The D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS), which oversees homeless services in the city, is set to have a new leader. This summer, the mayor nominated A.D. Rachel Pierre, who has served as the acting DHS director for the last year, to permanently take on the role.
At an Oct. 9 D.C. Council Committee on Human Services hearing, 13 people testified in favor of Pierre’s confirmation as DHS director. Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin, who chairs the committee, indicated the body sees Pierre as an effective manager capable of leading the agency through rough times.
DHS, which has over 1,200 employees, is charged with making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in the District. The agency oversees programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers. In the past several years, the agency has focused on addressing family homelessness, which Pierre said has reduced 61% since 2015.
D.C.’s social services are now contending with decreased funding and increased federal oversight. Several programs DHS administers, including rental assistance, food assistance, and new vouchers for people experiencing homelessness, will have fewer resources this year than in the past, making this a potentially challenging time for the agency. Pierre began her career in human services 20 years ago as a social worker. She received her master’s in social work from Howard University and holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Maryland. Those who testified on her behalf cited her combination of social work and business experience as one reason they believe she will excel as director of DHS.
In her testimony, Pierre emphasized her experience, saying she has “consistently proven that operational efficiency and financial sustainability don’t require compromising client services; in fact, they can enhance them.”
Pierre said she hopes to continue to focus on homelessness prevention and diversion, drawing on her personal experience. When Pierre gave birth to her daughter years ago, she said she found herself in need of the kinds of services DHS provides, giving her what she called a unique perspective on the agency.
Those who testified praised Pierre’s experience working both as a social worker and at DHS. Sandra Crewe, dean emerita and professor of social work at Howard, said, “I appreciate the opportunity to support a true social worker.”
Pierre began her social work career as a program manager and then the director of clinical operations at Lutheran Social Services. After that, she worked at Pathways to Housing, one of the city’s main homeless services organizations, as the director of programs and then the chief operating officer.
Christy Respress, the president and chief executive officer of Pathways, said Pierre “is never content with the status quo, and she constantly has her eye on improvement and innovation.”
After Pathways, Pierre moved to DHS, starting during the pandemic as the administrator in the Family Services Administration, where she oversaw homeless services. At the time, she served under Laura Zeilinger, who was DHS director for nine years. In 2023, Pierre served as interim director when Zeilinger went on sabbatical. Pierre has again been serving as interim director since January 2025, when Zeilinger left the agency.
As director, Pierre’s goals are to increase homelessness services to single adults, focus on homelessness diversion and prevention, move people into permanent housing faster, and invest further in youth and families, according to her testimony.
“The way I see my role as director, I am here to protect what’s working, fix or cut what isn’t, and create better paths forward,” she said.
Pierre has been involved in some of the agency’s recent innovations, including the Peer Case Management Institute at Howard University. The program helps people with lived experience of homelessness become case managers, and was Pierre’s vision, Crewe from Howard said.
“Lived experience gives me a grounded perspective of the agency’s mission to support the District’s most vulnerable populations,” Pierre said. “Serving as the agency’s next director would in many ways be a full-circle moment for me.”
The committee will meet on Oct. 30 for a markup of the confirmation resolution, before it goes to the council for a vote.
This article originally appeared in Street Sense’s Oct. 22, 2025 edition.
