Homeless encampments in NoMa area pose a threat to the community

By Robyn Walters

WASHINGTON – Tensions flared at the Oct. 10th Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 6C meeting when community members said they didn’t feel safe with homeless encampments in the Northern area of Massachusetts Avenue known as NoMA.

At the meeting, people came forward to say they were wary of the overwhelming number of encampments. One woman, who did not give her name to the commission, explained how she has been verbally abused and had objects thrown at her by members of the homeless encampments.

Drew Courtney, the ANC 6C commissioner for the NoMa area, expressed his growing concern over the matter saying, “There has been a real growth of encamped individuals in NoMa ... I think it’s raised a lot of concerns, both with regards to safety and cleanliness.”

Over the past couple of years, homelessness in Washington has steadily been increasing. According to a 2018 survey conducted by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, there are roughly 6,904 individuals in the Washington area who experience homelessness on a day-to-day basis.

Christine Healey, an ANC commissioner for the 6C community since 2016, believes the encampment situation is one that needs to be fixed as soon as possible for the people she serves.

“We are looking for solutions for people who can’t find an affordable place to live, who don’t have social support to deal with mental health issues or some other kinds of issues that may have lead them to no longer have a home,” Healey said after the meeting.

The 6C commissioner committee has brought prominent members of the Washington community together - including people from the mayor’s office and police who patrol the area - to discuss how real change can be achieved. She and the other commissioners are hopeful that this issue will be fixed for both the homeless individuals and members of the community.

Gerardo Bonilla-Chavez, who has lived in North-Eastern Washington since 2011, was in attendance at the Oct. 10th meeting. When asked for community opinion on the matter, Bonilla-Chavez spoke out against those who were blaming the homeless people for their situations. He is a firm believer that the homeless situation is a direct result of gentrification and the rising cost of living in Washington.

“The lack of affordable housing, the lack of housing units, and the lack of real interest of local officials to do something about this is clearly been an on-going issue,” Bonilla-Chavez said after the meeting.

He said he believes that the city should do more to support homeless individuals that way they can rise above their situations and be incorporated back into society. He wants to see the city make more of an effort to provide these people with safe and affordable homes.

With a small smile, Bonilla-Chavez said, “I regard them as community members, so whatever happens to them matters to me.”

For more information about ANC6 and the encampment issue, visit https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/.

Commissioner Christine Healey, center left, and Commissioner Drew Courtney, center right, at the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C meeting held on Oct. 10th. The meeting focused on issues facing the ANC6C community, including a homeless encampment situation in the NoMa area of Washington.

(Photo by Robyn Walters)