Struggles Faced by District’s Homeless Citizens Return to the Spotlight
“Thousands of District residents facing eviction have applied to STAY DC, a financial assistance program that covers rent and utility costs. However, the program has been mired in controversy for what’s been described as a convoluted application process.
Over the last few weeks, D.C. Council Chairperson Phil Mendelson (D) and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) repeatedly clashed about the program.
Mendelson, concerned about the sluggish distribution of funds, told The Informer he wanted to prevent as many evictions as possible before October 12, when District landlords can start filing eviction proceedings against tenants.
Throughout the pandemic, many homeless District residents have found themselves in a similar, and increasingly contentious, relationship with the D.C. government. This ongoing conflict reached its apex this week when the D.C. Department of Human Services attempted to clear a homeless encampment at the NoMa overpass in Northeast.”