Tell DC Council #VoteNoHSRABill

The Homeless Services Reform Amendment Act of 2017 (HSRA) is now before the DC Council’s Committee of the Whole; on November 7, the entire Council will decide whether to approve Mayor Bowser's bill amending the law that governs homeless services and housing programs in Washington, DC.

On October 18th, the Committee on Human Services, led by Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, passed the bill out of Committee, with only Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. voting “no.” Some members of the Committee worked hard to make HSRA less threatening to those experiencing homelessness in the District, but many concerning provisions remain in the bill.

In the midst of DC's affordable housing crisis, this bill broadly expands the Administration’s power to redefine homelessness, and will reduce the number of people who “count” as homeless without doing anything to meet their needs. By limiting those who qualify for these services, the administration will appear to have tackled homelessness. In actuality, this bill will erode our most vulnerable residents’ safety net of last-resort by restricting access to shelter and housing-- reducing numbers of people who “count” as homeless without doing anything to meet their actual needs.

Please contact the DC Council, and tell them to VOTE NO on HSRA.


For background information, check out our blog (http://www.legalclinic.org/blog/) and follow us on Twitter (@WashLegalClinic). Use #VoteNoHSRABill to spread the word