Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, state education agencies and local education agencies are required to provide students and families experiencing homelessness with information regarding community and local public agency resources. The following are national and local resources that educators, students, parents and advocates may use to find helpful.
McKinney-Vento (MKV) Resources
- National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
- National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
- National Network for Youth (NN4Y)
- SchoolHouse Connection
Family Resources: Emergency Shelter & Adult Drop-In Centers
Virginia Williams Family Resource Center
(202) 526-0017
Services: Intake center for emergency shelter, community resources, public benefits and case management.
DC Shelter Hotline
(202) 399-7093 or 311
Services: Assists individuals and families in need of emergency shelter and/or transportation to emergency shelter sites.
Adams Place Day Center
Services: Food Stamps/Medicaid, American Job Center, Unity Health Clinic, clothing closet, case management, shower and laundry, computer lab, housing assessments
Downtown Day Services Center
(202) 383-8810
Services: Showers, laundry, restrooms, phone and computers, emergency clothing, vital records, medical, harm reduction and housing guidance.
Youth Resources: Drop-In Centers and Housing
Zoe’s Doors Drop-In Center
(202) 248-2098
Services: Drop-in center (open 24 hours a day, seven days a week) for District youth (age 24 and younger) experiencing homelessness, housing instability or in need of a safe place to go. Assists with supportive services including housing, medical and behavioral health services, education services, workforce development, and employment assistance.
Sasha Bruce Youthwork
(202) 675-9340
Services: Drop-in center, emergency shelters for youth (ages 11-17), long-term shelters (transitional living/housing), clothing, tutoring, social services and job assistance for youth (ages 18 and under).
Covenant House Greater Washington
(202) 610-9600
Services: Emergency shelters for youth (ages 18-24), long-term transitional housing, street outreach, community support services, educational services, vocational job skills programs, mental health services, prevention services, and a child development center.
Playtime Project
(202) 329-4481
Services: Provides programs and services at family shelters and community sites, such as schools and serves children 6 months to 14 years old.
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)
(202) 319-2225
Services: Youth residential programs, academic programs, job readiness, transitional living programs for homeless and runaway youth, and special programs for LGBTQ-identifying youth.
Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL)
(202) 546-5940
Services: Long-term transitional living for LGBTQ youth (ages 18 to 24), case management services, crisis intervention, and community support.
The Wanda Alston Foundation
(202) 465-8794
Services: Long-term transitional living up to 18 months, case management, educational guidance and support, job training and guidance, and support service referrals to homeless or at-risk LGBTQ youth (ages 16 to 24) in all eight wards.
Food Resources
Bread for the City
(202) 265-2400
Services: Food, clothing, medical care, dental care, social services and legal assistance.
Capital Area Food Bank
(202) 644-9800
Food Bank Network Website for various resources by ZIP code
Services: Food, nutrition, wellness, farms and gardening.
So Others Might Eat (SOME)
(202) 797-8806
Services: Food, housing, workforce development, emergency services, clothing and health care.
Thrive DC
(202) 737-9311
Services: Thrive DC serves 200–250 homeless and vulnerable individuals every day who need critical support. Services range from twice daily meals and weekly emergency groceries to assistance finding housing and support finding employment, to connections to legal aid and opportunities for health screenings, to intensive job training and access to computers, laundry and showers.
Domestic Violence Resources
Survivor’s Advocates for Empowerment (SAFE)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 (SAFE)
Spanish Hotline: (866) 962-5048
Services: Ensures the safety and self-determination for survivors of domestic violence in the Washington, DC area through emergency services, court advocacy, and system reform. Assists after hours and with protective orders at DC Superior Court.
My Sister’s Place
Hotline: (202) 529-5991
Services: Domestic violence shelter that offers a full continuum of care from the immediate crisis on their 24-hour hotline through transitional-to-permanent housing.
House of Ruth
(202) 667-7001
Services: Supportive housing for families and single women in crisis, therapeutic daycare for homeless children, free counseling services for anyone who’s been a victim of domestic violence and other wraparound services.
Various Resources
Ayuda
(202) 387-4848
Services: Immigration law, domestic violence, family law, LBGTQ immigrants, social services and anti-human trafficking program.
Mary’s Center
Main Line: (202) 483-8196
Appointment Line: (844) 796-2797
Services: Medical, dental, behavioral health, education and social services.
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington
(202) 939–2400
Services: Identifies emergency rental and utility assistance, emergency food, shelter and healthcare resources for District residents, immigrants and their families.
Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington’s Emergency Services Directory
(202) 234-6300
Services: Identifies emergency food, shelter and healthcare services in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Strong Families (Department of Human Services)
(202) 698-4293
Services: Prevention/early intervention to help families through case management, social services and referrals for various community and food resources.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (Department of Energy & Environment)
311
Service: Assists income-eligible District households with heating and cooling energy costs through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
DC Water - Customer Assistance Program
(202) 350-9649
Services: Financial assistance programs to help customers with their water bills.
Greater Washington Urban League - Utility Assistance
(202) 427-4100
Services: Partners with key utility companies like PEPCO and the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) to assist clients who are unable to pay their water, electricity, or other utilities.
A Wider Circle
(443) 422-6559
Services: Basic need items for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, fleeing domestic abuse, or otherwise living without the essentials of life (e.g., furniture). Also provides wraparound support, workforce development, professional attire, parenting program for pregnant teens and other wellness programming.
Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network
(202) 780-2575
Services: Provides referrals to local legal aid and public interest law offices, general information about legal rights, court forms, self-help information, court information, links to social service agencies and more in Washington, DC.
HER Resiliency Center
(202) 643-7831
Services: Provides women ages 18-25 a multilateral, holistic and individualized approach to overcome substance use, homelessness and domestic violence.
The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project
(202) 329-4481
Services: Provides programs and services at family shelters and community sites, such as schools and serves children 6 months to 14 years old.
Additional Information
For additional information about the homeless education program, return to the Homeless Education Program’s main webpage.
Contact Us
For questions or additional information, please email [email protected].
The Homeless Education Program is administered by OSSE’s Office of Special Populations and Programs within the Division of Systems and Supports, K-12.
[Date Posted: May 10, 2023]