Category: Update

The following post first appeared on The District’s Dime and is republished here with permission. It is written by M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, and James E. Terrell, Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Washington and President of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington. Whether it be a time of prosperity or economic crisis, the community  has a moral obligation to care for the least among us.  The obligation is always there and we must respond. As leaders of faith communities and members of Good Faith Communities Coalition we remind those throughout the city of… Read more…

Lost amidst the other recent stories of families struggling for lawful access to D.C.’s homeless shelters, the $417 million D.C. budget surplus, and the federal budget sequester, was the important announcement by the D.C. Housing Authority that they will be closing its Waiting List on April 12, 2013. Practically speaking, this announcement means that the Housing Authority will no longer be accepting new applications for people seeking Public Housing, a Housing Choice Voucher (commonly known as Section 8), or placement in the Moderate Rehab Program. Any person or family who has already applied in the past – or who applies… Read more…

In January, I had the extraordinary honor of attending the wedding of former clients, Freddie Johnson and Lorraine Wollard, in the chapel at DC Superior Court. When I first met Freddie and Lorraine about five years ago they were living on 14th street… literally. They were bedding down each night in front of what’s now an upscale furniture store. The couple had their shopping cart and their blankets and were doing their very best to stay warm. Life on the street was full of perils, but it was the only way they could stay together. No DC shelters take childless… Read more…

For nearly thirty years, District of Columbia law has embraced the ideal that all residents should have a warm and safe place to sleep when the temperature is freezing. For those who are homeless, that ideal is expressed in the legal right to emergency shelter. However, the D.C. government’s current practices do not comport with the law. The shelter system’s front door has been blocked by unlawful procedures that have created almost insurmountable obstacles for far too many families trying to access emergency shelter this winter. Families like that of Ms. G*, a pregnant mother with two young sons (ages… Read more…

When President Obama spoke on Monday of our nation’s founding creed, that all are created equal, his words resonated deeply with us. He spoke of our resolve “that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.” He described our understanding “that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.” He reminded us that we will have been “true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as… Read more…

Happy New Year, Dear Readers! This year, we resolve to work harder than ever before to make justice a reality for our neighbors who struggle with homelessness and poverty. It’s unacceptable that so many DC residents are still living without access to safe, affordable housing in 2013, and we look forward to working with all of our partners, both within the DC government and outside of it, to change this. Over the next twelve months (and beyond), we’d like to see the Mayor and DC Council demonstrate a real commitment to preventing and eliminating homelessness in the District while improving… Read more…

Today, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice, when darkness lasts longer than any other day. Since 1990, December 21st has been marked as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, a day to mourn the loss and celebrate the lives of our brothers and sisters who have died while homeless. It has been far too dark, for far too many people, for far too long. At the DC Memorial Vigil this afternoon, 43 names were read of men and women who died in and around DC this year. We must work together towards a day when there are no names to read.… Read more…

We were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Patricia Handy, homeless coordinator in the Family Services Administration of the DC Department of Human Services, and a partner in the fight to end homelessness in the District. Ms. Handy dedicated her career to help better the lives of DC residents experiencing homelessness. She worked at all hours of the day and was often the first person to respond to those who were facing a housing crisis. On many nights when our clients were in grave situations and needed shelter or housing placement, it was Ms. Handy that answered… Read more…

December 1st is World AIDS Day, an opportunity for community members to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS by increasing awareness, remembering those lost, demonstrating support for those living with HIV, and sharing solutions for moving forward and ending this epidemic. We want to let you know about a couple of events happening in the District this weekend and Monday to commemorate this important day: On Saturday, December 1st at 5pm, join community members at a candlelight vigil in Dupont Circle organized by Whitman-Walker Health in honor of all those who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. This Monday, December… Read more…

This is the time of year when we reflect upon what we’re thankful for, and to be sure, that list is long. But it’s also a time for us to recognize the challenges facing so many of our neighbors, challenges that can be overcome only through the concerted efforts of everyone in our community. While many of us are looking forward to sitting down to a large Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, thousands of DC residents live in poverty and go hungry. Social services programs and volunteers work hard to ensure that those facing homelessness and poverty have a… Read more…