Mission First Housing Group

Bible Way Church

Bible Way Church

Established in 1927 by Bishop Smallwood E. Williams, Bible Way Church is an important community anchor in Washington, DC. Affordable housing is one of oldest and most important ministries of the church. Bible Way Church, through its Golden Rule nonprofit affiliates, has sponsored 5 major affordable housing developments to date, beginning with the development of 183 units of family housing at Golden Rule Apartments, in 1973, followed soon after by the development of Golden Rule Center, consisting of 40 units of affordable housing and a grocery store. Mission First began to support the church’s development efforts in 2000 when it was engaged as the development partner for Golden Rule Plaza, a 119-unit new construction affordable senior housing development. Mission First moved on to assist with the renovation and refinancing of Golden Rule Apartments, completed in 2008, and then with the redevelopment of Golden Rule Center site, with the 60-unit SeVerna and 133-unit SeVerna on K. This partnership has helped maintain the affordability of housing in this downtown neighborhood, as development in Mt. Vernon Triangle and NOMA has resulted in rising rents.