Washington, D.C

Opinion | Encampments are not the way to help D.C.’s homeless

Published

3 years ago

May 30, 2022

Opinion | Encampments are not the way to help D.C.’s homeless

Even earlier than a person at a homeless encampment was fatally shot on Monday, there had been issues on the small tent metropolis situated close to a busy thoroughfare in downtown D.C. Police had responded to quite a few calls about medicine, thefts, vandalism and threatening habits. Close by residents complained concerning the blighted situations and what they noticed as a rising public security hazard. Inside hours of Monday’s occasions — police are nonetheless checking out precisely what occurred — officers cleared out the encampment, eradicating tents, a transportable rest room and a procuring cart, and providing housing to the individuals who had stayed there.

Ought to the town have acted sooner? Why did somebody should die earlier than motion was taken? The scenario on the Thomas Circle encampment brings into focus the fraught questions D.C. — and different American cities — faces in making an attempt to take care of a homeless inhabitants that has ended up residing in tents on metropolis streets.

As of April, there have been 97 encampment websites throughout D.C. with at the very least one tent; 255 individuals had been estimated to be linked to the websites. The rise of encampments — some 40 % from 2020 to 2021 — has been tied to the pandemic and the recommendation from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention that cities not crack down on them due to the extraordinary challenges posed by the coronavirus. So although D.C. this yr reported the bottom variety of individuals residing on the road or in a shelter in 17 years, based on the annual point-in-time rely, the websites gave heightened visibility to the difficulty of individuals with out shelter.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) final yr initiated a pilot program aimed toward clearing out the encampments which have sprouted throughout the town. 4 had been chosen for clearance, primarily based on dimension, well being and security danger, and competing use of public areas. Individuals camped out at them got discover, supplied housing choices in the best way of shelter, lodges or vouchers for residences, plus wraparound providers to take care of different points reminiscent of drug dependency or psychological sickness. There was pushback and criticism. Some advocates stated the town wasn’t doing sufficient and referred to as for these residing in encampments to face their floor. Some members of the D.C. Council, together with two members difficult Ms. Bowser in subsequent month’s Democratic major, sought to dam implementation of the hassle. The administration was not deterred. To make sure, there have been missteps, together with the clumsy use of a bulldozer to clear a web site, however this system had the help of a majority of D.C. residents. And, extra importantly, officers report there was some promising success in getting residents of the encampments into various housing.

A report on the pilot program is now within the works. That ought to assist information D.C. in deciding whether or not changes in this system are wanted and what steps to take relating to the remaining encampments. What ought to be clear is that situations typically related to these encampments — rodent infestations, fetid environment, hazardous housing — are unacceptable. They don’t assist the homeless, and they need to haven’t any place in America.

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Washington, D.C

Millions from Cincinnati to Washington, DC brace for possible severe weather on Monday | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather

Published

16 hours ago

April 14, 2025

Press Room

Millions from Cincinnati to Washington, DC brace for possible severe weather on Monday

The start of the new workweek could be plagued with rounds of severe weather from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic. FOX Weather Meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Marissa Torres break down the latest forecast on Monday, April 14, 2025.

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Washington, D.C

2 teens shot in DC, hours apart in separate shootings

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2025

Press Room

2 teens shot in DC, hours apart in separate shootings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Authorities are investigating two separate shootings in D.C. that left two teenagers suffering gunshot wounds.

1700 block of 14th Street Northwest | 12:36 a.m.

What they’re saying:

The Metropolitan Police Department responded to the intersection of 14th Street and R Street, Northwest, for a report of a shooting on Sunday, April 13, around 12:36 a.m. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male, conscious and breathing, suffering from a gunshot wound.

DC Fire and EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment.

Police say the victim was shot in the 1700 block of 14th Street, Northwest.

No word on suspects involved.

1700 block of 14th Street Northwest | 12:36 p.m.

MPD arrived in the 3300 block of 10th Place, Southeast, for a report of a shooting on Sunday, April 13, around12:53 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male, conscious and breathing, suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment.

Anyone with any information on either of these shootings is asked to contact police.

The Source: Information from the Metropolitan Police Department was used to write this report.

Crime and Public SafetyWashington, D.C.NewsNorthwestSoutheast

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Washington, D.C

Nationals put Abrams on 10-day IL, recall Nunez

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2025

Press Room

Nationals put Abrams on 10-day IL, recall Nunez

Apr 12, 2025, 03:51 PM ET

MIAMI — The Washington Nationals placed shortstop CJ Abrams on the 10-day injured list on Saturday because of a right hip flexor strain.

Abrams first experienced discomfort during the Nationals’ home series against Arizona last week and it then flared up again on Friday, when Washington opened a road series in Miami. He was removed after the third inning and underwent an imaging test Saturday that confirmed the strain.

“I told him today to get this thing to calm down and get it right so it doesn’t become a bigger issue,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said before Saturday’s game. “In a week and a half, hopefully he’ll be ready to go.”

Abrams, 24, has four homers through his first 11 games this season.

“CJ wants to play every day,” Martinez said. “He wasn’t happy about it. But this was the second stint that it was bothering him. We’re going to try to get him all healed up so it’s something that he won’t have to worry about for the rest of the year.”

The Nationals recalled infielder Nasim Nunez from Triple-A Rochester in the corresponding move. Nunez was a Rule 5 selection last season, Nunez and appeared in 51 games for Washington. The 34-year-old, who was with the team in Spring Training in West Palm Beach, Florida last month, joins the active roster for the first time this year. In 10 games at Rochester, he hit .192 with three RBIs and five stolen bases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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