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Bowser Administration Expands Services for Residents Experiencing Homelessness During Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Closure

Monday, March 6, 2017


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 6, 2017

CONTACT:
Dora Taylor (DHS) – (202) 374-9473; [email protected]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the Bowser Administration launched an expanded transportation and services plan to replace shuttle service to and from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library with multiple transit points that provide resources and services for residents experiencing homelessness. The changes, coordinated by the Department of Human Services (DHS), will continue until the city establishes a permanent downtown day center.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library closed on March 4, 2017 for a three-year renovation project. Previously, the library functioned as a transportation hub for individuals traveling between shelters and the downtown area and offered residents experiencing homelessness a number of critical services.

“We know that the library has served as a place where our residents experiencing homelessness go to use computers, talk with case managers or meet their basic needs for water and bathrooms. While the library is undergoing renovations, I encourage people to take advantage of the Day Center at Adams Place and the services offered by the Department of Employment Services’ One Stop Center on Minnesota Avenue,” said DHS Director Laura Zeilinger. “The Day Center provides a safe space indoors to relax and offers laundry and shower facilities, meals, and other case management services including housing assistance and job placement,” she continued.

Transportation will be provided starting at 6:30 a.m. on a loop beginning at 801 East Men’s Shelter (2700 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE) and stopping at the following locations each day:

  • Adams Place Day Center – 2210 Adams Place, NE.
    Individuals are provided with a safe space indoors to relax and access to case management services (including housing assistance and job placement), laundry facilities, showers and computers, as well as eat breakfast and lunch on-site.
     
  • Minnesota Avenue & Benning Road, NE.
    Individuals can take advantage of employment services at the Department of Employment Services, access computers and other reading materials at the Dorothy Height/Benning Road Library and access health care at the Unity Health Care Clinic.
     
  • Church of the Epiphany – 1317 G Street, NW.
    The Church of the Epiphany will operate as a transit point for downtown destinations. Individuals may sit in the church while it is open. Individuals who want to be in the downtown area during the day can use this stop.

In addition, the operating hours at Adams Place Day Center are now expanded to 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. DHS will closely monitor implementation of the plan and make adjustments as needed over the coming weeks.

The following churches are located in the downtown area, and will continue providing support to individuals during their normal business hours:

  1. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
    New York Avenue, NW
    Bathrooms and water: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
     
  2. Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
    1518 M Street, NW
    Bathrooms: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
     
  3. National City Christian Church
    5 Thomas Circle, NW
    Bathrooms: Open to the public daily
     
  4. Foundry United Methodist Church
    1500 16th Street, NW
    Bathrooms: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
     
  5. Catholic Charities
    924 G Street, NW
    Homeless services: Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m.– 4:30 pm
    Meals: Wednesday evenings
     
  6. SOME (So Others Might Eat)
    71 O Street NW
    Meals: Monday – Friday Breakfast 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.; Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
     
  7. Church of the Epiphany
    1317 G Street NW
    Monday – Friday 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The details of this plan are also available on the DHS website. For residents who need more information, please contact the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311.