In the District, No Room at the Shelter (bush* failure)

[diamond14]

In the District, No Room at the Shelter
Procession Points Up Shortage of Space For Homeless Families

By Sylvia Moreno
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 24, 2003; Page B04


A modern-day version of the Holy Family -- costumed in Mexican and Ethiopian garb, with "Mary" sitting atop a pony instead of a donkey -- led a procession yesterday along a busy street in Southwest Washington to make a point:

During the last year -- in the midst of a sputtering economy and rocketing housing costs -- the D.C. emergency shelter waiting list has averaged almost 300 families each day, advocates and shelter intake workers said.

In recent years, the number of District families seeking shelter more than doubled, from 1,276 families in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2000, to 2,613 families in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2002. At the same time, 24 apartment units for homeless families were closed because of lack of city funding.

There are 114 spaces for homeless families in six city-funded shelters, including what used to be the city's hypothermia shelter at D.C. Village, which accommodates 50 families. D.C. Village used to open in November and close March 30, but because of demand, it has remained open year-round since spring 2000. Last year, an "overflow" wing for 18 families opened, and it has been full ever since.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26202-2003Dec23.html

[xchrom]

1. federal programs cut back, giving down

and terror threats up the wazoo and the media and conservatives continue to paint bush a success.
when did we collectively walk through the looking glass?

[benfranklin1776]

2. December 12, 2000.

A day which will live in Constitutional infamy.

[donsu]

3. yes, the day america was murdered

nt