Mayor Anthony Williams, as expected, signed into law in August the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 aimed to reshape and improve the way the city provides for the homeless.
His office said the bill was a continuation of his pledge to drastically reform the city’s homeless program with an aim to ending homelessness by 2014. The bill establishes an Interagency Council on Homelessness, which would coordinate services and providers in the city. Among other details, the bill also establishes guaranteed rights for homeless people and higher standards for all service providers.
However, Williams’ signature came after an agreement with Councilman Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4), who had introduced the bill, to rewrite some of its provisions to ease liability risks that could harm District taxpayers.
Advocates have been lobbying for the passage of this bill since 2002, and much of the delay was because of fiscal concerns and the worry over establishing a “right to housing.”
