2014 In Review

Looking at the year in review, 2014 has been a big year. We started the Women In New Directions Program to help female inmates transition back into society. Rachel's Women's Shelter closed. We hired a new Employment Specialist and increased our Real Opportunities program from 3 groups of 4 trainees to 4 groups of 6 trainees - doubling the size of our program and creating a real path of success for our clients.

We also (at the end of October!) received a $100,000 capacity building grant from CityFund. At the same time our Executive Director Alicia Horton, other staff members and the Board will be taking a retreat in November to outline a new strategic plan for Thrive DC. They will be asking how we can best address the need created by the closing of several homeless programs in the Northwest: La Casa, Hermano Pedro, and Rachel's Women's Shelter. Our capacity building grant will be an incredible tool to help us do more and serve our clients better in 2015 and beyond!

But as we look ahead, let's look at what we've done in 2014 so far:

• 129,700 meals served
• 8,000 lbs of fresh fruits and vegetables given away on Fridays
• 1,800 cycles of free laundry
• 3,500 showers
• 36,000 everyday necessities given away to clients who needed them

• 75 clients participating in support groups to help each other out of homelessness
• 200 clients referred to housing placements, and 40 clients with new homes
• More than  500 hours spent in 1-on-1 case management with women transitioning from prison to society
• Over 1,000 hours of case management for more than 2,200 clients asking for help
• 19 clients who have attended workshops and programs have found jobs and new stability

In almost every area of programming we have met or exceeded what we provided to clients last year - and we still have two months to go! This continues a trend of more and more services needed every year, a trend that Thrive continues to meet with thousands of supportive volunteers and donors.

Our Executive Director and the Board is meeting in November to outline a new strategic plan for Thrive to meet the continuing demands. We're so excited for the future! The need is great but the Thrive community has always stepped up to help our city's most vulnerable residents when they needed us the most. It was true in 1979 and is still true today. Thrive DC is still here to provide a safe space and community of hope.

If you would like to help us serve the homeless of DC, visit our Still Here! page.