November 6, 2026
Dear Washingtonians,
This week, I joined community partners to take the Hypothermia Awareness Pledge — a commitment to look out for neighbors experiencing homelessness during the winter months.
During hypothermia season, which runs from November 1 to March 31, the District provides free outreach and assistance, welfare checks, warming items such as blankets, gloves, and hats, and free, accessible transportation to shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Residents are encouraged to save the Shelter Hotline phone number in your phones to request assistance or transportation to shelter for neighbors experiencing homelessness. The number for the Shelter Hotline is 202-399-7093, or you can dial 311.
We have made significant progress in transforming our homeless services system over these past 12 years. Today, we have a system built to prevent homelessness and to make it rare, brief, and non-recurring. Our most recent count shows family homelessness down nearly 55% since 2015. Over the last year, total unsheltered homelessness is down 9%.
As proud as we are of that progress, we are still not satisfied. We live in a beautiful and prosperous city, and it is so important that we do everything possible to ensure that people who need help are connecting to the services and programs we have funded. We should never accept that people should live on the streets in Washington, DC, because we have shelter and services available. This is among the most important and complicated work we have done, and I’m grateful for the smart, energetic, empathetic, and caring people who work on this issue — during hypothermia season and all year round.
Sincerely,
 The 2027 Open Enrollment period began on November 1 and runs through January 31, 2027. Residents are encouraged to sign up for high-quality health insurance at DCHealthLink.com, the District’s online state-based health insurance marketplace.
This Open Enrollment period, there are 24 DC Health Link private health insurance plans available to fit every budget, in addition to the Healthy DC Plan. Healthy DC Plan is for residents whose incomes are up to two times the federal poverty level and includes vision and dental benefits for 2027. All plans cover doctor visits, hospital stays, mental health care, prescription drugs, preventive care, and more.
There are multiple ways for District residents to shop, find out if they qualify for lower premiums or the Healthy DC Plan, and enroll:
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Go Online: DCHealthLink.com
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Call: 855-532-LINK [5465]
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Get Free Expert Help: certified and trained assisters and licensed health insurance brokers can help residents navigate the enrollment process and select from various health insurance plans. Residents can find assisters and brokers at dchealthlink.com/find-expert.
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Get Help to Enroll In-Person: residents can find an enrollment center near them by visiting dchealthlink.com/enrollmentcenters.
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Get Help to Enroll Virtually: through the One Touch Virtual Enrollment, residents can schedule appointments and receive free expert enrollment support, ID-proofing and verification services, case-management assistance, and multilingual translation services. Residents can schedule a virtual appointment at dchealthlink.com/DConetouch or by calling 855-532-5465.
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 This week, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) opened registration for winter programming.
DPR programs open for registration include:
- Aquatics programs, including learn-to-swim, aquatic fitness, competitive swimming, intro to water polo, lifeguard training, and senior aquatics.
- Team and individual sports, including basketball, gymnastics, tennis, boxing, and pickleball.
- Afterschool and out-of-school-time programs, including Cooperative Play, Afternoon Access, and Enrichment Zone for students ages 6–13.
- Youth development/teen programming, including Roving Leaders, Young Ladies on the Rise, Young Men Future Leaders, EMBODI, Winter Wondercamp, Tiny Tots, and Supreme Teens.
- Arts programs, including piano, dance, guitar, and theater.
- Senior-centered programs, including senior fitness, dance, and day programs.
Registration for winter programming is available on a first-come, first-served basis. DPR offers programming at reduced rates to qualifying DC residents. Residents must be approved for reduced rates by DPR before registering for programs. Complete the online reduced rates application at dpr.dc.gov/reducedrates.
For more information and to view a complete list of DPR programs, visit DPRprograms.com.
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 The Department of Public Works is reminding residents that you can help reduce food waste this holiday season by taking your pumpkins, gourds, and food scraps to food waste drop-off sites to be composted.
Learn more about using the food waste smart bins located in neighborhoods across DC or find a drop-off location at zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.
There are also two upcoming opportunities where attendees can smash and compost their pumpkins:
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When: Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
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Where: Lederer Gardens (4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE).
Residents should note that pumpkins decorated with paint, glitter, or other inorganic matter cannot be composted.
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On Wednesday, November 11, celebrate Veterans Day with DC Public Library and the U.S. Navy Band with two special performances featuring traditional sea shanties, bluegrass music, and stories honoring sailors and their loved ones.
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