FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House of Ruth Named Awardee of Action for Women’s Health to Expand Mental Health Services for Domestic Violence Survivors
Washington, D.C. — November 12, 2025 — House of Ruth, a leading Washington, D.C. nonprofit empowering women, children, and families to rebuild their lives and heal from trauma, abuse, and houselessness, has been announced as one of 80+ organizations that were awarded funding through Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global open call, launched in 2024 to support organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health around the world.
“Investing in the women’s health space requires an expansive outlook on the social determinants of health as well as healthcare itself. Addressing each basic need is a building block for a woman to unlock her capacity to address the next,” said Sandra Jackson, President and CEO of House of Ruth. “Over 50 years, House of Ruth has a proven, trauma-informed, holistic model that addresses social determinants of health and healthcare to rebuild lives and support women in their journey of healing and hope for the future.”
This one-time funding will enhance the mental health services provided to survivors of domestic violence and houselessness across House of Ruth’s programs. These programs include group therapy within twelve housing programs; no insurance required, unlimited one-on-one counseling through the Domestic Violence Support Center; and more. These services are provided at no-cost to survivors.
Over 4,000 organizations from 119 countries applied, offering solutions across the lifespan for women. After a rigorous peer and expert review process, 80+ organizations have been identified, many of whom have historically lacked access to major funding streams. This funding will have real impact for women across geographies, life stages, and identities.
Action for Women’s Health is funded by Pivotal, a group of impact organizations founded by Melinda French Gates, and managed by Lever for Change, an organization with a track record of identifying bold ideas to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
More information about the initiative and awardees is available at: https://leverforchange.org/open-calls/action-for-womens-health.
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About House of Ruth
Founded in 1976, House of Ruth provides safe housing and supportive services for women, children, and families in Washington, D.C. who have experienced trauma, abuse, and houselessness. Each year, the organization serves more than 1,000 individuals through a continuum of service-enriched housing, child and family development, and mental health counseling programs — all provided at no cost to participants. The organization serves more than 1,000 individuals annually and has served more than 20,000 individuals since its founding.
Learn more at www.houseofruth.org.
Media Contact
Julian Gross, Digital Marketing & Communications Manager
Email: jgross@houseofruth.org
