Our Story
2011
DHCDC, originally named Damascus House Foundation, was founded in 2011 as an extension of Game to Glory Ministries (G2G), LLC.
2013 - 2015
In 2013, the first transition house for men opened in Hyattsville, Maryland. The Damascus House was fully funded by G2G Ministry’s metal recycling business, which also provided employment skills training through temporary employment. From 2013 through 2015, DHCDC housed over 12 men. Seven of those men have successfully transitioned and are active in the recovery community. Each of the men contributes to their family, society, and a local church in a variety of capacities: as an independent business owner, a transit authority employee (finalizing his cyber-security certification), a heavy construction welder, warehouse employee, a Giant Food shift leader, a construction worker (soon to re-join DHCDC as a Certified Peer Specialist), one retiree, and a Special Police Officer (back in school).
2016
In 2016 DHCDC received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and actively began developing our program RISTORe: Rehabilitating Individuals So They Overcome Recidivism to more effectively assist returning citizens in their transition from incarceration to productive lives. RISTORe facilitates our mission to escort returning citizens through their transition process by providing transitional housing, behavioral and substance abuse counseling, psychoeducation, workforce development (focusing on entrepreneurship), and other evidence-based practices which have proven to be effective in holistically transforming lives.
2020
In 2020, despite the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and with the support of the faith-based community, DHCDC opened Paul’s House in Suitland, Maryland capable of housing 10 men.
2021
In 2021, DHCDC expanded its capacity and programs, opening Miriam’s House for women in Temple Hills, Maryland, John’s House, a second men’s house in Suitland and Redeemer House for men in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the generous support of the faith-based community and local government agencies, DHCDC currently has capacity to provide comprehensive therapeutic housing and services to 27 men and 7 women.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Our Donors
The Mustard Seed Foundation, under the leadership of Dennis W. Bakke and Eileen Harvey Bakke, was created as an expression of their desire to be faithful stewards of the financial resources entrusted to them; to bring together the members of their extended families into the common ministry, and to advance the kingdom of God. The foundation prioritizes grants primarily to churches worldwide that are engaged in ministry including outreach, discipleship, and economic empowerment.
Tracing its origins to 1803, the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church strives to fulfill and perform the duties of Matthew 25:35-36 with commitment, prayer, service, and dedication through community outreach within the church, local community, and state; while developing national and international partnerships.
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, the senior pastor, is regarded as one of the most prolific and prophetic voices of justice and grace in our generation.
DHCDC is a 2021 Community Partnership Grant Recipient. The Community Partnership Grant (CPG) program is the main discretionary grant initiative offered by the Office of the County Executive to qualified nonprofit organizations based upon a set of criteria, including the value added to the identified community, overall program costs, organizational stability, and adequacy of other funding sources.
The Performance Incentive Grant Fund (PIGF) is a result of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) signed into law in 2016. JRA reforms are focused on safely reducing Maryland’s prison population by incorporating more evidence-based programming to improve reentry outcomes, reduce impacts of incarceration on communities, provide more resources to victims of crime, and connect nonviolent offenders with behavioral health needs to community treatment and support.
