Reply to New Ward 3 Homeless Families Shelter Site

Forum Index » Metropolitan DC Local Politics

Reply to "New Ward 3 Homeless Families Shelter Site"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]This fall, the District will shutter the dilapidated D.C. General family homeless shelter and end a dreary chapter in the history of homelessness in the city, Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Sunday.

According to the mayor's office, the D.C. Department of Human Services will "gradually and safely step-down the use of the hospital as a shelter" throughout 2018. Next month, the D.C. Department of General Services will "begin abatement" to prepare the facility for partial demolition, which will start in April. One building at D.C. General is already empty, and the entire property will be "vacant and closed as a family shelter this fall," the administration says.

Although DHS has recently said it intends to rely on fewer hotels for shelter, it may have to use more rooms this year for families exiting from D.C. General. Construction on the replacement shelters in Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 is still underway, and a site for the Ward 1 shelter was announced only last month. Bowser's office says families will be moved from D.C. General to "permanent housing" and "other locations operated by the District" to make way for the demolition.

That may require an increase in funding for hotel placements, and for rental vouchers that enable families to afford housing on the private market once they leave shelter. This spring, Bowser will submit her budget for fiscal year 2019, which begins on Oct. 1, to the Council.

Nonetheless, because of the dearth of affordable housing in D.C., many families struggle to find decent apartments that accept vouchers. Homeless families, moreover, can face discrimination during the relocation process.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics