Content categorized as News

Downtown Displaced: Gentrifying Mount Vernon Square, 1840-Present

An American University history professor documented planned gentrification in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as early as 1850.

Barry Farm historic landmark application put on hold

The Historic Preservation Office challenged the District of Columbia Housing Authority to conclude discussion with the Barry Farm Tenants and Allies Association before Oct. 31.

Seeing Double: DC drastically reduces the number of people in shelter as more double up

The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center,  the District’s access point to family shelter, opens at 8:30 every morning. Adults with children in tow are assessed,… Read more »

With limited access to hospital resources in wards 7 and 8, local clinics are bridging the gap in health care

Painted in bold shades of blue, red, green and pink, Whitman-Walker Health’s Max Robinson Center has stood prominently in the historic Anacostia neighborhood, just a… Read more »

Barry Farm tenants await a final decision after 20 people testified before the Historic Preservation Review Board two months ago

On July 25, Community members from across the District filled the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB)’s courtroom, many wearing stickers that read, “Yes! Barry Farm… Read more »

Setting new standards for homeless families

There is a new housing complex situated just on the border between D.C. and Maryland at 4300 12th Street SE. It has 3 floors of single-family units, a public computer lab, free tenant WiFi, and a communal lounge, brightly colored and spacious. It is all brand new, with friendly staff and modern furniture. The most distinguishing feature of this new complex? Residents can live here rent-free.

Co-op Housing is an option to overcome substandard housing, experts say

On Aug. 13, Empower DC hosted a public forum at the “Action Hub” for D.C. residents to learn more about how co-operative housing could be a viable alternative to the current public housing crisis in D.C. Panelists included Amanda Huron of University of the District of Columbia, Johanna Bockman of George Mason University, and Empower DC co-founder Linda Leaks.

“One of the truths:” Security concerns at DC women’s shelters

A woman was raped outside of a city shelter, across the street from a police station.

With barriers to finding shelter, pregnant women and mothers turn to small-scale operations for housing, shelter in DC

Pregnant women and mothers face many barriers when seeking housing and shelter. Small-scale operations in the District, like the Northwest Center and House of Ruth, are taking the lead to support women with families who are experiencing homelessness.

Five service providers joined forces to give resources and life coaching to low-income families in Adams Morgan

The coalition of nonprofits created Platform of Hope to help families access and navigate existing services by centralizing them. The program will take on its second wave of clients in September.

There was an 800-person discrepancy between two counts of youth homelessness completed four months apart in DC

The annual Point in Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, a nationwide effort, found nearly 500 youth ages 18-24 to be homeless in the District while D.C.’s annual Homeless Youth Census reported approximately 1,300 youth in the same age range as homeless.

Housing program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth to open a brand new 14-bed house

In January 2017, the local nonprofit SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) launched its signature youth house, a 2-year, 12-bed transitional living program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the D. C. metropolitan area. This July, the organization received a contract to create a second house, which is set to open its doors before the summer ends.

For more than a year, DC has experimented with giving rental subsidy recipients control over their spending. It’s working.

DHS and Capital Area Asset Builders have begun a city-wide flexible subsidy pilot program giving families the authority to decide how much to spend on household expenses each month.

DC residents launch a city-wide tenant union in hopes to foster solidarity across the District

Hundreds of D.C. tenants gathered on July 20 to elect a board for the first city-wide tenant union in years and share organizing strategies to preserve affordable housing.

Martha’s Table’s no-cost clothing boutique is now available to DC’s returning citizens

Martha’s Table announced a new partnership with the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens’ Affairs to extend its Outfitters program to D.C.’s returning citizens. According to the CEO, Outfitters could serve as many as 4,000 new members through the partnership, a tremendous expansion from its current monthly membership of 1,200.

What is so complicated about homeless encampments in the District?

The subject of homeless encampments can be difficult to understand, and even more difficult to talk about. Homeless encampments affect not just the people who live in them but those who live around them. This article explores how this topic affects everyone. 

15 feet and a wall: Why some homeowners feel marginalized by the city’s plan to help families without homes

Some Ward 1 residents say they have legitimate concerns about the construction of a new homeless shelter in their neighborhood.

What’s next for the city’s plan to end homelessness?

The next phase of the mayor’s plan to make homelessness “rare, brief, and non-recurring” is in the early stages of planning and will be released next year.

District Task Force to develop a plan for new correctional facilities

The District has assigned a task force to make recommendations for how to restructure DC’s correctional system and replace dilapidated facilities.

Arlington residents say new mental health diversion court program was rushed

While attendees of a public forum on Aug. 15 agreed that a docket on behavioral health could benefit individuals with mental health issues, they said the program should not require participants to plead guilty and requires more public feedback before becoming final.