Who We Are

IT ALL STARTS WITH HOPE

With hope, one can accomplish anything. Families who struggle with poverty and homelessness can achieve their goals. They can overcome challenges like having no safe place to sleep, poor health, and unemployment, and enjoy connected families with happy and healthy children. 

In 2020, Community of Hope reached 1,142 families overcoming or threatened by homelessness and 11,271 patients.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY.

With the help of our community of donors, volunteers and partners, Community of Hope stays focused on its strategic goals. 

End homelessness for families in Washington, DC.

Through our five housing programs, we keep families – all along the continuum of homelessness – safe with a roof over their heads. Our case managers give our families the support they need at the most pivotal times and link them to resources such as job referrals, counseling and mentoring programs for their children.

Improve health and eliminate inequities in health outcomes in under-resourced communities in Washington, DC.

We have three Federally Qualified Health Centers and one community resource hub across the District that meet the medical, dental, and emotional wellness needs of the un- and under-insured. We provide quality, compassionate care and an outstanding patient experience, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Our health staff engages our patients to keep DC healthy through affordable and accessible healthcare. 

Together, we are the Community of Hope.

With a team of almost 400 compassionate staff, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of donors, we are building a strong and sustainable organization that is caring for families, improving lives, and leading change.

Our Approach and Values

• We care for families by providing direct services with a focus on prevention, healing, and wellness.

• We improve lives by building on families’ strengths, honoring their choices, and taking a whole-family, multi-generational approach.

• We lead and advocate for system change to address the effects of historical and current racial inequities on health outcomes and housing opportunities.

• We embrace the diversity of our community, welcome all voices and perspectives, and treat everyone with respect, compassion, and integrity.

• We strive for excellence in all that we do, implement evidence-based practices, measure our outcomes, and use this knowledge to continuously strengthen our work.

In 2021 – and in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020 – we were selected as one of The Washington Post 150 Top Workplaces based on feedback from our staff.

Our History

Community of Hope has worked tirelessly for four decades to impact the future for low-income, homeless and underserved families in Washington, DC. Originally founded as a compassionate ministry of the Church of the Nazarene, Community of Hope was incorporated as an independently-run nonprofit organization in 1980. As the needs of our community grew, we have expanded our services across the city, with the same holistic, compassionate approach that inspired our beginnings. 

Our Strategic Plan

Through our community’s support and intentional planning, we achieve our goals. With our proven track record of completing four strategic plans since 2000, we hope to see our vision come true: Everyone in Washington, DC has good health, a stable home, family-sustaining income, and a hope-filled future. 

We invite you to join us on this bold vision. You can study our strategic plan, be inspired by Stories of Hope, donate, or join our team through volunteerism or employment.