The Way Home: Ending Chronic Homelessness in DC

ADVOCACY TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Recently, the Free Inquiry Class learned about the challenges and solutions of the looming eviction crisis. Guest Speaker Sherry Trafford described how Miriam’s Kitchen’s (MK) is working on ending chronic homelessness and advocating for homelessness prevention programs through its The Way Home Campaign.

In addition to calling for the DC government to invest funds to end chronic homelessness for 2,761 individuals and 432 families through the provision of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), the campaign calls for investments in low-income housing and large-scale rent relief.

PSH is a proven best practice approach to ending homelessness and includes housing location services, case management, and rental assistance. Ninety-six percent of formerly homeless individuals in MK’s PSH program remained housed after 2 years.

Continued rental and utility assistance will be needed in FY 2022 to help DC residents impacted by Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. Ongoing investment in affordable housing units is needed to ensure there is sufficient inventory.

Westerners can learn more about MK’s The Way Home Campaign 2022 Budget advocacy efforts by clicking: The Way Home Campaign Statement of Need for Fiscal Year 2022.

To learn more about the Way Home Campaign and how you can support the efforts go to:https://www.thewayhomedc.org/housingishealthcare