Washington Informer: DCPS Uses Connected Schools Model to Tackle Homelessness

Reporter Sam Collins of the Washington Informer covers the DC Homeless Crisis, and the latest on how housing insecurity is affecting the District’s public-school students. He also reports on a crucial budget season mixup involving cuts to the Rapid Rehousing program and lack of appropriate permanent accommodations for DC families.

This summer, more than 1,000 families received notice of the rapid rehousing program exit, while DHS has announced plans to send letters to 900 families this fall. 

Makenna Osborn of The Children’s Law Center reported that nearly half of notified families have appealed the decision. 

“We had clients with young children going through this process for months of being told they’re going to be exited from this program, or receiving notice of program exit,” Osborn said. “Other families who don’t have legal representation are in the same position trying to navigate losing their rental assistance without any other assistance. Children take on the stress, and that affects their wellbeing.”

Photo Credit: Brigette White/The Washington Informer