Spending Freeze Burns the Homeless

by Shannon Moriarty · 2008-11-12 20:50:00 UTC
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The economy is bad, and our nation's capital is feeling the pinch.

City Counselors in Washington, DC voted on Monday to freeze $46 million dollars in new funding and cut $131 from the city budget, two moves that will have a devastating effect on the area's growing homeless population, according to the Washington Times.

At least $5.6 million in funding will be cut from the city's Housing First program, which provides subsidized housing for at least 400 previously homeless people. In addition, 400 subsidized apartment units that were scheduled to be filled by homeless people in the coming months were also slashed from the city's budget.

Councilman Vincent C. Gray insisted the city has no intention of evicting people from housing they currently occupy.

Still, with $58 million cut from spending on programs for DC's low-income residents, social service providers are worried about the impact this will have on the city's most vulnerable residents... and rightfully so:

"The only outcome will be that those who are the least, last and lost in this city are going to be the ones who will suffer," said pastor Joseph Daniels, of the Washington Interfaith Network.

Certainly, Washington DC is not the only municipality that will be forced to make difficult budgeting decisions in the coming weeks and months. But why must those who are already at rock-bottom bear the brunt of the economic crisis?

[Photo from The Washington Times: Former Franklin School shelter resident Ricky Gaines tries to keep warm Monday in Franklin Square park. He has a new place to stay but says he preferred his old shelter, which closed two months ago.]

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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