Do want to welcome homeless families to Ward 3? Let your commissioners know!

ANC3C Commissioners Carl A. Roller (Chair), Lee Brian Reba, Gwendolyn Bol, David Valdez, Arthur Barkmann, Angela Bradbury, Victor Silveira, Catherine May, and Nancy Macwood

The residents of the District have made it clear that the closing of D.C. General Emergency Family Shelter is a priority for them. The site, the conditions, and the lack of safety for children at that location have been very troubling.  

The defining marker of a community—that which marks it as such—is its willingness to come together when it matters most for its citizens, to rise above personal differences, and to ensure that each of us has a fighting chance to becomes our best selves. Too many families in our midst have come upon hard times without a safety net to not only protect them, but lift them back up. It is our moral obligation to work together to actualize a solution—one that may not be perfect for everyone—but at its core embraces those who need the kind of help Ward 3 will provide. When we do this we become stronger, more just, and more worthy of the very word, community.

Help us to show support for the construction of short-term housing in Ward 3, so that we can welcome those in need.


Sponsored by

To: ANC3C Commissioners Carl A. Roller (Chair), Lee Brian Reba, Gwendolyn Bol, David Valdez, Arthur Barkmann, Angela Bradbury, Victor Silveira, Catherine May, and Nancy Macwood
From: [Your Name]

Dear Commissioners:

I write to ask you to support the Board of Zoning and Adjustment (BZA) application for the short term family housing facility at 3320 Idaho Avenue NW. I want to see this facility built on schedule with the other facilities in DC - not delayed.

As reported in the HUD 2014 Housing Inventory, not including hypothermia sites, Ward 3 has 3 facilities serving 24 individuals experiencing homelessness and no emergency shelter. In contrast, Ward 6 has 9 facilities serving 1,213 individuals experiencing homelessness. DC has a strong plan to end homelessness, but it will take all wards doing their part.

The defining marker of a community—that which marks it as such—is its willingness to come together when it matters most for its citizens, to rise above personal differences, and to ensure that each of us has a fighting chance to becomes our best selves. Too many families in our midst have come upon hard times without a safety net to not only protect them, but lift them back up. It is our moral obligation to work together to actualize a solution—one that may not be perfect for everyone—but at its core embraces those who need the kind of help Ward 3 will provide. When we do this we become stronger, more just, and more worthy of the very word, community.

You can count on me to stay engaged, to work to make sure our short term family housing is well-designed, well-built, well-maintained, and to volunteer and donate to help homeless families once the facility is open.

Now is the time to be welcoming to the stranger.

I know that we as a community can get to YES.

Let’s make Ward 3 for All

Signed,

________________________________________

The letter was sent from www.ward3forall.com with support from Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) & Good Faith Communities Coalition (GFCC)