2022 Primary Voter Guide

This guide was featured in the May 25 and June 1 edition of Street Sense.

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eginning May 27, registered voters across the District will begin casting ballots in the primaries. This year’s election has attracted a large number of candidates for a small number of open seats. In Ward 3, there are nine Democratic party candidates running for one open seat. The race for the mayor’s office is just as competitive. Two of the four candidates in this race are current councilmembers.

With multiple candidates running for the offices of mayor, attorney general and other open D.C. Council seats, we decided to build a voter guide to help better inform our readers. For the past several weeks, we reached out to every candidate from each party running for the offices of mayor, attorney general and open seats on the D.C. Council. We asked each of them to answer a series of questions (we asked slightly different questions to candidates running for D.C. delegate and attorney general).

Some readers might notice that some candidates have been left out of this voter guide. We began reaching out to D.C. Council candidates beginning May 10. However, despite sending repeated requests through phone and email, several candidates did not respond to our questionnaire. We will update the guide when candidates respond.

The early voting period begins June 10 and primary election day is June 21.

Under each question, click the ward that is relevant to you to open all candidate answers side-by-side.

Candidate Profiles

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[su_spoiler title=”Mayor” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

A fifth-generation Washingtonian, Robert has spent 15 years in public service, working alongside Congresswoman Norton and Attorney General Karl Racine, and now as an at-large councilmember. In office, Robert has expanded early childhood education, restored the vote to all incarcerated people and created innovative programs to increase affordable housing.

Platform Summary

Robert has a plan to make our city safe by focusing police on public safety, interrupting violence and getting support for survivors. He will put people over developers to build the affordable housing we need and he will lead our schools with urgency and accountability.

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

James, a nearly 20-year resident of the District who came in second in the Democratic primary in 2018, loves the nation’s capital and is a champion for its residents. James is a former civil rights lawyer and also a former ANC in Ward 5.

Platform Summary

I will make D.C. one of the safest cities in America. I will also end chronic homelessness with long-term supportive housing with one of the most robust wraparound services in the nation. Further, I will bring deeply affordable housing by changing the formula we use to calculate AMI…and I will ensure DC is a city where everyone can thrive.

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[su_spoiler title=”Council Chair” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

I’m a mom, an ethics lawyer, and a dedicated public servant. Before this campaign, I worked for the federal judiciary, where I specialized in workplace accountability. I currently serve as an Advisory Neighborhood commissioner, where I’ve led citywide coalitions on traffic safety, infrastructure, housing, education and community safety.

Platform Summary

I’m running to be D.C. Council chairwoman to bring new energy, vision, and compassion to the D.C. Council. Every person in D.C. deserves affordable housing, high-quality schools, and accessible healthcare. I’m dedicated to values-based leadership that can correct for chronic disinvestment and build safe, stable, and secure communities.

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[su_spoiler title=”Attorney General” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Brian Schwalb” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Brian Schwalb was born in Washington, D.C. and has lived and worked in D.C. for nearly 30 years with his wife Mickie. After graduating from Duke University and Harvard Law School, Brian joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Honors Program as a trial lawyer. Since completing his service with the Department of Justice, Brian has represented clients – individuals, businesses, nonprofits and families — in a multitude of high stakes matters. Brian is an experienced law firm leader, having served as Venable’s firm-wide vice chairman and currently as the partner-in-charge of Venable’s D.C. office. He is passionate about the future of the District and deeply committed to using the Office of the Attorney General – the people’s law firm – to protect the rights and improve the lives of all Washingtonians.

Platform Summary

The people of Washington, D.C. deserve an attorney general who will advocate for them  — to fight for them — to make sure the law works for them. My nearly 30 years experience as a trial attorney fighting for people and clients makes me uniquely qualified to put the law to work to make people’s lives better, safer, fairer and more prosperous.

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[su_tab title=”Ryan Jones” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Ryan Jones is a native Washingtonian running to give back to the city he loves by using his battle tested legal skills. Ryan graduated from Southern Illinois School of Law in a shortened 2 and a half years, and received his LL.M. from the George Washington Law School in intellectual property. He started a law firm in 2014 in order to help a friend up against a fraud issue, which lead him to handling a wide range of matters in D.C. Superior Court (criminal, civil, family, probate, landlord tenant, small claims), District Court for the District of Columbia, D.C. Court of Appeals, and matters before various federal and district agencies.

Platform Summary

Ryan is running to create a course correction for government to better meet the needs of the people it is charged to serve. Ryan wants to rewire the system to empower and uplift people. Ryan wants to use the courts to create advocacy for everyone to be protected, which is incorporated in his campaign slogan of “Equal Access to Justice.” This is reflected in his plan to expand the Office’s Public Advocacy mission and provide legal services to residents in coordination with the courts in the areas of expungements and estate planning and more.

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[su_tab title=”Bruce Spiva” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Both of Bruce’s parents grew up in the Jim Crow era South and were the first in their families to get a higher education. Bruce’s father graduated from an HBCU in 1954, the year the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas decision came down. He believed in the power of law to change our lives for the better, and he inspired Bruce to pursue a career in the law to help others. That’s why Bruce has spent the last 30 years fighting for people whose voices often are not heard in areas ranging from voting rights, civil rights, and consumer protection to antitrust enforcement and criminal justice reform. As D.C.’s next attorney general, Bruce will bring his experience and passion to fight for the people of D.C. on issues that are important to their lives.

Platform Summary

Bruce has the vision and experience to deliver results for the people of D.C. The D.C. Attorney General’s Office represents the people of the District of Columbia across areas critical to their lives: health, safety, work, family, and community. Over the past three decades, Bruce has fought for everyday people and advocated for civil rights, consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, housing, and criminal justice reform. He will stand up for the rights of all D.C. residents and help us emerge from the current public health, economic and political crises a better, stronger, and more just city.

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[su_spoiler title=”Congressional Delegates” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Rev. Wendy Hamilton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Rev. Wendy is an ordained minister, social justice advocate, and mother of one, who currently resides in Washington, D.C. She is originally from a small town in southern Ohio (Portsmouth). Rev. Wendy proudly received her Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University (B.S. Human Development, in 1991) and her Master’s Degree from Howard University School of Divinity ( M.A. Religious Studies, 2006.) She credits her educational experiences and single motherhood as being two of the most transformative of her life.

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[su_tab title=”Elenor Holmes Norton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, now in her fifteenth term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, has been named one of the 100 most important American women in one survey and one of the most powerful women in Washington in another. The congresswoman’s work for full congressional voting representation and for full democracy for the people of the District of Columbia continues her lifelong struggle for universal human and civil rights.

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 1″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Brianne K. Nadeau is fighting for the people of Ward 1, and getting results. For the past 8 years she has put more than 1,200 units of affordable housing in the pipeline in Ward 1, has increased funding for public safety each year, improved our schools, and provided constituent services to more than 8,000 families.

Platform Summary

Brianne has a proven track record of working for our most vulnerable residents. As chair of the human services committee, Brianne has made historic investments in ending homelessness, reformed the District’s Temporary Aid to Needy Families program and significantly expanded disability services. She knows there are still challenges here in the District and wants to keep pushing for those in need.

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

I am the daughter of Vietnamese boat refugees and working-class Virginians and have called DC home for a decade. I’m currently serving as ANC for the 14th and U St area. I am a community advocate and I bring extensive experience to the table supporting businesses small and large.

Platform Summary

I am fighting for a Ward 1 where we can all thrive by:

• Investing in our schools, teachers, and children
• Cleaning up our communities and keeping our streets safe
• Fighting displacement and reforming our housing policies
• Expanding our approach to public safety
• Showing up in the community & addressing our needs

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Son of a Palestinian refugee & Hungarian immigrant. I rent, not own. Former MPD officer that saved a Ward 1 resident’s life who was a gun violence victim. I know first-hand how hard it is to live here & want to see DC do more for our most vulnerable residents.

Platform Summary

• Improve public safety and address rising violence
• Invest in education that leads to gainful employment
• Support our homeless and at-risk families
• Prioritize affordable housing, transit & bicycle/pedestrian safety
• Bring LGBTQ+ representation to the D.C. Council
• Protect women’s rights and support family needs
• Help our city to go GREEN

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 3″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Phil Thomas is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, former elementary school teacher, served two-terms as ANC Commissioner, and serves as chair of the Ward 3 Democratic Party. Phil joined the Mayor’s Office in 2016 as the Ward 3 Community Outreach and Relations Specialist solving issues facing Ward 3. In 2021, he served as the director of the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City where he worked on sustainability and environmental equity.

Platform Summary

I am running on a platform called 3 S’s and an H. I am focused on seniors, schools, safety and housing. As Ward 3 Councilmember I want to bring a senior wellness center to Ward 3, reduce overcrowding in our neighborhood schools, fight to maintain mayoral control of our schools, drive down crime and bring affordable housing so our teachers and public safety officers can live in the communities they serve.

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Matt Frumin is a husband, father and attorney with a long history of civic activism.  He has served as Chair of ANC 3E and the Boards of Tenleytown Main Street and the Lisner Home and has been active and effective on many issues from education to affordable housing to seniors.

Platform Summary

Make Ward 3 and the city safer, more affordable, greener and an increasingly great place to raise a family, learn and age in place. I have a long history of accomplishment working with others on these issues. On the Council, I hope to have an even larger positive impact.

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Beau Finley was born in the District, worked as a federal auditor and then attorney, served as a union leader, and is currently Chair of his Advisory Neighborhood Commission.  He and his wife live in rent-stabilized housing in Cleveland Park.

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

A native Washingtonian and minority business owner, Monte Monash chaired the mayor-appointed board that oversees the ongoing transformation of D.C.’s 26 public libraries. She has served in volunteer leadership roles at nonprofits supporting the city’s senior residents, unhoused families and individuals, and workforce development.

Platform Summary

I am a 20-year Ward 3 resident, a civic volunteer and a Black woman business-owner. I am a strong leader with a record of building trust to get things done. My priorities: responsive constituent services and policies to address the needs of children and families, seniors and small businesses.

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

I am a public school graduate, a former elementary school teacher, an attorney, an ANC Commissioner, Chair of ANC3D, and a dad of two small kids (5 and 2). I live with my family in an apartment off New Mexico Avenue. As an ANC, I have been a passionate advocate for affordable housing, investments in public education, improved public transit, especially for areas poorly served by Metrorail, and safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

Platform Summary

I am running to make this a city where everyone can thrive, everyone can find their financial footing, raise a family, and age in place on a fixed income. Before the pandemic, the District was one of the least affordable places to live in the country. Consistently, D.C. is ranked first or second for both daycare and housing costs. The pandemic has compounded many of our challenges. To bring D.C. back better, to build an inclusive and vibrant city, we need fresh perspective and representation on the Council that is independent and thoughtful. I have detailed plans to make housing and childcare affordable, invest in schools, improve and expand transit, and improve public safety responsibly while also following through on our commitment to criminal justice and police reform.

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 5″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Kathy Henderson is a “SHERO” and has won numerous awards for serving the public; featured in People and Essence magazines; previously endorsed by Washington Post, Afro-American Newspaper, DOCPAC, others; is endorsed by past MPD Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes, Police Chief Regis Bryant, MPD officers.

Platform Summary

I am a “powerful voice for the community” and award-winning ten-term advisory neighborhood commissioner. I will assess every Ward 5 neighborhood for infrastructure needs within the first 100 days in office and take immediate corrective action.

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Gordon Fletcher is a three-term Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Single Member District 5A08, representing North Michigan Park and Fort Totten. He is vice chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5A, and Chairman of Ward 5 Democrats. Professionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Justice and Public Policy at American University.

Platform Summary

The focus of my platform includes gun and violent crime reduction; increasing community-led safety patrols and MPD foot patrols; improving traffic safety and addressing the needs of seniors. We also need to increase the amount of truly affordable housing and address environmental and air quality issues across Ward 5.

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

I’m an educator and public servant. I was elected in 2018 to represent Ward 5 on the D.C. State Board of Education, and colleagues selected me to be president in 2021. After college, I taught 7th-grade math in New Orleans, and I’ve spent the last decade supporting D.C. school administrators.

Platform Summary

I’ve dedicated my life’s work to transforming systems that are failing D.C. families. We must emerge from the pandemic without repeating cycles of violence, displacement, and corruption. Together we can connect city services to people’s real lives, build healthy communities, and make it easier to stay and thrive in D.C.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Faith Gibson Hubbard is an advocate, educator, wife, mother, and public servant with a history of service to D.C. Faith has served in many roles inside and outside of government. She has a track record of building coalitions, trusting and leaning into the lived experiences of neighbors, to solve the most pressing issues facing our community.

Platform Summary

As a community is the driving force behind equitable growth to preserve and build a community where everyone can thrive. Building a stronger Ward 5 requires all of us at the table to create and foster the kind of investments, sustainable growth, safety, and overall quality of life we need and deserve. Together we can!

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Vincent Orange is an attorney and certified public accountant. Vincent Orange is the former two-term Ward 5 Councilmember, at-large councilmember and DC Democratic National committeeman. Vincent Orange jumped started economic development, school modernization, and recreational centers renovations in Ward 5 and the city followed. Vincent Orange championed the $15 per hour minimum wage, sick leave pay for tipped wage workers, wage theft legislation, discrimination laws protecting women and transgender people in the workplace, and created D.C. Emancipation Day holiday.

Platform Summary

I’m running to represent Ward 5 on the D.C. Council to continue providing for the general welfare of my constituents. I provide leadership, experience, maturity and proven results to address crime, public safety, affordable housing, education, homelessness and mental health services for my constituents. With the ensuing end of Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie‘s term, I am the best choice to seamlessly assume his position as chairman of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, and keeping Ward 5 at the table of leadership. Please visit orangeward5.com for more information.

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[su_spoiler title=”At-large” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Biography

Lisa is recognized nationally for her work on investigating some of the most challenging housing issues. She’s led efforts in identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities in housing and community development programs and developed Congressional testimony on housing matters, highlighting concerns with program efficiency and the proper spending of taxpayer dollars.

Platform Summary

I’m a proud DCPS mom, a retired federal investigator with decades of experience investigating housing frauds and overseeing housing programs and an ANC serving Wards 3 and 4. I believe in community-powered change that centers on justice and puts people first.

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Issue Ranks

Most of the candidates who responded to our questionnaire indicated that this was an exceptionally difficult question. Many of them told us that many of these issues could not be intrinsically separated from one another, and that they are all inter-related. Some even declined to answer the question at first. But eventually almost everyone who responded to our questionnaire provided a ranking. While we agree that this is a difficult task, we felt it would be valuable for our readers to know how candidates might prioritize issues while working under pressure.
Within the guide, these issues are ranked from top to bottom with the most important first and the least important last.

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[su_spoiler title=”Mayor” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Declined to participate in the ranking.

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Homelessness
• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Transportation
• Racial Equity
• Social Safety Net
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Economic Development

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[su_spoiler title=”Council Chair” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Homelessness
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Social Safety Net
• Access to Healthcare
• Racial Equity
• Climate Change and Environment
• Transportation
• Public Safety
• Economic Development

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[su_spoiler title=”Attorney General” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Brian Schwalb” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Racial Equity
• Affordable Housing
• Homelessness
• Education
• Economic Development
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Transportation
• Social Safety Net

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[su_tab title=”Ryan Jones” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Education
• Public Safety
• Racial Equity
• Economic Development
• Access to Healthcare
• Climate Change and Environment
• Affordable Housing
• Homelessness
• Social Safety Net
• Transportation

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[su_tab title=”Bruce Spiva” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Affordable Housing
• Public Safety
• Racial Equity
• Climate Change and Environment
• Education
• Economic Development
• Homelessness
• Social Safety Net
• Transportation
• Access to Healthcare

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 1″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Affordable Housing
• Public Safety
• Education
• Homelessness
• Social Safety Net
• Racial Equity
• Transportation
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Economic Development

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Racial Equity
• Affordable Housing
• Climate Change and Environment
• Homelessness
• Education
• Transportation
• Access to Healthcare
• Social Safety Net
• Public Safety
• Economic Development

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Racial Equity
• Homelessness
• Transportation
• Social Safety Net
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Economic Development

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 3″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Education
• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Homelessness
• Climate Change and Environment
• Transportation
• Racial Equity
• Economic Development
• Social Safety Net
• Access to Healthcare

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Declined to participate in the ranking

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Homelessness
• Racial Equity
• Social Safety Net
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Economic Development
• Transportation

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Racial Equity
• Education
• Affordable Housing
• Access to Healthcare
• Public Safety
• Homelessness
• Economic Development
• Climate Change and Environment
• Transportation
• Social Safety Net

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Affordable Housing
• Racial Equity
• Economic Development
• Education
• Public Safety
• Homelessness
• Social Safety Net
• Transportation
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 5″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Education
• Homelessness
• Affordable Housing
• Racial Equity
• Climate Change and Environment
• Access to Healthcare
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Social Safety Net

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Homelessness
• Transportation
• Economic Development
• Access to Healthcare
• Climate Change and Environment
• Racial Equity
• Social Safety Net

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Declined to participate in the ranking.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Declined to participate in the ranking.

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Access to Healthcare
• Homelessness
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Social Safety Net
• Racial Equity
• Climate Change and Environment

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[su_spoiler title=”At-large” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=”accordion”]

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

• Social Safety Net
• Racial Equity
• Affordable Housing
• Education
• Public Safety
• Homelessness
• Access to Healthcare
• Climate Change and Environment
• Transportation
• Economic Development

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1) Do you believe that housing is a human right? Are you willing to propose or sponsor legislation to that effect? 

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. On the Council I have:

1. Helped create housing vouchers for seniors and LGBTQ+ youth and helped fund enough vouchers to get all unhoused residents into stable housing – which the mayor has failed to implement
2. Introduced legislation to turn existing apartments into affordable units and convert empty office buildings into affordable housing
3. Led efforts to increase funding for public housing repairs

As mayor, I will continue to prioritize legislation that ensures every D.C. resident has access to safe, sanitary, and affordable housing and I will continue to find innovative and dignified approaches to make it happen

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I do believe that housing is a basic human right and I will sponsor any legislation to that effect. I will move as mayor for the city to use city housing stock to provide long-term permanent, supportive housing. I believe we must in the horrible use of shelters and temporary housing…as it only exacerbates and continues to cycle of chronic homelessness.

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[su_spoiler title=”Council Chair” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe housing is a human right and all D.C. residents are entitled to safe, stable and secure housing. My beliefs are rooted in my personal experience: my biological father died on the street while homeless. It’s a constant reminder that there is no reason, excuse or justification for not taking every step we can to provide everyone the dignity of a home. Values-based leadership can drive all council action, from the budget to legislation to day-to-day oversight. And I’m committed to taking every action necessary to provide D.C. residents the dignity of a home.

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[su_spoiler title=”Attorney General” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Brian Schwalb” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The lack of affordable housing in D.C. is one of the great inequities that plague our city. Safe and affordable housing is, and should be treated, as a human right. In order to decrease the number of people experiencing homelessness, it is critical to address the factors that drive it.

Domestic violence, mental health issues, substance abuse and lack of affordable housing can all be precipitating factors that push an individual or a family into homelessness. As AG, I will deploy the full scope of the OAG’s broad authority to assist residents who are facing one or more crises that threaten housing stability or which have resulted in displacement.

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[su_tab title=”Ryan Jones” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We have the resources and capability to house and protect our residents confronting housing issues or homelessness. There are other factors to consider when it comes to homelessness as each case differs, but I will counsel our government to offer and provide every resource available to cure this issue expeditiously.

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[su_tab title=”Bruce Spiva” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. Housing is a human right, and I have spent my 30 year career fighting to protect it. As AG, I will advocate for real solutions for those experiencing homelessness, such as offering housing subsidies and service intervention outreach. I will go after slumlords who force tenants to live in unsafe, unhealthy conditions and bad actors who cheat tenants out of their rights. I will enforce developers’ promises to build affordable housing units and newly-enacted rights for tenants in the eviction and application process. Finally, I will partner with tenants and community-based organizations to find and pursue remedies against bad actors.

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[su_tab title=”Rev. Wendy Hamilton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Housing is a human right and the foundation from which a meaningful quality of life can emerge. One cannot be expected to fully navigate the responsibilities and challenges life can present while experience an unstable living situation. I would introduce legislation as early as possible to support this understanding and include provision requests for adequate funding to support measures highlighted in the bill. Additionally, I would support/co-sponsor existing bills like the Ending Homelessness Act of 2019 which embraces a Housing First model.

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[su_tab title=”Elenor Holmes Norton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes, housing is a human right. I am currently a cosponsor of several bill to address homelessness including H.R. 6989, the Housing for All Act of 2022 which aims to address the homelessness and housing crises, moving toward the goal of providing for a home for all Americans; and H.R. 5606, The Return Home to Housing Act, and H.R.5470 the HOMES for our Veterans Act of 2021 which increases funding for programs aimed at assisting homeless veterans.

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. I am already a co-introducer of the Human Rights Enhancement Amendment Act of 2021, which would protect individuals experiencing homelessness from discrimination; provide training to law enforcement on the impact of enforcement decisions on people experiencing homelessness and the protections against discrimination provided by this bill. It also prohibits employment discrimination against contractors and enhances protections against workplace harassment.

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes, I do believe housing is a human right and I am willing to propose and/or sponsor legislation to that effect. Housing is the foundation of what someone needs to then have better outcomes on factors like food security, regular employment, reduced health issues, and safety. Unfortunately none of these are guarantees, as we’ve seen with some of the conditions of our housing in DC, but if we can provide that housing-first baseline people will be on the pathway for a more thriving future.

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I do believe that housing is a human right and hope to sponsor legislation mandating that the District of Columbia establish a comprehensive program to provide housing-for-all.

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

As Ward 3 councilmember two of my top priorities are decreasing homelessness and improving quality of life for everyone. We know the pathway to end homelessness is housing and I worked on these issues by participating in the Homeward DC Plan and I was instrumental in getting the Short Term Family Housing built in Ward 3. It is imperative we do as much as we can for the homeless community, and I will advocate for the homeless in the city’s budget.

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Housing is a human right.  One can sponsor legislation proclaiming that but that alone will not put a roof over anyone’s head.  As Chair of the Board for Lisner Home, I led in securing the first ever Housing Production Trust Fund award in Ward 3 to build 93 units of deeply affordable senior housing. Getting to an adequate supply of housing will require that kind of patient and creative effort, and require building coalitions in support of additional housing. I am proud of my work with the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) to build support among local congregations for more housing.

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. My housing platform begins with “housing is a human right.”  I will propose legislation that backs up my fundamental belief that housing is a human right.

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Housing is a human right. Homelessness is a concern all over the District, and there is a citywide struggle to find affordable places to live. My two decades of community service includes serving on the board of Friendship Place, a Ward 3-based nonprofit that shares my belief that homelessness should be rare, brief and non-recurring. I will support legislation to increase funding to support the JobsFirst program and to reform the failing rapid rehousing program. Job training and placement programs give light to a future. The RR program seriously needs to be reformed in order to serve its vital intent.

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. Housing should be a human right, but that isn’t the case right now. Rights don’t have waiting lists, they don’t expire, or get reduced year-to-year. I am committed to continuing investment in solutions to reduce homelessness and provide unhoused Washingtonians the services they need and deserve. There are no simple solutions to homelessness. We all know this. Each individual is unique, limiting the ability to adopt a one-size approach to delivering services. Housing-first policies have proven effective at reducing homelessness. But the key is to ensure that adequate and appropriate services are delivered to address each person’s individual needs.

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes, there is enough money in the budget to house every homeless person in D.C.

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes, I believe housing is a human right. I would propose legislation to that effect, codify minimum health and safety standards and call for a comprehensive quality assessment of all public housing in Ward 5. We have the largest proportion of seniors in public housing. Having toured several properties, some of the conditions Washingtonians are forced to live in are unacceptable. The District cannot be complicit in perpetuating substandard housing. The city must commit to ensuring every resident of the District of Columbia has access to clean, safe, high-quality housing options for housing.

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Yes. Stable housing is the foundation of stable families and communities. So much of the well-being and success of Ward 5 residents depends on having a secure place to call home. We must build housing for those in most need: low-income families, seniors, LGBTQ+ youth, and returning citizens. That starts with declaring housing as a human right.

We must build much more deeply affordable housing throughout D.C., with binding targets. And we should expand permanently affordable housing models, including community land trusts and limited equity co-ops, while increasing our Housing Production Trust Fund, Local Rent Supplement and more.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I do believe that housing is a human right, I would support legislation to that effect, but it would need to tie directly to resources that support production and affordability. As councilmember I would start by taking the following steps:

• Increase funding to prioritize the creation of local rent supplement housing vouchers.
• Expand the partnering agencies and non-governmental organizations that are a part of the interagency Council on Homelessness.
• Create annual benchmarks to assess the annual milestones of the Homeward DC plan
• Increase funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to meet the actual need; following the community-based partnership model established through the STAY DC funding.
• Increase programmatic funding for resource supports for residents who are exiting housing insecurity and homelessness; creating stronger linkages between housing programs and streamlined, cross-agency case management process to navigate the city’s systems.

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Housing is crucial to every individual and/or family having a good quality of life.

I would sponsor legislation that does the following; First, I would provide mobile shower buses and personal hygiene products to the homeless on a daily basis while conducting intake to ascertain the problems of the individual or family in order to provide a housing solution. I would guarantee the six-month housing voucher with renewal for another six months while working out a permanent solution for permanent housing.

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Affordable, decent housing is a fundamental human right and is the foundation of every system we need for individuals and families to thrive. Every Washingtonian should have the security of stable housing, and we must protect our residents from the threat of displacement as we reach our housing goals, provide communities with meaningful engagement in the development process, and immediately address the housing needs of extremely low-income people and marginalized groups. As the main focus of my campaign, I will support legislation that fosters equitable development, strong tenant rights, expanded rent stabilization laws, and enacting anti-displacement legislation.

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2) In January, 2015, D.C. joined the Community Solutions “Built for Zero” campaign to reduce homelessness in the city to “functional zero.” What concrete steps does the city need to take to get to “zero”?

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We need to prioritize addressing the root causes of homelessness including a lack of affordable housing, inadequate mental health support and insufficient reentry support for returning citizens. I will make the investments on the front end to stop people from becoming evicted and unhoused, including fully funding emergency rental assistance and giving tenants the legal support they need. Once people are unhoused, instead of traumatizing them with bulldozers and police, I will invest in putting vouchers in the hands of the outreach workers who build trust with unhoused residents to get them into housing.

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The major steps that we need to take to get to zero homelessness is the first identify by name and person experiencing homelessness. Then we need to be sure that we have build out the cities house in stock of long-term, permanent, and supportive housing. We must have a robust wraparound services to address mental, behavioral health, addiction and any economic issues. This wraparound service will not be some temporary month service. It will be long-term to ensure that we get people on their feet and up and running for good.

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

D.C. must fully invest in housing as a right to end homelessness. This means building our budget to address housing needs and fully funding those needs through programs like permanent supportive housing. It is important to remember that meeting needs is not necessarily just physical housing but also the support services needed to transition from homelessness. As we’ve seen through the Coordinated Assistance and Resources for Encampments (CARE) pilot program, a key component of providing housing and support services is building trust and relationships with our unhoused neighbors.

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

As the chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, I have made the largest investments in ending homelessness in our city’s history. I established the Homeless Street Outreach program through the Dept. of Human Services, and each year I have invested millions of dollars into housing for those experiencing homelessness. In FY22 I passed the Homes and Hearts Amendment, which allocates $65 million annually to 2,400 households to provide permanent housing. I’ve worked to oversee the closing of DC General and the opening of short-term family housing in all 8 wards. I’ve overseen the opening of a new, dignified shelter for unaccompanied adults and the Downtown Day Center. By following our roadmap, Homeward DC, I have helped reduce homelessness by 47% since I first took office.

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe concrete ways to get to “zero” would be to speed up the voucher pairing system, getting people into homes from there, and providing wraparound services after. We can do this by removing the barriers for access to gain a voucher, hiring more caseworkers, and ensuring that once someone is connected with a voucher they know where and how to use it. We cannot end our process there. We need to provide wraparound services like access to comprehensive healthcare, foster inter-community connections, ensure job placement, and secure furniture and household goods for their new homes.

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

D.C. needs to provide housing and employment opportunities available in the neighborhoods where residents who are experiencing homelessness live. It is unfair to ask these residents to relocate far from their social ties.

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We know the best way to reduce homelessness is to make it rare, brief, and nonrecurring. I support building more housing across the city and in Ward 3. It really comes down to working with the city and the residents to find realistic locations west of Rock Creek Park to put deep affordable housing. However, HPTF is not the best way to achieve under 30% AMI housing, and we need to support construction of buildings utilizing other rental subsidy programs such as Low-income housing tax credits and the local rental supplement program which are what really helps produce deep affordable units.

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

To get to functional zero we need to build more housing and make more existing housing available.  But also we need to dramatically improve our mental health services and other support services such as job training and placement. Simply getting a resident under a roof is a first step, but not the end. We have to work with people to help them succeed, otherwise the first, important step will not be sustainable. “Housing first” is an important concept, but it implies something follows in the form of support, and it must.

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Ending chronic homelessness is essential.  To follow through on Built for Zero and to end chronic homelessness, I propose that we:

– Collect data on the total number of unhoused on a weekly basis;

– Use the federal Lifeline program to make sure our unhoused have phones;

– Expand our transitional and permanent supportive housing options;

– Increase our housing vouchers;

– Build better medical/pharmaceutical support networks for our homeless neighbors;

– Provide far more wraparound services for those in need.

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

On the council, I will continue to support D.C. agencies and local nonprofits that take a case-management approach to ending homelessness in our city by providing compassionate wraparound support to individuals and families. In particular, the Department of Human Services’ commitment to Built for Zero starts with real data and tracking to ensure homeless individuals are directed to appropriate services, programs and organizations to become housed.  City dollars allocated for proactive programming to help housing insecure residents will prevent homeless occurrence. The District cannot do this alone. Partnerships with the community will make for true success.

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

In order to truly end homelessness, we must be willing to make invest sufficient resources to completely address the individual needs and circumstances of unbounded Washingtonians. Each person is unique and not everyone needs the same suite of services. In some circumstances, sustained engagement by different specialists will be necessary. In any event, this is too important to try to do it on the cheap.

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Pass emergency legislation to authorize funding to get every person into clean and safe housing without delay. We have the resources.

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I am a proponent of permanent supportive housing that offers wraparound services to the unhoused. Simply putting a roof over someone’s head isn’t enough. We must address the root causes of homelessness if we are to reach “functional zero.” We do have a significant opportunity, however. With the glut of office space across the region due to the COVID pandemic, we have the potential to provide housing to more people than ever before. That said, we must address the cost of real estate, cost of conversion to residential housing and zoning if we ever expect to make headway on homelessness.

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Housing our neighbors must be a top priority. I’m encouraged that D.C. has made progress to expand permanent supportive housing, but investments to end homelessness will not be sustained without adequate emergency rental assistance and without creating much more deeply affordable housing. Housing ends homelessness. Yet the just-passed FY 2023 budget falls $100 million short of what is needed for emergency rental aid and includes almost no new vouchers to help the 30,000 very low-income households that need them. Beyond housing, we must ensure everyone has a basic income to afford necessities.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

While the District has made measurable strides in reducing instances of family homelessness, more action is needed to fund local housing vouchers for families timing out of temporary placements. Similarly, the city must fund more local housing vouchers and must fund the production of more PSH units for individuals experiencing homelessness.

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Last year D.C. reduced homelessness by 17%. We should double our efforts this year to continue reducing homelessness until we reach the “functional zero” goal.

By September, the Department of Human Services will terminate rapid re-housing subsidies for 913 families. If elected, how will you ensure that families connected with housing subsidies don’t end up on the street?  Now that the 913 families have been identified, I would hold extremely aggressive oversight hearings every other month to stay on top of finding permanent housing solutions for this population.

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe one of the causes of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing in the rental and homeownership markets. Thus, we need to heavily invest in more housing units in the 0%-30% income range, including public housing. We must invest in our voucher programs and prevent the revolving doors policies that place unhoused residents in a cycle of homelessness. We can develop affordable housing using social and community land trust models, and use public land to help mitigate development costs.

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3) By September, the Department of Human Services will terminate rapid rehousing subsidies for 913 families. If elected, how will you ensure that families connected with housing subsidies don’t end up on the street? 

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We have used rapid rehousing as a bandaid for too many people when the reality is that many people leave rapid rehousing still unable to pay market rent and are forced right back into homelessness when the program is terminated. We need to provide people who need it with long-term support so they have the resources they need until they are able to stay housed independently. We also need to continue to fund more permanent housing vouchers, as I and my council colleagues did over the mayor’s objections, so we can house people who need them.

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I will identify every family all subsidies who subsidies are set to end. We will ensure that we get any federal supportive aid for these families and ensure that the city puts them back into the fold where they get long-term housing. We have a $20 billion budget and we have the money to do it.

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Community members, advocates, and Councilmembers alike have decried the rapid rehousing program as a short-term Band-Aid that creates a cliff that pushes families back into homelessness and artificially inflates D.C.’s statistics in terms of progress made toward addressing homelessness. Like so many other programs, we’ve seen piecemeal responses to fill the gaps in rapid rehousing that fail to provide housing and services based on needs. Rapid rehousing should either be fully funded to not have a fixed end date or reformed to be additional permanent supportive housing.

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

In my role as committee chairperson I have funded hundreds of subsidies to working families through the Flex program and Career MAP DC. I have also funded permanent housing for families each year in the budget, and this year the Council will add additional targeted affordable housing to support these families.

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe we must trust the experts who say that the rapid rehousing program must be bailed out and reformed to provide families with the permanent housing they need. Rapid re-housing is simply an ineffective band-aid that has shown to be very Sisyphean in nature only hurting the families it’s supposed to help. We must give these families the permanent housing they need and provide them with direct cash assistance to help create long-term, safe, stable homes.

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Brianne Nadeau’s failed leadership as chair of the committee for human services has directly led to this outcome. She has known about this situation for years and has done nothing to fix the program. The paperwork and administrative hurdles are overly burdensome for families. The process needs to be simplified immediately and case management improved so no more families who are eligible for subsidies lose them.

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

With the limited public health emergency over the council should push the executive branch to do everything in their power to prevent evictions. The council should push the executive branch to include more money in the budget for the emergency rental assistance program (ERAP) and in the worst-case scenario use reserve funds out of the rainy-day fund.

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Just to recite the question is to answer it. We cannot throw 913 families on to the street. And, while September is not yet winter, winter will not be far off. We need to find a way to keep these people housed and served and urgently work so that they can live independently without these supports. There could be an idea that we do not have the money to serve these families, but if we fail to do so and put them on the streets, the costs to them and us will be even greater.

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Just to recite the question is to answer it. We cannot throw 913 families on to the street. And, while September is not yet winter, winter will not be far off. We need to find a way to keep these people housed and served and urgently work so that they can live independently without these supports. There could be an idea that we do not have the money to serve these families, but if we fail to do so and put them on the streets, the costs to them and us will be even greater.

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The rapid rehousing program’s failure is concerning. The District needs to reform the administration of this program in three ways. 1) Funding should be offered to individuals experiencing homelessness and transitioning from a shelter as a rent subsidy. 2) RR individuals should be offered job training and placement. 3) Extending the duration of time an RR individual can be a recipient would help, because wage increases are not always achievable in 12 months to positively change their wage-to-rent ratio. I will continue to support a case-management approach to ending homelessness by providing compassionate wraparound support to individuals and families.

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I would extend subsidies so families and individuals receiving support are no longer in limbo or at risk of being displaced. It makes no sense for us to invest in rehousing individuals in need of assistance before abruptly terminating their support.

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Intensive case-management can help transition recipients into viable jobs. There is an actual surplus of unfilled jobs in the District.

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

While things are improving in the District, the socio-economic impact of the COVID pandemic is still being felt and will continue for years to come. Terminating the subsidies seems shortsighted. If elected, I would advocate to keep the subsidies in place temporarily, while working on addressing the family’s needs. The District government and small business sectors need employees, for example. The city can help skill-up those receiving rehousing subsidies and funnel them to job opportunities. This provides financial stability for families, promotes employment and spurs economic growth.

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Rapid rehousing for D.C. families needs improvement, as 90% of families won’t be able to afford their rent if these short-term subsidies end. That is no surprise, given DC’s rapid gentrification and exploding rents. The Council found funds to provide ongoing help to 400 families in RRH, but we must help the remaining 513. In the long-term, we must reform rapid rehousing so that no one is cut-off due to a time limit if they are unable to afford rent. I support transitioning families in rapid re-housing to permanently affordable housing, like land trusts and social housing.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I support the current budget actions pending before the council to fund several hundred new local rent vouchers to support these residents. I will work to ensure that enough reoccurring funding is placed in the budget in future years to create enough vouchers to cover every family facing this situation.

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Now that the 913 families have been identified, I would hold extremely aggressive oversight hearings every other month to stay on top of finding permanent housing solutions for this population

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I support fully funding and expanding the voucher eligibility program. I believe we should be funding Targeted Affordable Housing vouchers, which can also be used to help families who cannot avail themselves to D.C.’s rapid rehousing program. I also support funding Local Rent Supplement Program vouchers to ensure those who urgently need permanent rental assistance can access housing. Finally, these resources should be available for both single adults and families.

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4) What is your stance on the city’s encampment engagement policy? Do you think the Coordinated Assistance and Resources for Encampments (CARE) pilot program is effective?

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[su_tab title=”Robert White” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We have to get everyone in a tent encampment in our city into housing and we can’t solve the problem of homelessness by pushing it out of view and pretending it went away. I worked with my colleagues to fund enough vouchers to house every single unhoused person in our city, over the mayor’s objections but instead of getting people housed, she has shown up with bulldozers, dump trucks and police. We can’t bulldoze the people we have an obligation to help. We need to build trust and relationships to get people housed, not create unnecessary deadlines.

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[su_tab title=”James Butler” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We will offer real care. We will never traumatize persons experiencing homelessness with more trauma by bulldozing tent encampments. I can assure you our approach to long-term supportive housing well in chronic homelessness in D.C. but for those that you still experience some levels of homelessness we will not bulldoze encampments but we will offer and perform a task force to identify each person’s needs and provide long-term housing.

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[su_tab title=”Erin Palmer” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe in a housing-first, compassionate approach to encampments, not the bulldozer-first approach supported by my opponent. Our unhoused neighbors deserve to be treated with dignity, support, and respect. We have unprecedented resources to provide housing and support for our neighbors. Forcibly removing our unhoused neighbors is not necessary if you build trust without traumatizing evictions, displacement, and destruction of personal belongings. Permanent, safe, and supportive housing solves homelessness without displacement and is more successful long-term.

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[su_tab title=”Brianne Nadeau” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I am very concerned about the way this program has been implemented, despite its goal of housing those experiencing homelessness. As the councilmember who funded the street outreach program, and the housing that we are working so hard to connect residents with, I am thrilled that we now have enough vouchers that we can offer them to those living in encampments. This program, however, was launched at the beginning of hypothermia season, and purported to provide housing to anyone residing in an encampment, before evicting them. In practice, however, not everyone was offered housing, people were asked to leave before they were ready to do so, and many residents were simply displaced from one encampment to another. This is why I proposed emergency legislation to halt the CARE program until hypothermia season ended. Unfortunately my legislation was not successful, and I continue to monitor the treatment of those residing in encampment to ensure their rights are upheld.

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[su_tab title=”Sabel Harris” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I am supportive of the premise of the housing-first goal of the CARE pilot program; however, after talking with our unhoused neighbors and advocates on the ground it hasn’t been effective and in several cases it has been harmful. I believe we must have the housing-first grounding, but we need DC departments and agencies to be held accountable to conduct consistent, care-driven outreach to our unhoused neighbors in encampments. This accountability may take the form of a deadline or goal and if done right, will result in an end to the encampments, not through evictions, but through housing.

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[su_tab title=”Salah Czapary” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The CARE pilot was a good first step in a social services approach to ending encampments. Council should exercise oversight to ensure the execution of the program is improved, however rather than doing this the incumbent vacated her responsibility and instead introduced emergency legislation to pause all clearings of encampments during the dead of winter.

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 3″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Phil Thomas” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

At the end of the day we know housing is better for an individual then a tent especially during the hypothermia season. I think the government did a poor job at execution at the start of the pilot program and didn’t realize how many obstacles they would encounter, but I applaud the Mayor and the Council for the idea and continuing to carry out the program. With 17 individuals still at two sites the government should continue to focus on getting those individuals housed.

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[su_tab title=”Matt Frumin” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The concept of the program to work closely with encampment residents to support them and prepare them even as we seek to move them out of encampments and into stable housing is right. The challenge is how to get it done humanely. The episodes where encampments were bull-dozed and residents were disbursed and not all were provided stable housing was troubling. This is hard work, but we can and must do better.

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[su_tab title=”Beau Finley” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

Encampments are intentional communities where people have come together for support, friendship, and safety. The District needs to keep this in mind when engaging with those living in an encampment before breaking up a community across the eight wards.

I support the CARE pilot’s intensive case management and behavioral health/substance use support.  I do not support the traumatic and sudden clearing of encampments and coerced housing placement.  We need more transitional housing and more permanent supportive housing for those for whom housing vouchers may not be the way to go.

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[su_tab title=”Monte Monash” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The District’s affordable housing crisis is the main driver in relation to encampments. The rising cost of housing and lack of affordable units in our housing stock is crushing. When encampments started to spring up, immediately the focus was on keeping residents safe. Living out of doors is harsh and unprotected in every way. The priority to house individuals as a right is important. I think the CARE pilot has been a reactive attempt to respond to a public safety issue.  I support wraparound services and a case-management approach to housing an individual with supports and accessible resources.

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[su_tab title=”Ben Bergmann” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

We need better oversight to ensure that unhoused residents are truly being offered permanent housing and sufficient wrap-around services. We also must make sure that there is real engagement with encampment residents for a sustained period of time. Violent evictions are a sign of failure and indicate that engagement was not as robust as it should be. I do believe that public space belongs to everyone and we cannot tolerate permanent encampments on public parks, particularly if there are safety concerns. But we also must ensure through effective oversight that we are actually addressing root causes rather than clearing encampments and pushing issues out of view of the nightly news.

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[su_spoiler title=”Ward 5″ open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

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[su_tab title=”Kathy Henderson” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

No. Removing someone’s belongings with or without notice is inappropriate. We have the resources to house our homeless individuals and should do so with fairness and dignity.

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[su_tab title=”Gordon Fletcher” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

It is important to note that CARE is a pilot program. While the premise of CARE is laudable and to an extent it has been effective, there is always room for improvement. If the objective is to reduce homelessness to “functionally zero” we need to answer several questions (a.) how many homeless people are on the streets and what proportion want housing; (b.) do we have sufficient permanently supportive housing across the city to meet the need; (c.) do we have the service providers available to scale up and address the root causes of homelessness?

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[su_tab title=”Zachary Parker” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The city promised that it would expedite housing for unhoused neighbors through the rapid rehousing Program, and then it would clear encampments. Unfortunately, what ended up happening is that before some unhoused neighbors received housing, the government took bulldozers to encampments to destroy the few belongings some of our most vulnerable neighbors possessed.

We need to secure permanent supportive housing for our unhoused neighbors so that we aren’t just moving people around. After we do that, I support clearing tent encampments. It is important to note that this is not what happened in D.C.

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[su_tab title=”Faith Gibson Hubbard” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

All neighbors deserve access to safe housing. I do believe the current process is working and is designed as a method of providing intensive onsite service delivery to meet our unhoused neighbors where they are. I appreciate the programmatic focus of connecting our unhoused neighbors to housing and services and supports. While progress has been made, we must continue to do more to ensure housing access for our neighbors is long-term and permanent and inclusive of the wrap-around supports many neighbors desperately need. As a councilmember, I would be a champion for ensuring the process takes place in partnership with more of our community-based organizations that are trusted resources within the community; their presence will allow us to reach more unhoused neighbors and ensure we are able support their unique needs and support their ability to permanently exit homelessness.

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[su_tab title=”Vincent Orange” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The city must operate a very efficient and effective intake process of individuals or families in the encampments to determine the need to transition this population to permanent housing. The six-month housing vouchers with renewal for another six months are the starting point to address the need for a permanent housing solution.

It must be more efficient and effective, and utilize all the available federal funding available. It is extremely unacceptable to have federal funding available and not use it to reduce homelessness.

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[su_tab title=”Lisa Gore” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

As an ANC commissioner, I have testified on this issue. The preliminary rollout of the Coordinated Assistance and Resources for Encampments Pilot Program demonstrates that unhoused DC residents are best served when housing and support services are offered without the threat of removal. As a city, we must have a true housing-first approach to securing and sustaining permanent shelter for unhoused residents currently living in encampments on public property.

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These questions are exclusive to delegate candidates.

About 15% of DC’s population was identified in the latest census as living in poverty. What is your plan to best serve the interests of this population?

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[su_tab title=”Rev. Wendy Hamilton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The eradication of poverty is woven throughout my policy platform and the impetus for my run for office. I don’t believe anyone should live in poverty and that it is a policy choice. That is why implementing a Universal Basic Income program is one of my top priorities for DC. We need to put cash directly into people’s hands to help them overcome poverty, a monthly recurring cash payments of a set amount that provides recipients a financial lifeline to improve their station in life. It’s non means tested thereby eliminating the bureaucracy that often leaves whole swaths of communities trapped in a cycle of poverty.

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[su_tab title=”Elenor Holmes Norton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

On the federal level, I am a cosponsor of several bills to address access to affordable housing, funding for nutrition assistance programs, and increased accessibility to health care.

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Do you believe there is a homelessness crisis within DC and broadly, nationwide? What steps do you believe Congress should take to address it?

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[su_tab title=”Rev. Wendy Hamilton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

There’s a five-alarm fire crisis level of homelessness in DC and across America that was exacerbated by the pandemic. More people are unhoused now than at any time in our history and substantive, tangible action is long overdue. Congress should immediately take up, pass and fund the Legislation that is currently written to begin tackling this issue, Including the Ending Homelessness Act of 2019 which I previously mentioned. We also need an immediate infusion of cash assistance into people’s hands to jumpstart homeless recovery and stop the downward spiral many are in. Congress must act now. It is imperative!

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[su_tab title=”Elenor Holmes Norton” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I believe we are experiencing a homelessness and housing problem throughout the county. In Congress, I am a cosponsor of bills to increase funding for rental assistance and for public housing in the Housing Trust Fund and to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. I support federal grant opportunities providing low interest mortgages to more low- and middle income borrowers.

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This question is exclusive to attorney general candidates.

In 2017 and in 2019, the D.C. Council introduced a bill called the “Michael A. Stoops Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act” for the purpose of protecting people experiencing homelessness from discrimination. Last year, Council reintroduced the bill as the “Human Rights Enhancement Act of 2021” and the bill is currently under review. If elected as Attorney General, how would you go about protecting people experiencing homelessness from discrimination?

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[su_tab title=”Brian Schwalb” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The transition out of homelessness is often arduous and poses barriers that are insurmountable for many.  If elected AG I would fight for more equitable access to rental housing through enforcement of fair standards for tenant applications, aggressively enforce existing laws against source-of-income discrimination in housing, and would work to undo systemic barriers such as exorbitant fees, unfair or unlawful denials based on rental or credit history, voucher discrimination and algorithmic discrimination.

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[su_tab title=”Ryan Jones” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

The role of attorney general is to provide counsel with a legal sufficiency statement regarding the legality of the law, as being on par with the Constitution and other law, and give a review as to the equality the law has the chance of creating. I have the value system and moral compass to stand up for these affected individuals and would do just that.

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[su_tab title=”Bruce Spiva” disabled=”no” anchor=”” url=”” target=”blank” class=””]

I support including housing status in the Human Rights Enhancement Act. Overall, as AG, I will combat discrimination in all forms, including that directed toward residents experiencing homelessness.

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Registering to vote

To vote in a D.C. primary election, you must be registered as a member of either the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or D.C. Statehood Green Party. The last day to register online was May 31. This was also the last day to change parties. You can see all mail-in ballot drop boxes, early vote centers and election day vote centers on this interactive map by the D.C. Board of Elections.

The “Ranking Issues” section of this article is different from its print version. In the May 25 edition of the Voter Guide, candidates Matt Frumin, Zachary Parker and Faith Gibson Hubbard declined to rank issues, and provided a response as to why they believed the issues could not be ranked. We misunderstood a part of their response as a ranking, which it was not. This is an error on our part and we apologize for any confusion this may have caused.