Bowser Spreads the Wealth opens homeless shelters in each DC ward

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:This seems like a great plan and I commend the Bowser administration for it.

Clearly, you don't live near one of these sites.

Clearly you have options other than living with your children at a Days Inn at the intersection of Bladensburg Road and New York Avenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the status quo acceptable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-hidden-world-desperation-and-cramped-living-for-homeless-families-in-dc-motels/2016/01/28/279adfda-b4d8-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Exactly. How is the status quo acceptable?

"The last six months have been filled with trying to understand exactly what has plagued this department for decades and to better comprehend why people die needlessly in the District of Columbia...

First, the culture of the DC Fire and EMS Department is highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital patient care. EMS reform, even attempts to make basic changes, are met with resistance from the top down...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/dc-ems-resignation-letter/1955/?tid=a_inl

The most shocking part was when she was stymied in her plan to evaluate the skills and performance EMS personnel, and fire dept management caved to the union and blocked it. Worth remembering when you realize that a DC ambulance may be called upon to transport the president in an emergency -- or your child!

Agreed. The whole letter is worth reading. And it explains why so many of us are highly skeptical about the competency and even desire by DC bureaucracy to deliver on existing programs, much less launch new ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the status quo acceptable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-hidden-world-desperation-and-cramped-living-for-homeless-families-in-dc-motels/2016/01/28/279adfda-b4d8-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Exactly. How is the status quo acceptable?

"The last six months have been filled with trying to understand exactly what has plagued this department for decades and to better comprehend why people die needlessly in the District of Columbia...

First, the culture of the DC Fire and EMS Department is highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital patient care. EMS reform, even attempts to make basic changes, are met with resistance from the top down...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/dc-ems-resignation-letter/1955/?tid=a_inl

The most shocking part was when she was stymied in her plan to evaluate the skills and performance EMS personnel, and fire dept management caved to the union and blocked it. Worth remembering when you realize that a DC ambulance may be called upon to transport the president in an emergency -- or your child!

Agreed. The whole letter is worth reading. And it explains why so many of us are highly skeptical about the competency and even desire by DC bureaucracy to deliver on existing programs, much less launch new ones.

So...you are advocating that the DC government not do anything? Not take on any challenges? Seriously, I know the DCEMS thing is seriously f-d up (I am in the business), but I would never suggest that DC should stop providing services. Every agency is different, and there is a lot of very good work done every day by a lot of very capable people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the status quo acceptable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-hidden-world-desperation-and-cramped-living-for-homeless-families-in-dc-motels/2016/01/28/279adfda-b4d8-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Exactly. How is the status quo acceptable?

"The last six months have been filled with trying to understand exactly what has plagued this department for decades and to better comprehend why people die needlessly in the District of Columbia...

First, the culture of the DC Fire and EMS Department is highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital patient care. EMS reform, even attempts to make basic changes, are met with resistance from the top down...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/dc-ems-resignation-letter/1955/?tid=a_inl

The most shocking part was when she was stymied in her plan to evaluate the skills and performance EMS personnel, and fire dept management caved to the union and blocked it. Worth remembering when you realize that a DC ambulance may be called upon to transport the president in an emergency -- or your child!

Agreed. The whole letter is worth reading. And it explains why so many of us are highly skeptical about the competency and even desire by DC bureaucracy to deliver on existing programs, much less launch new ones.

So...you are advocating that the DC government not do anything? Not take on any challenges? Seriously, I know the DCEMS thing is seriously f-d up (I am in the business), but I would never suggest that DC should stop providing services. Every agency is different, and there is a lot of very good work done every day by a lot of very capable people.

Nope, that's not what I'm saying. Mayor Bowser just won an election, so deserves a chance to prove she can turn the boat around. How? Perhaps by replacing, up and down, the people in her team and in the bureaucracy who simply stand in the way. Just adding more money and more programs on a fundamentally broken machine is not going to make that machine work much better.

[Anonymous]

I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before we open more shelter doors I hope they first look at whether those to whom we open doors are even from DC in the first place.

I'm fine with taking care of DC's existing homeless, but do we need to take care of the homeless for the entire eastern seaboard?

It's enough of an issue that we have well meaning but underfunded organizations that want to bring people here in order to take care of them.

It's enough of an issue that we fall victim to some other communities that bus their homeless here (and yes, it's common practice for police to round up homeless and put them on a bus with a one way ticket to the next biggest city).

Existing DC homeless families should have first crack.

I also think that the city needs to work on finding more ways to get people self sufficient and functional.

Yes, because we have a preponderance of people cashing in their frequent flyer miles to come to DC and spend the night in a homeless shelter....

LOL. Maybe the Wisconsin Ave. shelter will be listed in Airbnb?

I think what the PP was saying is that there is plenty of poverty in DC and those people should be taken care of first. And I do think folk come from other areas. I also remember the walking of the prostitutes over the 14th Street Bridge, mainly because it was a photographer friend of mine that helped break that story.

I am not sure why a publicity stunt that occurred a single time several years ago is evidence of anything, but it has been posted over and over again that the homeless programs are aimed at the impoverished that are right here in DC. But, let's be frank. The suggestion that people from outside DC would inhabit these shelters is simply a diversionary tactic being employed by those opposed to the shelters. In the same breath, it is argued that these folks have stronger ties to other neighborhoods and should be housed there instead.

On this we agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the status quo acceptable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-hidden-world-desperation-and-cramped-living-for-homeless-families-in-dc-motels/2016/01/28/279adfda-b4d8-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Exactly. How is the status quo acceptable?

"The last six months have been filled with trying to understand exactly what has plagued this department for decades and to better comprehend why people die needlessly in the District of Columbia...

First, the culture of the DC Fire and EMS Department is highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital patient care. EMS reform, even attempts to make basic changes, are met with resistance from the top down...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/dc-ems-resignation-letter/1955/?tid=a_inl

The most shocking part was when she was stymied in her plan to evaluate the skills and performance EMS personnel, and fire dept management caved to the union and blocked it. Worth remembering when you realize that a DC ambulance may be called upon to transport the president in an emergency -- or your child!

Agreed. The whole letter is worth reading. And it explains why so many of us are highly skeptical about the competency and even desire by DC bureaucracy to deliver on existing programs, much less launch new ones.

And it's all the more concerning considering that Dr. Saussy's previous experience was with the New Orleans city government, which has had a poor reputation for quality municipal services. So when she resigns over the systemic dysfunction and opposition to reform in the DC Fire Department, that's really saying something (none of it good).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the status quo acceptable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-hidden-world-desperation-and-cramped-living-for-homeless-families-in-dc-motels/2016/01/28/279adfda-b4d8-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Exactly. How is the status quo acceptable?

"The last six months have been filled with trying to understand exactly what has plagued this department for decades and to better comprehend why people die needlessly in the District of Columbia...

First, the culture of the DC Fire and EMS Department is highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital patient care. EMS reform, even attempts to make basic changes, are met with resistance from the top down...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/dc-ems-resignation-letter/1955/?tid=a_inl

The most shocking part was when she was stymied in her plan to evaluate the skills and performance EMS personnel, and fire dept management caved to the union and blocked it. Worth remembering when you realize that a DC ambulance may be called upon to transport the president in an emergency -- or your child!

Agreed. The whole letter is worth reading. And it explains why so many of us are highly skeptical about the competency and even desire by DC bureaucracy to deliver on existing programs, much less launch new ones.

And it's all the more concerning considering that Dr. Saussy's previous experience was with the New Orleans city government, which has had a poor reputation for quality municipal services. So when she resigns over the systemic dysfunction and opposition to reform in the DC Fire Department, that's really saying something (none of it good).

I didn't know she was in New Orleans before. Yes, that's telling, and no good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While the plan is firm to house the homeless in each ward, the final locations are not set. In Ward 3 Tenelytown is still under active consideration, particularly because of good transportation access and the fact that many homeless in the Ward seem to be concentrated there already. DC owns the Tenley library site of course, which was built with reinforced supports to accommodate several additional floors for housing. The old St Ann's school is another possible locatition. Given that the intention is to house homeless families, locations adjacent to Janney make the most sense.

This may be a more cost-effective alternative to Glover Pk and the Tenley location makes more sense for people who depend on public transportation.

A) It would be great if libraries served readers and homeless service centers served homeless. Two often the two become one in DC. A coffee/newspaper/computer station next to a library specifically for homeless to warm up would be great.
B) Tenley has masses of homeless and some current homeless services for them. Can we get them off the streets and into these apartments you propose, or is this in addition? It looks / feels in Tenley like I imagine SF some days walking down the street. And it is the type of homeless who seem to pretty much refuse to be indoors. Pretty hardcore group. Can they head down to Glover?
C) I'm pretty sure the kids can walk a few blocks to Stoddert with equal ease as being right above Janney.
D) Your transport makes sense if the parents are required to work or be in a training program. Are they? Otherwise, Glover Park is on the bus line, nearer downtown offices, and close to schools (elementary and middle) and supermarkets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While the plan is firm to house the homeless in each ward, the final locations are not set. In Ward 3 Tenelytown is still under active consideration, particularly because of good transportation access and the fact that many homeless in the Ward seem to be concentrated there already. DC owns the Tenley library site of course, which was built with reinforced supports to accommodate several additional floors for housing. The old St Ann's school is another possible locatition. Given that the intention is to house homeless families, locations adjacent to Janney make the most sense.

This may be a more cost-effective alternative to Glover Pk and the Tenley location makes more sense for people who depend on public transportation.

A) It would be great if libraries served readers and homeless service centers served homeless. Two often the two become one in DC. A coffee/newspaper/computer station next to a library specifically for homeless to warm up would be great.
B) Tenley has masses of homeless and some current homeless services for them. Can we get them off the streets and into these apartments you propose, or is this in addition? It looks / feels in Tenley like I imagine SF some days walking down the street. And it is the type of homeless who seem to pretty much refuse to be indoors. Pretty hardcore group. Can they head down to Glover?
C) I'm pretty sure the kids can walk a few blocks to Stoddert with equal ease as being right above Janney.
D) Your transport makes sense if the parents are required to work or be in a training program. Are they? Otherwise, Glover Park is on the bus line, nearer downtown offices, and close to schools (elementary and middle) and supermarkets.

You're talking about homeless MEN hanging around in Tenleytown. This proposal is for 8 shelters to house homeless FAMILIES (women and children; there will be very few men, and those will be dads with children). No, the homeless men in Tenleytown will not be moving into the shelter in Glover Park. It should go without saying that their reasons for being on the street are often very different than the forces that drive homeless women and their children into shelters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

It's a lot easier to be supportive when you're over five blocks away and separated by 4 lanes of a major thoroughfare. I promise you those within a city block will have a much harder time. And frankly, it's not just because it's homeless shelter, but also increased density than that parcel would otherwise allow. This is one way that allows the developer who purchased it build apartments that he can lease back to the city.

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood (not DC) set up a facebook page--MODERATED FB page--that was exclusively set up to coordinate providing for the needs of people who were living in local shelter. The rules are something like:

* Civil at all times.
* No discussion, advocacy or argument about whether the shelter should be there, should move, or should close.
* ONLY discuss residents' overall needs and organizing around meeting them, period.

This is how folks coordinate to bring food, donate essentials like batteries, flashlights, soap, bottled water, etc.

It's a nice way to stay connected and help HUMAN BEINGS in a very direct way, even if it's just "right now" kinds of emergency items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Glover Park, about 5 blocks from the proposed site. On our neighborhood listserv, there have been about a dozen posts supporting the shelter, and ZERO posts in opposition. I can't vouch for the opinions of people in the Observatory Circle neighborhood, but Glover Parkers generally seem accepting of this decision and ready to help. I'm sure there will be some concerns about effects on Stoddert, which is already overcrowded (despite the recent expansion), but overall I think our community can take this in stride.

It's a lot easier to be supportive when you're over five blocks away and separated by 4 lanes of a major thoroughfare. I promise you those within a city block will have a much harder time. And frankly, it's not just because it's homeless shelter, but also increased density than that parcel would otherwise allow. This is one way that allows the developer who purchased it build apartments that he can lease back to the city.

Hadn't though of that. Who is the developer and is he among Bowser's crony political supporters?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:This seems like a great plan and I commend the Bowser administration for it.

Clearly, you don't live near one of these sites.

No, though I think my neighborhood would be a great location for such a shelter and I would welcome it (can't speak for my neighbors though). We do have other group homes for various disadvantaged groups.

I live about two blocks from the 5500 5th street proposed site and I think it's a great idea. Deconcentrates the families from DC general and spreads resources into all wards with access to better transportation (and, thus, improves the chances to get employment) and better schools for the kids. The nimbyism that this is causing is terrifying.

One thing that I would like to see is homeless families getting access to lottery-only schools/programs in the area. For example, mandate that 3 &4 year olds staying in the shelters get to attend the local public school or a convenient charter. Not sure if that would draw widespread ire from those families that might already be on a waitlist, but it seems like an efficient use of government resources.

[jsteele]

I'm reading Twitter reports from the various meetings going on now about the DC General replacements. There seems to be fairly widespread support -- even in Ward 3. But, the reporters are clearly chomping at the bit for opponents to make a scene. When someone finally raises an objection, the reporters all simultaneously act like they just won the lottery.