Even while homelessness is rising in the District, a budget battle is unfolding over possible cuts to programs designed to shelter the indigent and feed homeless families.
Faced with a $7 million loss in federal funds for the coming fiscal year, city officials in a recent human services budget hearing exchanged tense words over proposals to cut back on lunches at the city shelter for homeless families, close emergency shelters for homeless men and women, and eliminate outreach services to them during the spring and summer months.
Such austerity measures would help close the funding gap, according to city human services director David A. Berns, speaking at an April 19 budget oversight hearing. But also acknowledging such cuts would be “draconian” and “horrible,” Berns worked to reassure members of the city council human services committee that the restoration of the $7 million in funding for homeless programs was at the top of Mayor Vincent Gray’s budgetary wish list for fiscal year 2013 .
“The mayor has seen this as his number one priority if additional funds become available,” said Berns.
Human services committee chair Jim Graham was not mollified. He said he would not consider closing emergency shelters during warmer months of the year to save money.
“What are we going to do about the $7 million?” Graham asked Berns.
“I don’t want 1,500 homeless people wandering the streets of this city with no place to lay their heads.”
In all, the mayor’s proposed $9.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2013 includes $101.5 million for homeless services, which administration officials presented as a nearly $2 million increase over the current fiscal year.
But the loss of federal funding, coupled with the increasing cost of sheltering rising numbers of homeless families, have continued to raise questions about spending for the coming year.
Between November 2011 and April 2012, 866 families applied to the city for shelter, a 15 percent increase over the previous winter season. And although the city’s shelter for families, located at the former DC General Hospital, was expanded, officials, overwhelmed by the needs, were forced to spend an additional $3 million housing families in motels.
“You said, Mr. Berns, you were surprised this year,” Graham said. “What happens if you are surprised again next year?”
“We will be doing things differently next year,” replied Berns.
“We cannot continue to spend $3 million on hotels when there is a cheaper and more humane way to get people into apartments.” The markup of the human services budget is scheduled for May 2.
