GOOD NEIGHBORS PROJECT
P.O. Box 27217
Washington, D.C. 20038
(202) 462-0757

March 19, 1990

The Good Neighbors Project began from recognition of the facts that there are thousands of people without the most rudimentary of living accommodations, while there are thousands of boarded-up buildings in the District of Columbia. In July, 1989 we brought this fact to the attention of the City Council. All members of the City Council were also notified of our idea to convert a boarded-up city-owned building into a shower-and-locker hygiene center for homeless people, using donated materials and volunteer labor.

Councilmembers William Lightfoot and Hilda Mason wondered why the District owned so many vacant buildings while so many people were sleeping in the streets. They were interested in the shower-and-locker facility idea. They initiated a meeting to introduce us to Roland Turpin, Director, Department of Public and Assisted Housing (DPAH), and David Dennison, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), who they said headed the metropolitan agencies most likely to be in control of a suitable property for our project. Mr. Dennison indicated that the District has ownership of around 1,000 vacant buildings, many in the process of "title clearing." Although neither Mr. Turpin nor Mr. Dennison seemed particularly enthusiastic about the idea of a shower-and-locker facility, both promised to do what they could to assist in locating a suitable property.

Our Update of February 19, l990 outlined contacts we have had with various District government administrative personnel. We also mentioned a meeting scheduled with Mr. Turpin for March 4th.

On March 4, 1990 Clara, Ellen and Thomas met Ben Johnson (formerly of the Mayor's office) and Ann Avelino, assistants to Mr. Turpin, with respect to locating a city-owned property which could be used for providing a hygiene-and-locker center for homeless people.

Our meeting began with our explanation that we were not seeking any favor from the District government, but rather that the Good Neighbors Project sees itself as a group of individuals interested in helping the District to deal with a community problem.

Mr. Johnson did not question the need for hygiene-and-locker facilities. Essentially Mr. Johnson's position was that, "according to the law," his department could offer no practical assistance to solve the community's pungent problem. He said if the appropriate official at H.U.D.'s D.C. field office for public housing were to release the District government from a requirement to replace any properties which are disposed of, DPAH might find us a suitable building.

Nothing constructive seems to have been accomplished with respect to the problem we are trying to address. But, during these days when councilman Crawford's committee is explaining that inept city administration of funds justifies slashing millions of dollars in budget allocations for the homeless, we did at least confirm that the city administration apparently has never compiled a central list of properties owned by the city or which identifies which departments control which properties. Surely in a high technology society such as ours it's hard to explain such an oversight.

On the bright side, Mayor Barry is back in town and he's talking about having seen the light and turning over a new leaf. We are hoping that the mayor's rebirth might leave him receptive to the need to work for more responsible government.

Sincerely,

GOOD NEIGHBORS PROJECT

 by: Thomas

(462-0757)