Enthusiasm – it’s what you’ll find when you talk to everyone at Calvary Women’s Shelter in Washington, D.C.  The clients, staff and board members may all come from different backgrounds, but they have the same enthusiastic tone in their voices when they tell you that Calvary is “the most successful homeless shelter you will come across.”  That’s a huge claim, but they can back it up.

Members of The Women’s Foundation’s Washington 100 leadership network went to Calvary on April 7, 2010 for a site visit where they learned how this shelter provides women with a safe place to live, nutritious meals, job opportunities, mental health services, addiction recovery support and educational programs.  Besides learning more about the services that are available, they learned how it all comes together to make Calvary a successful program.

“Every five days a woman transitions out of this shelter and into permanent housing,” board member Cindy Schwarz told the group.

One reason the program works so well is because there are only 12 clients for every Calvary case manager.  They believe that this is the lowest shelter client to case manager rate in the District.  They also credit the community feeling, the safety and stability, and the life skills programs for giving women the tools they need.

“This is a turning point for women as they’re seeking to change themselves,” said Executive Director Kris Thompson.

According to Kris, there are 6,000 homeless people in Washington, D.C.  About half are women.  Calvary Women’s Services opened as an emergency shelter in the 1980s and became more transitional in the early ‘90s, breaking out into three programs, one of which is Calvary Women’s Shelter.  Though they’re able to help their clients turn their lives around relatively quickly, the shelter is always full and always has a waiting list.

During the site visit, Washington 100 members heard from two clients who have made major changes in their lives, thanks to Calvary.

One woman, who transitioned out of the women’s shelter and into a permanent housing program, talked about how just a short time ago she was a wife and mother of four.  After leaving her abusive husband, she ended up with no place to live and a drinking problem.  She said that after waking up from a blackout and discovering that she’d fallen on her face and broken her front teeth, she knew she had to make a change.  So she went to Calvary.  Two years later, she’s living in a safe apartment and has a job that she loves.

Washington 100 members also heard from a second resident who will soon transition out of the women’s shelter.  She said that a chronic illness meant that she had to move out of her house and into an apartment.  Soon after, she found herself living in a car.  And then she moved to a rat-infested emergency shelter.

“Imagine losing your credit and your credibility,” she said.  “Then imagine finding a lighthouse… that was Calvary for me.”

She said that being at Calvary restored her sense of security, stability and social engagement.  It has also inspired her to become That Woman.

“Since my time at Calvary I’ve become more aware of the needs of those around me,” she said.  “I’m inspired to help others.”

Because the need for transitional shelters is so great, Calvary is seeking to expand despite the hardships the economy has presented.

“We need to stick our necks out to help the increasing number of women who need assistance,” said Kris.

Calvary’s staff says they’re always looking for ways to raise money but they also need volunteers and donations of items like toiletries and laundry detergent.  They’re currently recruiting for their board of directors and they say they appreciate the free publicity anyone can give by telling their friends and family about the organization.  For more details about these opportunities and information on Calvary, please click here.