Blocks from the White House, Homelessness Persists

by Shannon Moriarty

categories: Homeless Counts, Local Policy, Obama Administration, recession, Veteran Homelessness

Published August 24, 2009 @ 07:30PM PT

With the Obamas vacationing on Martha's Vineyard, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is vacant this week. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the streets surrounding the White House, streets that thousands of people call "home." Washington, D.C. has one of the most highly concentrated homeless populations in the country and despite a supportive administration and a massive allocation of funds, homelessness in the city is on the rise. 

Poppy, pictured above, it one of the thousands who lives on the streets of The District, McClatchy reported today. Poppy is a veteran, a 36 year-old man who carries a bow tie in his luggage for job interviews. He has lived on the streets of D.C. for over a year. 

Washington has one of the highest concentrations of homelessness in the country. According to the most recent point-in-time count, 6,200 people are currently homeless on the streets of our nation's capitol; a 7.5 percent increase since 2007. What's more, a changing population is creating new challenges for providers. Family homelessness has increased 15 percent since 2007, and with the recession in full swing, case managers are seeing even more families, many are out of work and unable to make ends meet. 

Clearly, the Obama Administration understands the gravity of the homelessness problem, as well as the severe implications of being homeless. Back on March 24, he said, "Part of the change in attitudes that I want to see here in Washington and all across the country is a belief that it is not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours." And last month, HUD Secretary Shawn Donovan told attendees of the National Conference to End Homelessness, "A civilized society does not allow someone to live, or die, on the streets."

But despite this bold rhetoric by our fearless leaders, homelessness persists beyond the perimeter of the meticulously manicured White House lawn. Despite the $1.5 billion in recovery funds allocated for homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing back in February, most of these funds have yet to reach those sleeping on the sidewalks or in cars.

While the federal level support is desperately needed, it is also rejuvenating for those who have been affected by homelessness. But this high-level support does not erase the frustration from the lack of widespread concern at the community level. It begins with indifference to people on the streets and culminates with a lack of outrage that people in our society are forced to live this way. 

Poppy, the man pictured above, said it best: "I've seen men lay right in the middle of the road and people walk by like they're not there. If that was a whale, if that was a dog, wouldn't someone save it?"

Photo from McClatchy: Poppy Cali has been homeless on the streets of Washington D.C. since July 2008. He makes his home nowadays under the Whitehurst Freeway near the Kennedy Center in Northwest Washington.