Housing Alert Sign Up
Type your e-mail address below to join our housing list and receive e-alerts when a waiting list is open!
Social Services
The Social Services department offers a safe environment where clients work toward improved health and economic stability.
We provide:
We also provide the following to qualifying clients:
Representative Payee Documents
RPP Directory |
DBH / BFC Representative Payee Program Contact Info |
Download |
|
RPP – CSW Handout |
Representative Payee Program – Program Information |
Download |
|
RPP Consumer Guide |
Representative Payee Program – Program Information |
Download |
|
RPP Referral Form |
Representative Payee Program – Referral Forms – Click here |
|
|
RPP – SSA 787 Form |
Representative Payee Program – Referral Forms |
Download |
|
RPP – PNC Debit Card Enrollment Form |
RPP – PNC Debit Card Enrollment Form |
Download |
|
RPP – Budget and Spending Plan |
Representative Payee Program – Money Management Forms |
Download |
|
RPP – Budget and Spending Plan – CRF Residents ONLY |
Representative Payee Program – Money Management Forms |
Download |
|
RPP – Direct Deposit Form – Consumer |
Representative Payee Program – Money Management Forms |
Download |
|
RPP – Direct Deposit Letter & Form – Vendor |
Representative Payee Program – Money Management Forms |
Download |
|
RPP – Additional Disbursement Request Form (ADRF) |
Representative Payee Program – Money Management Forms |
Download |
Social Services Blog 
July 15, 2024
April 21, 2022
April 07, 2022
Ms. Brown joined the Social Services program in October 2002 after serving as the program director at the Mellwood House for Women and Children.
Tracy Knight has led Bread for the City's Northwest Social Services program since 2002. She is responsible for the overall operations of our Behavioral Health services, Housing Access Program, Representative Payee Program, SOAR SSI application assistance program, MSW student training program, and our NW Center’s generalist social work practice.
Ashley Moore joined the Social Services team in 2011. She is responsible for clinical oversight and facilitation of direct service care management programs within the NW Social Services Department.
Doncella F. Hampton is the Social Services Supervisor at Bread for the City’s SE Center location.
Stacey Johnson joined the Social Services program in 2003 as a Social Worker.
Diaper Program
Diaper Program
Southeast Center only
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Please call 202 -301-1657 for detailed information on how to request diapers from the BFC Diaper Program. DC residents can receive free diapers from the BFC Diaper Program once a month. Diapers can be picked up at the Southeast Center located at 1700 Good Hope Rd, SE, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 am – 4 pm.
Llame al 202-301-1657 para obtener información detallada sobre cómo solicitar pañalesdel Programa de pañales de BFC. Los residentes de DC pueden recibir pañalesgratis solo una vez al mes. Los pañales se pueden recoger en el SE Centerubicado en 1700 Good Hope Rd, SE los martes, miércoles, y jueves de 10 am a 4 pm.
We gladly accept donations of new and unopened diapers and other baby supplies during Bread for the City’s hours of operation.
Here are our biggest diaper program needs at the moment:
We prefer to receive donations at our Southeast Center, but we will also accept donations at our Northwest Center. Thank you!
Workforce Development Program
Bread for the City’s Workforce Development Program works closely with unemployed and underemployed clients by providing a continuum of life management and job readiness training services that are individualized, holistic and goal specific.
The program helps BFC clients develop the skills necessary to secure and retain employment through a four-tiered approach: job readiness workshops, case management, life skills coaching, and job placement.
Job Readiness Workshops
Job Readiness Workshops operate for five-week sessions, with classes held twice weekly. Workshop topics include: resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, interviewing skills, work ethics, time management, interpersonal and communication skills, and job retention.
Case Management
Case Managers conduct initial assessments for clients new to the program. They lead clients in individualized goal setting and in the development of clients’ individual life skills/work readiness plans. Case Managers provide direct weekly support to clients. In addition, they provide information and referrals to appropriate programs to help clients achieve goals. Case Managers also meet with prospective employers and job training/placement programs in support of participants’ progress toward successful employment.
Life Skills Coaching
Volunteer mentors, called Life Skills Coaches, work individually with each client via telephone, email, and meetings at BFC’s Southeast Center. They help clients develop the skills they are learning in class and reinforce the support and direction that clients receive from their case managers. Life Skills Coaches edit resumes and cover letters, teach clients how to conduct Internet job searches, conduct mock interviews and more. Most importantly, coaches provide our clients with the sense of support and confidence they need to truly enter the workforce.
Job Placement
Once our clients reach graduation, we help connect graduates with job opportunities, and we even offer paid internships for graduates right here at Bread for the City. Last year, 71% of graduates found work, or entered an educational/job training program.
Workforce Development clients benefit from additional programs at Bread for the City that are critical to helping students meet their basic human needs while they gain the necessary skills to find employment. In addition to our clothing closet that provides students with appropriate interview apparel, our medical clinic provides free job physicals to enable students to complete job applications.
Representative Payee Program (RPP)
Department Phone Line: 202.386.7016
Bread for the City provides representative payee services to Washington, DC residents who need assistance in managing their personal financial affairs. The Representative Payee Program (RPP) provides payee services, under a contract with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), to consumers with chronic mental illness who are referred by a case manager of DBH or an affiliated Core Service Agency.
The Representative Payee Program helps DBH clients manage various types of income, including Social Security benefits (retirement or disability), Supplemental Security Income, and Civil Service Pensions.
Forms from our Representative Payee Program may be found in the Social Services Documents.
What is a Representative Payee?
A Representative Payee is an individual or an organization designated to receive disability benefits on a client’s behalf. The Representative Payee then helps the client to budget the money and disburses the funds to pay for current needs, including housing and utilities, food, medical expenses, personal care and clothing. The Representative Payee must keep records of how the client’s money is spent. This information is reported regularly to the Social Security Administration or to the Office of Personnel Management.
How does the Representative Payee Program work?
Clients enrolled in Bread for the City’s Representative Payee Program work with their mental health service providers and Bread for the City staff to make sure that all of their financial needs are met.
The client’s case manager at the DC Department of Behavioral Health or a DBH affiliated Core Service Agency makes an initial referral to Bread for the City for payee services. The client is enrolled at a start-up meeting with the case manager and a Representative Payee Program staff member during which we discuss how the services work.
After enrollment, Bread for the City applies to the Social Security Administration or Office of Personnel Management to become the client’s Representative Payee. The client and his or her mental health case manager meet regularly to set and review the client’s monthly budget and discuss any emergency spending requests. Bread for the City relies on the case manager to be in regular contact with the client and keep Bread for the City informed about changes in the client’s needs that might affect the budget or benefits.
Contacting the Representative Payee Program
The RPP can be reached by phone at 202.386.7016 – the Program Assistant is able to answer many questions about the status of client accounts and requests. The program assigns a RPP Coordinator to work with the clients and staff based on the DBH provider where the client is enrolled.
Please see the RPP Directory in the documents section for further details on how to contact us.
Behavioral Health
Bread for the City’s Behavioral Health Specialists work with the healthcare providers in the medical clinic to help patients with their behavioral health needs. Among other interventions, our specialists teach patients healthy coping skills, exercises that calm the body’s nervous system, and practice cognitive restructuring to challenge negative thinking that could lead to depression and anxiety.
Community Empowered
Community Empowered is a wellness program for BFC clients that seeks to help them to achieve overall wellness of the mind, body, and spirit by offering a wealth of workshops and activities. Some of the workshops have included but are not limited to the following:
Currently, the workshops are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For additional information, please contact Donnie Hampton, Associate Director of SE Social Services, at 202-587-0530.