So Others Might Eat (SOME) is an interfaith, community-based organization that has been instrumental in helping the poor and homeless in our nation’s capital. SOME’s response to the District of Columbia’s increasing economic gap and affordable housing crisis is the development of the Conway Center, a 10-story mixed-use project that includes the Center for Employment Training (CET), 20 transitional housing units, 174 affordable housing units, and a health clinic.

Conway Center is located in Benning Heights Northeast DC, a highly distressed community with a growing need for quality affordable housing, health services, and employment training to help address the 30.1 percent unemployment rate and 25.9 percent poverty rate. DC Housing Enterprises (DCHE) and co-allocatee City First provided $21.3 million of NMTC financing for the construction of 20 transitional housing units, SOME office headquarters, and CET.

This project extends training and housing opportunities for 300 students annually, of which 60 are now reserved for District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) residents. DCHA, the controlling entity of DCHE, partnered with SOME to provide rent subsidies from the Local Rent Supplement Program for 142 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units. Financing also came from LISC, Morgan Stanley, and Kresge Foundation for the health clinic.

The Conway Center’s housing and support services align in a manner that greatly improves the accessibility and efficiency of services to low-income persons and ensures individuals and families have every opportunity to take the next steps in achieving stability and economic independence for themselves and their families. The CET employs an effective model that not only provides a broad base of employment and training opportunities, but also incorporates an onsite support network for students with varying socio-economic challenges while they are enrolled in the program.

Conway Center is an anchor investment that spurred economic growth in the Benning Heights community and will created 108 permanent jobs and 75 construction jobs. Construction was completed in 2017.