Since 1976, Bread for the City has been a vital lifeline for homeless and low-income families in Washington, DC—particularly in the Shaw neighborhood, which faced decades of disinvestment following the 1968 riots. Bread for the City now serves over 100,000 clients, offering food, clothing, medical and dental care, legal services, and case management. City First Bank invested in Bread for the City’s expansion through two major facility build outs.
In 2009, as Bread outgrew its original facility, City First Bank stepped in with a $6.4 million investment, enabling a major renovation that doubled the size of the Shaw center. This expansion significantly increased Bread’s service capacity and nearly tripled its ability to provide primary healthcare to uninsured and underinsured DC residents.
As demand surged at Bread’s Southeast Center in Anacostia, City First Bank partnered again to support a transformative expansion. The bank provided an $11 million loan and collaborated with the DC Housing Authority to secure a $24.3 million investment for the development of a new, state-of-the-art facility.
Through these strategic investments, City First Bank continues to advance its mission of building community resilience by supporting organizations that deliver essential services and meet the community where they are in Washington, DC.