Hehman lives in a simple house on Minnesota Avenue in Southeast Washington. But it’s not what you might think. Simple House is where more than about 30 people find themselves each month for food, shelter, fellowship, health support, and “simple things” like love, Hehman said. Volunteers and missionaries for the Catholic outreach ministry Simple House work primarily in Southeast. Hehman is D.C. house director for its two locations, one on Minnesota Avenue and the other on T Street NW. What makes your non-profit special?
We’re loving the people in our community most in need first by trying to provide support: aid single moms with doctor’s appointments, baby supplies, grocery delivery, or visiting family members in jail.
How do you measure success?
We help about 400 families throughout the course of a year and the tangible effects like climbing out of poverty are one thing. But the seeds of love and hope we sow in peoples’ lives can’t really be measured.
Where do you find your residents?
People see the face of poverty as the homeless man standing on the street corner begging for change. But a lot of women and children are tucked away in some dangerous neighborhoods and they really need people to come and love the kids with a Christian witness.
Is there a Simple House resident who made an impression on you?
My wife [is the godmother] of a mom and eight of her children. She was living in a rough neighborhood, and after Bible studies, just talking, running errands, slowly a relationship grew. She was so intrigued by our faith that she decided to enter the church. We’ve been really blessed to have people welcome us into their lives. Just think if God had never brought us into her life or her into ours.
Natalie Plumb
