Bowser Spreads the Wealth opens homeless shelters in each DC ward

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm too lazy to Google but DCPS policy permits homeless students to attend the inbound school for the shelter. This is the reason so many at DC General attend Payne. This may be mandated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

[jsteele]

Again, based on Twitter reports, the Ward 3 meeting ended and, to the reporters' apparent disappointment, everyone acquitted themselves rather well. Not much opposition and lot's of interest in making the project successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm too lazy to Google but DCPS policy permits homeless students to attend the inbound school for the shelter. This is the reason so many at DC General attend Payne. This may be mandated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Yes, federal law trumps all. Per McKinney-Vento, homeless students can attend the neghborhood school (by the shelter) or their school of origin (former school). Transportation must be provided along with other supports. The naehcy site spells out all the protections for homeless students.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote: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.

Not in my ward meeting

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote: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.

Not in my ward meeting

Ward 5?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Again, based on Twitter reports, the Ward 3 meeting ended and, to the reporters' apparent disappointment, everyone acquitted themselves rather well. Not much opposition and lot's of interest in making the project successful.

He must not have been at the same ward 3 meeting I was at. Many many people were furious about it and stayed after and expressed it to Mary Cheh and the DC Reps. There was huge applause by 3/4 of the crowd every time something said something against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Again, based on Twitter reports, the Ward 3 meeting ended and, to the reporters' apparent disappointment, everyone acquitted themselves rather well. Not much opposition and lot's of interest in making the project successful.

He must not have been at the same ward 3 meeting I was at. Many many people were furious about it and stayed after and expressed it to Mary Cheh and the DC Reps. There was huge applause by 3/4 of the crowd every time something said something against it.

There was support by a few rows in the front but the majority of people in the rest of the room were against it.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote: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.

Not in my ward meeting

Ward 5?

No Ward 6

[Anonymous]

It started out with people who live miles away in the northern part of ward 3 standing up saying they support it etc then finally the families that life on the same block or nearby got fed up and spoke up. They are not against helpin the homeless but the zoning for that neighborhood is for single homes so it would go against zoning and that is why many people are upset.

[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.

I'm sure that Janney families would not object.

[Anonymous]

I would not object only if the homeless in the streets bus shelter and libraries if tenleytown are addressed. Two sherrifs in MD were shot by a 'vagrant welcomed in by Panera, they even have him his own placard and setting.' Tenley already seems to be 'home' to many of the most hard to reqch homeless, with service centers etc. I personally think these folks are most likely mentally ill and should be in institutions etc..getting proper care . So again, I think Tenley is doing a lot with homeless that could be done better. I'd like to see that done before bringing in other kids of homeless shelters to the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Its men and women who are obviously long term unstable street dwellers, who see to be supported by the local service center and handouts from well meaning naive college kids. Tenley has a lot of homeless in the streets, plus our (well documented on other threads) raft of teen ill behavior when Wilson gets out. I think Tenley has enough on our plates that is not being addressed. Before we embark on a major building project above the library and launch a new service center, lets see the mayor and council work on some of what's already going on in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote: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.

Not in my ward meeting

Ward 5?

No Ward 6

+1

Charles Allen will be getting some calls this morning too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Bullyish.

[Anonymous]

Let's recap the reasons that a family shelter isn't appropriate in Ward 3:

1. Those living there are too rich and preppy and it would therefore be unfair to those in need of stable transient housing

2. There are homeless men in Tenleytown

3. Wilson High School

4. Someone had to take a bus with homeless people

5. People paid a shiteload of money for single-family homes in a location where their children wouldn't be exposed to the homeless and other poor people

6. DC General isn't all that bad

7. Ward 3 isn't their community

8. Families will eventually move out of the shelter

9. DC FEMS is a mess

10. DC needs to take children away from homeless parents