House of Ruth, founded in 1976 and opened on November 21, 1977,Pawlyna, Andrea (January 1, 1978).
A Refugee for Beaten Women
. ''The Baltimore Sun''. p. TR1. is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

that serves more than 600 women and children who are

abuse Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other t ...

d and homeless in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

. The mission of House of Ruth is to help women, children and families in greatest need and with very limited resources build safe, stable lives and achieve their highest potential. At 13 locations in Washington, D.C., House of Ruth serves women, children, and families who are striving to overcome childhood trauma,

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

homelessness Homelessness or houselessness – also known as a state of being unhoused or unsheltered – is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing. People can be categorized as homeless if they are: * living on the streets, also kn ...

mental health disorder A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...

s, and

substance abuse Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...

. House of Ruth provides nurturing, structured, safe housing and caring, consistent, individualized services in order to capitalize on the participants' strengths and meet their specific needs.

Programs

House of Ruth concentrates their services on three program areas: * Housing and Services for Women, including service-enriched transitional and

permanent housing Permanent may refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Permanent'' (film), a 2017 American film * ''Permanent'' (Joy Division album) * "Permanent" (song), by David Cook Other uses *Permanent (mathematics), a concept in linear algebra *Permanent (cycl ...

at five locations for 109 women; * Housing and Services for Families, including service-enriched housing at five locations for 63 families as well as supportive services for 11 families housed in apartments throughout the city; and * Community-Based Services, including '' Kidspace'', providing therapeutic

child development Child development involves the Human development (biology), biological, developmental psychology, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence. Childhood is divided into 3 stages o ...

to 76 children up to five years old who are homeless or at risk and supportive services for their parents, and the ''Domestic Violence Support Center'', a counseling center to address domestic violence, serving roughly 200 women at any given time and more than 400 over the course of the year.

References

External links

House of Ruth websiteThe Houses of Ruth
{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Ruth Women's shelters in the United States Organizations established in 1976 1976 establishments in Washington, D.C. Women in Washington, D.C. Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.