Washington DC — The District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) honored the work of community members who have made a difference in the lives of women and children facing homelessness as a result of domestic and sexual violence at the first annual DASH Allies in Change Awards luncheon on March 1, 2011.  The event, held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, also marked the public unveiling of DASH’s Cornerstone Program for families escaping abuse show in a new film, Safe Housing for All.  

The DASH Cornerstone program opened on Nov. 2, 2010 and is currently the largest safe housing facility for survivors of domestic violence in the District of Columbia.  The facility houses 43 units and 150 beds for women and children fleeing violent homes. 

“Victims of violence shouldn’t have to choose between living with abuse or living on the streets,” said Peg Hacskaylo, DASH Executive Director.  “It is thanks to our allied stakeholders that we’ve been able to triple the amount of safe housing available to these families.  The Allies in Change Awards is our opportunity to celebrate our champions who work to ensure that every home is a safe home for survivors.”

Hosted by NBC4 News Anchor Craig Melvin and with keynote address by Mildred Muhammad, wife of the notorious D.C. Sniper, DASH gave awards to seven community partners who have made extraordinary efforts to support DASH’s mission to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Sponsors for the luncheon included Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton LLP; Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized on behalf of Katten by an organization that I have come to respect greatly through our work over the last several years,” says John D. Muir, a real estate partner and pro bono chair in Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP’s Washington office and one of the event’s honorees. “Pro bono service is a core commitment at our firm, and we are pleased to partner with DASH on the important work that it is doing to ensure safe housing to people experiencing homelessness because of domestic violence in our community.” 

Other honorees included: the Reverend Keith W. Byrd, Sr. of Zion Baptist Church; the DC Department of Housing & Community Development; Tom Gallagher of E&G Group; DC Councilmember Phil Mendelson; Shirley Payne, DASH volunteer; and Dennis Zirkle of Blue Fusion Environments.

“Thanks to the partnerships we have with our honorees, as well as all of our community partners, the response to survivors seeking to escape violence and establish safe housing has changed.   Our city’s capacity to help survivors has grown to become more flexible, more capable and more sensitive to their needs,” says DASH Board Chair Jordan Fitzgerald.