Today we are officially unveiling something The Dwelling Place team has been excited about for months – our new logo and website.

For us, this is more than simply a change to our visual identity; it’s an opportunity to align our brand to our core values and focus on what matters most – helping those in need build and keep a home. It’s also part of a broader branding evolution that you’ll notice on marketing materials, the website and more.

We believe that our new logo, designed by our very own Executive Director, Dana Macena, is a truer representation of what The Dwelling Place stands for.

Why the change?

The Dwelling Place has been serving homeless families and individuals in Montgomery County, MD for over 30 years. Every day, we work to end homelessness. We do this by providing families with the opportunity for a stable life. Gaining and (importantly) keeping this stability is intrinsically linked with gaining and keeping a home. Having a stable home uplifts the whole family, helps children feel secure, and helps adults gain the confidence they need to reach toward their goals.

Through our unique approaches, we help families gain that stability. We offer mental, emotional, academic and financial support to help them maintain it. Yet that growth cannot happen without a stable, secure home.

Because home is so important, it made sense to us to make it the focus of our visual identity.

How we developed it

The design was the brainchild of Dana Macena, Executive Director. During her first year in role, she recognized that power of having a home and the value offered by The Dwelling Place. She believed the logo could work harder to demonstrate that value. After 30 years in the community, she also felt it was a shift TDP was ready for.

Our prior identity

Our prior identity, a heart with light streaming out, demonstrated The Dwelling Place’s compassion for others (heart) and optimism in their potential (sunlight). While our compassion and optimism for our families remains unchanged, Dana felt the logo could work harder to communicate TDP’s focus on home and stability.

What we introduced

To focus on home, the new identity introduces the GPS “pin.” Recognized by millions and used to help them navigate between a starting point and a destination – oftentimes to their home. This icon was the perfect visual to represent TDP’s focus on supporting families on their journey to a stable home.

At the center of the pinpoint is a house icon, reinforcing the focus on home. Within the house is a heart, demonstrating the love at the center of each family and the compassion The Dwelling Place team feels for its families. Focusing squarely on these components shows our confidence in our families’ potential and our belief that brighter days are ahead.

Stability is rooted in gaining and keeping a home for the long-term. 

At The Dwelling Place, our goal is to help homeless families gain stability, a home, and ultimately, achieve their dreams.