Photos by Carol Guzy
Left: Charletta speaks with a fellow Jubilee Housing staff member.
Below: Charletta came to Jubilee Housing in need of support. Now she supports others in need as a Jubilee staff member.
Charletta and her young son J were living at a shelter with little support when Jubilee Housing gave her a fresh start. When an apartment became available for the two of them, Jubilee's staff mobilized like family, helping her with everything from retrieving her belongings from storage to introducing her to her neighbors. She even found a job working at Jubilee.
"I don't know what I'd do without Jubilee Housing," Charletta says. "It's a home away from home. It's like a family. Now I want to give a little back to help others."
Once settled in their apartment, J blossomed. An afterschool program at Jubilee provided help with his homework. The headaches and lack of appetite he experienced at the shelter disappeared; he excelled at school.
Today, J teaches overseas. Charletta works directly with Jubilee residents, helping them through their own life transitions. She's enrolled in money management classes offered by Jubilee and is saving for her own home. Jubilee has been a lifeline to many people like Charletta.They have learned that Jubilee is not just an organization that renovates housing units. Jubilee helps people rebuild their confidence and gives them the foundation for creating a brighter future.
Learn more about Jubilee Housing in the 2006 Annual Report.
Jubilee Housing is a faith based non-profit organization founded in 1973 to provide affordable housing and supportive services to economically disadvantaged residents of the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Jubilee serves more than 850 individuals and families, and has been a model for programs around the country seeking effective responses to the urban affordable housing crisis. Learn more about Jubilee Housing.