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Homeless shelters to be spread across capital under plan by Mayor Bowser Homeless shelters to be spread across capital under plan by Mayor Bowser
(about 2 hours later)
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser released the addresses of seven proposed family homeless shelters on Tuesday, setting up a final test of city leaders’ resolve to close the District’s troubled family homeless shelter at D.C. General Hospital. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced the addresses of seven proposed family homeless shelters on Tuesday, setting up a final test of city leaders’ resolve to close the troubled family homeless shelter at D.C. General Hospital.
The mayor’s plan comes almost two years after Relisha Rudd, then 8, disappeared from the shelter, leading to widespread calls to close the facility. And it is one year after the mayor and the city council agreed to spend $40 million to construct a network of neighborhood shelters as a replacement.The mayor’s plan comes almost two years after Relisha Rudd, then 8, disappeared from the shelter, leading to widespread calls to close the facility. And it is one year after the mayor and the city council agreed to spend $40 million to construct a network of neighborhood shelters as a replacement.
But D.C. residents — including Bowser — have previously fought efforts to relocate homeless families into their neighborhoods, and Bowser has been preparing in case the release of specific sites for the shelters causes a backlash from those who would be asked to be neighbors. For nearly a year, she kept the location details a secret, and has carefully scripted the release this week after seeking support from lawmakers. [A hidden world: Homeless families living in motels at city expense]
But D.C. residents — including Bowser — have previously fought efforts to relocate homeless families into their neighborhoods, and Bowser has been preparing in case the release of specific sites for the shelters causes a backlash from those who would be asked to be neighbors. For nearly a year, she kept the location details a secret. She carefully scripted the release of the information this week, after seeking support from lawmakers.
That’s because almost every ward in the city will be asked to take on a shelter, each designed to be a revolving, temporary home for up to 50 families that could strain neighborhoods, schools and police.That’s because almost every ward in the city will be asked to take on a shelter, each designed to be a revolving, temporary home for up to 50 families that could strain neighborhoods, schools and police.
Some shelters would be in rapidly gentrifying areas, such as one planned near the U Street corridor and another beside condominiums rising around Nationals Park. Others would go into established neighborhoods such as across the street from the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue. Poorer areas of Northeast and Southeast, where residents already are grappling with effects of widespread under-employment, also would be asked to take on homeless families.Some shelters would be in rapidly gentrifying areas, such as one planned near the U Street corridor and another beside condominiums rising around Nationals Park. Others would go into established neighborhoods such as across the street from the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue. Poorer areas of Northeast and Southeast, where residents already are grappling with effects of widespread under-employment, also would be asked to take on homeless families.
In an advance briefing for reporters on Monday, Bowser said she is open to some changes to the plan based on community feedback. But she said she urges the council to approve all of the sites together as a package, saying that too many alterations could render the plan ineffective at creating the more than 250 units needed to close D.C. General. In an advance briefing for reporters on Monday, Bowser said she is open to some changes to the plan based on community feedback. But she is urging the council to approve all of the sites together as a package, saying that too many alterations could mean the plan won’t include the more than 250 units needed to close D.C. General.
“D.C. General is not an appropriate place for short-term family housing,” Bowser said, “so we have worked hard to make sure that we have smaller, dignified facilities all over Washington, D.C., where families can have a safe place to work toward more permanent housing.”“D.C. General is not an appropriate place for short-term family housing,” Bowser said, “so we have worked hard to make sure that we have smaller, dignified facilities all over Washington, D.C., where families can have a safe place to work toward more permanent housing.”
Bowser, who once opposed a large homeless shelter moving into Ward 4 as a council member, said such experiences had informed her plan. [A lost mother and daugther: Shamika Young and Relisha Rudd]
“I’m a ward council member, an ANC commissioner at heart, and now mayor, so I know how we can fit facilities into neighborhoods,” she said. “We have paid special attention to how each of these units will be developed so they can fit into any neighborhood.” Bowser, who as a council member once opposed a large homeless shelter moving into Ward 4, said the experience informed her plan.
As it is, however, the mayor’s plan for a one-for-one replacement of units at the dilapidated former hospital will house less than a third of the families now in the care of the city. It is likely that scores — if not hundreds — of families could remain housed in motel rooms across the city even after the new shelters would be scheduled to open in 2018. “I’m a ward council member, an ANC commissioner at heart,” she said. “We have paid special attention to how each of these units will be developed so they can fit into any neighborhood.”
Laura Green Zeilinger, who heads Bowser’s agency overseeing homeless services, said she remains confident that the city eventually could lower the number of people who need shelter to match the capacity of the new system. The mayor’s plan for a one-for-one replacement of units at the dilapidated former hospital will house about a quarter of the more than 1,000 families now in the care of the city.
Under the proposal for neighborhood shelters, it is likely that scores — if not hundreds — of families would remain housed in motel rooms across the city even after the new shelters open, which is supposed to happen in 2018.
Laura Green Zeilinger, who heads Bowser’s agency overseeing homeless services, said she remains confident that the city eventually can lower the number of people who need shelter to match the capacity of the new system.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that he supports Bowser’s plan and that he will hold hearings on it as quickly as possible.Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that he supports Bowser’s plan and that he will hold hearings on it as quickly as possible.
Cost is likely to be among the issues the council will scrutinize. The new shelters would cost an estimated $22 million annually to operate, about $5 million more than what the city spends annually now to keep D.C. General open. Cost is likely to be among the issues the council will scrutinize. The new shelters would cost an estimated $22 million annually to operate, about $5 million more than what the city spends now to keep D.C. General open.
It also is not clear whom the city would pay to lease many of the buildings, or how those agreements would be structured. Bowser plans to hold simultaneous community meetings on each of the shelter sites Thursday night. The city also will hold a meeting on a planned women’s shelter that would be built downtown in Ward 2, the only ward that will not house a family shelter. It also is not clear whom the city would pay to lease many of the buildings, or how those agreements would be structured. Bowser plans to hold simultaneous community meetings on each of the shelter sites Thursday night. The city also will hold a meeting on a planned women’s shelter that is being built downtown in Ward 2, the only ward that will not house a family shelter.
Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) said he is confident that city residents will embrace the plan. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) said he is confident that city residents will embrace the neighborhood-shelter plan. “I don’t think the public considers either D.C. General or motels as acceptable,” he said.
“I don’t think the public considers either D.C. General or motels as acceptable,” he said. “So I wouldn’t underestimate the ability of neighbors to embrace this change.”
Here are the community meetings planned for 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday night:Here are the community meetings planned for 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday night:
Ward 1Ward 1
Anthony Bowen YMCA (conference room), 1325 W St. NWAnthony Bowen YMCA (conference room), 1325 W St. NW
Ward 2Ward 2
One Judiciary Square (old council chambers), 441 4th St. NWOne Judiciary Square (old council chambers), 441 4th St. NW
Ward 3Ward 3
Metropolitan Church (Great Wall and Best Street), 3401 Nebraska Avenue NWMetropolitan Church (Great Wall and Best Street), 3401 Nebraska Avenue NW
Ward 4Ward 4
Paul Public Charter School (auditorium), 5800 8th Street NWPaul Public Charter School (auditorium), 5800 8th Street NW
Ward 5Ward 5
New Canaan Baptist Church, 2826 Bladensburg Rd. NENew Canaan Baptist Church, 2826 Bladensburg Rd. NE
Ward 6Ward 6
Friendship Baptist Church, 900 Delaware St. SWFriendship Baptist Church, 900 Delaware St. SW
Ward 7Ward 7
Capitol View Public Library, 5001 Central Ave. SECapitol View Public Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE
Ward 8Ward 8
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church (fellowship hall), 2616 MLK Ave. SEMatthews Memorial Baptist Church (fellowship hall), 2616 MLK Ave. SE