Reflecting on One Year of the Entwine Community
When I asked Olivia Gukáa how she defined success, her answer was quick and precise, “That clients are housed.”
Ms. Gukáa is a case manager at Entwine, an affordable senior housing community in the historic Takoma neighborhood of DC. When Entwine opened its doors in early 2023, it brought 129 units of affordable housing including 24 permanent supportive housing units serving seniors transitioning from homelessness and making no more than 30% of the area median income. Housing Up, a long-time LISC DC partner, provides supportive services to residents. A year since opening, residents at Entwine are thriving.
Ms. Gukáa is one of two Housing Up case managers at Entwine. As apartments become available, she connects with prospective residents—adults over 55 that are often referred from shelters across DC. She helps the 24 permanent supportive housing residents integrate into the community and adjust to living in an apartment—some for the first time in several years. She provides a wealth of support from helping with paperwork, explaining how to maintain household finances, reminding residents of medical appointments and so much more.
Olivia Gukáa (Case Manager) in front of Entwine, an affordable housing senior community building.
For decades, Housing Up and LISC DC have worked together to advance permanent supportive housing and affordable housing throughout Washington, DC. In addition to Entwine, LISC DC is thankful to support this sustaining work at several Housing Up properties, including Abrams Hall Assisted Living, The Faircliff, Carver Terrace, Webster Gardens, Fort View, and Weinberg Commons through our HUD Section 4 Capacity Building program—one of the many ways we come alongside local changemakers, working to make sure DC residents don’t just survive, but thrive. As Christina Peay, Chief Development and Communications Officer, aptly noted,
Housing Up is one of the only nonprofit organizations in the District that works to end family homelessness through supportive services and affordable housing. This dynamic approach, coupled with support from agencies like LISC, is the most effective way to end homelessness and mitigate intergenerational adversity.
Tynesha Bassett (Case Manager) in front of Entwine.
Helping residents live in affordable, safe and healthy housing doesn’t stop at the ribbon cutting. It requires ongoing care and support. After sharing her primary metric of success, Ms. Gukáa went on to share other ways she measures progress—seeing residents keep up with their appointments, maintain employment and build strong family-like connections in the building. With her help and the help of other Housing Up staff, residents are meeting and exceeding those goals. Residents at Entwine have built an active community, taking leadership in planning events like seasonal holiday celebrations and vision boarding for the new year. By providing housing stability and constant support, Housing Up, in partnership with LISC DC, has established the foundation on which residents are building healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Outdoor courtyard at Entwine