ANACOSTIA RESIDENTS STILL WANT CALVARY WOMEN'S SERVICES GONE
The saga of Calvary Women's Services plan to open a homeless shelter in the middle of Anacostia's Business District continues. In case you missed it here's a recap. Calvary was tone deaf when it came to listening, meeting or even considering the communities concerns. It took over six months of calling, emailing, tweeting, demonstrating, and a rally to finally get them to attend a community meeting. Anacostia residents were almost unanimous, they wanted "businesses and not beds" on their business corridor.
Six months may have passed since that first (and only) community meeting between Anacostia residents and Calvary but relations are still strained to say it nicely. Most Anacostia residents still don't want them on Anacostia's mainstreet (and an argument can be made they don't want them in Anacostia period). The perception by most is that Calvary is not a good neighbor and is just going through the motions of looking like they are. Residents point to the cursory and stilted "Community Updates" provided by Calvary's Executive Director, Kris Thompson. The updates, heavy on the word "community" seem to lack that in spirit and action, or at least that is the impression by one Anacostia resident, ANC 8A Commissioner Greta Fuller. With Ms. Fuller's permission I am sharing a letter she sent to Calvary after receiving the July "Community Update" which I am including below her letter.
Calvary Women's Services Community Update July 2012 (1)
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Rally in January against the oversaturation of social services in Anacostia |
Ms Thompson,
I have not known how to address your letters and emails. But it is time that I say what must be said, it is time for you and your team to understand the damage that you caused by not answering the communities request. I will say this once again, so it is not misunderstood, we don’t have a problem with helping people but we do have a problem with over saturation of social services, especially on the struggling business corridor of Historic Anacostia. We have a problem with you and with others who bring this to our main street.
Greta Fuller Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8A(03)
My wish is that you will be able to sale your building as fast as you have purchased it. Feel free to pass this message to your donors. If any of them have any questions you have my permission to pass my contact information.
Regards
Calvary Women's Services Community Update July 2012 (1)
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