The little park at the corner of MLK, Jr. Ave SE and Malcolm X Ave SE (commonly known as Shepherd Park) has been getting a little upgrade the past few weeks.

The old jungle gym was torn down and in it's place is a new spiffy installation, the old picnic benches have been replaced, and new park benches have been installed. The recent improvements combined with the new trees planted earlier this year by Casey Trees and the National Park Service makes our little park look pretty sweet.

Under construction.

But for how long?

The community has expressed it's concerns for years (and I mean years) about the homeless shelter on the Saint Elizabeths East Campus.  I'm not sure if it is still the case but the Catholic Charities has run the shelter in the past through a contract with the city. The shelter buses the city's male homeless population to and from the shelter but the shelter only houses the men at night. Early in the morning the men have the option of riding buses back down the hill toward downtown. Those who opt not to take the bus (or who miss it) are left to hang in Congress Heights until the shelter reopens for the night. The inevitable is a lot of loitering on MLK and in Shepherd Park.  As such, the park in recent years has become more of a waiting room (with all the side effects that entails) and less of a place for children to play.

New park benches = new beds

To be clear, the community concerns are not directed at the homeless or even the shelter itself.  People who need help should get help and it's our responsibility as a civilized society to make sure people don't fall through the cracks. We are in this together. That being said, there also needs to be some type of "community care" that is provided to the immediate neighborhood that houses some of these larger facilities like the one on the Saint Elizabeths East campus.  For example, community cleanup services would be one and some daytime facility for the city's homeless for another. There has to be another option that won't leave so many men exposed to the elements during the day. Not sure if it is the reality but the perception is the shelter clients (some with mental and/or health issues) don't have a place to go during the day and thus they are left to wander the streets.

I am reminded of the accusations of NIMBYism hurled at Ward 8 residents who oppose the arrival of new homeless shelters or group homes in their community. After living in Ward 8 for four years I find those claims of NIMBYism more than a little unfair. It's all well and good to hope for the best and it is another thing to be faced with the cold hard reality. It is hard for people in my neighborhood to be optimistic about a new shelter opening when we experience firsthand how the current shelters fall short.

Making do

In my opinion, the powers that be (whomever that may be) still have not come up with a viable, dignified, and community conscious solution to where the homeless who come to Congress Heights go during the day.

To be clear, I don't think the answer is shipping the homeless off or hiding them out of sight. There has to be an option that will give the homeless a safe, clean, and dignified place to go during the day. Preferably a place that can provide services and care.



I'm not sure what the long term solution is going to be (or should be) for the shelter clients. One thing I do know, when the Department of Homeland Security relocates to the Saint Elizabeths Campus I doubt that the current state of affairs will be allowed to continue which makes it all the more important than solutions are found now - for all of our sakes.