D.C. delays clearing homeless encampment as mayor’s controversial housing-first pilot continues
“‘What that money pays for, it pays for housing, it pays for hotel stays it pays for case management workers, and in no case are we shutting down existing programs or taking money from existing programs that is presently being used or cannot be replaced before it is needed,’ he said. ‘What do you care which agency we got it from? Tell me why that matters; we’re putting people into housing.’
Some homeless advocates have urged the mayor’s office to decouple the services part of the pilot — setting up homeless residents with year-long vouchers for an apartment in the District — from the part of the pilot that establishes no-camping zones. At last week’s Council-led roundtable, witnesses repeatedly asked why evictions were necessary if the stated goal of the pilot is to prioritize housing.”