When Mayor Bowser proposed her budget, we knew there was work to do. Drastic cuts to essential housing resources like PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing), ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance), and more, sacrifice the hope of – and support for – our neighbors experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. So, we acted.
In coalition through The Way Home Campaign, we had multiple meetings with every council member’s office, providing hard data and accounts of lived experiences to express the dire need for significant investments in what works to prevent and end homelessness in DC. We testified at several hearings to express the concerns of our clients and case managers about bureaucratic barriers to people being housed. We continued our outreach to neighbors in encampments and have remained connected to them through the recent hostile evictions by the mayor and the National Park Service.
These efforts have not been in vain:
- We pushed the Council to fund 148 PSH vouchers for single adults experiencing chronic homelessness and 451 vouchers for families
- Non-congregate shelters and homelessness prevention for singles are fully funded.
- We amplified the need for more oversight and efficiency at the DC Housing Authority.
- We supported Fair Budget Coalition and Just Recovery in advocating for a budget that taxes the wealthy toward an equitable DC overall.
- We raised awareness of the harm of encampment evictions and criminalization in DC, as profiled by CNN and local news outlets during May.
- We mobilized hundreds of supporters like you to raise your voice and call for a more humane budget.
While we’re proud of the work we’ve done, Wednesday’s second and final vote on the FY25 budget was ultimately a disappointment. This budget falls far short of what is needed to connect our neighbors to life-saving housing and services. 148 vouchers for individuals pales in comparison to the 2,000 individuals in need of PSH and the 887 individuals living outside. We’re also extremely disappointed that the Council failed to raise revenue; that investments in ending homelessness for individuals are so disproportionately low; and that some housing vouchers came at a cost of over half a million dollars from outreach services. We’re still a long way from adequate investments in ending homelessness, but this is not the end.
Thanks for all the ways you’ve supported Miriam’s Kitchen, The Way Home Campaign, and your neighbors who need it most. We’re committed to continuing our crucial advocacy for life-saving services, as well as creating opportunities for you to stay involved with our mission. Next week, we’ll share a more in-depth analysis of the budget through The Way Home Campaign. Thank you for your support and stay tuned!
