Fortitude Housing receives award and $25,000 grant at Catholic Charities USA Centennial Summit
The Catholic Charities housing program, in partnership with the District, is recognized for its work in reducing poverty by helping homeless adults secure immediate, stable housing and achieve independence through long-term case management support.
Fortitude Housing, a groundbreaking permanent supportive housing program in DC, was recognized by Catholic Charities USA as one of the top programs nationwide in reducing poverty through innovative and effective best practices at a March 8 Centennial Year Poverty Reduction Summit. As part of its yearlong celebration of 100 years of service to communities around America, the summit recognized four programs from different Catholic Charities for their work.
Fortitude Housing was launched in 2007 in a partnership between Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and the District of Columbia. It has placed 100 individuals who had been chronically homeless into their own apartments without any stipulations. Case managers work in intensive one-on-one support work to help them learn to job skills, provide search assistance, reconnect with family and live a healthy lifestyle, all of which are easier to accomplish once the crisis of homelessness has been removed.
The award includes a $25,000 grant to be put toward the program’s further development.