D.C. friends- have you ever walked past Christ House on Columbia Road and noticed a group of our patients sitting in the courtyard? The beautiful statue of Jesus by Jimilu Mason helps identify us, but otherwise we are tucked into a fairly nondescript building. It would be easy to pass us by without realizing what is happening inside.
Every man you see sitting outside is here because he is facing an acute medical need- and more often than not, he is managing three or more serious conditions at once. Living outside or in a shelter takes a profound toll on the body. Lack of restorative sleep, poor nutrition, untreated chronic illness, and the daily stress of survival wear a person down quickly. Research consistently shows that frailty and functional decline happen at a much faster rate for people experiencing homelessness.
While recovering at Christ House, each patient works closely with a case manager to obtain entitlements, benefits, and legal documents such as birth certificates and identification cards, facilitate re-connection family when possible, and navigating referrals to community resources. This is a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience.
Being sick while trying to organize so many areas of one’s life is stressful. That’s why we intentionally create opportunities throughout the week for creativity, laughter, and connection.
Kathryn Bowers, Year-Long Volunteer, coordinates with volunteers to provide fun and engaging activities. From art classes and collage workshops to lively Bingo nights and movie evenings with popcorn, our common spaces are often filled with conversation and friendly competition. We celebrate monthly birthday parties so no one’s special day goes unnoticed. At one of our recent parties, one of the men we celebrated shared that this was the first time he had celebrated his birthday in over a decade.
We take trips around the city, including visits to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and attend small local events around Adams Morgan. Patients have enjoyed live music from the Saxatones, Akoma Songs, and local pianist Andy Statler. We’ve hosted Wii tournaments, welcomed Norman the service dog, and even introduced a small robotic pet dog, whom the patients have dubbed “Lazy Cooper”.
These experiences matter. Here’s what our patients have been saying:
“I forgot that I used to enjoy art.”
“I really enjoyed the African American History Museum- I would encourage all the guys here to go.”
“The football game was awesome, brought back memories. Especially the little band part… We used to play at halftime. It was a blast, and I’d love to do it again.”
Moments like these remind us that the men at Christ House are not defined by their illnesses or their housing status. They are artists, musicians, athletes, fathers, sons, and friends. When we create space for joy, we help to uphold the dignity of each person who comes through Christ House.
This, of course, could not happen without YOU. Thank you for your generosity and we hope you enjoy seeing just a few of the activities that your support have made happen.
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