Dc Homeless Services Threatened By Budget Cut

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DC Homeless Services Threatened by Budget Cuts Coalition Says That District's Commitment Falls Short, Calls For Full-Year Funding Washington, DC, Oct. 14, 2009—A coalition of local homeless service providers and advocates has raised new questions about the Fenty administration's readiness to provide shelter and other assistance to the increasing number of homeless people in the District of Columbia. They cite a recent statement issued by Clarence Carter, head of the DC Department of Human Services, which commits to funding homeless services only for the five-month hypothermia season. They say funds for year round support are available, but have been diverted to other programs. "The commitment Clarence Carter has made falls short of a real assurance that resources will be available throughout Fiscal Year 2010 for the urgent needs of individuals and families who are homeless," said Patty Mullahy Fugere, Director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. "He does little more than state that the 2009–2010 winter plan will be funded at last year's level, even though everyone expects to see a bump up in the need for assistance this hypothermia season." Carter's statement leaves unanswered whether there will be funding available for any homeless services at all come next spring. "While we are hopeful that administration officials will identify additional resources to fund the system post-hypothermia, the uncertainty of DHS's budgeting practices—when lives are at stake—wreaks havoc for those who are helping the District government to meet its moral and legal obligation to its residents without homes," says Fugere. "More importantly, it threatens the safety and well-being of those who reach out to the government for assistance." On September 28, The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP), which manages homeless services for the District, notified providers that their contracts would be cut by an average of 30%, effective October 1. This set off an explosion of questions and concerns, capped by a DC Council Human Services Committee hearing, at which Carter maintained that the budget cut was only $900,000—the one-time funds that had been allocated to the Permanent Supportive Housing Program in 2009. It now appears that Mr. Carter was standing on a technicality. In past years, local funding for homeless services has been supplemented by funds from the federal block grant for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This year, approximately $11.5 million on these funds have been shifted from the TCP contract to other DHS programs. The provider-advocate coalition has asked the Fenty administration to reverse this decision or to dedicate funding from another source. Providers emphasize the need for clear, definitive commitment. They say they cannot manage their programs on the basis of an ambiguous statement that DHS expects to be able to leverage additional resources. They also note that they are also stretched to the limits as they attempt to meet increasing demands with less private donor support. Providers say they were caught by surprise and are still assessing how the impending contract reductions will affect their programs. However, Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director of Community of Hope, has told supporters that, unless funding is restored, the organization will have to close a program that provides temporary housing for 20 homeless families. This, she says, represents more than 10 percent of the city's apartment-style temporary housing for families. – more –

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Homeless Services Threatened by Budget Cut Family homeless has increased since 2008. The District's January 2009 homeless count found 703 families in emergency shelters, transitional housing or on the streets—20 percent more than in January 2008. According to the latest published figures from the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, which handles homeless family intake for the District, 385 families are on the waiting list for shelter or other housing. The impending cuts "will be harmful to all women and children," said Christel Nichols, President of House of Ruth. "The city will see a dramatic increase in homelessness, domestic violence, fatalities and despair." Contact: Nassim Moshiree Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Phone: 202-328-1261 Fax: 202-328-5515 [email protected] ###

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