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What can the city do for people who are already homeless? |
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The city could build and/or support at least 2,000 new units of supportive housing (housing with access to services) for people who have been homeless for long periods of time and have disabilities and 1,000 new units for working poor people and youth with disabilities.It could provide 3,000 additional affordable units for extremely low-income people. It can replace or upgrade existing shelters. It can re-tool its human services so that employment, mental health, substance abuse and other services are available upon demand. (See the D.C. plan to end homelessness in ten years: Homeless No More.) |
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What can the city do to prevent homelessness? |
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The city could, for example, plan for reentry from prison and jail; assist youth who are leaving foster care; provide on-demand treatment for people with substance abuse disorders; improve community-based mental health treatment; increase rental-assistance funds and ensure that new development in the city includes housing for all income levels. |
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Does the District of Columbia do enough to meet homeless people’s needs? |
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The District has made some progress in the last few years: The D.C. Council enacted the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 and has allocated $7.5 million for emergency rental assistance; the Fenty Administration has committed to build 6,000 units of affordable housing and recently named a Housing Coordinator to lead this process. However, mental health and substance abuse treatment is woefully inadequate. The city’s emergency shelter system has only 1,500 shelter beds available year-round for single adults in D.C. and 163 emergency shelter units for families. |
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Why can’t the city do more to provide housing for everyone? |
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There is a great need for affordable housing for D.C. residents with low incomes. At least 52,000 households, including many homeless families, are on the public housing waiting list. In fact, the District is ranked third worst among all states with regard to housing affordability. Buildings that were once affordable are regularly converted into luxury condos and rentals. In the past four years, at least 12,000 affordable housing units have disappeared from the market. |
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Do you need donations of clothing and furniture? |
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Not usually. Due to a lack of storage space, Friendship Place accepts clothing, furniture and miscellaneous items only when there is an immediate need. Exceptions to this policy include new underwear and socks, which are accepted all year, and warm coats, gloves, hats and long underwear in the winter. |
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How does Friendship Place pay for its programs for homeless people? |
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The most important source of funding is the generosity of our friends and donors. Contributions by individuals provide 35 percent of our funding last year. Congregations, local businesses, fees for services and foundations supply another 31 percent, with proceeds from the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon adding another 13 percent. Just 21 percent comes from government funding. |
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