July 4, 1776 was just one day in a long process of gaining independence. The first draft of the Constitution wasn’t published until 1787, after 11 more years of revolution and debate. The Declaration of Independence laid out the vision of our founding fathers. The Preamble of our current Constitution summarized the fundamental purposes and guiding principles:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
On March 17th , 2016, I testified before D.C. City Council, along with four score other witnesses. The council listened. The citizens in our eight wards decided it would be wise to hold the council and the mayor accountable for their plan to end homelessness, to close DC General, and to create smaller shelters throughout the city. As a result, an improved plan was unanimously approved on May 17, 2016.
The new plan is better, but in many ways it is the same as the old plan. The old plan and the new plan both promised safety and dignity. They both promised “wrap-around services.” The old plan did not guarantee private bathrooms. Without private bathrooms there is no safety and no dignity. Homeless advocates have long insisted that every family should have a private bathroom. The new plan changes the locations and the buy/lease terms of two of the proposed shelters. The locations are better and the terms are better. There are plenty of “wrap-around services” in both plans.
The new plan does not, however, guarantee that the new shelters will have private bathrooms for 100 percent of the family units. The new plan does not immediately solve the problems of unsafe and undignified living conditions faced daily by the 1,000 residents of DC General: 250 families with minor children.
Inside DC General’s gloomy corridors, at 3 o’clock in the morning, does a mom with three young children want “wrap-around services” or a private, clean, safe bathroom? At 9 p.m., after three hours commuting back and forth in the heat and humidity of a summer day to a minimum wage, part-time job, do you want “wrap-around services” or a clean safe shower and a quiet place to sleep? At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, does a five-year-old girl want “wrap-around services” or a green, cheerful playground with slides and swings and little playmates?
The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness is responsible for administering more than $80 million of services for DC Department of Human Services, including DC General. In March, the DC Audit report made 35 recommendations for improvement, alleging DHS did not conduct adequate oversight of TCP’s Continuum of Care management contract.
The May 17th “Homeless Shelter Replacement Act of 2016” does not mention new plans and processes for holding TCP accountable for the day-to-day operation of DC General before it is closed. The mayor’s new online DMPED Economic Intelligence Dashboard has many impressive statistics. This would be a great place to see evidence of improvements in the quality of life for D.C.’s homeless population.
Planning is hard work. Implementing plans is even harder. Results are better if all of the major stakeholders are involved and respected at the beginning AND throughout the design of the plan, the planning process and the implementation process. Throughout each phase, there needs to be feedback and accountability with the multiple stakeholders – including prospective residents, architects, public health and community leaders, experts reviewing impacts and requirements for the environment, transportation and education. Stakeholders need to make sure those in charge are doing their job on schedule, on budget and on time, with integrity and respect for taxpayers and neighbors. This is hard work. But it’s important work. Citizens need to pay attention and stay involved, for life. If we don’t, we will suffer the consequences.
Construction on the 67-acre DC General site, referred to as Hill East Phase I in the DC.gov DMPD database begins October 1, 2016. That is a tight timeline. The Hill East plans for the design of the apartments and retail on the 67 acres are unchanged. The Martin Luther King Jr. Library is scheduled to close for renovation soon. Many details remain unclear. The mayor has introduced a new Request for Proposals process for citizens to get more involved. Check it out: http://dmped.dc.gov/page/our-rfp. If you have specific recommendations for improved safety and dignity, please speak up and share your thoughts.
It took years of struggle both before and after 1776 to create our Constitution and system of government. Over the past 240 years, amendments to the Constitution have outlined revisions to processes and procedures. Every year, the Congress and president introduce new plans and new budgets for approval. While our elected and non-elected government officials and contractors need to hold each other accountable, we need to hold them accountable, too. As just one example, D.C. citizens have expressed our urgent unmet need for the dignity and safety of private bathrooms for all families experiencing homelessness. We must ask and keep asking until we get them. Together, we can do better and better.
Marie-Louise Murville is a D.C. native and Founder & CEO of Delight Me, Inc.
