Photo by Devin Smith.
Tomorrow marks the start of hypothermia season in D.C., when all homeless people must be sheltered when the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Interagency Council on Homelessness’ Winter Plan, approved unanimously in September, estimates a 16 percent increase in the number of homeless families seeking shelter, from 723 to 840. The city expects 1,597 men and 479 women to seek shelter.
In the plan, 213 overflow beds for men and 53 for women are listed as “to be determined,” while there are just 409 units at D.C. General (many already occupied) and no money in the budget for hotel rooms. There are fewer units at the family shelter this winter because of a ruling that states families must be placed in private rooms, while Mayor Gray’s administration insisted funding not be provided for hotel rooms.
A Council roundtable on the plan held Wednesday was recessed as city officials said they were not able to share details about procuring additional beds as the process was ongoing.
Councilmember Jim Graham, who chairs the Human Services committee, condemned the ICH for passing the plan as is, saying he intends to introduce a resolution to disapprove it “unless there are major revisions.”
“The document before us identifies a great need, but does not tell us how that need is going to be met,” Graham said, adding that it’s therefore “inadequate.” As of Wednesday, Graham said there were 127 families at D.C. General.
The ICH is made up of members from several city agencies — including the Department of Human Services, Child and Family Services and Metropolitan Police Department — as well as community members and non-profit leaders.
Also at issue is the budget for overflow shelter beds. “In the Winter Plan, the Interagency Council on Homelessness recognized that additional resources, outside of the homeless services budget, would need to be identified to pay for overflow shelter,” Kate Coventry of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute testified. “The Office of the Chief Financial Officer confirms this, reporting that there is a $11.4 million shortfall in the family shelter budget. This is partly because this year, unlike previous years, DHS does not have federal carryover funding available.”
Coventry said it’s unclear if there’s enough money for rapid re-housing, which the city has heavily replied upon to house homeless families.
