D.C. Council Dilutes Homeless Aid Law
The District of Columbia City Council on Tuesday approved a bill that effectively guts the city’s landmark 1984 voter-mandated right-to-shelter law, claiming that the measure had been too costly.
The council voted to amend Initiative 17, which orders the city to provide emergency shelter to anyone requesting it, regardless of its budget constraints.
The city spent $10 million on its homeless program in 1985, compared to nearly $40 million in federal and local funds for homeless programs in 1989.
The amendment caps the amount of money the city would spend each year for emergency overnight shelter and homeless services. Once that limit has been reached, the mayor could shift budget priorities to continue funding homeless initiatives but would not be obligated to do so.
Mayor Marion Barry has 10 days to act on the bill and is expected to sign it, officials said.
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