“We were able to fund a cat cafe in hours – can we show the same interest in helping a member of our own community find housing?”

“Dear PoPville,

I am writing on behalf of a friend, a woman who spent four years in prison for a non-violent offense and has been tirelessly working to get her life on track and to stand up for other female returning citizens. Time and again she has had doors shut in face, she has been abused by organizations that are supposed to help her and she has struggled to find real support. Within the past few months she has been dealing with a mental heath housing organization, which is now evicting her with no where to go. She is trying to raise money for rent, so that she can safely address her own trauma and start an organization to speak out for others. She started a YouCaring page – and has a blog. Her blog is beautifully written and details the day-to-day struggles of reentry, and the impact of trauma throughout that process.

This is an opportunity to support one person who I believe will have a broader impact on the community of female returning citizens. She is living proof of the housing crisis in DC that we rant about, the failing mental systems and the challenges of reentering society after a period of incarceration.

We were able to fund a cat cafe in hours – can we show the same interest in helping a member of our own community find housing?”