In the heart of Northwest Washington DC stands an unassuming six-unit building, witness to four decades of shared dreams, challenges, and unwavering friendship.
Purchased in 1983 for $75,000, this unremarkable exterior conceals a unique narrative—the story of four African American women who, despite the passage of time, still call it home.
Today, as they part ways with the building now valued at close to $2 million, their tale becomes a testament to resilience, community, and the potential for generational wealth.
The quartet’s journey began in 1971 when Earlie Hendricks first moved into the building. Joanne Jenkins joined a year later, followed by Washington in 1983, and Bettie Perry.
Bound by more than just the walls around them, they formed a familial bond, weathering life’s storms together, raising children collectively, and creating something remarkable—a cooperative living arrangement that stood the test of time.
As they reminisce in Earlie Hendricks’ apartment, the place where their shared history unfolded, memories of their $89.50 monthly rent and the legal support that facilitated their property purchase resurface. The assistance they received from University Legal Services allowed them to secure loans from the city, turning a dream into reality.
Over the years, their home witnessed transformations—both within its walls and in the surrounding Park View neighborhood. What was once an area marked by open drug use and nightly disturbances has become a quieter, family-friendly community. Yet, the changes also brought shifts to their lives within the building, marking the end of lively gatherings and ushering in a new chapter.
Now, health concerns and the challenge of navigating stairs have led the women to make the difficult decision to sell their cherished home. Despite the bittersweet nature of the move, they look forward to reaping the rewards of their decades of diligent maintenance and investment. As they prepare to part ways, each has her path forward—Hendricks and Perry plan to move to a senior housing complex, while Washington hopes to join them later, and Jenkins seeks a one-story house in Maryland.
Their story echoes the potential for stability and generational wealth when housing initiatives prioritize the needs of the community. University Legal Services, having shifted focus over the years, recognizes the women’s building as a success story in providing stable housing for four decades.
While they bid farewell to the physical structure that housed their shared joys and sorrows, the women anticipate new beginnings. Guided by the belief that this transition will lead to a happy ending, they embark on the next chapter of their lives, forever bound by the enduring legacy of their cooperative living arrangement.
