Update on DC Homeless Shelter situation
All reports below are second hand accounts shared by reports from activists who delivered food to Franklin Shelter as part of DC Anti-War Network's effort to make up for the food shortfall at DC shelters due to DC Central Kitchen's suspension of service to eight DC shelters serving 2300 residents.
First of all, thank you so much for your donations. We received enough donations to cover expenses for tonight as well as to cover serving a second meal to that entire shelter. For reasons explained below, however, we ask that you suspend donations to us at this time earmarked toward the homeless. As stated previously, any funds remaining will go directly to DC's homeless. We feed and serve homeless residents every week, and so every cent given will go to the intended people.
From what we understand, a company called Nutrition, Inc. either has a contract from the city to cover food for Franklin Shelter (and other shelters?). We do not know if this is temporary or whether a full contract has been awarded. We do not know yet whether this covers all the shelters.
As we know more, the situation may change, and we cannot say for certain whether the crisis is over, but we think that it is and have enough funds in reserve if we suddenly have to put it to use. Either way, we will let you know.
As reported in various indymedia posts, see dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133717/index.php , dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133703/index.php, dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133677/index.php , dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133684/index.php , DC Central Kitchen suspended operations serving eight homeless shelters on Monday, May 1, due to a dispute with the city over limited funding for food service for homeless shelters. While $2.1 million goes to JROTC programs in the city and $600 million goes to a baseball stadium, DC Central Kitchen complained that it did not receive enough of the $1.6 million needed to operate the shelters on a contract signed through the city's contracting contractor (I'm not joking; the city has a contractor who doles out contracts), The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness.
Today, while some activists dealt with the food crisis, others went to the causes in city government, disrupting Mayor Williams at the groundbreaking of the new stadium and later this evening with a lively protest outside of his apartment building.
Right now, we are in a situation where we are in need of answers. What is the current situation? Has a contract been awarded? Are all the shelters covered under the contract? Who is Nutrition, Inc.? What will happen to DC Central Kitchen?
All we know is that there was more than enough food for the residents of Franklin Shelter this evening.
Getting answers from the city has been a lesson in political bureaucracy stonewalling and doublespeak 101. While the city was claiming that food was being provided, sources at the shelters were claiming that there was a desperate need for food. Now, this evening, the situation seems to be changed.
If you have information, please share it.
Again, thank you for coming together with us in a time of crisis. This by no means ends the serious issues facing DC's homeless, the lack of respect paid to them, and we cannot even say that this immediate crisis is yet over.
As we know more, we will share more with you.
First of all, thank you so much for your donations. We received enough donations to cover expenses for tonight as well as to cover serving a second meal to that entire shelter. For reasons explained below, however, we ask that you suspend donations to us at this time earmarked toward the homeless. As stated previously, any funds remaining will go directly to DC's homeless. We feed and serve homeless residents every week, and so every cent given will go to the intended people.
From what we understand, a company called Nutrition, Inc. either has a contract from the city to cover food for Franklin Shelter (and other shelters?). We do not know if this is temporary or whether a full contract has been awarded. We do not know yet whether this covers all the shelters.
As we know more, the situation may change, and we cannot say for certain whether the crisis is over, but we think that it is and have enough funds in reserve if we suddenly have to put it to use. Either way, we will let you know.
As reported in various indymedia posts, see dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133717/index.php , dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133703/index.php, dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133677/index.php , dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/133684/index.php , DC Central Kitchen suspended operations serving eight homeless shelters on Monday, May 1, due to a dispute with the city over limited funding for food service for homeless shelters. While $2.1 million goes to JROTC programs in the city and $600 million goes to a baseball stadium, DC Central Kitchen complained that it did not receive enough of the $1.6 million needed to operate the shelters on a contract signed through the city's contracting contractor (I'm not joking; the city has a contractor who doles out contracts), The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness.
Today, while some activists dealt with the food crisis, others went to the causes in city government, disrupting Mayor Williams at the groundbreaking of the new stadium and later this evening with a lively protest outside of his apartment building.
Right now, we are in a situation where we are in need of answers. What is the current situation? Has a contract been awarded? Are all the shelters covered under the contract? Who is Nutrition, Inc.? What will happen to DC Central Kitchen?
All we know is that there was more than enough food for the residents of Franklin Shelter this evening.
Getting answers from the city has been a lesson in political bureaucracy stonewalling and doublespeak 101. While the city was claiming that food was being provided, sources at the shelters were claiming that there was a desperate need for food. Now, this evening, the situation seems to be changed.
If you have information, please share it.
Again, thank you for coming together with us in a time of crisis. This by no means ends the serious issues facing DC's homeless, the lack of respect paid to them, and we cannot even say that this immediate crisis is yet over.
As we know more, we will share more with you.
***additional information***
All I can discern from the internet about Nutrition, Inc.:
Nutrition Inc, 2600 Bryan Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020-4417 202-889-3884
Thomas Gaskins Mr President
Fax: 202-678-7655
More here: http://app.olbd.dc.gov/services/certification/info.asp?id=5125
posted by Jim Macdonald @ 12:22 AM
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