The Department of General Services, Washington D.C.'s department in charge of constructing homeless shelters, has seen rapid turnover and is reportedly struggling with low morale.
Shelters in Washington, D.C.'s 7th and 8th Wards are behind schedule, and some point to staffing problems as a cause. "The new shelters are meant to replace the decrepit D.C. General, which is currently the city’s largest homeless shelter and houses about 250 families each night," Cuneyt Dil reports for the Washington City Paper. The Department of General Services (DGS) has lost three different people in charge of "project delivery" in a short period before replacement, Michael Jellen, took over the role on March 26.
City Councilmember Mary Cheh voiced concern about morale at the department, worrying about the lack of continuity and morale issues and their effect on the building of shelters, Dil reports.
FULL STORY: High Turnover and Low Morale Among D.C. Workers Managing Homeless Shelter Construction Projects
Los Angeles Tightens Restrictions on Encampments
During a city council meeting that had to pause while police cleared the room of activists opposing the measure, the council voted to ban public sleeping within 500 feet of schools, making one-fifth of city sidewalks off-limits to unhoused people.
D.C. Council Chooses Commercial Property Tax Breaks Over Homeless Funding
Carolyn Gallaher, an associate professor at American University, makes the case for local political leadership to better support Washington, D.C.'s homeless population. The D.C. Council has been focusing its resources elsewhere.
Homeless Rates Climbing in Washington, D.C.
With rapidly rising costs of living, one study shows the number of homeless in the nation's capital is double the national average.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
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The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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