The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty testified by invitation this week before the Committee on Human Services of the D.C. City Council about the Districts proposed Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Mayor Williams plans to introduce the plan tomorrow, but NLCHP has urged the D.C. City Council to be more realistic about what the plan must include, if the objective is truly to end homelessness.
The D.C. Ten-Year Plan, like so many others, is focused the on chronically homeless, but needs also to include the large numbers of homeless D.C. families and children. According to Staff Attorney Tulin Ozdeger, who testified before the committee, the the City Council is trying hard, but the District government needs to be more realistic about truly putting an end to homelessness. This plan needs to ensure enough affordable housing in DC& especially in light of plans to cut federal housing assistance.
In fact, the federal government is planning to cut Section 8 and other housing funds, which will only intensify the shortage of affordable housing in Washington. So what should D.C. do if it really wants to end homelessness in this decade? NLCHP urges the City Council to focus on four critical steps:
1- Continue to Pursue a Housing First approach. Creating enough permanent affordable housing is the only way to prevent and end homelessness.
2- Modify the Districts plan to include more shelter for those fleeing domestic violence. Currently there are only 50 beds available for women and children fleeing domestic violence. The lack of space often means choosing between increasing family violence, or family homelessness.
3- Include more family and child-specific strategies for the 42% of homeless persons who are in families with children. In the last few years, almost 300 D.C. families were denied shelter beds.
4- Participate in the McKinney-Vento Education Program. Despite the 143% increase in child homelessness, the District remains the only eligible entity to withdraw from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act -- forfeiting approximately $250,000 in federal funds that would help prevent homeless youth from failing academically and break a cycle of poverty that perpetuates adult homelessness.
NLCHP is encouraged by the serious efforts of D.C. City Council members and Human Services Committee Chair, Adrian Fenty, and hopes that its testimony will lead to a Ten-Year Plan that has a realistic chance of ending homelessness.
For a copy of NLCHPs testimony, please contact Melanie Mullen at 202-638-2535 or email: Mmullen@nlchp.org. Print and electronic copies are available.
