Friendship Place - Bob Woodruff Foundation

Friendship Place

Veterans First

Service Area: Washington, DC metropolitan area

Goal: Improve housing and financial stability for 50 veteran households through a combination of case management and emergency financial assistance

In May 2022, the DC Continuum of Care counted 215 veterans experiencing homelessness. Friendship Place’s Veterans First program is a leading provider of rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services for veterans and their families in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Using the Housing First model, the Veterans First program provides participant-centered case management services aimed at improving housing stability. Their services for veterans include assistance with permanent housing placement, connection to healthcare and benefits, employment assistance, and financial planning. Friendship Place is acutely aware that LGBTQ+ veterans face higher levels of economic insecurity, housing instability, and mental health concerns than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. In response, Friendship Place maintains dedicated funding for LGBTQ+ veterans to gain and maintain safe housing. BWF funds will improve housing and financial stability for 50 veteran households through a combination of case management and emergency financial assistance, with a portion of this funding dedicated to supporting veterans who identify as LGBTQ+.