(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, District leaders, and community members celebrated the opening of The Aston, a first-of-its-kind non-congregate addition to the District’s adult homeless services system. The Aston will provide adults experiencing homelessness with semi-private rooms and individualized case management to support more effective connections to permanent housing.
“The transformation of our shelters is representative of a much bigger transformation of our entire homeless services system,” said Mayor Bowser. “We have reformed our systems so that we can meet people where they are and more effectively get people into permanent housing. And that is what we are doing again here at The Aston.”
The Aston’s non-congregate bridge housing model will serve three main populations:
- Families without minor children, couples, and other household configurations – including those of different genders – who need stable short-term arrangements.
- Individuals matched to a permanent housing resource through the District’s Continuum of Care who are working through their housing lease-up process.
- Residents such as those experiencing chronic homelessness who are transitioning from unsheltered settings or low barrier shelter whose services needs are best met in this type of setting.
“The Aston’s gender inclusivity and non-congregate setting are major differentiators,” said DC Department of Human Services Director Laura Green Zeilinger. “They provide couples and adult families the ability to stay together as well as a setting conducive to achieving greater stability in their lives.”
The District purchased The Aston, a former college dormitory, from George Washington University in August 2023 for $27.5 million. The Department of General Services (DGS) has made significant renovations and upgrades to the building, including plumbing, mechanical, elevator, and HVAC systems. DGS also improved the building’s life and safety systems to ensure the building is updated for current occupancy.
“The Department of General Services is proud to deliver improvements to the Aston,” said DGS Director Delano Hunter. “DGS invested in modernizing and upgrading essential systems, ensuring that the building is not only safe and efficient, but also ready to serve as a valuable resource for years to come. The improvements demonstrate our ongoing dedication to maintaining and improving the District's public assets for the benefit of residents and future occupants alike."
Supportive services, including individualized case management, are a key component of The Aston program. DHS and The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness selected Friendship Place to provide these services. Friendship Place will work with clients on their housing plans and provide navigation services that will support them in reaching their housing goals quickly and effectively.
“The Aston is a reflection of our mission to deliver compassionate, comprehensive services to people experiencing homelessness,” said Jean-Michel Giraud, President and CEO of Friendship Place. “Here, our participants will find both support and respect as they transition to a place they can truly call ‘home.’”
The opening of The Aston is the culmination of more than a year of intense planning and deep engagement with members of the Council of the District of Columbia, ANC 2A, and the local community. The District has continually engaged with neighbors, nearby businesses, and community representatives throughout the development process, including regular meetings and coordination through a Community Advisory Team to get community input and provide updates on the plans for The Aston.
Eligibility to reside at The Aston is determined through a Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement system. The Aston will accommodate up to 50 people initially. Clients began moving in on Friday, November 15. Over time, The Aston is expected to scale to approximately 100 people.
The Aston is part of a transformation of the District’s shelter system, and overall homeless services system, that has been taking place over the past 10 years. The Mayor also closed down DC General and replaced it with smaller, service-enriched short-term family housing citywide; opened the District’s first LGBTQ+ shelter; and opened the new 801 East Men’s Shelter. The District has gone beyond reshaping shelter to reforming the system of care, building out the emergency response system with outreach and homelessness prevention programs and, most importantly, investing in proven solutions to homelessness such as housing.
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