Statement regarding DC proposed budget cuts for services to those who are homeless
After raising serious concerns about immediate funding cuts of nearly 30 percent in homeless services that had been proposed by the District of Columbia on Sept. 28, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington was contacted by the District’s Department of Human Services (DHS) last Thursday.
The director of DHS made a written commitment to fund all hypothermia services identified in the District’s FY2010 Winter Plan at the same level as FY2009. Without this commitment, Catholic Charities would have had no choice but to withdraw from managing five homeless programs in the District, effective Nov 1. This will avert the immediate crisis. However, Catholic Charities remains extremely concerned that there are no 12-month contracts for service providers, and no immediate relief from the imminent and drastic cuts to programs not directly part of the Winter Plan.
Understanding the fiscal realities in advance is crucial for providers in planning how to better handle inevitable shortfalls and prepare those we serve for changes in the system, be that through referrals or reduction in services. Currently, as of April 1, 2010, not one service provider can say for certain what their budget will be going forward.For the homeless men, women and families seeking a way to rebuild their lives, the future remains uncertain. At a time when more are turning to service providers for a hand up, fewer resources are available to offer that help. Preventing this safety net from disappearing is more than a financial decision for the community – it is our moral obligation to care for those without a home.As service providers, we understand better than most the value and importance of stretching funding to do the most good for the most people – an idea that is the cornerstone of our mission. We can appreciate the many competing priorities faced by the city. Reaching these decisions will not be easy. All stakeholders should have a voice and a hand in making these hard decisions.
The city has started to move toward a permanent supportive housing model for preventing homelessness. This is a shift away from an overnight shelter system that is largely ineffective for many of the clients in helping them move beyond homelessness. However, this emergency shelter system remains an important part of the continuum of care. Its role as a very basic safety net for those without a home fits in with transitional programs, single room occupancy housing, day programs and permanent supportive housing. We cannot allow ourselves to look too far into the future or be swayed by current challenges and overlook the important, lifesaving role this entire network still plays in our city, and the impact that dramatic cuts with short notice have on crucial components of this network.
We still have much work to do and Catholic Charities urges all parties to come to the table with an open mind, remembering what is at stake. Only when we have given help that empowers and hope that lasts to those who are most in need will our community have truly taken a step forward.
Catholic Charities is the largest provider of beds for the homeless in the District. We operate 17 programs serving more than 1,400 men, women and families each night. Last year, our programs served more than 9,000 men, women and children.