In 2006, the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) was founded at a time when there were less than 50 beds in the city dedicated specifically for victims of domestic violence. Survivors with multiple barriers including mental health and addiction issues had even fewer options for safe housing. Unlike the various housing programs in the city, the vision for DASH has been to create a culture where safe housing is a right shared by everyone. This means that all survivors, regardless of their circumstance, disability, or need should be able to live without fear of abuse or homelessness, and that ensuring that right is incumbent on everyone in the community.
2006: DASH was founded by Peg Hacskaylo to address the lack of safe housing for survivors of domestic violence.
2007: The Housing Resource Center, DASH’s first program, opens offering the first one-stop shop to help survivors access safe housing throughout the District.
2008: Empowerment Project opened to provide scattered site transitional to permanent housing for survivors and their families.
2009: Temporary housing program, Huruma Place, opened doubling the number of safe beds in the District from 48 to 96.
2010: The Cornerstone Program opened, replacing Huruma Place as the District’s largest safe housing facility.
2013: Survivor Resilience Fund began its’ first stages of development. The program currently provides emergency relief for survivors of domestic violence to maintain their current housing.
2015: The National Alliance for Safe Housing (NASH) is launched to provide nationwide training and technical assistance to improve access to safe housing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
2016: Evaluations of DASH’s programs and model demonstrate dramatic results for improved survivor safety, empowerment, and housing stability.
2016: DASH celebrates 10 years as the largest dedicated safe housing provider for survivors and their families in Washington, DC.
2020: DASH launches its newest innovative program, Right to Dream, for transitioning youth survivors.
2021: The Safe Nights Fund was launched to families fleeing violence with emergency hotel accommodations during the pandemic, while we work to connect families to more stable housing.
