PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leah Garrett, Vice President Development and Communications
Lgarrett@cohdc.org | 202.407.7780
Independent evaluation finds Community of Hope’s HONEY program delivers healthier births through
relationship-centered care
WASHINGTON, DC, March 2, 2026 – Community of Hope released the results of an independent evaluation covering the first two years of its Housing Our Newborns Empowering You (HONEY) program. The health outcomes and client feedback confirm that intensive, relationship-centered perinatal care coordination can significantly improve birth outcomes for pregnant and postpartum people experiencing homelessness.
The mixed-methods evaluation, conducted by the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health, examined program implementation and impact from November 2023 through September 2025. Drawing on client data and in-depth interviews with clients, staff, leadership, and external partners, the evaluation found that HONEY is being implemented as designed and is producing meaningful improvements in pregnancy and birth outcomes for a population facing significant structural barriers.
The program provides flexible, high-touch support from pregnancy through six months postpartum, with a focus on engaging prenatal care, addressing immediate basic survival needs, and coordinating across health care, housing, and social service systems.
Among key findings, the evaluation showed that HONEY participants experienced much lower rates of preterm birth and similar low birth weight outcomes compared to comparable Medicaid-funded births in Washington DC and nationally.
Launched in 2023 with support from Optum Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Primary Care Quality Improvement Fund – Maternal Health, HONEY supports pregnant people experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC through dedicated perinatal care coordinators. The program idea launched from flexible funding to end family homelessness from the Bezos Day One Families Fund and through a thought leadership partnership – the Calling All Sectors Initiative – with DC Department of Health, DC Department of Human Services, Pew Charitable Trust, and Community of Hope. The ongoing partnership with DC Department of Human Services was essential to identifying clients experiencing homelessness.
“This evaluation confirms what we have learned through years of listening to families,” said Dawn Sherman, PhD, Vice President of Community Impact and Evaluation at Community of Hope. “When pregnancy is layered with homelessness, the health risks are real. The data show that when families receive consistent, relationship-based support that addresses both medical and social needs, outcomes improve.”
“Our in-depth evaluation of the HONEY program highlights its success and challenges in creating a stable, supportive environment that empowers unhoused pregnant and postpartum people to move beyond structural barriers and toward a more connected, confident future for them and their newborns,” shared Karen A. McDonnell, PhD, George Washington University Maternal and Child Health Program Director.
The evaluation places strong emphasis on client voice, highlighting how perinatal care coordinators prioritize immediate needs — such as food, transportation, and emotional support — to establish the stability required for effective medical care and systems navigation.
“HONEY was designed to meet people where they are and stay with them during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,” said Morgan Carrillo, Program Director of the HONEY program. “Our care coordinators build trust, reduce stress, and help families navigate complex systems so parents can focus on healthy pregnancies and bringing their babies home.”
To further elevate these perspectives, Community of Hope also released a companion video that brings the HONEY model to life through the experiences of clients and staff, illustrating how relationship-centered care coordination works in practice and why it matters. Additionally, the organization is inviting homelessness and prenatal care providers to join a webinar discussion on April 17th to speak with the program innovators.
About Community of Hope
Founded in 1980, the mission of Community of Hope (COH) is to improve health, end homelessness, and partner with communities to make Washington, DC more equitable. We operate three community health centers, a community resource hub, and a Family Success Center. Our health services include medical, dental emotional wellness, and pharmacy services and extensive patient support for about 15,500 patients each year. We work to end and prevent homelessness by providing housing and supportive services for about 1,650 families and individuals a year. A Family Success Center connects over 500 people a year to resources. Community of Hope is building a strong and sustainable organization that is caring for families, improving lives, and leading change.
