The Patricia Handy Place for Women at 1009 11th St. NW was a topic of concern at the August meeting of ANC 2C. The status of the shelter remains uncertain as renovations to the space, which were expected to be completed this summer, have fallen behind schedule.
DHS Chief of Staff Raessa Singh told commissioners that the site was originally expected to be turned over in July but remains behind schedule. She said DHS is currently anticipating a winter 2027 opening, though a more detailed timeline is expected to be presented at the ANC’s September meeting.
“We realize we’ve dropped the ball on constant communication on a really important aspect of the work we do,” Singh said.
The Patricia Handy Place for Women originally opened in 2016 as a low-barrier shelter for women. The district later used 1009 11th St. NW as temporary shelter space while renovations were underway at the shelter’s permanent location at 810 5th St. NW. District records show 1009 11th St. continued to be used as a women’s shelter in subsequent years.
The shelter is not the only ongoing renovation in the city that has been delayed. “In 2025, federal funding reductions to the district’s budget resulted in a number of projects including this one, being placed on hold,” a DHS representative said in a statement.
When it reopens, DHS said the shelter will operate as a low-barrier shelter for women with approximately 100 low-barrier beds and 40 specialty beds, including senior, work and respite beds. The shelter will also operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A commissioner at the meeting said, “Trust is very low. And it needs to improve.” Other commissioners raised concerns about the previous operation of the shelter, including security, sanitation, people congregating outside the building and communication between the shelter and nearby residents.
Community members also questioned whether an operator had been selected for the shelter. A DHS representative said The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP) — its current vendor for shelter operations — will be responsible for securing a provider to operate the women’s shelter at 1009 11th St. NW.
Another top concern among residents was safety. “DHS will provide security personnel on-site at the shelter; none of the security staff will be armed,” the department said.
DHS also expressed a commitment to “maintaining transparent, ongoing communications with the ANC and other stakeholders throughout the process, ensuring the community remains informed of and engaged in the plan to re-open the shelter.”
With the next ANC 2C meeting in September, DHS is expected to return with more information about the shelter’s timeline and community engagement.
Featured image/photo courtesy of Google Maps.
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