SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1990

The Washington Post
METRO

By Jill Nelson

Washington Post Staff Writer

The D.C. Council Committee on Human Services voted yesterday to cut the Department of Human Services budget for providing shelter and other services to homeless families by nearly a third in this fiscal year and by nearly half in the next fiscal year.

The combined cutbacks—$6 million this year and about $13 million next year— would add to the misery of the neediest people in the District by leaving some of them unassisted, according to advocates for homeless people who packed the meeting.

The committee, with only council member Harry Thomas Sr. (D-Ward 5) voting no, approved the cuts, which now must be considered by the full council.

Such severe reductions in funding can be accomplished only if the District recasts Initiative 17, the law that dictates what government must do to assist homeless people. HR. Crawford (D-Ward 7) has a bill to address that issue that is expected to emerge from a council committee next month.

Crawford, chairman of the Human Services Committee, justified his sponsorship of the cuts, citing a desire to avoid a tax increase and a "need for drastic reductions in the shelter budget."

He said the Office of Emergency Shelter and Support Services, which pays for rooms in hotels and motels for homeless people, has been guilty of wasteful spending and total mismanagement.

"They spent $20 million on hotels and motels when they could have just as easily purchased the hotel," Crawford said.

Crawford mentioned the possibility of using vacant public housing units to shelter homeless people, but no money has been allocated for necessary rehabilitation or renovations.

During a discussion of the cuts, Thomas said, "We should not make the homeless suffer because of our shortcomings. ...There's no way that Harry Thomas can vote yes on this particular issue," and the previously silent, orderly spectators applauded.

Crawford cautioned, "If that happens again, I'm going to have to arrest part of your group." From the audience, shelter operator Mitch Snyder shouted, "We'll stop you, Crawford, watch."

Democrat David A. Clarke, D.C. Council chairman and a mayoral candidate unsuccessfully tried to restore money for emergency shelter by shifting money set aside for contracts and equipment.

"Some of what we do in the name of helping the homeless does not only help the homeless, but helps favored contractors," Clarke said. "I do not see how the homeless can be blamed for this."

Advocates for homeless people contended that the committee's vote amounted to punishing needy people for the sins of inept government managers.

"This means a family is going to come to an intake office, be turned away, and have no place to go," said Susanne Sinclair-Smith, director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Calling the decision "morally abhorrent," Snyder, of the CCNV, announced his intention to begin a fast today aimed at having the funds restored.

Nearly 200 people attended the committee meeting. Homeless people and their advocates said they have no argument with Crawford's allegations of mismanagement. Nor do they think that housing homeless families in places such as the recently closed Capitol City Inn is acceptable. What they do have a problem with is eliminating money for shelter.

"They're blaming us for their own error," said Bill King, 58, after the hearing. King, a resident of a Community for Creative Non-Violence shelter for two months and a veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam, is stoic about the prospect of an extended battle with the council.

"I'm used to fighting," said King. "This is just another battle."