Since we sent out our letter to the Mayor on April 24, 115 more people have tested positive and 3 more people have died, bringing the total numbers to 260 who have tested positive and 12 who have died. There is still no universal testing.

On January 16th, the District government forced more than 30 of our most vulnerable neighbors out of their homes to create a “pedestrian passageway” during the coldest month of the year, despite the fact that winter weather was forecast for the following days.

We long for the day when no lives will be lost to homelessness. In the meantime, the greatest honor that we can pay to those who died this past year is to re-commit ourselves to doing all that we can to ensure that every District resident has a  place to call home.

As People Power Action heads into its fourth year, its members will continue to provide invaluable knowledge for District residents through their trainings, and continue to build a welcoming community for people who want to push for transformation of systemic injustices.

Last winter, the DC Housing Authority released a report that concluded that the District’s public housing stock was in crisis, with 2500 of its units “nearly uninhabitable.”  Since that point we have been working with fellow advocates to figure out a path forward that appropriately balances the pressing needs of current tenants for habitable units with the preservation of deeply affordable, low barrier public housing.

Take a moment to thank your Councilmembers if they made an effort to fund affordable housing so far this budget, and ask them if they can find a way to do more to #FindTheMoney to #PutPeopleFirst before the second vote!