Program Overview
Friendship Place’s Veterans First program is a leading provider of rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services for veterans and their families in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The program follows the results proven Housing First model, which removes all barriers to housing such as unemployment, histories of incarceration, sobriety, and mental health care, and instead prioritizes providing permanent housing.
The Veterans First staff provides case management services aimed at housing stability. These services may include assistance with locating and moving into a permanent housing unit, connecting with benefits, employment assistance, connecting with medical and mental health care, budgeting, and other needs identified during intake.
Need Help?
To become a participant in the Veterans First program, call our intake line at 202.658.9599, or email vfscreen@friendshipplace.org.
Impact
Veterans First has an outstanding success rate. In 2022, the program served 739 veterans via Veterans First and associated programs, with 87% of them finding stable housing. Since its inception, the program has graduated 3,944 people—veterans and their family members. 91% have moved into permanent housing.
How we Achieve Successful Results
Veterans First applies a holistic, individualized method of building and supporting the self-respect, confidence, and dignity of each veteran and veteran family we serve. The program focuses on achieving housing stability within 90-days through innovative, person-centered case management.
Eligibility
To participate in the Veterans First program you must be a single Veteran or a household that includes a Veteran who has served on active duty in the military, naval, or air service* and:
- Not have been given a dishonorable discharge
- Have an income below the 50% median income for their area
- Be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
*National Guard and Reservists who were activated by Presidential Order to serve in another State or Country (beyond basic training) and received a DD-214 with an other than dishonorable discharge are also eligible for this program
Where We Serve?
The Veterans First program serves Washington D.C. and the counties of Prince George (MD), Montgomery (MD), Frederick (MD), Fairfax (VA), Loudoun (VA), Prince William (VA), Arlington (VA), as well as the City of Alexandria (VA).
CARF Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has accredited Friendship Place for its Veterans First program. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a program’s quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services.
Friendship Place is also a recipient of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This program is made possible in part by funding from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that our nation’s veterans, service members and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures. We reserve the right to request the removal of our logo from program or organizational materials at the conclusion of the award period.