I was reading the current issue of DC’s Street Sense newspaper and came across a good editorial on why efforts to end homelessness in DC have fallen somewhat short.

Here is a key excerpt that I wanted to highlight:

When one considers all that is being done to combat homelessness, they can’t help but wonder why it is that the problem hasn’t been solved yet. While the answer is many-faceted, the fact that DC’s 10-year plan for ending homelessness didn’t include any type of work program is a large part of it. This speaks volumes to the fact that the Williams’ administration assumed that homeless people don’t want to work and, therefore, didn’t write that into the plan. (The present administration should make an effort to fix this problem and to operate under a new paradigm.)

All of these non-government organizations are not cohesive. Each one is doing its own thing. People from these different groups and organizations often attend the same meetings. They may exchange e-mails. They might even make attempts at collaboration. But they fail to coordinate their efforts or to speak truth to power with a unified voice, as there is strength in numbers.

Just think about it the Williams’ administration didn’t think that homeless people wanted to work. He bought right into a terrible stereotype. The comment about there being better coordination among NGO’s dealing with poverty in DC is also a good point.