Do you have an apartment to rent? D.C. is hoping you can help.
Mayor Muriel Bowser launched a campaign Monday to find permanent housing for 400 homeless households during the holiday season. Many of the families that need homes have housing vouchers -- they just need landlords who will let them move in.
Tremaine Anderson, a housekeeper with two young children, signed the lease for her new home on Monday. As her kids, Zaire and Zion, played on their bunk beds, Anderson said she's excited to move into the two-bedroom apartment near Naylor Gardens. She and her children already have stayed in too many shelters and homes to count.
"I was just couch surfing, going from house to house, house to house," she said.
Building owner Zayed Tsew said he was happy to create an opportunity for someone else. Twenty years ago, he was a poor immigrant.
"I was one of them. I was looking for the housing before," he said. "That was really my dream to do something for the people."
D.C.'s program, called Home for the Holidays, already has matched 71 tenants with landlords.
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"We have the right resources in place to find permanent homes for our most vulnerable households, but now we need available, affordable units," Bowser said in a statement.
If you're not a landlord, you still can help. D.C. is asking for donations of housewares to help people get set up in their new homes. Donations of new or gently used kitchenware, toys, housewares and professional clothing can be dropped off at the Adams Place Day Center (2210 Adams Place NE), or you can email homefortheholidays@dc.gov for more information.
