We live in a society where those experiencing poverty and disenfranchisement have limited access to opportunity. As long as our world operates this way, Jubilee Housing’s top priority will be to seek justice for those who have been left out of the mainstream. By creating service-enriched affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying part of Washington, D.C., we help individuals and families thrive and ensure that there is a place in our city for those at risk. We also encourage relationship-building across racial and economic divides, inviting volunteers and supporters to enter into relationships of mutuality with the resident community. Ultimately, our impact comes from a combination of strategies and solutions that are people-focused, place-based, and partnership-driven.
People-focused
We believe that every person in our community has unique gifts and strengths. We create opportunities to help surface them and harness their potential. Working with residents, we develop programs that advance economic stability for youth and families, returning citizens, and people of various backgrounds who have had limited access to opportunity. Pathways for personal development include continuing education, financial coaching, career readiness and opportunities to increase savings and build credit. In addition to personal development, community members are invited to contribute to the progress of their neighbors through leadership opportunities on our Resident Council and Board of Directors.
Place-based
We believe that compassionate communities are physical places as well as groups of people with a common purpose. Thus, we are committed to developing service-enriched housing with a host of supportive services in a walkable geographic area, encouraging people to be connected with one another and to easily access opportunities and resources. Over the years, we have grown to encompass 10 buildings in the Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods, including eight multifamily apartment buildings and two homes for returning citizens. The majority of our housing is affordable to people earning at or below 30% of Area Median Income.
Partnership-driven
We recognize that we cannot create opportunities for people to overcome life challenges on our own. Inspiring others to join us in this calling is critical. Over the years, we have created strategic collaborative partnerships to help challenge the systems the perpetuate hardship and encourage shared resources and expertise. Two current manifestations of this partner-driven model are: the Newborn to College and Career Pipeline, which builds on the contributions of several partner nonprofits to create a comprehensive continuum of support for families from cradle to career; and the Platform of Hope, a financial inclusion initiative that nurtures financial capability through financial planning, increased savings, and innovative new credit-building opportunities.