In a city reputed for power and ambition, David Downes serves the people most often overlooked and left behind. As executive director of Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, Downes and a team of caseworkers and volunteers ensure help for “anyone who wants to make changes in his or her life,” he said. Most often, that means people who are homeless, or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless. The organization — in operation for nearly 25 years and working with about 1,300 people annually — also serves the social and spiritual needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, and their families. Downes, 64, spoke with the Washington Examiner about the faith and the people who guide his life’s devotion to giving back.

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