My Sister's Place, Inc

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the place My Sister's Place provided for my daughter and I to stay. — A client, after finding her own apartment

My Sister's Place is an innovator in changing lives through supporting survivors of domestic violence. MSP launched Washington D.C.’s first domestic violence 24-hour hotline and grew to provide housing and shelter, trauma-informed case management, and wraparound services to survivors of domestic violence.

While our clients are predominantly women and children, MSP serves male, trans, and all other survivors of domestic violence.

At least 90% of our current survivors identify as African American and 9% identify as Latinx.  Most of our clients are women under 30 years old and their children. Over 60% of our clients are from Southeast DC Wards 7 and 8, two areas known to be underserved and impoverished. Most clients live below the poverty line, are unemployed, and/or have detrimental credit histories which inhibit them and their families from securing safe and stable housing. 

Because public benefits are insufficient to sustain their independence, many of our clients would be forced to return to their abusers (or into homelessness or unstable housing) to meet their basic needs without the support of the programs provided by My Sister’s Place.

As DC's oldest domestic violence shelter, My Sister's Place (MSP) offers comprehensive programs and services that holistically address the unique challenges survivors face towards independence and promote a coordinated community response to this pressing public health issue. These currently include:

• A Confidential, 24-Hour Hotline at 202-529-5991
• Sanctuary Plus, our 15-bedroom emergency shelter
• RISE, an innovative Transitional-to-Permanent Housing Program
• Children’s Programming
• Residential and Nonresidential Counseling and Case Management
• Workforce Development
• Fresh Start Fund, a cash assistance program
• Aftercare Services
• Advocacy
• Community Outreach and Education
• Referrals to Community Partners

We are the only domestic violence shelter in the District that offers a full continuum of care —from immediate crisis intervention on our 24-hour hotline into sanctuary at our emergency shelter and into long-term safety and self-sufficiency through transitional-to-permanent housing.

Teresa's Story

Teresa came to the United States from Central America, hoping that life in a new country would ease the abuse she had endured. After being violently assaulted by a family member, she fled to MSP's emergency shelter with her 2-year-old son, Eduardo. Determined to give her son a life she never had, Teresa enrolled Eduardo in a language program to ensure that he would speak English as well as his classmates when he started school. She also worked with her case manager to become a candidate for MSP’s transitional-to-permanent housing program, hoping to provide Eduardo with the safe, stable home every child deserves.

In under 12 months, Teresa "graduated" from the program with nearly $3,000 in savings, while paying her rent in full. She also earned her U.S. citizenship and regained custody of her daughter, who was still in Central America. Today, Teresa is working full time, her son is enrolled in the daycare program of her choice, she is successfully managing a budget, and she is enthusiastically awaiting her daughter's arrival. Teresa thanked MSP for changing her life: "I will never forget you all."

Without the support of friends in the community, her journey to independence and freedom from abuse would not have been possible.

Together, we ensure survivors of domestic violence heal and thrive.