Washington, D.C., is the epicenter of the United States government. Still, within the ten-by-ten-mile radius of Washington, there is another city within a city, which is the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is where the locals deal with constant changes, both federal and local. The president’s residence is smack in the middle of all of this. In this twin city, the changes to that building and surrounding governmental areas significantly affect those facing housing instability.
Every four years, most of the city is disrupted by the peaceful transfer of power our nation is based on. For the homeless and many organizations serving them, the disruption of the incoming administration can be cumbersome. There are security checkpoints, fences, and closures that greatly affect this population, and this coming January will be no exception, but it will be unprecedented, as a new wave of mindset enters the city. It will be interesting to find out how this inauguration will play out.
This year, outreach organizations in Washington D.C. are being referred to an inauguration website by HSEMA, the District of Columbia’s Agency of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. At a recent Interagency Council on Homelessness Emergency Response and Shelter Operations meeting, the committee quickly discussed the inauguration. Anthony Newman of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and co-chair of the committee said there were not any major updates but DHS and other partners will be reaching out between now and the inauguration.
The uncertainty makes planning as an unhoused person, especially someone street-bound, difficult. D.C. had to push back its Point-in-Time Count in preparation for the inauguration. D.C. is no stranger to big events like the National Alliance to End Homelessness conferences, rallies, protests, etc. All of these significantly impact unhoused services and the unhoused themselves.
I have been through at least three inaugurations during my time being homeless. The most memorable was the election and reelection of Barack Obama. Both of these inaugurations took place while I was unhoused. I got to attend both events, but not without some difficulties finding and getting to a shelter. It was a tall order and by no means easy. Both times, I was met with blistering cold, and it was not easy to catch shelter transportation with roads closed and fences all around. I remember having to make ad hoc arrangements for lodging during Obama’s first inauguration. As historic as it was, it still had a negative effect on the homeless at the time, with encampment sweeps and an extended alert to keep the extremely poor out of sight. Bus routes were cut short, and all of downtown was a no-drive zone. To say the least, it was a chore to make sure I had a safe place to go.
Next year, many people who are experiencing homelessness will have to survive those few days essentially on their own because of the extreme public disturbance. If you see someone who is homeless during the inauguration, remember the peaceful transfer of power is anything but peaceful for the unhoused.