D.C. pulls request to shelter homeless families in recreation centers

D.C. officials filed a motion Thursday, asking a judge for consent to shelter homeless families in recreation centers due to recent extreme weather conditions at night. The judge declared that D.C. is not required to provide private units to families under its right-to-shelter law. The motion was filed late Thursday, and withdrawn Friday. The District’s Interagency Council on Homelessness estimated that even after renting hundreds of hotel rooms, the city would still be unable to find sufficient space to meet the leap in need. The privacy requirements originated from a court case spring 2014, when former Mayor Vincent Gray’s administration was criticized by Muriel Bowser for resorting to cots in city rec centers as the District’s shelter system was overloaded last winter. Since then, the number of homeless has continued to increase in the area and affordable housing has grown more scarce. The issue is not financial, but rather a lack of available physical space. D.C. Director of Human Services Laura Zeilinger commented that the intention was never to start using rec centers. She added they wanted to make sure that they had the ability to meet the emergency needs of families, but at the same time would not put the government in a position of contempt. The goal is to put families in the best position for their safety and their well-being.