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Groundbreaking has officially begun for Washington, D.C.’s next, newest homeless shelter designed specifically for families. Located off of Kennedy Street NW in Ward 4, this shelter will provide short-term housing for up to 50 families.
According to WTOP, construction is also expected to begin in the coming weeks for similar projects in Wards 7 and 8, while new homeless shelters in Wards 3, 5, and 6 are expected to begin construction in the next few months. With these six new shelters, there are plans to close D.C. General by around 2019 or 2020, reports WAMU.
For a look at where the next new shelters will be, check out the following map, shared by WAMU:
Since this time last year, there has been a 22 percent drop in homelessness among families. There has also been a 10 percent decline in homelessness overall. Despite this, The Washington Post reports that 62 percent of respondents to a poll of theirs described Mayor Muriel Bowser as doing a “not-so-good” or “poor job” of addressing homelessness.
• DC begins construction on first of 6 new family homeless shelters [WTOP]
• Bowser Breaks Ground On First Family Homeless Shelter That Will Replace D.C. General [WAMU]