Homeless shelter in D.C.’s Ward 4 breaks ground

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]