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Dr. Veronica Maz, PhD was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to helping marginalized and vulnerable populations in Washington, D.C. A sociology professor at Georgetown University, her transformative journey began in 1970 when she took students to visit D.C.’s “Skid Row.” “And then I was going back to my car and my real nice comfortable home,” Dr. Maz later wrote in The Washington Post. “And a man fell down right in front of me, right on the sidewalk. And I just walked around him and got in my car.
“And when I got in my car, I started talking to myself,” she continued. “I said, ‘Why didn’t you help him?’ Well, I just assumed he was drunk. Well, what if he were drunk? He could’ve had a heart attack. . . . All that night I didn’t sleep. It bothered me personally.
Whatever these sensitivities that you grow up with that you’re not even conscious of. That’s faith.” Witnessing the dire conditions firsthand, Dr. Maz was deeply moved and compelled to take action. She left academia and started working on the streets of D.C., becoming an advocate for those facing houselessness, hunger, and abuse.
In collaboration with others, Dr. Maz founded House of Ruth in 1976, a shelter for women who have suffered abuse and/or houselessness. At the time, D.C. had only a few shelters for men, and none dedicated to serving women or their children. On House of Ruth’s first night in 1976, we gave shelter to eight homeless women in the basement of a row home on Massachusetts Avenue.
In addition to House of Ruth, Dr. Maz helped found two other impactful social services agencies: Martha’s Table and So Others Might Eat (SOME). Alongside Father Horace B. McKenna, she opened Martha’s Table with just $93. Over the years, Martha’s Table expanded its reach, operating at multiple locations and providing educational, health and wellness, and family resources. Similarly, SOME became a renowned soup kitchen and provider of essential services for those in need.
Dr. Veronica Maz’s dedication and tireless efforts earned her the admiration and respect of many. When she passed away in June 2014 at the age of 89, Dr. Maz was widely regarded as a shining light in D.C., having touched the lives of countless individuals by providing them with shelter, food, and hope. Her vision and determination continue to inspire others to work tirelessly for social justice, reminding us all of the profound impact one person can make in transforming the lives of those in need.
