Homeless in D.C. may face added burden: Proof of residency

[Better Believe It]

Homeless in D.C. may face added burden: Proof of residency
By Paul Schwartzman
Washington Post Staff Writer
November 8, 2010

As the economy has floundered and the unemployment rate has soared, a growing number of homeless families from outside the District have migrated into the city in search of shelter, burdening an already strained social services network. Over the summer, D.C. officials say, 10 percent of the families most in need of shelter came from outside the city. Since 2008, officials say, the number of homeless families migrating into the District has tripled.

But the city is pushing back against the influx.

Citing a looming budget deficit, officials are proposing that on winter's coldest nights, the city should provide shelter first to families who can demonstrate their D.C. ties with proof of a legal address in the past two years or with a record of having received public assistance from the city. Under current law, the District must shelter anyone who is homeless and seeking a bed when the temperature falls below freezing.

Advocates argue that the proposed policy could make it harder even for District residents to get help.

"People are going to die because they can't show they're D.C. residents and they can't get their documents together," said Andy Silver, an attorney with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. "How can you require people who live outside to verify their residency?"

Read the full article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110704746.html

[aquart]

1. And this is how you run a government like a business.

You fire your citizens.

[HereSince1628]

7. I think Gouliani did something similar in New York.

Was it NY that offered one-way train or bus tickets?

[Recursion]

10. NYC has a state; DC is responsible for both city- and state-level assistance

And does so while being Congressionally forbidden from putting tolls on the entryways to the city, or to collect income tax from suburbanites working there.

Basically, MD and VA are freeloading off of DC; the homeless are an unfortunate casualty of that.

[Recursion]

11. Well, the purpose here is to fire people who *aren't* your citizens

But you have a point.

[Zephie]

2. They're trying to cull the herd

Despicable.

[Recursion]

8. No, they're trying to make Maryland and Virginia live up to their obligations

MD and VA suck enough money from DC as it is.

[HopeHoops]

3. Drag the fucking pencil-pusher out to your duct-taped box and SHOW him where you live!!!

Good fucking grief.

[Individualist]

4. Papers, please!!

[uncommon]

5. So, not only should the homeless have had a verifiable residence in the last two years, they should

be carrying around a file of outdated paperwork? This is ridiculous and classist.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. WTH?!

[Recursion]

9. This is what happens when you knock down homeless shelters to build a baseball stadium

Worst boondoggle in at least 3 or 4 years...