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Homeless shelters to be spread across capital under plan by Mayor Bowser Homeless shelters to be spread across District under plan by mayor
(about 1 hour later)
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. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced the addresses of seven proposed family homeless shelters 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 with a city employee and was presumed killed, intensifying scrutiny of D.C. services for the homeless. And it is one year since the mayor and the city council agreed to spend $40 million to construct a network of smaller and more manageable neighborhood shelters as a replacement. The mayor’s plan comes almost two years after Relisha Rudd, then 8, disappeared from the shelter in the company of a male city employee and was presumed killed, intensifying scrutiny of D.C. services for the homeless. And it is one year since the mayor and the city council agreed to spend $40 million to construct a network of smaller and more manageable neighborhood shelters as a replacement.
[A lost mother and daughter: Shamika Young and Relisha Rudd][A lost mother and daughter: Shamika Young and Relisha Rudd]
But D.C. residents — including Bowser — have previously fought city efforts to relocate homeless families into their neighborhoods, and on Tuesday Bowser launched a political offensive, saying she was prepared to take head-on any backlash from those who would be asked to be neighbors. But D.C. residents — including Bowser — have previously fought city efforts to relocate homeless families into their neighborhoods, and on Tuesday, Bowser launched a political offensive, saying she was prepared to take head-on any backlash from those who would be asked to be neighbors.
Bowser believes she may need the momentum. Under a plan first devised by former Mayor Vincent C. Gray and now being carried out by her office, 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. Bowser (D) believes she may need the momentum. Under a plan devised by then-Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) and now being carried out by Bowser’s office, almost every ward in the city would be asked to take on a shelter, each designed to be a temporary home for as many as 50 families.
[See details of Bowser’s plan][See details of Bowser’s plan]
Some of the shelters, which could add strain to nearby schools and police resources, would be in rapidly gentrifying areas, such as one planned near the U Street corridor and another beside condominiums rising close to Nationals Park. Others would go into affluent neighborhoods such as across the street from the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue. Poorer areas of Northeast and Southeast, where residents already face widespread under-employment, also would be asked to take on more homeless. Some of the shelters, which could increase the strain on nearby schools and police resources, would be placed in rapidly gentrifying areas. Among those is one planned near the U Street corridor and another beside condominiums rising close to Nationals Park. Others would go into affluent neighborhoods such as across the street from the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue. Poorer areas of Northeast and Southeast Washington, where residents already face widespread underemployment, also would be asked to host shelters.
The plan would solve only a fraction of the city’s homeless crisis, sheltering about a quarter of all families now under city care. The District has over 700 families in overflow motel rooms across the District and in Maryland, and scores — if not hundreds — would likely need to remain in such temporary shelter space long after the new shelters open, which Bowser said would happen in late 2018. The plan would solve only a fraction of the city’s homeless crisis, sheltering about a quarter of all families now under city care. The District has more than 700 families in overflow motel rooms across the city and in Maryland, and scores — if not hundreds — mos likely would need to remain in such temporary housing long after the new shelters opened, which Bowser said would happen in late 2018.
[A hidden world: Homeless families living in motels at city expense][A hidden world: Homeless families living in motels at city expense]
Laura Green Zeilinger, who heads Bowser’s agency overseeing homeless services, has launched a multi-year overhaul that she believes will eventually lower the number of families who need shelter and allow the city to transition them more quickly. Laura Green Zeilinger, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, which oversees services for the city’s homeless, has launched a multiyear overhaul aimed at eventually lowering the number of families needing shelter and allowing the city to serve them more efficiently.
But on Tuesday, Bowser acknowledged she could put no timetable on when the city might reach that equilibrium. Instead, she cast the costly neighborhood-based shelter system as a necessary first step in delivering on a major campaign promise to close D.C. General. “People believe that in a city as prosperous as ours, that we need to do better by our homeless families,” Bowser said. “I hear it everywhere I go.” But on Tuesday, Bowser acknowledged that she could not say when the city might attain that goal. Instead, she cast the costly neighborhood-based shelter system as a necessary first step in delivering on a major campaign promise to close D.C. General. “People believe that in a city as prosperous as ours, that we need to do better by our homeless families,” Bowser said. “I hear it everywhere I go.”
The mayor has been girding for a bruising battle over the plan almost since taking office. For her entire first year, she refused to publicly discuss possible locations for the shelters, apparently trying to keep opposition from taking root around any one possibility. The mayor has been girding for a bruising battle over the plan almost since taking office. For her entire first year, she refused to publicly discuss possible locations for the shelters, apparently trying to keep opposition from taking root against any one possibility.
Instead, at nearly every public appearance, her staff has asked residents to sign a pledge to do their part to support neighborhood shelters and closing D.C. General. This week, Bowser carefully scripted the plan’s release, first to council members, then influential community members, and finally publicly, saying 12,000 petitioners were already behind the effort. Instead, at nearly every public appearance, her staff has asked residents to sign a pledge to do their part to support neighborhood shelters and the closing of D.C. General. This week, Bowser carefully scripted the plan’s release, first to council members, then to influential community members, and finally saying publicly that 12,000 petitioners were behind the effort.
“Do we know that there is going to be pushback, block, by block? Yes,” said Bowser, who herself opposed plans to put a large shelter in Ward 4 when she represented that part of the city on the D.C. Council. “Do we know that there is going to be pushback, block by block? Yes,” said Bowser, who herself opposed plans to put a large shelter in Ward 4 when she represented that part of the city on the D.C. Council.
On Tuesday, her office released prepared remarks from an Obama administration official lauding the plan.On Tuesday, her office released prepared remarks from an Obama administration official lauding the plan.
[Bowser’s blueprint to address backlog of homeless families][Bowser’s blueprint to address backlog of homeless families]
But there were signs that the fight may not be as bad as Bowser has anticipated.But there were signs that the fight may not be as bad as Bowser has anticipated.
An overwhelming majority of council members publicly praised the mayor’s plan. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) said she met with residents Monday night about the shelter proposed along Wisconsin Avenue, not far from the Naval Observatory. Those neighbors, who live in million-dollar homes, expressed a desire to help solve the city’s homeless crisis, she said. “Ward 3 will embrace this.” An overwhelming majority of council members publicly praised the mayor’s plan. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) said she met with residents Monday night about the shelter proposed along Wisconsin Avenue, not far from the Naval Observatory. Those neighbors, who live in million-dollar homes, expressed a desire to help solve the city’s homeless crisis, she said. “Ward 3 will embrace this,” Cheh said.
In a Washington Post poll in November, nearly 8 in 10 D.C. residents said they would be comfortable if a shelter for 50 homeless families was built in their neighborhood, including majorities across all eight wards. However, fewer than half in each ward said they would be “very comfortable” having a shelter nearby. In a Washington Post poll in November, nearly 8 in 10 D.C. residents said they would be comfortable with a shelter for 50 homeless families in their neighborhood. That support included majorities in all eight wards of the city. However, fewer than half in each ward said they would be “very comfortable” having a shelter nearby.
Advocates for homeless families have criticized previously released aspects of Bowser’s plan, including her proposal to build most of the shelters as dormitory-style, rather than apartments. They said the communal bathrooms and other shared facilities would perpetuate some of the same unhealthy living conditions that children now face at D.C. General. Advocates for homeless families have criticized previously released aspects of Bowser’s plan, including her proposal to build most of the shelters in dormitory style, rather than as apartments. They said the communal bathrooms and other shared facilities would perpetuate some of the same unhealthful living conditions that families experience at D.C. General.
On Tuesday, advocates took to social media to praise the proposed U Street site, which would have apartment-style housing. On Tuesday, advocates used social media to praise the proposed U Street site, which would have apartment-style housing.
[Does housing to replace a decrepit shelter need to have private bathrooms?] [Does housing to replace a decrepit shelter need private bathrooms?]
Council member Elissa Silverman (I-At large) said she has visited all but one of the sites in recent days and found that they had uneven access to public transportation and nearby jobs, groceries and other amenities. Zeilinger said the city plans to offer services on location at each of the sites. Council member Elissa Silverman (I-At large) said she visited all but one of the sites in recent days and found that they had uneven access to public transportation and nearby jobs, groceries and other amenities. Zeilinger said the city plans to offer services at each of the sites.
Ward 5 council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) asked Bowser to reconsider a plan for a shelter along Bladensburg Road in his ward, saying the industrial area — beside a WMATA bus depot and a nightclub — would be a poor fit for homeless residents and for the area, which has been neglected. Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) asked Bowser to reconsider a plan for a shelter on Bladensburg Road in his ward, saying the industrial area — with a bus depot and a nightclub nearby — would be a poor fit for homeless residents. He also described the area as having been neglected.
Bowser said she remains open to some changes to the plan based on community feedback. In response to McDuffie, who has emerged as a political nemesis in recent months, Bower told reporters, “I didn’t hear him proposal an alternative.” Bowser said she remains open to some changes to the plan on the basis of community feedback. In response to McDuffie, who has emerged as a political foe to the mayor in recent months, Bower told reporters, “I didn’t hear him propose an alternative.”
Cost is likely to be among the issues the council will also 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. 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 the city spends now to keep D.C. General open.
It also is not clear how the city would structure the lease agreements for each shelter. It also is not clear how the city would structure the lease agreement for each shelter.
Bowser officials plan 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. Officials from the mayor’s office plan to hold simultaneous community meetings at all of the proposed shelter sites Thursday night. The city also will hold a meeting about a women’s shelter that is planned for downtown in Ward 2, the only ward not designated to house a family shelter.
The community meetings will take place from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday night at the following locations: The community meetings are to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the following locations:
Ward 1 ●Ward 1
Anthony Bowen YMCA (conference room), 1325 W St. NWAnthony Bowen YMCA (conference room), 1325 W St. NW
Ward 2 ●Ward 2
One Judiciary Square (old council chambers), 441 4th St. NW One Judiciary Square (old council chambers), 441 Fourth St. NW
Ward 3 ●Ward 3
Metropolitan Church (Great Wall and Best Street), 3401 Nebraska Avenue NW Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW
Ward 4 ●Ward 4
Paul Public Charter School (auditorium), 5800 8th Street NW Paul Public Charter School (auditorium), 5800 Eighth St. NW
Ward 5 ●Ward 5
New Canaan Baptist Church, 2826 Bladensburg Rd. NENew Canaan Baptist Church, 2826 Bladensburg Rd. NE
Ward 6 ●Ward 6
Friendship Baptist Church, 900 Delaware St. SW Friendship Baptist Church, 900 Delaware Ave. SW
Ward 7 ●Ward 7
Capitol View Public Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE
Ward 8 ●Ward 8
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church (fellowship hall), 2616 MLK Ave. SE Matthews Memorial Baptist Church (fellowship hall), 2616 Martin Luther King J. Ave. SE