Street Sense: D.C. Council axes Mayor Bowser’s plans to put families back in congregate shelters

Street Sense Media reporter Sachini Adikari speaks with Policy Attorney Makenna Osborn about the Mayor’s proposal to permit the District to temporarily house families experiencing homelessness in “congregate” shelters. The proposal was removed from the budget ahead of the council’s final vote.

The city’s transition to congregate shelters would have been detrimental to the safety and health of children experiencing homelessness, advocates said ahead of the budget vote. When DHS maintained congregate shelters, families expressed concern about seeking shelter due to the fear of being placed in a congregate space, according to Makenna Osborn, a policy attorney at the Children’s Law Center. 

“We saw all of the negative impacts on parents’ well-being, on children’s well-being, and their engagement in school, and everyone’s overall health,” Osborn said. 

If Bowser wants a shift to congregate housing, she should follow the full legislative process rather than implementing it through the budget, Ruffin and Osborn said. The mayor could propose a bill to that effect, but it’s unclear if it would have support in the council. 

“If that is going to be changed, that it is done through a full legislative process, where the public has an opportunity to give input, and the council can really give thoughtful consideration to any changes, versus through the budget process,” Osborn said. 

Photo credit: Jonathan Comer