Bowser Spreads the Wealth opens homeless shelters in each DC ward

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jeff, when you have a second, could you please forward the comprehensive policy plan, plus the scientific review of the existing literature, that makes you so aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects?

Look! Even WaPo has something to say: DC mayor refuses to say how she picked sites for new homeless shelters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-refuses-to-say-how-she-picked-sites-for-new-homeless-shelters/2016/02/15/8a6817c6-d199-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html

Hey, I'll make a deal with you. I only post under my username so all of my posts are identifiable. You find a post where I "aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects" and then I'll get right on that comprehensive policy plan request of yours.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to argue with some "Jeff" that exists only in your imagination, let me know and imaginary Jeff can get the plan for you.

When people spend pages discussing a PLAN (or, well, lack thereof) and you reply with "Could I suggest that you guys not take your anger out on the homeless?," that's passive aggressive behavior and manipulation 101.

You truly don't understand the difference between actual conversation, on the one hand, and ad-hominem and straw man arguments on the other?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jeff, when you have a second, could you please forward the comprehensive policy plan, plus the scientific review of the existing literature, that makes you so aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects?

Look! Even WaPo has something to say: DC mayor refuses to say how she picked sites for new homeless shelters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-refuses-to-say-how-she-picked-sites-for-new-homeless-shelters/2016/02/15/8a6817c6-d199-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html

Hey, I'll make a deal with you. I only post under my username so all of my posts are identifiable. You find a post where I "aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects" and then I'll get right on that comprehensive policy plan request of yours.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to argue with some "Jeff" that exists only in your imagination, let me know and imaginary Jeff can get the plan for you.

When people spend pages discussing a PLAN (or, well, lack thereof) and you reply with "Could I suggest that you guys not take your anger out on the homeless?," that's passive aggressive behavior and manipulation 101.

You truly don't understand the difference between actual conversation, on the one hand, and ad-hominem and straw man arguments on the other?

Do you understand the purpose of the quote function? It is to show to which message you are replying. I was not replying to every message in the thread, but to the message that I quoted and those like it (of which there are many). If you are not the author of that post or those like it, you should mind your own business and leave the moderation to me. Now, are you going to show me where I "aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects" or not?

[Anonymous]

http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

I truly believe you have no idea what you are talking about. I truly believe that DC has many problems, for example cronyism, corruption and just plain massive incompetence (did you read that recent resignation letter?) And that, when you choose to ignore the anti-democratic and opaque process Mayor Bowser has followed here, you are not acting as a responsible citizen, but as a party hack.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jeff, when you have a second, could you please forward the comprehensive policy plan, plus the scientific review of the existing literature, that makes you so aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects?

Look! Even WaPo has something to say: DC mayor refuses to say how she picked sites for new homeless shelters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-refuses-to-say-how-she-picked-sites-for-new-homeless-shelters/2016/02/15/8a6817c6-d199-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html

Hey, I'll make a deal with you. I only post under my username so all of my posts are identifiable. You find a post where I "aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects" and then I'll get right on that comprehensive policy plan request of yours.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to argue with some "Jeff" that exists only in your imagination, let me know and imaginary Jeff can get the plan for you.

When people spend pages discussing a PLAN (or, well, lack thereof) and you reply with "Could I suggest that you guys not take your anger out on the homeless?," that's passive aggressive behavior and manipulation 101.

You truly don't understand the difference between actual conversation, on the one hand, and ad-hominem and straw man arguments on the other?

Do you understand the purpose of the quote function? It is to show to which message you are replying. I was not replying to every message in the thread, but to the message that I quoted and those like it (of which there are many). If you are not the author of that post or those like it, you should mind your own business and leave the moderation to me. Now, are you going to show me where I "aggressively attack anyone daring to challenge obviously questionable aspects" or not?

Ever heard of the Dilbert Principle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

I live about two blocks from this site, and if this allegation is true, I see it as a win-win: shelter for homeless families now; development (and tax $$) later from what is now a vacant and underutilized piece of land in a great part of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

I live about two blocks from this site, and if this allegation is true, I see it as a win-win: shelter for homeless families now; development (and tax $$) later from what is now a vacant and underutilized piece of land in a great part of town.

Two blocks west or east?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on do

ing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.


You make some good points but you are are wrong to assume the homeless are lifelong residents. It's well known that homeless folks make their way to DC from MD and VA because DC has laws requiring housing. Police officers and others in public service will even advise homeless folks to get to the district. We have a huge problem but we are also inducing demand and homeless folks are purposely coming to DC. And they mayor has yet to address where all the families will go after their 90 days is up I these temporary shelters. How will she address mental illness, addiction, generational poverty, illiteracy etc in
, in such a short time. These are the questions we should be asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

I live about two blocks from this site, and if this allegation is true, I see it as a win-win: shelter for homeless families now; development (and tax $$) later from what is now a vacant and underutilized piece of land in a great part of town.

Can we meet tomorrow somewhere downtown so I can sell you a few one dollar bills for $5 each?

It's a clear win-win. I get your money, and promise to spend it fast to accelerate local economic growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on do

ing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.


You make some good points but you are are wrong to assume the homeless are lifelong residents. It's well known that homeless folks make their way to DC from MD and VA because DC has laws requiring housing. Police officers and others in public service will even advise homeless folks to get to the district. We have a huge problem but we are also inducing demand and homeless folks are purposely coming to DC. And they mayor has yet to address where all the families will go after their 90 days is up I these temporary shelters. How will she address mental illness, addiction, generational poverty, illiteracy etc in
, in such a short time. These are the questions we should be asking.

Most are lifelong residents.

DC, MoCo and PG are cooperating on a regional approach to address homelessness. Google it.

You must be a resident in order to access services. That's a fact. You can't just show up a get housing.
(The only possible exception being Covenant House for youth.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

Start your journey here. Read about the homeless situation in DC as well as the game plan to address it.

Recognize that you have well over 1,000 homeless families in DC (and that's likely a lower estimate than reality since it's based on the point in time count). Recognize that there are well over 2,000 homeless kids in DC. These families must live somewhere. These children must go to school somewhere.

I realize that some of you feel like you worked hard to afford your nice home and good school. That's fine. But you live in DC, and DC has a homeless family housing crisis. Fortunately, the mayor is doing her best to address the problem (whereas many communities simply ignore the problem and waste so much money on emergency responses and services like shelters, ambulances, ER visits, etc.).

Data proves that the best practice is to disperse families in need of assistance throughout the community as opposed to segregating them in the poorest neighborhoods.

The bottom line is this: if you don't like it, then you can leave. Move WOTP. Move into a gated community in the burbs. Nobody will make you stay. It just seems so odd to me that city folk are getting hysterical over this. I mean, you live in DC...a city with a homeless family housing crisis...what do you expect? If you want a homogenous neighborhood, then look elsewhere.

I'm sure someone will say, "Why should we leave? We bought our home and want to stay!" That's fine. You can stay. Nobody will make you leave. But please realize that these families are lifetime DC residents. They aren't transplants. Their DC roots run deep...generations. They can't leave because they have nowhere to go. These are people suffering the effects of generational poverty. They've been failed by the education system. They've been failed by the child welfare system. Their communities have been over-policed, they've been criminalized (and so have their parents, brothers and sisters), and they are saddled with court imposed fines and debt that propel them into a never ending cycle of crisis. They live in a world that you can't even begin to comprehend. It's beyond sad. It's a rather hopeless existence.

Having worked in this arena for two decades, I count my blessings everyday because I realize that my life has a great deal to do with the fact that the deck wasn't stacked against me when I was born into a two-parent home with loving, well-educated, healthy, mentally stable, employed parents who themselves had a well-resourced family network. And I focus my career and pro bono work on doing whatever I can to try to improve the system for those who unfortunately entered the world with the cards stacked against them.

I honestly think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when you realize these plans ultimately have zero impact on your lives. I truly believe that.

I truly believe you have no idea what you are talking about. I truly believe that DC has many problems, for example cronyism, corruption and just plain massive incompetence (did you read that recent resignation letter?) And that, when you choose to ignore the anti-democratic and opaque process Mayor Bowser has followed here, you are not acting as a responsible citizen, but as a party hack.

The awards on my wall lead me to believe that I do know what I'm talking about.

So you're mad that the mayor didn't leave it up to the great citizens of DC to decide where to house homeless families? Umkay. Why don't we leave all the decisions up to residents? We can all quit our jobs and attend hearings and meetings and then vote on EVERYTHING. That sounds like a great plan!

Listen: your elected officials and their team are steering the ship. The democratic part happened when you voted. Period. After that, you don't get a vote until the next election. You can certainly ask questions and express your opinion. Send Bowser a letter.

Question: has any elected official ever crowd sourced prior to making a normal governance decision like this? What exactly are you comparing this to? Did the last mayor consult you prior to making decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

I live about two blocks from this site, and if this allegation is true, I see it as a win-win: shelter for homeless families now; development (and tax $$) later from what is now a vacant and underutilized piece of land in a great part of town.

Two blocks west or east?

West - though I don't know why that would make any difference in my views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or additional babies Rinse, repeat

Could I suggest that you guys not take your anger out on the homeless? You are making a pretty ugly scene. I have no idea what was going through the minds of these folks when they found themselves homeless, but I'm pretty sure that it wasn't, "Great! Now I get to move into a neighborhood where everyone hates us.". They aren't the ones who decided where to locate these shelters and I'm sure they have enough problems without you blaming them for a plan they may not even know about and certainly didn't influence.

I am not angry at the homeless and I have not attacked them, except concerns with safety, which based on statistics there is higher crime and behavioral issues with teens and children from these homes. Ask wards 5 and 6 if you don't believe it. I have said repeatedly I want to help them and think they should get housing, but I don't like the idea and concept of parts of this plan. Some of the comments from supporters of the plan sound as if they think housing redistribution should be part of the plan and that everyone should be able to live in expensive neighborhoods. I wish everyone could live in expensive neighborhoods but they can't unless we become a socialist country or unless the middle man that doesn't qualify for subsidies but is not wealthy enough, will be penalized as always. There are other options than placing shelters in expensive locations just to prove that the whole city is taking on the issue.

And due to those statistics, and the apparent lack of rules regarding these shelters (and yes, free housing should come with rules), the ones who stand to become penalized, and possibly victimized, are the hard-working residents of these wards. How is this fair? It's not. It's sacrificing person A for person B, because somehow person B has become 'more noble'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://ich.dc.gov

.

Bowser plans to put a homeless shelter WOTP, in Observatory Circle. However, there are questions about whether the scheme is an inside deal in favor of a politically-connected property developer who sees a chance to get difficult-to-obtain upzoning for the parcel now and then convert the shelter to upscale condos when the lease to the DC government expires in 5-10 years.

I live about two blocks from this site, and if this allegation is true, I see it as a win-win: shelter for homeless families now; development (and tax $$) later from what is now a vacant and underutilized piece of land in a great part of town.

Two blocks west or east?

West - though I don't know why that would make any difference in my views.

Then the Russian embassy compound is a bufer between you and the site? You are not living in one of the SFHs adjacent to th site, which is currently zoned for SFHs, correct?