In addition, you can track developments related to the Ward 5 homeless shelter on the Langdon Park Community Association website at http://langdonparkdc.org/ward-5-homeless-shelter/ .Good evening neighbors,Today the Langdon Park Community Association sent an open letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser listing viable and more dignified alternative sites for the Ward 5 homeless shelter which resulted from a packed emergency community meeting on February 25. The letter states "Mayor Bowser, it would be unconscionable for you to move forward with your current proposal before fully vetting these dignified alternative locations. We sincerely hope you will do right by the community and homeless families by doing so."
The letter was sent to the Mayor as well as all council members this evening, and is copied in full below. You can access the file here: http://langdonparkdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ward5_Letter_Mayor_Bowser.pdfAll the best,Jennifer--Dear Mayor Bowser,
On February 25, Ward 5 residents gathered at the New Canaan Baptist Church and shared our deep concerns about subjecting homeless families to living in a heavily industrial area at 2266 25th Place NE. Residents noted that your proposed site would pose a host of health hazards to residents, especially for children, due to its immediate proximity to the Metro Bus Garage to the north, auto spray booths to the east, CSX railroad tracks to the west and the Nazcon cement mixing facility to the south. The site also offers insufficient transportation options, is far from other homes or basic amenities that would allow these homeless citizens to be self-sufficient, such as a grocery or drug store.
Mayor Bowser, it is indefensible to place a homeless shelter closer to a strip club than a grocery store. By all accounts, this site location fails your criteria for being a better alternative to DC General. Namely this site is not (1) integrated into a residential setting (2) a dignified place for homeless families to live nor (3) provides for a healthy and safe environment. Moreover, this location is very close to other shelters in one of Ward 5's twenty neighborhoods. This over concentration of homeless citizens directly contradicts your vision for fair distribution of the new shelters as part of your HOMEWARD program.
Mayor Bowser, there is no disputing that DC General is not dignified, healthy or safe and must be closed. But it accomplishes nothing if you go from dumping homeless families in DC General to dumping them in the same deplorable conditions your program intends to rectify.
During the meeting on February 25 residents of Ward 5 identified alternative locations that meet your criteria for better alternatives to DC General. The sites we identified include:
- A 84,856 square feet site (currently an empty field) for sale at the corner of 13th St NE and Rhode Island Ave NE. Contact Bruce Levin with MAC Realty Advisors at 202-296-0459
- The St. Frances De Sales school near Mills Ave NE and Rhode Island Ave NE, which is closed and available. Contact Michelle Shelton at 301-853-4474
- The former tourist home at 2900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, vacant and available for purchase
- The former MPD Youth Division at 1700 Rhode Island Ave NE
- 2900 South Dakota Ave NE, vacant and available for purchase
- Missionaries of Charity Convent at Eastern Ave NE and Randolph NE, vacant and available for purchase
- Potomac Prep Charter School which is closing
- Tree of Life Public Charter which is closing
- A site incorporated into developments underway in Fort Totten area
- A decommissioned DC public school buildings such as Springarn High School or Crummell Elementary
For a complete list of shared ideas – including alternate arrangements such as creating smaller sites scattered throughout the Ward, please review notes from the February 25 meeting. See the attachment or download the notes at http://langdonparkdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ward5_Letter_Mayor_Bowser.pdf
Mayor Bowser, it would be unconscionable for you to move forward with your current proposal before fully vetting these dignified alternative locations. We sincerely hope you will do right by the community and homeless families by doing so. We look forward to remaining engaged in helping better serve our homeless citizens in Ward 5.
Sincerely,
Representatives of the Langdon Park Community Association - www.langdonparkdc.org
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