Content categorized as News

Congress fails to compromise for new COVID-19 relief bill

President Donald Trump signed an executive action and three memoranda this weekend after a new COVID-19 relief bill failed to pass before the August recess.

Protesters call for Anita Bonds to cancel rent and defund MPD

Organizers and D.C. residents made noise outside At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds’s house and gave speeches about the need for rent cancellation for D.C. residents.

Two homeless residents say Dupont Circle neighbors cleared their belongings when they were given an Airbnb for one night

Two homeless residents living in front of the Safeway at 17th and Corcoran streets NW lost all their belongings overnight. They claim it was neighborhood vigilantes.

Former resident of a DC overflow shelter presumed dead in homicide

Police are searching for the body of 34 year-old DC resident Olga Ooro after her boyfriend was arrested and charged with her murder.

Some D.C. libraries reopen

Months after COVID-19 shutdowns, select public libraries in the District have reopened, reconnecting homeless people to crucial daytime services.

DC Council reauthorizes existing rent control, but advocates continue push for broader protections

The D.C. council renewed the District’s existing rent control law, but did not address other areas where advocates say additional protections are necessary.

Former Ward 8 landlord to pay $3.5 million to tenants, DC over poor housing conditions

The former landlord of Forest Ridge and The Vistas, two apartment buildings in Ward 8, has agreed to pay current and former tenants $1.9 million in restitution payments to compensate them for uninhabitable living conditions.

Homeless service providers receive millions in PPP loans

At least 14 homeless service providers received loans from the federal program for small businesses, which went towards covering payroll costs to retain employees and maintain critical services for the District’s most vulnerable residents.

Budget for public housing repairs is not enough to address ‘extremely urgent’ conditions

Mayor Bowser’s budget has allocated funding to public housing repairs in response to a decade-long federal disinvestment. However, advocates argue that more money needs to be shifted to establish a recurring amount of funding for these repairs.

What can happen when the police are asked to respond to a mental health crisis in DC?

After an initial arrest that resulted in a stay-away order regarding the White House grounds and Black Lives Matte Plaza, a reportedly homeless man in need of mental health care now faces compounded charges. DC’s proposed FY 2021 budget includes no major expansions of behavioral health support for people in the criminal justice system.

Limiting police power in schools is a win for some and a step back for others

n July 8, local anti-police groups got one step closer to their goal of police-free schools when the D.C. Council passed an amendment to change… Read more »

‘Nowhere to go’: US pandemic prison releases prompt housing concerns

Many jails have drastically reduced their populations amid coronavirus fears, but where do ex-prisoners go once they’re out?

Anticipating a rise in homelessness, advocates worry DC is phasing out motels for family shelter too soon

COVID-19 is expected to cause a surge in homelessness, and motels used for overflow family shelter space — now being eliminated — may become the only place to house families.

Tenants withholding payments urge DC Council to cancel rent

The DC Tenant Union organized strikes in a dozen apartment buildings across the city to urge the council to cancel rent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DC Council increases funding for affordable housing and homeless services, but advocates warn budget still falls short

The amended budget, which increases funding for building new affordable housing units, providing tenants with rental relief and extending social services, faces a final vote by the Council on July 21, after which it will be submitted to the Mayor.

Online learning leaves some adult students offline

K-12 and university students were not the only people forced to transition to remote classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The digital divide between those who have access to modern technology and those who do not is even wider for students in adult education programs.

Homeless census count postponed until September due to COVID concerns

Census workers will conduct a crucial count of people experiencing homelessness in September. The count of people without conventional housing was initially scheduled for March but was delayed by the COVID-19 crisis.

At-risk youth hold peaceful demonstration in support of Black and brown lives

At least 100 formerly homeless youth took to the streets of Eastern Market on June 16 for a demonstration in support of their peers and the Black Lives Matter movement. They were all members of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, which houses approximately 150 runaway and homeless youth and provides counseling, education, and life- skill services.

Franklin Park renovations begin, leaving some homeless residents unsure where to go

The redevelopment of Franklin Park has been planned for years. Due to past starts and stops, some residents thought it was only a rumor. But people were forced to leave on June 30 and a fence is being erected on July 1.

What does reopening look like for DC’s homeless community?

Entering Phase Two included significant changes for local businesses but few changes for homeless services. A glimpse into what needs to occur before proceeding to Phase Three, and how DHS is preparing to approach the rest of 2020.