About Us

Our History

In 2008 a group of concerned individuals and community members gathered at Miriam’s Kitchen to discuss and address issues of housing instability and affordable housing. During the summer of 2008, this group formed an organization to protect the housing rights of people in poverty and move themselves and other vulnerable people living in DC to self-sufficiency.

Over the years members of PFFC have testified at City Council hearings before the Committee on Health and Human Services, made public comments at quarterly meetings of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), and played an active role in ICH’s Committees.

PFFC has hosted dialogues and information sessions at its weekly meetings given by representatives from the DC City Council, the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), the DC City Council, the ICH, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, the Coalition for Non-Profit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), Catholic Charities, the Community Council on the Homeless at Friendship Place, Miriam’s Kitchen, and others.

PFFC also collaborates with other grassroots organizations made up of individuals who are currently or were formerly without housing, including Focus, Attitude, and Comment to Excellence (FACE), N Street Village’s Be the Change, and the men and women of Isaiah House.

PFFC members have been asked to participate as members of the Board of Directors of a number of organizations in DC that advocate for the underserved, among them: FBC, CNHED, The Way Home Campaign, Empower DC, the National Law Center for Homelessness & Poverty, and the United Planning Organization.

In 2015 three PFFC members produced a documentary called Fairness Rising. Fairness Rising is an effort of PFFC better highlight the work that we do and to raise awareness of the plight of so many impoverished residents of the District of Columbia who is unstably housed.

In 2016 PFFC received the Be The Change Award from the Washington Peace Center for “PFFC’S consistent work on organizing against homelessness in the District and PFFC’S annual vigil that pays respect to the homeless lives lost in the District”.

Grants We Have Received

In 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 PFFC received grants from the Diverse City Fund, an organization that works to nurture community leaders and grassroots projects that are acting to transform DC into a more just, vibrant place to live. These grants have varied in amount from $3,000 to $10,000.

In June 2020 PFFC received a $5,000 grant to provide outreach to individuals living in homeless encampments. In September 2020 PFFC received a follow-on grant from the Diverse City Fund for $10,000.The objective is to continue the outreach it is doing to homeless encampments with a focus on assisting individuals experiencing homelessness who are returned, citizens.

Our History

Grants We Have Received

Our Coalition Partners