Looking for ways to better support your neighbors in most need? Below is a list of services available in Washington, D.C. that support people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless.
Emergencies
If you suspect that a person is experiencing a medical or a mental health emergency, call 911. If you are unsure if it is an emergency, call 911 and tell the dispatcher what you are seeing and they will determine whether or not to send out an emergency response.
Shelter
In order to connect a person to shelter, please call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 and take direction from the dispatcher.
Extreme Weather
Receive hypothermia and heat emergency alerts to your phone or email, register here through the alert portal of the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
When a hypothermia alert is called (temperature or wind chill is forecasted to be 32 degrees or below and or 40 degrees or below and a 50% chance of precipitation) there is a right to shelter. If you see someone in need of assistance or if they directly request shelter, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 to request shelter transport. The Shelter Vans also conduct safety checks and carry blankets, socks and other comfort items.
When a heat emergency is activated (temperatures or heat index is forecasted to be 95 degrees or above) shelters are open, public recreation centers serve as cooling centers and the Shelter Hotline Vans canvass the city providing water to individuals experiencing homelessness and provide transport to cooling centers.
Mental Health Crisis
If you are concerned that a person is experiencing a mental health crisis and is need of immediate attention, you may call 911 or the Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357 and request a mobile crisis team. The Access Helpline is operated by the Department of Behavioral Health.
If a child between the ages of 6-18 is experiencing a mental health crisis, you may also call ChAMPS at (202) 481-1440 and a mobile crisis team will come to your home or school to assess the child.
Mental Health Services
If someone is looking for mental health services, but is not in crisis, the Access Helpline, 1-888-793-4357, will connect individuals to a mental health provider and schedule an intake appointment for ongoing services. The Access Helpline serves both adults and youth.
Food
If you know someone that is in need of food, you can direct them to an area meal program or search for local food programs here. In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, 421 Seward Square SE, serves breakfast weekdays between 7:30 am – 9:00 am and Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St NE, provides a dinner and bible study every Wednesday evening from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
If you know a Veteran that is experiencing homelessness, direct them to the VA’s Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) at 1500 Franklin St., NE Washington, DC 20018 or 202-636-7660.
Families Experiencing Homelessness
Families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless should visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center located at 920 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20018, (p) (202)-526-0017.
Unaccompanied Youth
If you engage a minor (under the age of 18) who says they are seeking shelter and or spending the night outside, contact the Youth Shelter Hotline 202-547-7777.
Shirley’s Place
Shirley’s Place is our day hospitality center which offers people experiencing homelessness a safe, healthy and dignified place to spend their day off of the street. Shirley’s Place provides access to showers, laundry, restrooms, mail service, phones, computers, lunch, and social service referrals. Shirley’s Place is located at 1338 G Street, SE and is open M – F, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Individuals may visit Shirley’s Place during our normal business hours to access services, or call (202) 544-3150 for more information.
Street Outreach Services
To connect with an Everyone Home DC outreach worker, call 202-544-3150 and press 2. Note: Everyone Home DC is not staffed to provide an immediate response, so if there is an emergency, please call 911 first.
Learn more about Everyone Home DC’s programs and ways that you can get involved.
