Chronically homeless individuals have a far better chance of being able to get on with their lives if the number one stress factor contributing to all their other problems is lifted – their homeless status. "Housing First" says, let’s give these people a roof over their heads first, and a support structure around them to keep them focused on moving forward with their lives, and not back out onto the streets.

When executed properly, Housing First has met with tremendous success in other cities, such as New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Denver. As Chairman of the DC Council’s Committee on Human Services, Councilmember Wells will have an important role to play in working with the Fenty Administration to flesh out the details of the proposal. Tommy has already publicly stated his general support, but the first opportunity the Council will have to question the Administration on the proposal will be Thursday, April 17, when Clarence Carter, the Director of the Department of Human Services will testify before the Committee on Human Services on his Agency’s FY 2009 budget request, which includes $19.2 million for Housing First.

Please feel free to contact the Committee if you would like additional information about the Housing First proposal, and homeless services in the District of Columbia.

[UPDATE, 4/7/08]:

Based on comments left by readers on the blog, Councilmember Wells wanted to ensure correct information was available regarding homeless services on Reservation 13. Please see his note below:

Dear Frank and Jim,

Thank you for your attention to matters regarding the Hill East community.

Nothing has changed from the plan presented last November to the community other than moving the previously existing women's shelter, Harriet Tubman, from the DC General Cafeteria to Building 9 and making it 24 hours, which should be a better situation for the community.

As promised, the Hypothermia Shelter for men has been closed.

The following is a report I requested from my staff after seeing your postings.

Tommy Wells

At a community meeting at DC General on Tuesday, November 27, 2007, Clarence Carter, Director of the Department of Human Services, stated that at the end of the hypothermia season, the men’s hypothermia shelter, located in Building 9, and the family hypothermia shelter, located in the main building, would be closed.  The Harriet Tubman women’s shelter, which is located in the old cafeteria at DC General, would continue to operate, but Director Carter committed to provide a plan for permanently closing the women’s shelter by the end of the year (December 2008).  Although Director Carter did not provide a timeline for permanently closing the Harriet Tubman women’s shelter at that time, representatives from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development stated that plans for the re-development of Reservation 13 would proceed, operating under the assumption that the women’s shelter would be relocated away from the DC General campus. 
The men’s shelter and the family shelter are currently in the process of being closed. 

The proposal of the Administration is to move the women out of the cafeteria, which is not a suitable location for housing people, into the shelter in Building 9.  The capacity will be limited to 100, which is the current limit of the Harriet Tubman shelter.  One major difference being that Building 9 will be operated as a 24 hour shelter, with three meals a day and a housing counselor on site.  Currently, the Harriet Tubman facility operates as a 12 hour shelter (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.), and the women are forced out of the shelter during the day.  This should result in less disruption to the neighborhood, as the women will not be forced out of the shelter into the surrounding neighborhood during the day. 

Reminder: H Street NE Community Office Hours Thursday Morning 

Please join Councilmember Tommy Wells for his rescheduled monthly H Street NE Community Office Hours, Thursday April 3, 2008 from 8:00 – 9:30 am., at Sidamo Coffee and Tea, 417 H Street, NE.  

The regular March meeting was rescheduled due to Spring Holidays. As a result of the rescheduling, there will be two April H Street NE Community Office Hours with Councilmember Wells.  The second event will be the regularly scheduled H Street Community Office Hours on Thursday, April 24, 2008, which continues the 4th Thursday of the month tradition.  A location for the 4th Thursday event will be announced at a later date.

The events are a meet and greet atmosphere where Councilmember Wells visits at a business on the H Street NE Corridor to make his Council office more accessible to residents living in the neighborhood.  Representatives from his constituent services staff will also be on hand to help handle requests from residents.  Councilmember Wells moves to various locations on a monthly basis.

Councilmember Wells also hosts a similar event for the SW Community Office Hours on the 2nd Thursday of every month at the Channel Inn on the Waterfront in Southwest.

For more information please contact our office at 202-724-8072.

At the March 25th Jefferson Middle School PTA meeting, DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee explained what's in store for Jefferson and Amidon students, teachers and parents as their schools become high technology schools.  She said that four DCPS schools will be transforming to high tech schools: our very own Amidon and Jefferson, as well as Whittier ES and Coolidge HS.  The total program will take two or more years to fully establish. But by this coming fall:

- Staff from the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) staff will work at the schools teaching technology classes
- Schools will be completely wired and internet accessible 
- Teachers will have professional development over the summer
- Elementary students will have laptops
- Middle school students will be approaching a one-to-one computer ratio

Chancellor Rhee also said: 
- DCPS is negotiating with Microsoft to set up one of its "Revolutionary" tech schools.  Apple and Cisco are also interested 
- DCPS is looking at the feeder pattern from Jefferson so that students can continue the high tech curriculum in high school
- Sixth grade teachers are being encouraged to transfer with Amidon students
- Special education students will have extensive attention through the new technology

Chancellor Rhee expressed interest in working with parents and grandparents to keep them up to date so that they can support their kids at homes and she is exploring setting up classes for parents in high technology.

The New York Times today writes up the ongoing work at Arthur Capper Carrollsburg. They describe the District as "bucking the national trends" and outlines the hopes and struggles of creating mixed income communities. The story also includes short interviews from DC Housing Authority Director Michael Kelly and former resident and soon-to-be home owner Samantha Jackson. The article has a decent, but brief, summary and background of the project and how Hope VI funds have been the catalyst for this change.

Link to article: Click Here.
Listen to Michael Kelly: Click Here
Listen to Samantha Jackson: Click Here