I believe that Washington, D.C. should be more able to distribute more vouchers. There are so many homeless people in D.C., and I believe that if homeless encampments and outreach programs reach out more, more vouchers can be distributed, and we all can use these funds.
Nonprofits such as Miriam’s Kitchen have reached out to many people. I also received a home and am still waiting on a voucher. My progress is ongoing, and my goal is to definitely get as many homeless people off of the street as possible.
Still, some people are being discriminated against by some of the programs, and that is slowing down the progress of getting people housing they need. Also, the Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) program, which assesses and prioritizes the needs of people experiencing homelessnes, tells each of us our status of applying for housing. The SPDAT is important because it gives the homeless community an opportunity to be housed and I believe that it is fair to give people the housing they need.
What I’ve seen, which is great, is that the housing programs are targeting homeless, disabled and elderly people at risk. But there has been a lack of consistency in keeping up with clients and their whereabouts. This slows the process of getting housed.
For example, the tent community and people sleeping on the streets — it takes months and sometimes a couple of years to receive a voucher. But I believe the process can be speeded up. I know for a fact that it takes time, but when the goal for receiving a voucher is reached, it is worth it.
Instead of helping everyone with vouchers, the D.C. authorities shut down a tent city at Union Station, pushing people out of their only homes forcing them to discard their property and knock down tents. I personally believe that people who are being forced out of their “homes” on the street should get a chance to access public housing and be able to use programs that they say are available.
Park police, MPD and other law enforcement intentionally set people living on the street up by messing with them. I believe that during extreme weather seasons housing should be rapid and faster. I’ve seen quite a few people get housing but it isn’t enough. We can’t stop here. We have to keep going until all people are off the streets. The D.C. government has so much to offer and the message shold be passed on instead of picking on people and shutting down their tents. The government should be helping the people they see out there. Lift them all up instead of putting them down.
I think the D.C. government is halfway doing its job. There is more work to do before we lose more lives due to something that could have and still can be prevented. Women with kids and pets, older people and sick people have passed away due to homelessness and lack of health care, sleeping on sidewalks without cover, and hunger. This is preventable only if the message could be put out there more.
Homeless people should protest and let the government know we need housing as soon as possible. Winter is coming and we can’t wait any longer.
Peaceful Tobias is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.
