Devastating budget cuts for D.C.’s homeless

Regarding the May 11 Metro article “Council makes tweaks to Gray’s budget plan”:

Given the District’s projected $330 million budget gap, I anticipated that D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s proposed budget would cut, among other things, programs that low- and no-income District residents rely on. Learning, however, that the mayor’s budget is likely to eliminate homeless-shelter services even for families with children, except during hypothermia season, was a complete shock.

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If approved by the D.C. Council, the mayor’s proposed budget would be disastrous for people who are homeless. It would also be fiscally unwise. Denying people, including children, access to shelter except on the coldest winter nights would endanger them and would deny them the most basic of human needs (e.g., food and shelter). It would also cost taxpayers more in the end because other, costlier services, such as police and emergency rooms, would consequently be overused.

The D.C. Council is preparing to finalize the fiscal 2012 budget and is expected to make a final decision by the end of the month. Many council members have not yet taken a position on the issue. Restoring this funding would be a win-win situation for the homeless and for the city.

Gabriel Pinski, Washington