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history
Jubilee Housing was founded in 1973 by a group of individuals from the ecumenical Church of the Saviour community who recognized the great need to give voice and housing to a rapidly increasing number of poor people.
Terry Flood and Barbara Moore were among several members of a mission group who felt the call to address the housing crisis in the neighborhood. They were appointed to serve on the search committee to find available properties. After locating the Ritz and Mozart buildings and learning that they were for sale, the group sought the advice of Jim Rouse, renowned developer and friend of the Church of the Saviour. Much to their dismay, Jim advised against the purchase because of the deteriorating condition of the properties and the group’s relative lack of experience with housing.
After a brief period of discernment, the decision was made to go on with the purchase in spite of Mr. Rouse’s advice! This faithful action marked the birth of Jubilee Housing, and upon learning that the group had chosen to move forward, Jim became an original Board member and instrumental contributor to the growth and vision of Jubilee Housing.
Jubilee went on to acquire a total of eight properties in the neighborhood, and with each acquisition, residents were engaged in the process of modest rehabilitation for the property along with visioning for a new community. Listening to the hopes and dreams of residents had powerful consequences; through the years many new missions were born to help meet the wants and needs expressed by residents. Jubilee Jobs grew to help address employment concerns; Columbia Road Health Services was born to provide primary health care; Good Shepherd Ministries formed to offer mentoring and after school support for children and youth; the list goes on and on.
Hope and opportunity spread in other ways as well. Inspired by the success of Jubilee Housing, Jim Rouse went on to create the Enterprise Foundation (now Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.) to share the vision of affordable housing and supportive community nationally. In its early days, Enterprise led dozens of groups to Adams Morgan to see the impact that Jubilee Housing and its sister organizations were having on the neighborhood. Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. has grown to become one of the nation’s leading affordable housing advocates, providing technical assistance and financial support to groups throughout the country.
In 1990, then Vice President Bob Boulter led an effort to expand the Jubilee mission beyond the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Jubilee Enterprise of Greater Washington was created to develop affordable housing and supportive services in Southeast Washington where it is still active to this day.
For more than 30 years Jubilee Housing has provided a unique approach to affordable housing and opportunities for improved life for low-income families and individuals in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. The vision has stirred the growth of numerous other grassroots efforts locally – and beyond. All stand as testament to the impact that a handful of caring people can have for a community when united by an inspired vision.
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