SOME (So Other Might Eat), an interfaith, community-based service organization supporting residents of our nation’s capital experiencing homelessness and poverty, is opening 47 units of newly-renovated affordable housing at its Anna Cooper House property, located in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC.
Anna Cooper House preserves much-needed affordable housing in Ward 2, offering single-room occupancy for single adults earning no more than 30% family median income (FMI) as well wrap-around supports from SOME’s integrated continuum of care, which includes healthcare, mental health supports, job training and more.
SOME is redefining affordable housing by creating a stable foundation where our residents can explore their potential, supported by practical resident programs such as financial education, employment initiatives, intensive case management, and recovery support. Residents typically pay no more than 30% of their income as rent and Anna Cooper House residents will have access to amenities such as free Wi-Fi, on-site laundry facilities, private bathrooms, and common spaces equipped for collaborative living, in addition to being in close proximity to mass transit.
“No effort to reduce homelessness can be successful in the long term without increased resources for affordable housing,” said Ralph Boyd, President and CEO of SOME. “At SOME, we believe that affordable housing and supportive programs improve the economic status of residents, revitalize neighborhoods and stabilize lives. We are proud to continue to expand our affordable housing portfolio into Northwest DC, making these vibrant neighborhoods accessible for those experiencing extreme poverty.”
Anna Cooper House’s location in Ward 2 affords our residents proximity to the profusion of restaurants, markets, and entertainment options along D.C.’s vibrant 14th Street and U Street corridors and is in alignment with Mayor Bowser and SOME’s push for equitable distribution of affordable housing throughout the city.
Additional SOME housing projects in Northwest Washington include Liz Donohue House, 36 family apartments in Columbia Heights that opened in 2019; Karin House, 40 efficiency units for seniors at The Parks @ Historic Walter Reed that will open in November 2021; and 136 units for single adults under development in the Truxton Circle/NoMa area, scheduled for completion in 2023.
The Anna Cooper House project was made possible through funding from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing Production Trust Fund, D.C. Housing Finance Agency, the National Equity Fund, and J.P. Morgan Chase. The architect for Anna Cooper House is Miner Feinstein Architects and construction was completed by Bozzuto.
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About SOME Affordable Housing
SOME opened its first transitional housing program in 1986, its first long-term affordable housing program in 1989, and now operates 1,100 units of supportive-service, affordable housing for families and single adults experiencing homelessness and poverty. Most non-profit housing developers in the District focus on housing for households up to 80% or below of the FMI (Family Median Income); few concentrate on developing affordable housing for those in the lowest economic bracket. SOME has stepped into this vacuum and is filling a critical niche by providing housing to those at 30% or less of FMI ($38,700 for a family of four as of 2021).
In addition to pioneering the Single Room Occupancy concept in the District, SOME has acquired and developed properties for use in addressing different issues and stages of homelessness. These housing properties include transitional housing for families at the Weinberg Building, a crisis stabilization center for those with mental illness at Jordan House, a shelter for abused and neglected older adults at Kuehner Place, and transitional housing for those in substance abuse recovery at Leland Place.
In 2005, recognizing the great need in DC for the creation of affordable housing SOME launched its Affordable Housing Development Initiative with a goal of creating 1,000 new units of housing. We are more than halfway to our goal, with 783 units completed or in the development pipeline.
About SOME
SOME provides material aid and comfort to our vulnerable neighbors in the District, helping them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through programs and services that save lives, improve lives and help transform the lives of individuals and families, their communities, and the systems and structures that affect them. Learn more at SOME.org.