81% of people experiencing homelessness in the District are Black or African American. These are American citizens who are denied economic opportunities because of Washington, D.C.’s history of redlining and other institutionalized policies that have led to disproportionate rates of homelessness. This population also lacks access to healthcare services, which increases the risk of homelessness further. Information about resources designed to mitigate this is also inaccessible.
Friendship Place offers free drop-in medical care at its Welcome Center in Tenleytown, making medicine and psychiatric help accessible to individuals who wouldn’t ordinarily have those options. It also hosts its annual training, which includes multiple webinars on homelessness and fair opportunities.
