Hello. As you know, one of the issues that I have been focusing on since my arrival at the Council is homelessness and the services delivered to this population. Until joining the Committee staff I had not had the opportunity to work with this population. I joined the Committee shortly after the Inspector General released its report about the conditions at DC Village. After holding a hearing on the report and conditions at DC Village, Councilmember Wells committed to have 2 staff members at the on-site at the Village at least one day per week. I am one of those two staff members. This marked my introduction, not only to DC Village, but to the myriad of issues regarding the homeless service delivery system in the District. The experiences and lessons I have gained have been invaluable. When it comes to homelessness, we all tend to make the mistake of feeling too far removed. We think, “Oh, that can never happen to me.” But it can so easily happen to any of us.

On last week, I attended a resident meeting at DC Village. At this meeting, I had the privilege of meeting a resident, who shared her story of how she came to DC Village.  This grandmother found herself taking on the parental responsibility of eight of her grandchildren. Unable to afford daily care and housing for herself and the eight additions to her household, she found herself in a place that she probably never envisioned, homeless and living at DC Village. This is one of many stories I could share with you about the various paths that have lead many DC residents to homelessness. Any one of us, at any time, could find ourselves traveling on any one of these paths.

One of the main issues that we have been working to address is ways that communication to residents regarding the activities and other resources that are available at the Village can improve. Among the services available to residents are the literacy program and employment assistance services provided by the Department of Employment Services (DOES). The Committee is excited about these new programs and desire that residents take full advantage of these and other services provided.

If you have any suggestions or comments you would like to share with me, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!

One person has commented on this article.

(1) Untitled
2007-06-05 07:42:29

OK, so DC Village is going to be the new bus-fixing facility. Where is it beng relocated to? Also, what are you guys doing about H2O?!?!? Also, violence in the neighborhood (SW) in general? Like, somebody sling shot the window out of the Safeway, I saw gang guys on my way to and from the Metro two weeks ago; there are more teen-aged boys than ever wandering around in "groups;" I have even seen a new population--rough-looking older white males--start up in the neighborhood.

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