Tell DC Council to Invest in the Programs that will End Homelessness for DC Residents!
Visit this link: http://bit.ly/10bBDQw
As part of the FY 2014 Budget Support Act (BSA), DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray has proposed significant changes to the Homeless Services Reform Act (HSRA), the law governing homeless services in DC. Not only will the proposed changes do little to resolve the crisis of family homelessness, but if enacted, could cause significant harm to homeless residents.
Nearly 200 DC organizations signed on to a letter to the Mayor asking him to withdraw these amendments from the BSA because they had not been vetted by stakeholders and because such significant changes deserve their own legislative process. Councilmember Graham is now leading the effort to remove these amendments (Subtitle D, The Homeless Services Reform Amendment Act of 2013) from the BSA and has introduced them as stand-alone legislation, which will give the public and stakeholders an opportunity for meaningful input.
As Fair Budget members, we know the best way to address homelessness is to ensure that housing is provided right now to DC residents experiencing homelessness, not by implementing changes in the law that could negatively impact both families and individuals.
That’s why we want to tell the DC Council to invest in housing and to support Councilmember Graham’s efforts.
The solution is housing! With a total investment of $8.5 million in the Housing First Program, $10.3 million in tenant-based Local Rent Supplement Program vouchers, we can end homelessness for 300 homeless families, for every DC senior, and for every resident with HIV/AIDS. And an investment of $5.1 million in supportive housing, shelter beds, and wrap-around services will help end homelessness for over 100 chronically homeless youth.
Go to this link to email the DC Council today!: http://bit.ly/10bBDQw
Then Join the Fair Budget Coalition at the following event:
The “ONE CITY NEEDS” Lobby Day Action
Wed, May 15TH
10:00am-12:00pm
At the Wilson Building
(1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
For more information please email: janelle@fairbudget.org or call 202-328-5513
The solution is Housing… but when you have a group of people who receive vouchers that makes 30K and up, plus women who are married that have two incomes coming in, you will have homeless people and families. Its people that make a good amount of money that want to live in Public Housing so if they lose their jobs their rent will be ZERO. Not fair. Look at the woman who faught to keep Highland Dwellings open. She work, is married, and have four kids so why is she living on Public Assistance? The system is not designed correctly and it is hurting people who need shelter.
I don’t think anybody’s rent is ZERO in public housing. The more money you make, the more you pay. I don’t know what the percentage of public housing residents who make 30K and up is, but I’m reasonably certain that it’s only a tiny amount. What’s ironic is that one of the reasons the Federal Government is trying to convert the public housing complexes into the Choice program is just so more people who make 30K and up will be able to move into public housing. The Federal government thinks that the problem with public housing is that it’s full of poor people and only poor people. According to them, it would be better if public housing were mixed-income.
The woman who fought to keep Highland Dwellings open, who is indeed married with four kids, to live in public housing. When she and the others brought the lawsuit against the city, she wasn’t working. Did she deserve to be allowed in public housing then? The government didn’t think so, and I thought you agreed with the government. Right? Empower DC and Highland Together We Stand shouldn’t be suing to keep public housing residents in their homes, right. Isn’t that what you were saying in your previous post? But now you’re saying that now that Schyla, the woman who fought to keep her family in their home at Highland Dwellings, doesn’t deserve to be there because she’s married and has a job. Which is it? You don’t want poor people to be able to stay in public housing. You don’t want people who work to stay in public housing. Are you suggesting that we shouldn’t have public housing at all?