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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 the same group was determined to form an organization. The group selected a name, wrote a mission statement, set their goals to carry out a campaign to protect the housing rights of people in poverty, to be very protective in moving their own lives, and those of other vulnerable people living in DC, to self-sufficiency.
Over the years members of PFFC have testified at a number of City Council hearings before the Committee on Health and Human Services. PFFC members have been attending meetings of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) where they have made public comments at quarterly meetings 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 Cit y 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.
Two members of PFFC were among the founders of Shelter, Housing, and Respectful Change (SHARC) another organization that advocates for those that lack housing from the perspective of individuals who are without or formerly without housing. PFFC also collaborates with other grass roots 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 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018 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. All three grants have had as their objectives supporting PFFC as it strengthens its organizational capabilities and expands its advocacy, outreach, and peer mentoring efforts.
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 to the plight of so many impoverished residents of the District of Columbia who are unstably housed.
On March 31, 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”
On April 30, 2019 PFFC celebrated its 11th Anniversary. We had our annual retreat, and held our anniversary party afterwards. To honor the day we each put on new PFFC t-shirts that had “Eleven Years Strong!” written on the back.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]