WINTER PROPOSES A 6-MONTH RESIDENCY RULE FOR THE HOMELESS

D.C. Council member Nadine P. Winter (D-Ward 6), criticizing the city's "makeshift crisis response" to homelessness, proposed yesterday that the District reduce shelter costs by limiting some services to those who have lived in the city for at least six months.

Winter also proposed to seek reimbursement for shelter expenses from the homeless.

Winter's plan, which she was to introduce during a council meeting today, would amend Initiative 17, a law adopted by voters in 1984 guaranteeing overnight shelter to anyone who needs it. Winter said her measure is aimed at creating a comprehensive assistance program that could reduce city shelter expenses by 50 percent.

In the fiscal year that ended in September, the city spent about $27 million in city and federal funds on shelter services or programs to prevent homelessness. During that period, the city provided services to 7,513 people, including homeless families.

In addition to establishing new requirements for the shelter system, Winter's bill would require that Mayor Marion Barry create 1,000 single-room occupancy units in the next year.

Winter said the city would seek federal subsidies for the housing, which would be aimed at providing homeless men and women with affordable residences.

"The District government has failed the homeless," Winter said at a news conference. "Instead of pursuing homeless assistance, we have pursued homeless handouts and homeless warehouses."

Winter's proposal would require people who seek extended shelter to demonstrate that they have lived in the city for six consecutive months before applying for services.

Those who do not meet the residency requirement would be "compelled and assisted" to return to their home jurisdictions. The residency requirement would not apply to people seeking short-term, overnight emergency shelter.

Winter and other city officials have said they believe that the District's homeless population is swollen with those who have come from other jurisdictions to take advantage of the right-to-shelter law.

Winter's measure also would require that homeless people and families register with the city by providing detailed information about their backgrounds, including information about physical and mental illnesses, substance abuse, criminal convictions and financial background.

Homeless people who have an income would be required to reimburse the government, based on a formula to be established by the mayor.

Susanne Sinclair-Smith, a lawyer with Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said Winter's proposal poses a constitutional problem because the six-month residency requirement would restrict a person's freedom to travel.

"It appears to be yet another effort to undercut Initiative 17," said Sinclair-Smith.

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