Ending Homelessness Campaign
DC has seen double-digit spikes in homelessness in the past few years . The majority of that increase has been experienced by families with children . Adding insult to injury , the District has been placing many of these families in the DC General Family Shelter , a dilapidated , dangerous complex located on the same property as the District ’ s jail , morgue and methadone clinic .
WIN made homelessness a top issue in the 2014 Mayoral election and held a 900-person action with the new Mayor in the same week as her inauguration . WIN demanded that in the first 100 days of the administration Mayor Bowser appoint a new top team around homelessness . WIN ’ s organizing , as well as that of other DC community organizations , helped ensure Mayor Bowser ’ s first budget included $ 40 million to open short-term family housing to replace DC General Family Shelter and a 35 % increase in funding for homelessness services .
WIN believes in the Iron Rule — never do for others what they can do for themselves . So in addition to supporting a playground , laundry room and teen center which were built at DC General , WIN has focused on developing leaders among the shelter residents . Two shelter residents attended our 3-day training on leadership and grassroots organizing in November . The team then led an action demanding more efficient housing programs , inspections , increased control over food , and greater resident power within the shelter .
At WIN ’ s November 2015 action , the Mayor before a 500-person packed crowd committed to fully fund in every year of her administration Homeward DC , the District ’ s plan to end all homelessness by 2020 .
WIN ’ s youth homelessness work in coordination with the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates and WIN-members , Sasha Bruce and LAYC , paid off this year with the implementation of the Ending Youth Homelessness Act and the allocation of $ 500,000 in the budget to operate youth drop-in centers . The Washington Post highlighted the two youth drop-in centers to be opened , including one at WIN-member organization Sasha Bruce . Also , as part of the District ’ s commitment in this area , DC held its first Homeless Youth Census . The census counted 330 homeless youths who were on the streets , in a housing program , or otherwise without a permanent home .
In 2015 , the District also broke ground on North Capitol Commons , 124 units of affordable housing with 60 units of Permanent Supportive Housing for formerly homeless veterans . WIN had fought for and helped win the land transfer that made this possible .
DC ’ s homelessness numbers are going the wrong way . Now more than ever , we need an organized and powerful effort to ensure DC ’ s well-thought out plan to end homelessness by 2020 is funded and implemented .
Data via U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development