

1005 North Capitol St, NE. Photo by Tony T Goodman

From a press release:

“Today, Mayor Bowser joined U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Bob McDonald, and a host of public and private sector partners highlighted the District’s progress in ending veteran’s homelessness and the opening of the John and Jill Ker Conway Residence at North Capitol Commons. With support from local and federal partners, this housing program will help to advance the goal of ending homelessness among veterans in the District.

Named after the late World War II veteran and his wife, the John and Jill Ker Conway Residence includes 60 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans experiencing homelessness and 64 units for District residents who meet the income requirements for affordability. The building has 12 floors and 124 efficiencies – 60 of which are fully furnished – and residents will receive assistance with health needs through case managers.

“There is no greater debt we owe than taking care of veterans after they serve our country. We can only meet that obligation when the local and federal government work together,” said Mayor Bowser. “I am proud of the progress my Administration has made in ending veterans homelessness, and I pledge to continue this fight until every veteran has the housing and services they deserve.”

The program was financed through a mix of public and private sources, including low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, and federal HOME funds through DC Department of Housing and Community Development. The District also received support from local and national stakeholder organizations to accelerate efforts to provide housing for veterans. As of today, nearly 1,800 veterans have been housed, with 764 housed in 2015, and 463 placed in permanent housing in 2016.

“We know that the Housing First approach provides immediate safe and permanent housing to stabilize those who are experiencing homelessness while offering the supportive services people may need after they have been stably housed. I worked on this project at its inception, and I’m so excited that it will be the first of many like it to provide safe, affordable housing for our veterans and other vulnerable residents,” said Laura Zeilinger, Director of Department of Human Services.

District landlords with available, affordable housing are encouraged to partner with the District to help sustain the work that has been accomplished thus far for veterans. For more information, please contact [email protected]”