In the upcoming April 3 primary race for seats on the scandal-ridden DC City Council, the issue of homelessness has not received much attention.
But one contender for the Ward 8 seat has turned the planned opening of a women’s shelter in Anacostia into a central part of her campaign.
In debates and on the campaign trail, candidate Natalie Williams, a Democratic challenger and former aide to Ward 8 incumbent councilman Marion Barry, has spoken out against the relocation of the Calvary Women’s Services facility to Good Hope Road in Southeast.
Calvary’s $3 million, 14,000-square foot project is set to transform an abandoned building in Anacostia into a new home that will serve 50 women a night and provide 100 meals a day. The program promises the women supportive housing and one-on-one attention from case managers to help them address the problems underlying their homelessness.
Currently Calvary serves 150 women a year in various locations, the largest being a women’s shelter near Chinatown. Calvary officials say the move to Ward 8 would bring services to the area where the need is greatest. They say that 25 percent of the homeless women in the city come to shelters from Ward 8.
But Williams says Ward 8 already has more than its share of support programs and charities. She has counted 30, she says, and more are coming. Good Hope Kitchen, a shelter for homeless women based in Ward 6, also plans to expand into Ward 8 and would be located so close to Calvary that it would violate city law, Williams contends.
She would rather see bakeries, art studios, sit-down restaurants and an upscale supermarket opening on Good Hope Road. And she has called upon the city council to “enact emergency legislation regarding the number of group homes, transitional housing and community-based residential facilities approved for Ward 8.”
For his part, Barry, who served four terms as city mayor, has defended Calvary, and the organization’s record of providing services to poor and homeless women for more than 25 years.
“If she had taken the time, she would have found that Calvary Church is doing the Lord’s work,” said Barry, “and that they have successfully operated a women’s transition house at 5th and K for almost 30 years.”
“I am positive that the residents of Ward 8 will see Natalie Williams for what she is,” added Barry. “I stand firmly for housing, jobs and health care and to help people, not hurt them.”
Williams counters that her views better reflect the views of the neighborhood than those of council member Barry. “It has been brought to my attention that several other group homes have been given the thumbs-up by Councilman Marion Barry without taking into account the desires of the community at large.” she said.
In all, one at-large council seat and four ward seats are being contested in the April 3 election.
