Spotlight On

Mission:
The mission of Jubilee Housing is to provide quality affordable housing and expanded life options for people with low-incomes.

Background:
Jubilee Housing was founded in 1973 by a group of individuals from the ecumenical Church of the Saviour community who recognized the great need to give voice and housing to a rapidly increasing number of poor people. Jubilee went on to acquire a total of eight properties in the neighborhood. With each acquisition, residents were engaged in the process of modest rehabilitation for the property along with creating the vision for a new community.

For more than 30 years, Jubilee Housing has provided a unique approach to affordable housing and opportunities for improved life for low-income families and individuals in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. The vision has stirred the growth of numerous other grassroots efforts locally - and beyond. All stand as testament to the impact that a handful of caring people can have for a community when united by an inspired vision.

Listening to the hopes and dreams of residents had powerful consequences. Through the years, many new missions were born to help meet the wants and needs expressed by residents. Jubilee Jobs grew to help address employment concerns. Columbia Road Health Services was born to provide primary health care. Good Shepherd Ministries formed to offer mentoring and after-school support for children and youth. The list goes on and on.

Jubilee has renewed its commitment to the residents of the Adams Morgan community by beginning a massive $50 million renovation of all seven buildings. The New Jubilee will be equipped with up-to-date appliances, carpet, central air, and amenities that make living in Adams Morgan comfortable and affordable for all. As in the past, Jubilee looks forward to meeting the need for affordable housing and offering expanded services that focus on the underserved population of the Adams Morgan community.

Current Programs:

• Health/Exercise & Wellness Center Programming

  This program provides residents with opportunities to develop healthy lifestyle habits as well as an outlet to explore various on-site fitness and health programming.

• ESL & Language Skill Enhancement

  The objective of this program is to provide residents with opportunities to develop and strengthen their English language skills in a variety of informal/conversational and formal settings.

• Healthy Housing

  The Healthy Housing program researches, develops, and implements ways to support the property management effort to hold residents accountable to lease and house rules by providing opportunities for growth and change for residents.

• Resident Leadership

  Resident Leadership provides opportunities for resident leaders to develop and use leadership skills. Empower a core group of resident leaders through training and participation in the creation of Resident Councils, resident orientation, and new resident services.

• Economic Empowerment

  The Economic Empowerment program educates residents on the power of savings and investments as well as the importance of home buying to create assets and self reliance.

• Resident Relationship Building/Outreach

  This program was established to build relationships with and among the resident community and to provide residents with an outlet to explore social activities and their interests. It also provides a forum for resident concerns. It is also very important that this program helps to provide support for the Healthy Housing efforts.

Funding Needs:
Jubilee Housing would like to thank its supporters past and present. Jubilee has been fortunate in its fundraising but realizes the mission of affordable housing has not been completely met. Jubilee Housing welcomes new partnerships to safeguard the future of the organization and the residents it serves.

The "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the Metropolitan Washington, DC community. The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to dclibrary@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.