Secure Housing for 78-Year-Old Activist

My friend, Judith Howell, is in a critical housing crisis requiring $10,000.

Her landlords/"upstairs neighbors" need the the English basement she has rented for four years for its intended use as a "Grand Parents Suite" for their parents who are moving to DC.

Judith has been looking for an affordable one bedroom apartment or a similar English basement with good public transportation close to downtown DC. However, she is in a tough spot - making too much income to qualify for DC's traditional Senior Citizens housing assistance programs. but not enough for the 3x the annual rent required by most of DC's rental markets.

Judith had to move out the English basement apartment and has put her furniture & belongings, gathered over 58 years in DC, in storage.

She is currently living, what she describes as; "from pillar to post", but wants her a permanent place to live. Having been diagnosed with osteoarthritis the packing, moving and storing of her things exacerbated her health issues while also depleting the resources she had saved up for 1st month rent, rental deposit & moving her items from storage.

Judith Howell has been a Security Officer for over 20 years. Nineteen of those with one company. Judith is a lifelong community activist and a 1960's Civil Rights veteran. She is currently a Union Shop Steward and a 3x elected member of 32bj's (SEIU) Executive Board. She is often called to represent her Union on Capitol Hill on issues of Labor Rights, Environmental Imperatives, Immigration, and more. She is a United Church of Christ Protestant and has been a member of her home Church for 36 years.

"Couch Surfing" does not work well for anyone, but especially a 78 year old Security Officer with health challenges. The $10,000 would allow Judith to be able to pay the first month rent, the rental deposit, move her items out of storage, and also purchase a new mattress and box spring.

Any amount donated would be greatly appreciated and put Judith one step closer to being safe and secure in her own home.