Deep Budget Cuts in D.C. May Close Shelters

City officials in Washington D.C. have slashed $20 million dollars from the city's homeless services budget, simultaneously leaving a gaping hole the city's safety net. Local advocates say that these funds are not restored, hundreds of families, individuals, and children will end up on the streets in a matter of weeks.

The cuts -- announced last week by the Fenty administration -- has left D.C. homeless advocates shocked and outraged. Many felt blind-sighted by the announcement, while others are overwhelmed at what the cuts will mean for the area's safety net.

So what does a $20 million dollar slash in Washington D.C. homeless service budgets look like? Here are the projections from a statement prepared by a coalition of D.C. homeless service providers:

• More than 100 families in temporary and transitional shelters are at risk of being removed.
• 480 women would face eviction; about half of whom are housed by Catholic Charities.
• Shelter providers will be forced to reduce the number of people served.
• The waiting list for shelter beds would increase. In July, at least 285 families D.C. families were on the waiting list for homeless shelters, a number that kept growing as unemployment increased over the summer.

It is unfathomable that, during a time when the need is so great, the city would even think about touching these lifesaving services. Many providers have difficulty meeting the needs of people even with level funding.

Amidst all of the uncertainties, one thing is clear: If $20 million in funding is not restored to homeless service providers, Washington D.C.'s safety net is in serious jeopardy.

Image from Daquella_Manera's public Flickr stream.