His labor of love, had evolved into an agency serving annually (FY'08) 28,373 men, women and children in the North Capitol area, historically among D.C.'s poorest areas
| • A daytime Drop-In Center for homeless men |
| • The HIV/AIDS Initiative |
| • Hypothermia Unit & Myriad of other programs & initiatives |
| • Emergency Food, Rental and Utility Assistance |
DC Fiscal Policy Institute 2007 study found: |
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• DC Poverty Highest in a decade |
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• Income inequality is greater in DC than nearly every other city |
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• African-Americans w/high school ed. Or less face lowest employment rate in three decades |
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• 73% of "very low income" pay more than 30% of their total income for rent |
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• Between 2000-2004, the District lost 7500 rental housing units priced at $500 per month while increasing units prices at $1000 per month by 13,000 units |
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• This is the '08 reality facing DC's homeless - A Tale of Two Cities |
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• One of only two in downtown Washington D.C. |
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• Guests offered: |
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• Shower facilities, laundry, telephone, and local transportation |
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• Referrals for an array of basic services to meet medical, employment and other personal needs |
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• Over 100 men per day are assisted by the Drop-in Center
Guests can get their mail; use center as address for job search |
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• They attend a support group meeting |
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• McKenna Center responds to the dangers of hypothermia by giving shelter for up to 25 vulnerable men from November 1 to April 1 who would otherwise sleep on the streets. |
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• Mental illness and addictions are common among DC's homeless population
McKenna Center has the capacity to provide or direct those in need to assistance |
• Every Wednesday night, the McKenna Center hosts a nutritious community meal for the homeless
PeaceMeal is designed to enhance not only the health but also the sense of self worth of our guests |
| • Gonzaga High School, Washington, D.C. |
| • Boston College High School, Boston, MA |
| • St. Peter's Prep, Jersey City, NJ |
| • Scranton Prep, Scranton, PA |
• Various parishes from Massachusetts and Nebraska participate also through Young Neighbors in Action