The Business of Caring for All DC Residents
In February, Eric Weaver, a tireless advocate for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated residents, told me that residents living in halfway homes were being denied their one-time $1,000 financial hardship payment provided in the DC Cares Assistance Program. The DC Council created this program to provide assistance to returning citizens and other residents who were ineligible for federal stimulus checks. But when this program went live, returning citizens in halfway homes were being turned away.
Estelle Mitchell, a legislative counsel in my office, reviewed the law and confirmed that the DC Cares law did not disqualify returning citizens living halfway homes. COVID-19 makes no distinction between returning citizens who live in halfway homes and those who don’t, and we shouldn’t either.
Estelle and I worked with Mayor Bowser’s team to quickly rectify this issue. And I’m proud to report that because of this collaborative effort between Eric Weaver, my office, and Mayor Bowser’s team, we fixed this problem. Now, all returning citizens living in halfway homes are eligible to receive their one-time $1,000 financial hardship payment through the DC Cares program.
We are in the middle of one of the darkest economic and health crises this country and our city have ever faced. With dwindling job opportunities leaving people unable to join, or rejoin, the workforce, people desperately need financial assistance. I wanted to make sure residents who need help get it. Estelle said it best: “We’re in the business of caring for all residents and working to fix problems and inequities when we see them. I’m very happy to see that the program has been fixed to include all returning citizens, regardless of where they live.”
Over the past four years, I have prioritized returning citizens. This population of residents is one of the most valuable assets in stabilizing communities and families. We need to continue to give them all the resources that they need to thrive. I’m working to do that, and I’m grateful for Eric and Mayor Bowser’s partnership.
