dash, Author at The District Alliance for Safe Housing

4th Annual Allies in Change Awards Luncheon

Each year, DASH recognizes those community partners who have made a difference in the lives of women and children facing homelessness due to domestic violence.

This year we are excited to welcome back Erika Gonzalez of NBC4 as our Mistress of Ceremonies.

And we are thrilled to have Yvette Cade as our keynote speaker who will share her inspirational story of survival as she escaped domestic abuse. Ms. Cade was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show and has focused her survival on speaking out against domestic violence in communities around the country.

Join us on April 2^nd as we honor those who continue to be an ally in the community to amplify our mission and work to ensure that every home is a safe home for survivors of abuse.

Purchase a ticket or be a sponsor!

When: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 12:00PM to 1:30PM

Where: Hyatt Regency at Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

For more information on the Allies in Change Awards Luncheon, please contact Tameka Martin at tmartin@dashdc.wpengine.com or Meghan McDonough at mmcdonough@dashdc.wpengine.com.

12 Days to Make the Season Bright for DASH Families!

It’s not too late to consider a gift for the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH)!

DASH’s programs help prevent homelessness for women and children who have survived domestic violence; and help them to establish safe, independent lives on their own terms.

We decided to make it easy for you to give.

Click on the link below to make your year-end donation to DASH!

Donate Now

Your giving will allow a family a fresh start and their NEW YEAR can begin TODAY.

DASH has grown to become D.C.’s largest dedicated safe housing provider for survivors and their families. We are able to continue to provide these services for survivors with your support!

23,870 safe housing bed nights to 220 individuals (74 women and 97 children);

prevent another 350 individuals from falling into homelessness by facilitating their placements in emergency, transitional, and permanent housing; and

assist over 1,500 survivors to exercise their housing rights to avoid unlawful eviction stemming from violence in their homes through our community outreach efforts each year.

Thank you for your support!

DASH Receives National Award for Innovation in Safe Housing

On Monday, December 16, the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) was named as one of four national awardees of the Mary Bryon Project’s Celebrating Solutions Award for its innovative work in providing safe housing for victims of domestic and sexual violence in the District of Columbia.

The Mary Byron Project was established in 2000 in memory of the young woman whose tragic murder led to the creation of automated crime victim notification technologies. As a nationally recognized thought leader on domestic violence, the Mary Byron Project cultivates and supports efforts that extend beyond crisis management to attack the root causes of this epidemic and help build safer, healthier communities. They created the Celebrating Solutions Awards to showcase and applaud local innovations that demonstrate promise in breaking the cycle of violence. They select programs that can serve as models for the nation and offer $10,000 cash awards in recognition of their pioneering efforts. Nominations are judged by a panel of experts in criminal justice, health care, and public policy, and other disciplines that address domestic violence.

DASH is being recognized for their ground-breaking model of providing housing for survivors who face homelessness as a result of abuse. Throughout all of their programs, DASH works to ensure that domestic violence survivors, regardless of their circumstances, have access to a full range of housing options and that they don’t have to become homeless in the first place just to become safe from violence. Since then, through their model, partnerships, and example, they have helped change how safe housing is operated throughout the District and have helped hundreds of survivors find a safe place to call home.

“We are thrilled to be honored by the Mary Byron Project with the Celebrating Solutions Award” said Peg Hacskaylo, Executive Director of DASH. “Women are one the fastest growing groups of homeless people in the country and are also more vulnerable to be victimized while homeless. Through this award, we can continue to highlight our work to ensure that hundreds of families become safe from abuse without facing life on the streets.” Funds will be used to support DASH’s safe housing programs.

DASH Partners With DC Diaper Bank

DASH has partnered with DC Diaper Bank to support the babies of DASH. In 2 months we’ve provided diapers to over 20 families and could not do it without their support! DC Diaper Bank also recently celebrated 3 years of service!

DC Diaper Bank works to provide an adequate and reliable supply of diapers to babies, toddlers and their families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is modeled after successful diaper banks around the country, providing diapers to social service organizations that are already helping families in need through comprehensive programs and services. Diaper banks using this model ensure that diapers are distributed to the families that need them the most and in the most effective way.

DASHing into the Holidays

DASH is really gearing up Christmas!! On Saturday, December 7, 2013, DASH had a holiday party hosted by Washington Biggest Givers on Saturday. We had an awesome time with volunteers and residents as we decorated the tree, had hot chocolate and popcorn, made ornaments and colored Christmas pictures!! If you haven’t had the opportunity, please check out our Holiday Wish List to make a donation to support the families of DASH!

DASH Family Movie Night

Last Friday we started a new DASH tradition, Family Movie Night. We ate movie snacks generously donated by Kayla Johnson and Kati Garness while enjoying A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. If you would like to sponsor a DASH Family Movie Night, email Mari at mvangenadams@dashdc.wpengine.com. In December we will be watching Elf!

Sponsoring includes providing a family friendly movie, movie snacks and attending the film showing!

Our upcoming nights are December 7th, January 31st and February 28th.

AU Wellness Center: Trick or Can for DASH

Thanks to American University’s Wellness Center for coordinating a “Trick or Can” food drive for DASH women and families during October. This is the second year that AU has hosted a canned food drive for DASH for the Thanksgiving holiday. Over 200 canned goods were donated by faculty and staff — Go AU!

2013 DASH Holiday Gift Drive

Happy winter DASH supporters! It’s that time of year again, we are

kicking off the 2013 holiday gift drive for our residents and their children. This winter at DASH we have over 40 families who will be participating in our annual festivities. If you are looking to give this holiday season, please check out our 2013 DASH Wish List and consider giving to DASH.

Thanks from all the DASH staff!

DASH Partners with People Animals Love!

DASH is proud to announce a new partnership with People Animals Love (PAL). Twice a month, volunteers with dogs will be joining DASH children and their mothers for some pet therapy and playtime.
November 2nd was the first PAL event and it was beautiful outside. We had two puppies, Paris and Tamu, join us for an afternoon of fun on the playground. Paris even came dressed in costume as a banana split! Both the dogs are trained by PAL to work with people and are calm, loving animals. We ran around, played on the playground, did tricks and enjoyed some cuddling with the puppies. After an hour of hardy playing, both the puppies and the kids were ready for naps. We can’t wait to have the puppies and their owners back in two weeks!