Date Released: October 10, 2022
Contacts:
Devon Haynes, Office of At-Large Councilmember Robert White, (202)600-1866; dhaynes@dccouncil.gov
Nick Hanson, Communications Director, Hope1Source (H1S), (571)310-5258; partnerships@hope1source.me
As DC residents work to establish a “new normal”, many find themselves more vulnerable than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges many District residents were already facing: low wages, unemployment, legal issues, mental illnesses, loneliness, substance abuse, fleeing domestic abuse or a destabilized country as a refugee, and many more.
Councilmember Robert White, in partnership with Hope1Source (H1S), a locally based non-profit network of government and non-government service providers, is ready to further strengthen the area’s local network of health, housing, career, and social service providers to meet the area’s unprecedented rising needs. He will be co-hosting a convening for service providers who assist many of these impacted District residents – including refugees, single adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and those who cannot afford food or rent.
“The District is fortunate to have a wealth of resources and service providers, but it can be challenging to know how to find them if you don’t know where to look,” said At-Large-Councilmember Robert White. “It takes a village to build a thriving community, which is why I’m co-hosting a convening on October 12, 2022 to bring together and strengthen a network of expert-verified DC service providers.”
Since 2016, Hope1Source (H1S) network members (partners) and volunteers have worked tirelessly to connect available health, housing, career, and social services to over 40,000 DC residents. These partners include many DC government agencies, and many more non-profit organizations and churches.
Within DC, over 3,000 health, housing, career, and social services have been verified by H1S volunteers in the region, as reflected on the H1S Verified Services map accessible to its network members. It’s free to join as a verified service provider or volunteer.
“H1S helps us connect with verified people and services, while also easily measuring the moments that matter for accessing our services in real-time”, says Dorothy Adams, Executive Director, Dreamers and Achievers who is attending the event.
“Many who have never worked as a service provider or experienced a major unmet need, may easily incorrectly assume that finding services is as easy as a Google search, or showing up with a referral,” says Timothy Underwood, Executive Director, H1S.
“However, a verified network matters. There are typically varying eligibility requirements and supply levels, staff shortages, and many more inequities to access them. These often complex challenges lead to a disheartening experience for everyone involved. Many give up hope. To help, we created a real-time network of verified people and services that is driven by volunteers and technology. It also advances evidence based practices such as Critical Time Intervention, Housing First, and Human-Centered Design.”
Councilmember Robert White has witnessed firsthand the ability for H1S to empower and energize the vulnerable residents DC Service Providers assist with real-time accessible, verified, clear and concise information about available services, along with follow-up. White has volunteered with H1S at community events multiple times, including assisting veterans experiencing homelessness at the Department of Veteran Affairs 2016 Winterhaven event. In 2018, he co-hosted the first ever convening with DC area service providers to further support the H1S service provider network.
Any DC area health, housing, career, or social service provider can send one leader to this next Convening on October 12, 2012. Attendees will receive the opportunity to network, share information about their available services – including how to access them. Volunteers from H1S will also be in attendance to share how they can partner to receive free network assistance beyond the Convening.
To request more information and an invite, any Service Provider can complete the Get Involved form at this link: https://www.hope1source.org/get-involved. Any others interested in volunteering or donating can also complete the form.
