Dear Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services, 

This is a call for humane, long term housing solutions for unsheltered and encamped residents of NoMA. 

Encampments on M Street NE and L Street NE have grown to obstruct the public east-west underpass paths used for traveling from one side of NoMA to the other. The obstructed public east-west underpass paths do not allow for pedestrians to safely traverse in a socially distant manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the anticipated drop in temperatures as the fall and winter months approach, now seems like an appropriate time to advocate for humane living conditions for the unsheltered and encamped residents of NoMA.

We, the undersigned, believe there is a better way to serve unsheltered residents of NoMA while also addressing the concerns of all members of the community.

Trash, broken glass, rotted food, human waste, sales and use of illegal drugs, used hypodermic needles, fires and large piles of discarded belongings to name a few, have presented public health hazards that must be addressed with long term solutions. 

Verbal harassment of encamped and passersby is another serious concern of the community.

Calls and emails to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) requesting clean ups and updates regarding long term solutions have been met with minimal action and we are now requesting change from the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services.

We ask that the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services take IMMEDIATE steps to locate humane housing options for unsheltered and M Street NE and L Street NE encampment residents of NoMA. It is beyond time to provide those experiencing homelessness the appropriate, individualized resources as well as safe, long term housing solutions.

Lastly, we request responses and solutions to the concerns of all members of the NoMA community. 

Ideas on how to facilitate this in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic:

1)     Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) AND Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) Encampment Team conduct meetings with unsheltered and encamped residents of NoMA to address their needs and concerns and then provide updates to Mayor Muriel Bowser. These updates can be shared with the NoMA community via Mayor Muriel Bowser’s YouTube Channel.

2)     Mayor Muriel Bowser, MOCRS and DMHHS hold a community Q & A call for all NoMA residents who are able to dial in. This should be an open forum format.

3)     Mayor Muriel Bowser, MOCRS and DMHHS hold a community call for all NoMA residents who are able to dial in to hear updates regarding NoMA encampment concerns and solutions.

NoMA residents can be notified of community calls via the social media platforms of Mayor Muriel Bowser, MOCRS, DMHHS, Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen and ANC 6C. We ask that MOCRS AND DMHHS reach out directly to NoMA residents who do not have access to social media with meeting dates and updates. No one should be left out of this discussion. 

NoMA residents, please sign and share the following petition to establish humane, long term housing solutions for unsheltered and encamped NoMA residents.