Federal Ministries Voice Concerns Over Welfare of DC Homeless during Encampment Dispersal
In the heart of Washington D.C., two charities, the Georgetown Ministry Center and the Father McKenna Center, are providing vital services to the city's most vulnerable residents.
The Georgetown Ministry Center, established in 1984, guides chronically homeless individuals towards stability, serving some of the most vulnerable, including a significant number of guests over 55, women, and veterans. The center offers medical and psychiatric care among its services, providing a crucial lifeline for those in need.
On the other hand, the Father McKenna Center, rooted in the Ignatian Catholic tradition, offers meals, showers, a place to do laundry, and is prepared to take in those displaced from the encampments.
Recently, the District of Columbia has seen a significant decrease in its homeless population. As of Aug. 19, there were approximately 5,100 unhoused people in the city, representing a 19% decrease from 2020 and 9% fewer than last year. However, the persistent threat from the federal government to remove displaced homeless individuals makes it unlikely for them to return to the same areas.
The eviction of over 40 homeless encampments, as part of an effort to combat crime, has been a contentious issue. Dennis Dee, executive director of the Father McKenna Center, described the encampment evictions as a "political stunt that's harming people."
The homeless in Washington D.C. have been mainly confronted by efforts led by the federal government under former President Donald Trump. Trump's administration deployed police and the National Guard to forcibly remove homeless encampments, aiming to make the city "safer and nicer" by pushing homeless people out of the city and denying them the ability to reestablish camps.
Local efforts by the city government involve increasing funding for shelters and additional sleeping spaces. However, the primary approach to managing homeless camps has been eviction rather than support for reestablishment.
David McCorvey, director of communications at the nonsectarian So Others Might Eat, reported an uptick in people coming in for breakfast, but could not definitively attribute it to the encampment evictions. The dispersed homeless individuals may temporarily enter shelters if capacity allows, but many will continue sleeping outdoors in more isolated areas, where they face greater risks to their safety and are harder to connect with stabilizing resources.
Claire Wilson, the executive director of the Georgetown Ministry Center, stated that the center meets guests without judgment and helps guide them towards stability, health, and housing. Some displaced homeless individuals already have housing vouchers, and the placement process may be accelerated for them.
Betty Gentle, SOME's director of advocacy and public policy, stated that it is unlikely that the displaced homeless will return to their former encampments and many are likely to eventually leave the district. Without affordable housing options, people may become less visible to the public and even to their support systems, but they will still be experiencing homelessness.
The evictions have led to a ripple effect, with the Father McKenna Center seeing a few more people seeking basic services, primarily from shelters run by Catholic Charities. The displaced homeless individuals may temporarily sleep on couches of friends or crowd in with family members, making them less visible in the short term.
In conclusion, the eviction of homeless encampments in Washington D.C. has raised concerns about the well-being of the city's most vulnerable residents. While local efforts are being made to provide shelter and resources, the primary approach of eviction without support for reestablishment has been met with criticism. It is crucial that affordable housing options are made available to ensure the safety and stability of Washington D.C.'s homeless population.
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