Encampment Updates: Residents find problems with the Aston

A man carries his belongings across a field towards a truck.

With his tent, an encampment resident walked back to his encampment before the clearing, upset and unsure of where he would go next. Photo by Madi Koesler

D.C. has continued to close encampments at a rapid rate. In late April and early May, they scheduled nearly three encampment clearings every week. Many of these encampments had been previously closed, and residents expressed anger and frustration at what is starting to feel like a game of whack-a-mole. 

In Foggy Bottom, at one of the largest encampments in the city, residents were cleared on May 8, after having already been cleared on May 1. The clearing on May 1 was an immediate disposition due to a potentially imminent pipe collapse that D.C. Water caught through routine imaging of the underground pipe system. 

But as outreach workers and residents pointed out, the closure on May 8 wasn’t due to any kind of immediate danger. 

According to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) the location, “has been previously closed to all encamping due to bulk hoarding, biohazards, fire hazards, agricultural damage, and intrusion upon the intended use of this public space.” 

“This shit is bullshit,” said G, a resident who asked not to be identified to protect her privacy while living outside. “It’s taking a toll on my stuff but also on me as a person.” 

She explained that her tent, bikes, and other belongings have endured a decent amount of wear and tear due to the repeated moves. She also expressed feeling exhausted and frustrated with DMHHS’ approach. In her words, “they want to push their asses in my life.” 

“People just want to live settled down,” G said, as she rested for a moment before moving her stuff across the road to figure out where to go next. But despite the repeated closures, appealing options for shelter remain few and far between. Low-barrier shelters have been nearly full since the end of hypothermia season, according to reporting by Street Sense. 

Even the Aston, a non-congregate shelter in Foggy Bottom, which the Mayor has pointed to as a way to house encampment residents, hasn’t helped to fully ease the burden of repeated closures. As of the May 12 Aston Community Advisory Team meeting, 83 residents were living in the Aston, with multiple intake meetings scheduled for the upcoming weeks. Intake meetings are required to move into or tour the Aston. But, for some encampment residents, the experience at the Aston didn’t match expectations. 

Bernard looks out the window, pointing out apartment buildings she likes as she Ubers to the Aston. Photo by Madi Koesler

After the 16th closure of Heather Bernard’s Mt. Pleasant encampment on April 30, Bernard agreed to tour the Aston. After Ubering to the housing facility with District Bridges and Miriam’s Kitchen outreach workers, Bernard instantly decided the Aston wasn’t for her.

Instead of speaking directly to Bernard, Aston workers spoke to outreach workers about requiring an intake meeting to tour and did not respond to Bernard’s questions. Simultaneously, security staff walked over with a handheld metal detector and spoke over Bernard and the other Aston staff. Bernard walked out of the Aston and declined an intake meeting because she felt disrespected by the staff not speaking to her.

Heather Bernard stands beside Jo Furmanchik, Outreach Specialist from the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, who holds a bag of laundry supplies. Before heading to tour the Aston, Jo and two other outreach workers from District Bridges and Miriam’s Kitchen helped Bernard wash her belongings so they could be eligible for DMHHS storage. Photo by Madi Koesler

“I’m trying to talk to them and they’re in front of me talking over my head,” Bernard said. “I don’t put up with that bullshit. When you’re in the street, you’re decent.”

Shortly after Bernard walked out of the Aston, an Aston employee walked outside and asked a Street Sense reporter and outreach worker if security was the reason Bernard no longer wanted to tour the Aston. After being told Bernard felt disrespected, the worker responded, “That’s what we’re experiencing with security, and we’re working on that.” 

In an email, the D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) told Street Sense, “all staff are expected to treat clients with dignity and respect.” 

DHS also explained security staff at the Aston complete “a comprehensive set of training courses, including trauma-informed care, cultural competency, customer service.” According to DHS, these courses  “designed to help security staff approach their role with empathy, awareness, and professionalism.” 

The worker verified other staff and other people experiencing homelessness have had similar experiences. This is echoed by encampment residents who returned to living outside after negative experiences at the Aston. Mr. G, another resident of the Foggy Bottom encampment, is someone who found the Aston difficult. 

“It sucked. I was, like, forced after losing everything, nobody told me nothing,” Mr. G said, he moved into the Aston following repeated closures earlier this year.

“So I already knew it was some bullshit from the jump, but I still insisted on packing. But then that night, after I went to the Aston for them to tell me, ‘Oh, you could only take two bags in. Your tools and everything — we can’t store.’” Mr. G said.

All shelters in the District follow a standard two-bag maximum, according to DHS. In a comment, DHS told Street Sense staff at the Aston, “try to be as accommodating as possible during the intake process,” and allow clients to use the storage present in their rooms to store personal items. When excess belongings create barriers to shelter, “DHS and case management staff collaborate to explore alternative solutions,” DHS also wrote. 

Mr. G also voiced issues with security at the Aston being overly strict and unfriendly. He felt as though being searched and passing through a metal detector was unnecessary — in part because security staff scrutinized some of his belongings and tools. Before leaving the Aston, Mr. G said the security pressed him about having an Alan key that he needs for his scooter that he uses to get around.

Security screenings are necessary to prevent weapons from entering the shelter, according to DHS. DHS also told Street Sense the Aston’s staff, “explains the purpose of the screenings to residents upon request during entry, at orientation, and through ongoing engagement and dialogue during their stay.” 

However, Vernia Anderson, who’s also a resident at the Aston, also told Street Sense she felt security was repeatedly unfriendly. 

Anderson gave the example of being approached by security while trying to work on a computer located on a different floor than her room. Security told her she had to go work elsewhere even though, according to Anderson, there aren’t program rules about using a computer on a different floor. 

Ultimately, while the initial promise of a non-congregate shelter is attractive to many people experiencing homelessness, in part because many have experienced challenges at large congregate facilities, moving to the Aston is not without difficulty. 

As Anderson described her experience at the facility as “good, but like it’s a jail.”

Upcoming encampment closures include: May 28 at 2230 Adams Place NE, May 29 at MLK Library on 945 G St NW, June 4 at DDOT underpass on 555 South Capitol St SW and June 5 at Banneker Rec Center on 2417 9th St NW.


Issues |Encampments|Shelters


Region |Washington DC

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