What is with all the homeless tents in DC?

[Anonymous]

Homeless camped out in the north side of DuPont circle. Homeless tents in the grass in front of union station. Homeless tents in key downtown parks/squares.

It's embarrassing for DC as as a city and frankly disgusting.

I was in union station yesterday - first time since the pandemic - and was surprised to see so many tents in the circle out front. I had to go to the bathroom before catching a train and almost threw up while squeezing past the awful smelling homeless people going in and out of the bathroom with all their belongings in tow. What the heck kind of city are we living in?? Business people and families need places like union station and public space to be clean, hygienic, and safe.

[Anonymous]

DuPont Circle and Union Station are federal land. So if you don’t like how it’s managed, maybe call your Congressman?

[Anonymous]

I’m frankly surprised people haven’t taken matters into their own hands by now, dismantling these budding tent cities. It’s so shocking how elected officials haven’t don’t anything. Just awful

[Anonymous]

there but for the grace of god go I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m frankly surprised people haven’t taken matters into their own hands by now, dismantling these budding tent cities. It’s so shocking how elected officials haven’t don’t anything. Just awful

But elected officials did do something. Where do think all the tents are coming from?

[Anonymous]

This isnt new. Pretty early after the shutdown the tents went up. I don’t know exactly when but it was in the first six months. I guess just not enough safety nets for people in need. Makes me sad but also relieved that they have shelter of sorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m frankly surprised people haven’t taken matters into their own hands by now, dismantling these budding tent cities. It’s so shocking how elected officials haven’t don’t anything. Just awful

But elected officials did do something. Where do think all the tents are coming from?

OP here - yes, interesting point! I was wondering where homeless people are getting relatively new looking tents!

[Anonymous]

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]I’m frankly surprised people haven’t taken matters into their own hands by now, dismantling these budding tent cities.[/b] It’s so shocking how elected officials haven’t don’t anything. Just awful

In some cases, they have.

https://www.streetsensemedia.org/article/encampment-dupont-circle-vigilante-investigation/#.YW-MUBrMI2w

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homeless camped out in the north side of DuPont circle. Homeless tents in the grass in front of union station. Homeless tents in key downtown parks/squares.

It's embarrassing for DC as as a city and frankly disgusting.

I was in union station yesterday - first time since the pandemic - and was surprised to see so many tents in the circle out front. I had to go to the bathroom before catching a train and almost threw up while squeezing past the awful smelling homeless people going in and out of the bathroom with all their belongings in tow. What the heck kind of city are we living in?? Business people and families need places like union station and public space to be clean, hygienic, and safe.

The bathrooms at Union Station are insane, and sadly often a travelers only option. Can you imagine a bathroom like that greeting travelers in the main train station of the capitol of any other first world nation? We have literally zero civic pride

[Anonymous]

They cleared some other areas near Union Station so they must have moved to nearby options.

[Anonymous]

There are large growing tent sections by Foggy Bottom, too. New tents galore. Over on E street and up 23rd. Then a huge one very close to the Kennedy Center. It looks like someone donated the tents? They were not there pre global pandemic.

[Anonymous]

OP, what is your solution to the homeless problem? As it is, the counties all send their homeless to DC for us to deal with. Maybe there should be a regional task force and sharing of resources rather than just sloughing it all on us so your precious suburbs can appear neat and tidy?

[Anonymous]

There aren’t enough homeless shelters / resources for these people. When you get a bunch of NIMBYs blocking developments geared toward this population, this is what happens. Our city also needs more counseling and psychological support, a lot of these people don’t want to be in permanent housing.

Have a little compassion for those out on the streets. Be grateful you can afford to live in an expensive city and not out on the streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough homeless shelters / resources for these people. When you get a bunch of NIMBYs blocking developments geared toward this population, this is what happens. Our city also needs more counseling and psychological support, a lot of these people don’t want to be in permanent housing.

Have a little compassion for those out on the streets. Be grateful you can afford to live in an expensive city and not out on the streets.

I’ve read that this is untrue and there is in fact housing/shelters but they are considered undesirable by tent dwellers because there are rules. Can someone who is more knowledgeable about this weigh in.