Category: Advocacy

Last week, we told you about the dramatic increase in family and child homelessness in DC over the past four years, in particular over this past winter season, and the District’s ineffective and punitive current response to that crisis.  The Administration does not deny that its policy of not placing any new families in shelter […] Read more…

Sarah* and her two young kids have lived in DC their entire lives. Sarah works 7 days a week as a hair stylist but only makes $1,100 a month. Sarah and her children were recently put out by Sarah’s mother.  Every night Sarah tries to find someone to take her kids while she spends most […] Read more…

On Saturday, February 11th from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Mayor Gray will hold a “One City Summit” at the WalterE.WashingtonConvention Center.  (You can register here or by calling (202) 709-5132.)  The purpose of the summit is twofold:  to provide an opportunity for DC residents to voice their concerns and priorities for the District, and […] Read more…

Today, starting at 2pm, the District of Columbia Council’s Committee on Human Services is conducting a roundtable to discuss the Department of Human Services’ plan to protect the lives of people who are homeless this winter. Below is the testimony that will be delivered by Legal Clinic Staff Attorney Amber W. Harding. Council of the […] Read more…

Dear Chairman Brown: In large measure due to your leadership, over 1500 District residents struggling with homelessness have been sleeping a little easier since May 25th.  Especially in these challenging fiscal times, we at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless want you to know how very grateful our community is that the Council was […] Read more…

Guest blog post by Stephanie Niedringhaus Each day, as I walk between Washington’s Union Station and my office, I see people who are either homeless or in difficult housing situations. I buy Street Sense from some, chat with others. Whether I am walking past or stopping to talk, I am always conscious of the U.S. Capitol […] Read more…

Dear Friends: Many thanks for being so responsive to our many pleas for help during budget advocacy season. Because of your support and the efforts of so many concerned community members, the potential crisis in the shelter system has been averted! Here’s a quick report on what happened at Wednesday’s vote: The DC Council passed […] Read more…

Several weeks ago, hundreds of residents called and emailed the D.C. Council demanding that it fill the $20.5 million gap in homeless services funding. The Council heard the message, but said it would only be able to find a few million dollars for homeless families; homeless individuals were out of luck. In response to the […] Read more…

Note: Larry Tanenbaum of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld has been named District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Below is his statement about the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget cuts. ______________________________________ I am an attorney in Washington, D.C. and provide substantial pro bono services to clients who are disabled […] Read more…

Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (D) said Tuesday that his “number one objective” is to keep shelters open for homeless families and victims of domestic violence. – Washington Post, Tuesday May 10, 2011 Because of YOU, people are listening. Nearly every DC Council member has expressed concern about the plight of priority 1 homeless families […] Read more…