Adam's Place Emergency Shelter — Local services in Washington

So far I have spent 2 nights in the shelter. I have never been in this situation, I come from a prestigious background. However, i have been paying attention to operations. So far, the center itself during the day seemed ok, not many discrepancies or things to make too much of a fuss about. The Thursday night staff I encountered for women shelter hours, I found to be genuine and helpful. Most of them were respectful and sincere just trying to do their jobs but you understood that sometimes they had to be stern because the mental state and overreaching of some individuals can throw things off balance for everyone. The woman that seems to run the night crew I also noticed does a great job at keeping everything in line. She has to overexert herself with certain individuals and its understood that she may be no nonsense at times even with those where it's not necessary. But you can tell she means no harm, it comes with the job and she's still respectful. The Friday night crew, I found to be highly lacking. The security women staff was extremely rude, uppity, lazy, and only concerned with doing the bare minimum and being on their phones. And if you try to address them even in respectful manner, you could tell they had their noses turned up at you as if you were beneath them and bothering them. 4 female security i noticed on staff that night. Only the young girl security seemed to be a decent respectful human being. The one stationed in the room with the cots and the one stationed at the metal detectors was of the worst. The meal served on Thursday night seemed to be slightly spoiled and unappetizing but I noticed of course that the others did not notice or just needed to eat. Friday night's meal was decent and had no spoiled taste or smell. I've noticed male staff here and there but had no true interaction with them to give an account as of yet. Both nights on site, I noticed that all security is not concerned with watching and patrolling to ensure that no one is taking others property even if they are on site. Ive heard many people complaining about items being stolen. I get the Flyers about being responsible for your own belongings, but that in my opinion should only apply to day center hours as there are not many security patrolling. But if you have night security stationed in the room at night, the least they can do is be more observant of who's stationed where and whos wandering where they shouldn't be, but thats my opinion. So far I've noticed inconsistencies but majorly in the changings of security staff. The smells are something you never get accustomed to. And the mental illnesses of those surrounding is also something you don't want to get accustomed to. However, everyone are still human beings and should be treated as such regardless of life disposition. You can tell that that is lost on many of the female...

First of all, it's a homeless shelter, so 5 stars doesn't mean it's a "5-Star Hotel".

Adam's Place is among the nicer emergency homeless shelters in DC. It's located off Bladensburg Rd just north of Route 50 in NE DC, which means it's not close to much so you have to go out of your way to find it. This makes it less transient than other DC shelters. Most guests have been there a while, so the atmosphere is a bit more friendly than other shelters.

The homeless shuttle that circulates throughout the city is the best way to get there, because the closest Metro station (Rhode Island Ave) is not within walking distance. The old B2 bus line (now C41) that runs up and down Bladensburg Rd is the closest bus route. The shuttle and bus are just about the only way to conveniently get to the shelter.

Guests that have a bed must check in at 5pm daily. You may lose your bed if you do not check in by phone or in person. There is a wait list for individuals waiting for a bed. If there are any open beds available the staff will start calling names from the top of the list at 7pm daily. Make sure to get there around 5pm if you want to put your name on the wait list for a bed.

You'll have a brief interview with the staff if selected for a bed, which will take about 15-20 minutes. Then they'll give you a sheet and point you to your bed. There are roughly 200 people housed in two connected rooms. The bunk beds have about 3 feet between them in all directions. They were assigning footlockers with the beds as I was leaving the shelter. However, they will assign you a wall-locker after staying there for 2 weeks. They also offer case management services regularly throughout the week.

Meals are breakfast at 5am, lunch at 1230pm (at the day center around the corner), the first dinner at 630pm, and the second dinner at 845pm. Lights out is 10pm and they turn the lights back on at 7am. Wednesday's are deep cleaning when all guests must remove their items from the shelter at 9am until 5pm at check in.

The showers and bathrooms aren't the cleanest, but it's better than anything you have on the street. There's one TV in the dining area and NO WiFi.

I don't know what I would've done with the help from the staff at Adams Place. Staying there enabled me to focus on making progress and getting my life together. After a year with the Adam's Place family I finally got my housing voucher and moved into a nice apartment.

Please consider staying at this shelter if you're out on the street. I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay there to turn my life around. I would t be where I am today without the help of the shelter...

I was really disappointed to hear from several women that Adams Place is not female friendly. Hopefully things will change, but until I hear otherwise I will be staying away. It’s bad enough when you are homeless to have to deal with the stigma, but then to have to suffer belittlement at the very places you are trying to receive help is appalling. Men and women in power should be lifting women at a disadvantage up, not tearing them down. It has been reported that the staff and security officers are just as bad as the clients living there and using the facilities. Multiple women have told me of being mistreated by staff, security, and the very men who stay there. Change is in the air, I hope the wind blows Adam’s way. Change for the better, a change for good. Treat women with the respect they deserve and not as second class citizens. All women deserve a chance at a better tomorrow, just as men do. Lift her up and stop letting her...