Last week, the Miriam’s Kitchen community gathered online for the MK Council Chair Candidate Forum – a virtual forum where candidates could outline their commitments to ending homelessness in the District. Both candidates for Council Chair, Erin Palmer and Phil Mendelson, were invited, though only Palmer attended. Nevertheless, we had a robust discussion tackling housing and homelessness in DC.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Miriam’s Kitchen does not endorse any candidates for elected positions. However, as an organization committed to ending chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C., we are deeply committed to elevating this important conversation during D.C.’s primary election season.
Moderated by Miriam’s Kitchen Chief Communications Officer James C. Durrah II, this forum touched on many topics regarding housing and ending homelessness. The event also included questions about how candidates would plan to approach encampments and affordable housing should they become the Council Chair.
A commitment to end chronic homelessness
Palmer talked about housing as a human right. “Every person is entitled to the dignity of a home,” she said, “having housing is the root to a stable life. The stability and security of a home is something in which everyone should be entitled.”
On the topic of encampments
Palmer said, “I do not support [encampment evictions]. They are inhumane. We see destruction to personal property and harm to [people]. No one should stand for that. Removing encampments does not address the problem. To address it, we have to provide housing and rebuild trust.”
Discussing affordable housing and housing resources in DC
On the topic of housing resources, Palmer said, “part of the discussion is providing housing for people who are unhoused and how to prevent people from coming to experience homelessness. Improvement to the HPTF (the Housing Protection Trust Fund) is needed. We can find ways to expand income as living in DC is very expensive.”
We want to thank the many DC voters who attended this event, and to Erin Palmer, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner of ANC 4B, for participating in this candidate forum. You can watch the recording of this event here. We encourage all DC voters to participate in this month’s primary election, about which you can find more information here. Lastly, don’t forget to join The Way Home Campaign, an advocacy effort led by Miriam’s Kitchen, to stay up-to-date with our latest initiatives.
