Loving the People Here In 2007, Dr. Janelle Goetcheus – founding member and medical director of Christ House – shared her thoughts on the mission of Christ House after 21 years of service. This year, we thought we would share some of this archived interview with our community as a way of recognizing our founders’ […] More…
What's Happening at Christ House
Joy Finds Its Way In: A Year Long Volunteer Reflection
Two hours into a day of endless commotion, charts a small mountain behind me, mug still full of untouched coffee, phone lines cacophonous without pause — John Craig, our Clinical Support Manager, stops by for a joke. “Have you heard the one about the bus driver?” he slyly asks, eyes alight with joy, puns ready […] More…
I’m Not Superman, but I Have a Superpower: A Kairos Member Story
When a case worker first told Ethan about Christ House, he replied, “I haven’t heard of it.” The case worker shared that Christ House was a place for men experiencing homelessness with acute medical needs to rest and recover. “I said okay, sure. I didn’t even think about it. I knew if I went back […] More…
Overdose Awareness Day
In 2020, overdose deaths in the US increased by nearly 30% since 2019 according to the National Center for Health Statistics (Washington Post). Overdose awareness is an issue close to the heart for the community at Christ House. Many of our patients have histories of substance use disorders, which can put them at a greater […] More…
Serving Lunch with Love
Each day, the kitchen staff members at Christ House prepare three delicious and nutritious meals for our patients. The greatest of these, in food quantity and popularity, is lunch! Our kitchen staff serves an average of 35-40 individuals at lunchtime, which includes patients, Kairos Members, and staff. Meal preparation takes approximately one hour, and often varies depending on the complexity of the dish itself. Meals at Christ House typically consist of […] More…
Compassion in Action 5k Participants: Meet John
John first started working full-time at Christ House in 2007 when he joined our staff as the Clinical Support Manager. His job grew from ordering supplies and scheduling patient transportation to managing the intake process for new patients. Before coming to Christ House, John began his work in the medical field on the shores of […] More…
Patient Outreach: Making patients feel safe and heard
There are a number of ways a patient can become connected with Christ House. Some patients are referred from shelters or local hospitals, some have family or friends who call asking about available beds, and others come to us through patient outreach. “Outreach for us is trying to connect with homeless persons wherever they are, […] More…
Building Blocks of Trust: A Year Long Volunteer Reflection
If you come to Christ House this year, you will be sure to see me running through the 2nd floor hallway, donning a face shield and bright green scrubs, preoccupied with grabbing a patient for their vital signs or medications. As a Respite Care Assistant, my duties include patrolling the floor, working with patients on […] More…
A Collection of Christ House Poetry
In honor of National Poetry Month, we would like to share some poetry written by Christ House patients over the years. Christ House offers comprehensive and compassionate health care to men experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. An important aspect of our patient care is holistic support. Patients are offered medical care, case management services, three […] More…
Caring Deeply: A Volunteer Reflection
Since coming to Christ House, my perspective on the homelessness crisis has shifted. I was raised to not talk to or even associate myself with homeless people. I was taught that I should help, but to keep my distance. As I grew up, I assumed that people who were homeless were using drugs or alcohol […] More…
