On June 3rd, at 6:30 pm, there will be a rally at the DC General Homeless Shelter, located at 1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE (at the end of the road), right next to the Stadium Armory Metro. This former hospital turned homeless shelter, methadone clinic, and jail currently houses hundreds of DC families. The situation in the shelter is deplorable. There are infestations of mold and rats. Available funds are not being used for repairs. The hundreds of children at DC General have no safe place to play. Relisha Rudd was abducted from the shelter earlier this year.
For more information about conditions in the shelter, watch the testimony of DC General resident Momauwi Woods at last year’s State of the District’s Poverty panel discussion in the video below.
When taking action and organizing for better living conditions, shelter residents have faced intimidation, including violations of their right to assemble. This is unacceptable.
Respect, and fair treatment is a human right, for all!
On June 3rd support shelter residents in their struggle for housing, security, first amendment rights, and humane living conditions at the
Rally for the Rights, Safety and Dignity of Homeless Families at DC General Tuesday June 3, 2017 @ 6:30 PM DC General Homeless Shelter 1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE
Stadium Armory Metro on the Orange and Blue Lines
The rally is organized by shelter residents and the Washington Interfaith Network. The Peace House supports this rally as a show of solidarity with the residents, and all the people who struggle for a fair and just world.
We invite you to stand with the homeless families, and demand better living conditions, respect and fair treatment. If you would like more information please email Andrew Batcher at abatcher.ni@gmail.com.
Here’s a video I did for the Fair Budget Coalition last year during their State of the District’s Poverty event. In 2013, the FBC–along with a whole host of other organizations and individuals–was trying to convince Mayor Gray and the DC City Council to do something about the lack of affordable housing and the abundance of homelessness within the District of Columbia. The Fair Budget Coalition presented a plan to our elected representatives in which an investment of $4.5 million dollars in DC’s shelter system would ensure sufficient housing for the 300 families in DC General and the families housed in motels during the winter. But is the shelter at DC General closed? No. Clearly, the council and the mayor didn’t listen to the plan. This despite a $417 million budget surplus.
There were however significant gains in DC’s budget last year. Funding increased for TANF and some of DC’s Affordable Housing programs. These wins would not have happened without significant effort from DC’s activist and progressive communities. And so it is again this year.
The DC Council is in its final stages of negotiating DC’s budget. There are some key programs that are being overlooked and need our immediate support to push Councilmembers to make them a priority. We are asking you to participate in two 1-click email actions to support these programs:
1) Take action to End Homelesseness for more than 800 families and individuals! Two of the most important affordable housing programs that end homelessness are Permanent Supportive Housing (for the chronically homeless) and the Local Rent Supplement Program Tenant Vouchers (for families). Tell the Council to prioritize ending homelessness with housing by taking action here: http://bit.ly/1ti308B
2) Take action for Adult Literacy!* Adult education programs have been underfunded for years, though adult ed has been linked to lower unemployment and poverty rates for adult learners and higher high school graduation rates for the kids of adult learners. We need the Council to fund adult education. Take action for adult literacy here: http://bit.ly/1oXTXHj
And finally, the Fair Budget Coalition will be hosting our culminating action of this budget season on Friday! Join us to stand up for safety net programs at:
Close the Divide!: A Public Forum on Reducing Inequality in the District of Columbia Friday, May 23rd, 10am-Noon At the Wilson Building: 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Rapidly growing inequality in DC is deepening the divides between the rich and poor. But the DC Council can close that divide by investing in anti-poverty programs and affordable housing that would make DC a city for everyone. Come hear stories from people whose lives have been changed by safety net programs & what Councilmembers are doing to support these programs in this year’s budget
There will also be the opportunity to learn how to do a Lobby Visit and then participate in one to a Councilmember’s office!
Want to do something about DC’s affordable housing crisis? How about the hundreds of homeless families in the city? The Washington Interfaith Network has an agenda to help end homelessness in DC. Bring DC Home!
$100 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund to meet the District’s goal of producing and preserving affordable housing units.
Dedicate public lands to affordable housing- We support the Disposition of District Land for Affordable Housing Amendment Act, introduced by CM Kenyan McDuffie. The bill requires certain levels of affordable housing to be built whenever the District sells its public land to a private developer.
HOUSING FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS
Full funding of the End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act, which will increase longterm housing options homeless youth, including unaccompanied minors and families headed by 16-24 year olds.
Support the Way Home Campaign to end chronic homelessness in DC by 2020.
Support the roadmap to ending family homelessness in DC. WIN is one of 20 organizations supporting this plan, which calls for increased funding in programs to keep families in housing and more quickly provide housing to families in emergency shelter.
WIN supports the roadmap’s call for increased rapid-rehousing slots, only with certain enhancements to the programs such as:
Job placement, child care, and quality caseworker supports,
Matching families with housing units at rents that will be affordable to families when the rapid rehousing subsidy expires- such as rents affordable to families making minimum wage, and
Provision of ongoing supports for families who find work but still are not able to maintain rent payments because the rent is too high.
HUMANE SHELTER FOR YOUTH, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES
The End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act, will increase emergency shelter space and services such as coordinated intake and street outreach for the estimated 3,000 youth age 24 and under who experience homelessness every year in DC.
in DC calls for improving conditions and services at DC General Shelter, such as on-site social workers, a playground, and trauma-informed care training for staff.
Some are advocating a quick closure of DC General. Before that can be done, we demand alternatives in place that put families into homes, ensure adequate short term emergency shelter space, and take into account the interests of families currently housed in shelter.
Come see and feel the vibrant tenant movement for affordable housing in action at the 7th Annual Tenant Town Hall. Join LEDC, the CNHED Housing for All Campaign, and Empower DC as DC residents present their housing priorities and solutions to the directors of DC housing agencies and Council members.
Seven years running, the Tenant Town Hall is one of the best events of the year. Hear from tenants who are fighting for decent, affordable housing in the District of Columbia!
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