May 11, 2017 | Vol. 3, Issue 19
Dear Washingtonians,
Yesterday, we released DC's 2017 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which reflects the
number of people experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC on
January 25, 2017. The results show that our efforts to make homelessness in DC rare, brief and nonrecurring are working. Between the 2016 and 2017 PIT Count, Washington, DC saw a 21.8 percent decrease in the number of families experiencing homelessness and a 2.7 percent decrease in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. In one year, the total number of people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia decreased by 10.5 percent.
We know that more work needs to be done to increase access to safe and affordable housing. We also know that even when we have ended homelessness in Washington, DC, there will always be people who find themselves in need of safe shelter. The work we are doing addresses both of these issues and more.
In 2015, my Administration inherited a Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) beset by high leadership turnover, excessive vacancies, a clogged project pipeline, and more than a decade of spending difficulties and mismanagement of federal funds. By righting the ship and making the production and preservation of affordable housing a top priority, my Administration has been able to turn the agency around.
To increase efficacy at DHCD, we recruited and filled key management vacancies and improved the agency's organizational structure. By developing an online application for the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) and providing two windows a year for project funding applications, we have been able to make historic HPTF investments. In 2016, we funded over $106 million in affordable housing projects. In addition, we have significantly improved the management and oversight of federal funding. In two years, DHCD has almost doubled the output of funding, which means twice as many residents will have access to affordable housing in the District every year. Today, we are serving more residents, stabilizing the agency and resetting the District's relationship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
I continue to believe that we can end homelessness in Washington, DC. I know that the job is not easy, and that it will not happen overnight. We are working against years of policies and systems that have held some Washingtonians back more than others, and we are racing to keep up with rising housing costs. However, by continuing to take a broad approach to fighting for greater economic opportunity - by increasing the minimum wage, investing in affordable housing, connecting more residents to employment opportunities, and giving more families the resources they need to succeed, we can build a city where residents of all backgrounds and income levels thrive.
Sincerely,
On June 3, as part of the Bowser Administration's new initiative, Reign: Empowering Young Women As Leaders, DCPS is excited to host the first annual We the Girls, Young Women’s Leadership Conference and Pep Rally. The conference will be a day of celebration, enrichment, and inspiration for young women of color in grades 5-12.
The day will be spent exploring topics related to identity, stress management, healthy relationships, community advocacy, self-care, leadership, entrepreneurship, STEM, applying to college, and much more!
Register for the conference HERE.
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This week, Mayor Bowser highlighted the Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit’s (NEU) success in getting illegal drugs and unregistered guns off the streets.
The NEU, a unit within the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division, covers all seven police districts and focuses attention on reducing and preventing drug-related crimes. In addition to confiscating illegal drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, crack-cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and phencyclidine (PCP), the unit also assists in recovering illegal firearms. In 2016, the NEU recovered a total of 42 guns as part of their operations. This year, the unit has already recovered 49 illegal firearms.
Learn more HERE.
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Join Mayor Bowser this Saturday at the Annual Congress Heights Day Festival! This fun-filled day will feature a community parade, a mini-carnival, a health fair, and educational and cultural enrichment activities for people of all ages.
Register HERE to walk with Mayor Bowser in the parade.
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Throughout May, the Bowser Administration celebrates innoMAYtion, a month-long initiative to showcase the people and ideas that make Washington, DC the capital of inclusive innovation.
Find upcoming events, including the innoMAYtion Hackathon for Women and Youth in STEM and Enterpreneurship, HERE.
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This
week's District Minute features stories about the Funk Parade, the 38th Annual Washington Area Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Service, and MPD's Narcotics Enforcement Unit's success in getting illegal drugs and unregistered guns off the streets.
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 The Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) consists of the Forensic Science Laboratory Division, the Public Health Laboratory Division, and the Crime Scene Sciences Division. The mission of DFS is to provide high-quality, timely, accurate, and reliable forensic science services using best practices and best available technology, focusing on unbiased science and transparency, to enhance public safety and health.
DFS has an opening for a Fingerprint Analyst. This position is responsible for forensic fingerprint analysis, conducting routine examinations of latent print evidence, and comparing latent fingerprints to known fingerprints and palm prints. All details regarding this vacancy, including qualifications, can be found by visiting the job announcement.
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