Celebrate 50 Years of Hope, Healing, and Empowerment with House of Ruth!
For those who are experiencing houselessness or domestic violence, get in touch with us and learn how to access our services.
Information about House of Ruth’s mission and bylaws, our staff and current employment opportunities.
Learn about the programs we offer and how we are making a difference in Washington, DC.
Help support House of Ruth through a monetary donation or learn about other ways to get involved.
House of Ruth celebrates our 50th anniversary! Throughout the decades, we have expanded to meet the needs of the women, children, and families of Washington, D.C. From supportive housing to therapeutic childcare to counseling, our next chapter—affordable housing—brings it all together.
House of Ruth acquires Swann Street, an 8-unit affordable housing property in Northwest Washington, D.C. The property introduces a new model that bridges the gap between program housing and independent affordable housing—ensuring families have a clear path to long-term stability and success for future generations.
House of Ruth’s current and former board members, Darryl Christmon and Frances Christmon, know they raised their daughter so well — and we do, too, because when she went to donate her 20 year old car — she thought of House of Ruth first! Her donation (her beloved first car — see photo!) was sold by our partner, and the profit came to help women and children survivors of homelessness and domestic violence here at House of Ruth. You (and your family members) can do the same! Click here: careasy.org/nonprofit/houseofruth, and they will help you with the whole process.
Thank you for your ongoing support and considering your car donation — we couldn’t help the women and children we do without YOU!
Myth #1
Domestic violence is an impulse control problem and happens because they “lost their temper,” and not because they meant to hurt their partner.
The truth
Abusers act deliberately and with forethought. Abusers choose whom to abuse. And use violence because it helps them gain and maintain power and control, not because they lose control of their emotions.
Myth #2
It is easy for a victim to leave their abuser, so if they don’t leave, it means they are exaggerating how bad it is.
The truth
There are many reasons why someone can’t escape: fear or threats, lack of safe options, an inability to survive economically can prevent many victims from leaving abusive relationships.
The most dangerous time for a victim can be when they attempt to leave the relationship.
Myth #3
Domestic violence only happens among younger people.
The truth
Approximately half of all elder abuse in women is thought to be domestic violence “grown old”. Older women experiencing abuse are also less likely to seek and receive help.
Myth #4
Domestic violence only affects the adults in the household.
The truth
An estimated 3.3 to 10 million children witness domestic violence annually. And there are numerous links between serious emotional and psychological problems from exposure to domestic violence.
Myth #5
Abusers are violent in all their relationships.
The truth
Most abusers do not use violence in other non-intimate relationships to resolve conflict. And often times present a different personality outside the home than they do inside, which can complicate a victim’s ability to describe their experience.
Myth #6
If a person had better self-esteem their partner wouldn’t abuse them.
The truth
Domestic violence has nothing to do with self-esteem. It is about the perpetrator wielding power and control over their loved one. It is not the victim’s fault, and will not go away with better self-esteem.
Myth #7
Domestic violence only happens in heterosexual relationships.
The truth
Domestic violence also occurs in LGBTQ relationships. In addition to the universal coercive tactics of an abuser, LGBTQ individuals may experience the added fear of being “outed” to family, friends, and peers if they leave the relationship.
Myth #8
It is not considered domestic abuse if both parties use physical violence against each other.
The truth
Assessment of domestic violence hinges on patterns of coercive behavior in order to control another person. A victim may use physical violence in self-defense.
Myth #9
Once an abuser, always an abuser.
The truth
The key to changing abusive habits is the abuser’s willingness to accept responsibility for their actions, want to change, and seek individual or group counseling away from the victim. This does NOT imply that the victim is responsible for encouraging this change nor having to forgive their abuser.
Meera* has journeyed a long road to a healthy, holistic way of life.
Meera has suffered through trauma, many years of homelessness, extensive substance abuse that resulted in incarceration, and bouncing around from shelter to shelter. Finding herself tired and ill, Meera eventually decided to pursue substance abuse treatment. When she came to House of Ruth’s residential supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence, she had already been living substance-free for six months, and has continued to successfully maintain her sobriety. She is committed to attending AA meetings and speaks with her sponsor regularly.
When Meera first visited House of Ruth she didn’t know what to expect. She and her son had previously experienced living in shelters that were not very clean and offered limited support, so she was surprised to learn she would be living in a private two bedroom apartment. She said the space was beautiful, and felt both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to create her own home.
Meera places a strong focus on the energy she puts into the world, and using energy to create a better state of mind. The environment and support available at House of Ruth has enabled Meera to adjust her lifestyle to find healthier ways to cope with the challenges she has faced.
In early 2021, Meera started her own business by offering meditation and yoga online, and it has been a phenomenal success. When she posted her first video, she did not anticipate the popularity it would gain. Despite her surprise, Meera recognized the need for online services during the pandemic, and actively pursued this opportunity. She has found satisfaction in sharing her holistic values and expertise with others. In alignment with these values, Meera recently obtained a certification in permaculture.
Knowing people may shift their focus away from online experiences as the pandemic eases, Meera has concentrated on saving money. Thanks to her savings, Meera was accepted into House of Ruth’s Bridges program. She is putting in applications for her own apartment in the community. While in the Bridges program, Meera will receive income-based rental assistance and supportive services until she is ready to transition to full independence.
House of Ruth has empowered Meera with housing, case management, counseling, and more, and she has built upon this support to the best of her ability to create a meaningful, stable life for herself and her three-year-old son. Her son has demonstrated developmental challenges, and while resistant to assigning a label or diagnosis to her son, with support from her case manager, Meera has decided to seek the help of a specialist to find out how best to assist him. Her case manager is proud of Meera’s ability to re-examine the situation to the benefit of her son.
*Name has been changed.
To get more stories like Meera’s straight to your inbox sign up for our newsletter!
Jamie* and her young son live in House of Ruth’s supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence. At House of Ruth, Jamie has found both safety and a refuge to rebuild her life. Without having to fear for her safety or the safety of her son, she has found the space to take a breath and focus on her goals. When she first arrived, Jamie was receiving unemployment benefits, coping with the emotional challenges of recent abuse, and feeling scattered as she tried to identify a direction for her next steps.
House of Ruth was here to provide safe housing, and comprehensive services for both Jamie and her son. Jamie has taken full advantage of the empowering services available to her through House of Ruth — case management, supportive counseling, group counseling, parenting support, therapeutic childcare, and more. She enrolled her son in our Kidspace childcare program, and credits Kidspace with helping him make great progress in overcoming some speech and behavioral challenges he experienced.
Jamie has overcome the past and found her way forward. With support from our staff, she identified her goals and actively began pursuing them. After completing rigorous training, Jamie acquired an excellent job working for local government. Her son is thriving, thanks to Kidspace and Jamie’s attentive focus on his needs. Jamie is actively saving money, and seeing is the benefits of this effort.
Recently Jamie was approved to transition to House of Ruth’s Bridges Program. Joining Bridges will enable Jamie to move out of House of Ruth’s site-based residential programming, and into her own apartment in the community. She will receive income-based rental assistance and supportive services from House of Ruth until she is ready to transition to full independence.
Jamie is in the process of apartment searching right now. Her journey is inspiring and we are so proud of her accomplishments in overcoming the challenges that came her way.
*Name has been changed.
To get more stories like Jamie’s straight to your inbox sign up for our newsletter!
Wren* and her son is a survivor of domestic violence and homelessness. She has found safety and steady support in House of Ruth’s transitional housing.
Wren is coping with anxiety and trauma. Her son’s father was recently murdered, and she does not have a lot of support from her family. Thanks to you, she and her son have found a safe place to be at House of Ruth. Our staff is here to encourage Wren and to connect her to the resources she needs to move forward.
Wren has concrete, attainable dreams for herself and her son, and she is committed to reaching her goals. She already has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, and her ultimate goal is to become an attorney. When she first arrived at House of Ruth, she quickly secured a job at a local store, and worked there while applying and interviewing at several law firms. Her efforts paid off, as she was hired as a legal assistant at a law firm in D.C. House of Ruth referred her to a partner agency where she received a wardrobe of professional clothing for her new position.
Our staff also connected Wren to outpatient counseling at House of Ruth’s Domestic Violence Support Center, where she is getting expert help in healing from trauma and addressing the anxiety she experiences. As she is able to prioritize her wellness, she knows her young son will benefit as well. Wren has enrolled him at House of Ruth’s Kidspace program, so he is now receiving enriching, trauma-informed childcare on a daily basis.
Wren is young and has her whole future ahead of her. Your generosity is enabling her to create a solid foundation for the future, and will make a long-term difference in her life and her son’s life. Thank you for being there for them and for so many survivors of domestic violence.
*Name has been changed.
To get more stories like Wren’s straight to your inbox sign up for our newsletter!
Michelle* and her three children lives in one of House of Ruth’s supportive housing programs for mothers and children who have survived domestic violence. Like more than thirty other House of Ruth residents, Michelle recently lost her job as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michelle is a dedicated, hard worker. She is certified to provide in-home healthcare. She has gone through difficult times before, having cared for terminally ill patients who passed away, which meant she was out of work for periods of time. Most recently she worked in Maryland. This situation started off well when she had a car, but when the car broke down and needed prohibitively expensive repairs, she had to take public transportation. This meant two bus rides and one metro ride just to take her daughter to daycare and get to work. House of Ruth was able to help her some with Lyft rides, but most of her wages went to transportation costs. Despite these challenges, Michelle was determined to keep working.
Today, House of Ruth is supporting Michelle with essentials (e.g. toilet paper, groceries) while she waits for her unemployment and stimulus checks to come through. She has also applied for food stamps. More time at home has given Michelle a chance to reflect, and she has realized she needs more education to obtain a healthcare position that pays a sustainable wage. She is researching degree programs. Our staff will be there for her as she figures out how to make this happen. Staff empowers every client we serve by helping them create a personal budget, and Michelle’s budget includes making regular, minimal payments on an educational loan for which she is in default. This has already set her up to move forward with her new plans in a reasonable time frame, and will keep her past challenges from preventing her from reaching her goals.
Michelle is a wonderful mother who wants the best for her children, and works hard to stay tuned into their needs. She has sought the help of our staff to make sure her children are able to complete their school assignments during the quarantine. Both of her boys are elementary school age and on the honor roll. This morning she joyfully announced that her older son was accepted into a middle school for gifted students, which he will attend in the fall. She makes sure the boys stay very active, and they have excelled while playing on multiple sports teams.
Her three year-old daughter, Elise*, attends Kidspace, our developmental childcare center. Like many children who have gone through trauma, Elise has experienced developmental delays. This was difficult for Michelle to recognize, but with supportive guidance from our staff, she was able to see the need for testing. Since then Elise has received regular speech therapy at Kidspace. Today she is doing so well!
As we face the reality of the current COVID-19 crisis, our staff is helping Michelle and all our clients process their anxieties, problem-solve in the face of new challenges, and remember their resilience — they have already come through so much. Michelle has faced many setbacks in her life, but she is vigilant in moving forward. She is a wonderful example for us all during difficult times. Michelle regularly expresses her appreciation for the help she has received from House of Ruth.
*Names have been changed.
Allison* initially came to House of Ruth’s Domestic Violence Support Center (DVSC) because she was concerned about the impact living with her long-term abusive partner and father of her children was having on her and her two daughters. Allison acknowledged that there were times that she and her daughters felt fearful of Allison’s partner, when he was verbally abusive and kept Allison from sleeping, or disrupted her daughters while working on their homework. Allison felt that her self-esteem, and that of her daughters, was being negatively affected by the abuse.
Despite this, Allison felt unable to separate from her partner and worked with her DVSC counselor for three months to explore the obstacles to separating, both emotional and logistical, and to identify and implement some strategies to improve the quality of life for her and her daughters. Several months later, Allison returned to counseling following an incident in which her partner threatened to kill Allison and her daughters.
Allison has since left her partner, moved in with her mother, and filed a Civil Protection Order (CPO). Allison also reported that criminal charges against her partner were pending. Allison has already obtained an attorney to support her as she pursued full legal custody of her daughters. Allison credits the work done in therapy as being instrumental in helping her take quick action to protect herself and her daughters.
In Allison’s words, “I wasn’t ready before, but coming to counseling helped me know what to do when the time was right.” Allison continued in counseling the second time around for 8 more months until her she had secured permanent custody of her daughters and moved into her own apartment.
*Names have been changed.
When the hosts of News Channel 8 – Good Morning Washington reached out to House of Ruth to see if we knew a deserving Mom for a surprise Mother’s Day Makeover, we knew just who to recommend. Rosemary G. is a mother of two sons, a grandmother of one grandson and the “adopted” mother to many neighborhood youth. She is in recovery from substance abuse and is a survivor of a near-fatal domestic abuse attack. Fifteen years ago, Rosemary lost custody of her four and five year-old sons due to her drug addiction. She decided to get clean and sober to regain custody of her two young sons and be the mother that she wished she had as a child.
Rosemary completed a 6-month residential drug treatment program in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, she and her sons entered House of Ruth’s FamilySpace Program to continue to receive supportive services to help her remain sober and stable. Throughout her stay in the FamilySpace Program, Rosemary set goals for herself and strived to be a good example for her children.
She has always had a gift and passion for cooking. As a result, she completed the 6-month culinary certificate program at D.C. Central Kitchen and gained employment. However, she decided to continue her education at Stratford University in Arlington, VA. Balancing work and school, she eventually obtained an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts. Currently, Rosemary is a prep chef at the D.C. Superior Court Building. The judges often request her to help cater special events in their chambers because of her delicious food.
The surprise spa day was a gift to Rosemary and watching her delight and joy was a gift to everyone watching Good Morning Washington that day. Click here to see the segments and the surprise – and thank you for making this good work possible.
Dr. Veronica Maz, PhD was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to helping marginalized and vulnerable populations in Washington, D.C. A sociology professor at Georgetown University, her transformative journey began in 1970 when she took students to visit D.C.’s “Skid Row.” “And then I was going back to my car and my real nice comfortable home,” Dr. Maz later wrote in The Washington Post. “And a man fell down right in front of me, right on the sidewalk. And I just walked around him and got in my car.
“And when I got in my car, I started talking to myself,” she continued. “I said, ‘Why didn’t you help him?’ Well, I just assumed he was drunk. Well, what if he were drunk? He could’ve had a heart attack. . . . All that night I didn’t sleep. It bothered me personally.
Whatever these sensitivities that you grow up with that you’re not even conscious of. That’s faith.” Witnessing the dire conditions firsthand, Dr. Maz was deeply moved and compelled to take action. She left academia and started working on the streets of D.C., becoming an advocate for those facing houselessness, hunger, and abuse.
In collaboration with others, Dr. Maz founded House of Ruth in 1976, a shelter for women who have suffered abuse and/or houselessness. At the time, D.C. had only a few shelters for men, and none dedicated to serving women or their children. On House of Ruth’s first night in 1976, we gave shelter to eight homeless women in the basement of a row home on Massachusetts Avenue.
In addition to House of Ruth, Dr. Maz helped found two other impactful social services agencies: Martha’s Table and So Others Might Eat (SOME). Alongside Father Horace B. McKenna, she opened Martha’s Table with just $93. Over the years, Martha’s Table expanded its reach, operating at multiple locations and providing educational, health and wellness, and family resources. Similarly, SOME became a renowned soup kitchen and provider of essential services for those in need.
Dr. Veronica Maz’s dedication and tireless efforts earned her the admiration and respect of many. When she passed away in June 2014 at the age of 89, Dr. Maz was widely regarded as a shining light in D.C., having touched the lives of countless individuals by providing them with shelter, food, and hope. Her vision and determination continue to inspire others to work tirelessly for social justice, reminding us all of the profound impact one person can make in transforming the lives of those in need.
