This whirlwind budget season isn’t over yet! So far this budget season, through testimony, social-media campaigns, a rally and a briefing, meetings with Council staff, and more, we’ve called on policymakers to put resources behind housing-rights and anti-poverty initiatives. Examples include the Local Rent Supplement Program, the Housing Production Trust Fund, and the cost-effectiveness of permanent supportive housing […]
Statement on Mayor Bowser’s Proposal to Increase the Sales Tax
As you may have heard, part of Mayor Bowser’s budget includes a modest increase in the sales tax—from 5.75 percent to 6 percent—bringing it in line with rates in Maryland and Virginia. Under the Mayor’s plan, the $22 million in revenue this increase will bring in is to be dedicated to homeless services.
Our Take on Mayor Bowser’s Budget
On April 2, Mayor Muriel Bowser published her long-awaited budget plan. We had been gearing up for the release since last year! Over the past months we worked internally with partners in the housing-rights community, helping to develop both the Coalition on Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development’s budget recommendations and the D.C. Fair budget Coalition’s budget platform. […]
Our Testimony on Discrimination Against Homeless Individuals
When the Judiciary Committee held an agency oversight hearing on the Office of Human Rights, we took the opportunity to submit testimony about discrimination against people experiencing homelessness in the District. Chairman McDuffie and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. Hyacinth’s Place is a partner in a campaign to end […]
Our Testimony on the Department of Housing and Community Development
On February 26, the Committee on Housing and Community Development held an agency oversight hearing on the Department of Housing and Community Development. Here is Hyacinth’s Place testimony.
Our Roundup of Tweets from the DC is Our Home Housing for All Rally
#dcisourhome is now trending in #DC http://t.co/Xu9W3gI4lu — Trendsmap DC (@TrendsDC) February 7, 2015 This Saturday, hundreds packed the Calvary Baptist Church in a call for action to address the affordable-housing crisis in the District. Speakers touched on all the important topics we as a city need to be talking about: homelessness, permanent supportive housing, tenant purchase, displacement, homeownership, jobs, and rental […]
Budget Season Started This Week. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Here we go again – budget season! Every year, our government has to lay out a plan for how much money it will take to meet our residents’ diverse needs—and keep the city running. It’s not just how much money, but where the money should go. Everything under the sun is in the budget, from […]
Our Testimony on Homelessness in the District of Columbia
On January 30, Hyacinth’s Place presented before the Committee of the Whole and the Committee on Human Services at a roundtable on the causes of and solutions to homelessness in the District. Here is the text of our testimony: Chairpersons Mendelson and Alexander, and members of the committees, good afternoon. My name is Vanessa Wellbery and […]
Hyacinth’s Place Statement on The Fair Budget Coalition’s FY ’16 Budget Recommendations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 26, 2015 Hyacinth’s Place Statement on The Fair Budget Coalition’s FY ’16 Budget Recommendations The Fair Budget Coalition, a partnership of local advocates for budget and policy initiatives that address poverty and human needs in the District of Columbia, today released a report with its priorities for D.C.’s fiscal year 2016 budget. As […]
Goodbye COHHO: Reflections on Being a Part of D.C.’s Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations
Yesterday marked the final meeting of the Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations. After Hyacinth’s Place became a member this year, COHHO quickly became a valuable resource and enriching experience for us. We’re going to miss being a part of it. The Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations (COHHO) is a partnership that for 25 years has brought together […]