Homeless shelter update

[from Cliff V.]

We won. Central Union Mission WILL NOT be moving to Georgia Avenue.

I just attended the press conference, and I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that it is official: Central Union Mission will be taking over the horribly run Gayle School shelter on 13th and L Street* downtown, and the city will be transferring the Georgia Avenue property owned by the mission to a developer who will build mixed income apartments. A few of those apartments will be reserved for a homeless transitional program for people who are ready for the next step. Other units will be market rate apartments.

This is a win-win situation that would not have been possible without Councilman Jim Graham, Mayor Fenty, the community and Mr. Treadwell, executive director for Central Union Mission.

[*Ed. note - Councilmember Jim Graham's posting on the Georgia Avenue listserv says the shelter will be moving to 65 Mass. Ave.]

Comments

[David Best]

homeless shelter and transitional shelter aren't the same creature

It does disappontment that we continue to cloister folks together, though. 50 units is a big concentration. Such is the city way. When are we going to get serious about decentralization?

How about one transitional unit on every block in the city?

How about private citizens fostering the newly homeless, transitional folks, mentally disabled folks, recovering addicts, etc.?

How about mini-shelters all over town no bigger than 30-40 beds (the size of one social-work group/class)?

[Beth]

Transitional housing is not a shelter. Transitional housing programs help individuals who have an income and have demonstrated themselves to be substance-free regain stability. These programs are particularly helpful for single mothers and/or victims of domestic violence who have been in the shelter system. The person pays a portion (usually 30%) of their income for the apartment and participates in weekly meetings with a social worker or case manager around developing life skills. The goal is to help the family transition from homelessness to independent living. Typically they remain in the unit for specified number of years and then are expected to move out on their own. To qualify, the person has to demonstrate that they are serious about getting back on their feet. People must apply, interview, and agree to specific terms in order to be accepted. This is a solution that helps people break the cycle of poverty and homelessness, and it has the potential to contribute positively to the neighborhood.

[HiItsNino]

Some of the details are still being worked out. However, the specifics that I have heard is there will be a max of 50 units set asside for people who are in a transitional program. They are also expecting 120 market rate units. The developer has not been chosen.

Remember, there is an ovelay district in place on Ga Ave, so any project over 12,000 sf will need to go through the hearing process.

[Be Careful]

I would just like to interject here the the vagueness of some details is cause for concern. "A few of those apartments will be reserved for a homeless transitional program for people who are ready for the next step." How many are a few? Transitional, next step? This sounds like a shelter to me. Does the developer have a name? Don't underestimate the skill of these folks to do a ROYAL back door job and plant a shelter right there on Georgia Avenue. It just sounds like two shelters instead of one to me so the win win might very well be theirs.

[Cliff]

..sorry, my address is wrong. Its is on Mass Ave