis support.
Rules and Regulations
While all clients must undergo an evaluation with a case manager, as well as take a TB test, each program does have specific eligibility requirements. The length of stay at Recovery Housing is between six and 18 months. Residents must participate in a weekly community meeting, case management, daily household chores, outpatient treatment, art therapy and other forms of creative self-expression.
The outpatient program includes group therapy, individual therapy. Group topics include anger management, grief and loss, co-occurring disorders, relationships, relaxation, self-esteem, trauma recovery, stress management, spiritual recovery, relapse prevention and meditation. Since the women in the Recovery Housing program are all dual diagnosis, bi-weekly psychiatric consultations are also required. These visits are to make sure medications are stable and address any mental health issues. Clients must attend on-site 12-step meetings six days per week and random drug and alcohol screening is conducted.
After successful completion of the Recovery Housing program, clients can apply for a spot on the waiting list for Permanent Supportive Housing. Residents must be continue a program of recovery, attending on-site 12-step meetings and completing outpatient treatment in order to be eligible for housing. Once accepted, ongoing participation in case management, weekly community meetings, activities, and chores is required. Women must also maintain a relationship with external mental health care as prescribed.
The cost for Recovery Housing is based on a sliding scale while the Permanent Supportive Housing program has a 30-day cost that ranges between $369 and $650.
Extras
N Street Village offers residents vocational guidance and primary physical care. Additional services at the N Street Wellness Center include aerobics, dance, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation, yoga, and diabetes education.
At N Street Village, additional housing options include Erna’s House for homeless women and Miriam’s Place, for women living with HIV and AIDS.
In Summary
What started as a compassionate gesture on the behalf of a few church members has grown into an organization that is the largest of its kind in Washington DC. N Street Village offers homeless and financially challenged women a sense of hope and a second chance at life.
N Street Village
1333 N Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20005
N Street Village Recovery Housing Cost: Sliding scale (30 days). Reach N Street Village by phone at (202) 939-2076 or by email. Find N Street Village on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google +
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