DC
Resources

Start Here

​​

This directory helps District of Columbia residents find official and established services. Program availability and eligibility can change. Call before traveling.

​​

​​

Immediate danger: Call 911

DC government services: Call 311

Mental health or suicide crisis: Call or text 988

DC Access Helpline: 1-888-793-4357

​​

​

​

HOMELESSNESS, SHELTER, AND HOUSING STABILITY

​​

​DC Homeless Services Hotline
Call 202-399-7093 or 311 for shelter access, outreach, transportation, and information about available services. The hotline operates daily and expands to 24-hour coverage during hypothermia season.

Official information: https://dhs.dc.gov/page/accessing-short-term-family-housing

​​

Families with children under 18
Virginia Williams Family Resource Center
Call 202-526-0017 for centralized family intake, screening, emergency shelter access, and housing-stabilization referrals.

Young adults ages 18 to 24

Project Reconnect / Youth HOPE
Call 202-698-4166 or email project.reconnect@dc.gov for prevention, diversion, family mediation, and youth homelessness support.

Official information: https://dhs.dc.gov/service/homelessness-prevention-diversion

​​

Rental or public-benefit help

Call the DHS Public Benefits Call Center at 202-727-5355. Check the current Emergency Rental Assistance Program status before applying at https://erap.dhs.dc.gov/

​​

How to request help
Call the correct intake number, explain who is in your household and where you slept last night, ask what documents are needed, and write down the worker's name and any confirmation number.

​​

​​

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SAFETY

​​

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

DC Victim Hotline
Call 1-844-4HELPDC or 1-844-443-5732, 24 hours a day. Ask for DC SAFE, safety planning, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, court advocacy, counseling, or another victim-service referral.
Official information: https://dhs.dc.gov/service/domestic-violence-survivor-supports

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788.

How to get help
Call the DC Victim Hotline and say whether you need an advocate, safe shelter, transportation, legal support, or help making a safety plan. Use a safe device when possible and clear browsing or call history if monitoring is a concern.

​​

CRIME VICTIM INFORMATION AND COMPENSATION

​​

DC Victim Hotline
Call 1-844-443-5732 for 24-hour connection to victim services.

DC Crime Victims Compensation Program
Call 202-879-4216. Eligible victims may request help with qualifying crime-related expenses. Ask the program which application, police report, bills, identification, and supporting records are required.
Official information: https://www.dccourts.gov/services/crime-victims-compensation-matters

How to apply
Contact the program promptly, request the current application, gather proof of the crime and expenses, submit all required pages, and keep copies of everything. Eligibility and deadlines depend on the case.

​​

FOOD PANTRIES, GROCERIES, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS

​​

Apply for SNAP and other benefits
Use District Direct at https://districtdirect.dc.gov/ or call the DHS Public Benefits Call Center at 202-727-5355. Create an account, complete the application, upload requested documents, and save the confirmation number.

​​

​​

Find food near you

​​

Capital Area Food Bank serves the region through hundreds of community partners. Use its Get Help resources to locate current distributions and pantries:
https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/get-help/
Phone: 202-644-9800

Additional DC food and basic-needs providers
Martha's Table: https://marthastable.org/
Bread for the City: https://breadforthecity.org/
DC Central Kitchen: https://dccentralkitchen.org/

Hours and inventory change. Contact the provider before visiting and ask what identification, residency proof, bags, appointment, or registration may be required.

​​

​​

LANDLORD AND TENANT HELP

​​

DC Office of the Tenant Advocate
Call 202-719-6560 for tenant rights information, landlord disputes, housing-code concerns, emergency housing questions, and available legal representation.
Official information: https://ota.dc.gov/

Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network
Call 202-780-2575 for legal screening and referral when facing eviction or another landlord-tenant problem.

Housing-code or repair complaints
Call 311 and request a housing inspection or service request. Save the confirmation number.

What to prepare
Gather the lease, rent ledger, notices, court papers, photos, repair requests, emails, texts, payment records, and a timeline. Do not ignore an eviction notice or court date. Seek legal help immediately.

​​

​​

FOSTER CARE, KINSHIP, YOUTH, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING

​​

DC Child and Family Services Agency
Main line: 202-442-6100
Office: 200 I Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Official information: https://cfsa.dc.gov/

​​

Becoming a foster or adoptive parent

Call CFSA at 202-442-6100 and ask for the current foster or adoptive parent orientation and application process. Ask what identification, background checks, home study, training, and household records are required.

Youth in foster care and transition-age youth
Call CFSA and ask for services for older youth, independent living, education, employment, housing, life-skills preparation, aftercare, or help contacting the youth ombudsman. Current programs depend on age and case status.

REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO CFSA

Call the CFSA Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 24 hours a day:
202-671-SAFE or 202-671-7233

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Be ready to share the child's name, address, age, gender, caregiver information, names of other children in the home, the nature and extent of suspected abuse or neglect, previous concerns, and any information that may help locate or protect the child. Reports may be confidential. Mandated reporters can use CFSA's non-emergency online reporting option when appropriate.
Official instructions: https://cfsa.dc.gov/service/report-child-abuse-and-neglect

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Resilience LLC does not control these programs and cannot guarantee eligibility, availability, funding, or response times.