Casa Ruby

Casa Ruby was a non-profit organization and community center in Washington, D.C., that provided housing, food, and other social services to LGBTQ people, primarily transgender, and gender queer people.[1] Casa Ruby was founded by Ruby Corado and first opened in 2012.[2] The organization was bilingual, providing services in both English and Spanish.[3]

The organization ran a 50-bed emergency housing program across seven locations and a drop-in center, and, has a satellite office in El Salvador.[3] In September 2021, Casa Ruby had over 100 employees, but its management said it would lay off more than half after the D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) declined to renew an $850,000 grant.[3] Corado had previously filed an administrative complaint alleging that DHS was engaged in anti-transgender discrimination.[4] After the loss of funding, which came with five days' notice, Corado stepped down as executive director and was replaced by Alexis Blackmon.[5] After Blackmon left the role in February 2022, Jacqueline Franco was named as interim executive director.[6]

Casa Ruby ceased its program operations in July 2022.[6] On August 11, 2022, it was announced that a D.C. Superior Court judge appointed an outside party to take into account all of Casa Ruby’s financial assets and determine whether there is a feasible way to continue operations.[7]

  1. ^ Schmidt, Samantha (2020-12-29). "As homeless shelters brace for funding cuts, LGBTQ youths take desperate measures to get by". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  2. ^ Riley, John (2014-05-23). "Casa Ruby Marks Second Anniversary". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c Parks, Casey; Mayes, Brittany Renee (2021-09-28). "Casa Ruby, shelter for LGBTQ youth, loses D.C. government funding". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  4. ^ Chibbaro Jr., Lou (2021-06-03). "Casa Ruby files complaint against D.C. gov't agency". Washington Blade. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  5. ^ Lyons, Ivy (2021-10-03). "Casa Ruby director steps down after LGBTQ+ shelter loses DC grant". WTOP. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "D.C. judge agrees to appoint Casa Ruby manager in 'extraordinary' move". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-08-12.