Who We Are

Our Mission is to provide personalized mental health supportive services and dignified housing for District of Columbia residents. Founded in 1958, Woodley House has enabled tens of thousands of people to access mental health care and achieve greater independence.

Our Vision is that all District of Columbia residents with mental health disorders have a dignified place to live, services needed to thrive, and respect and inclusion in the community—and are part of a world in which mental health is viewed as health.

Our History

While working as an occupational therapist at St. Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital in the 1950s, Woodley House founder Joan Doniger recognized that not everyone benefited from hospitalization. This often resulted in worse outcomes for patients and made returning to their communities more challenging.

Joan envisioned an alternative: therapeutic housing in a neighborhood setting with a community-minded environment. Her carefully researched framework provided a place where residents could learn to live with their illness, set personal goals, and make progress on their journey of recovery.

With seed funding from the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation, Joan established D.C.’s very first mental health halfway house in 1958, creating a middle ground between hospitalization and independent living. Originally known as the Potomac Residence Club, Woodley House first opened its doors to 11 residents. After a successful beginning, Woodley House received a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health in 1961 and was able to expand its staff and services. Since then, it has continued innovating in the mental health space.

Although Joan passed away in 1972, Woodley House lives on as a legacy to her pioneering and compassionate spirit.

Woodley House was a lifesaver and provided great support in my long and difficult struggle with mental illness. Without Woodley House and my parents’ patient and loving support, I don’t know how I would have made it through my life.

Former Resident

Woodley House has been very transformational for me. Its character-building and emotional uplifting techniques provided the basis for me to come to grip with my mental illness. I cannot thank Woodley House enough for its assistance in my emotional and mental growth and development.

Current Resident

Before coming to Woodley House, I was ashamed to let people know about my mental illness. I thought they would treat me differently and define me by my mental illness. Staff at Woodley House never did this. I was always viewed first and foremost as a person. They listened to me and let me know I did not have a reason to feel ashamed and I appreciate that more than words can express.

Current Resident

Our Staff

Ann Chauvin, LICSW Executive Director

Ann Chauvin joined Woodley House at the end of October, 2018 as Executive Director … or really, re-joined … as her first behavioral health job in the District was as a crisis counselor at Crossing Place in 1991.

Maria Paipa Farias Senior Director

Maria Paipa Farias joined Woodley House in 2004, overseeing our clinical work, all programs and now Supported Independent Living and Compliance.

Tyrone Cartwright Chief Financial Officer

Tyrone Cartwright joined Woodley House in 2000 as Director of Finance & Administration. In 2009, he moved to the Transitional Housing Corporation.

Kecia Tinubu Chief Operating Officer

Kecia Tinubu serves as Woodley House’s first Chief Operating Officer.

Betty Johnson Senior Director of Programs

Betty Johnson has worked nearly everywhere at Woodley House. Joining Woodley House in 2007, she has managed Holly House, Valenti House and Crossing Place. Now as Senior Director of Programs, she supervises all of our 24-hour residential programs.

Virginia “Ginger” Cabrera, LICSW Clinical Director

Ginger Tagliarino is an experienced clinical supervisor with a demonstrated history of working in the mental health care industry. She is skilled in volunteer management, nonprofit organizations, crisis intervention, group therapy, and psychotherapy.

Dan Schiff Director of Development & Marketing

Dan Schiff joined Woodley House in February 2024 to lead private fundraising, events and marketing efforts. He has spent more than a decade at nonprofits in the DC area, including Ashoka, DC Greens and Martha’s Table.

Our Board of Directors

Jeremiah Watts President, Board of Directors
Diane Murray Vice President, Board of Directors
Isabel Jasinowski Secretary, Board of Directors
Norm Schneider, JD Treasurer, Board of Directors
Shannon Attanasio
Kelley Barnaby, JD
Debra Barrett
Jeanine Boyle, JD, MPH
Sunil Chhabra
Matthew Hoffman, JD
Dave Joseph
Vincent Keane
Dina Moussa
Linda Parisi
Jillian Smith Fielder

Careers with Woodley House

Are you looking to make a real difference in the lives of DC residents? Woodley House is a great place to work with highly competitive benefits, and we are committed to ensuring our team members have the opportunity to learn and grow in their careers.

Woodley House benefits include:

  • 70% of health insurance premiums are covered for staff and their family members
  • Competitive salaries
  • Flex time
  • 11 paid holidays a year
  • Professional development opportunities
  • 401k retirement savings plan with matching contribution up to 3%

To apply to the open positions below, please email an application to .

Residential Program Specialist

Reports to:

Program Manager

The Residential Program Specialist oversees residents in a therapeutic environment of care that is supportive, calm, and engaging. The Residential Program Specialist provides supportive services to residents, including case management, medication monitoring, meal planning, and other activities of daily living.

Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager

Reports to:

PSH Case Manager Supervisor

The Case Manager works with individuals and families emerging from chronic homelessness. The case manager provides recovery-oriented services, integrating evidence-based practices that are effective with this population.

On-Call Residential Advisor

Reports to:

Program Manager

On-Call Residential Advisors are expected to oversee residents in a therapeutic environment of care that is supportive, calm and engaging. Residential Advisors provide supportive services to residents, as part of a comprehensive and integrated team.

Thank You to Our Major Donors

Woodley House relies on your support to provide high-quality services and dignified housing. View our full list of donors in our Annual Report.

  • All Souls Episcopal Church
  • Debra & Ted Barrett
  • Dana Bash
  • The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
  • Compass Greater Washington
  • Andrew & Holly Clubok
  • Lou Davidson
  • DAVIS Construction Foundation
  • D|Watts Construction, LLC
  • Edes Home Foundation
  • Galena Yorktown Foundation
  • Grace Community Church of Howard County
  • Philip L. Graham Fund
  • Holy Trinity Catholic Church
  • Isabel & Jerry Jasinowski
  • Junior League of Washington
  • Linda Kanefield & Norm Schneider
  • Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation
  • Vicky Marchand
  • The McDonnell Foundation
  • Diane & Gareth Murray
  • Linda Parisi & J.J. Finkelstein
  • Peoples Bank
  • The Share Fund
  • David Sherrill
  • Martha Washington Straus – Harry S. Straus Foundation, Inc.
  • Ms. Cathy Sulzberger & Dr. Joe Perpich
  • Omar Shiblaq
  • Eugene Tillman & Ellen Heiman
  • Trehan Foundation
  • Diana & Mallory Walker
  • Sheila Weidenfeld
  • Katharine Weymouth
  • Zipin, Amster & Greenberg LLC