Homeless Activists Occupy Franklin School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2003
Contact on site: Geraldine Brittain 240-281-6205

Off Site:

July 28, 2003, Noon. - Activists from Mayday DC, a coalition for the homeless, T.R.I.B.E. and the Gray Panthers Of Metropolitan Washington occupied the Franklin School, a recently closed low barrier shelter in downtown Washington DC, early this morning and issued a set of six demands to the City Council and Mayor's Office. “In this time of economic crisis and rising homelessness, we believe the closing of shelter is disastrous. Money, now used for war and corporate welfare, must be used instead to end poverty and homelessness, nationally and locally” was part of a statement issued by the activists.

The Franklin School occupation is just one event in a day of action that will include a march from City Hall by activists for housing and the homeless. Activists from Food Not Bombs will be serving a meal in the Franklin school park opposite the school and rallying with Students for Peace and Justice, Mayday DC, Tsunamic Justice, and the Gray Panthers to support the occupation.

Occupying Franklin School highlights the severe shortage of low-income housing and shelter in Washington - a problem the city is making worse rather than alleviating. Mayday DC estimates well over 250 homeless frequent the eight-block area surrounding Franklin School shelter. It was closed by city officials due to complaints by local businesses including the New York Ave and 13th St. McDonald’s about homeless people using their bathroom.

The Franklin School was used last winter as an emergency hypothermia shelter. The shelter was extended through the spring and early summer due to it’s desperate need by the homeless in Ward 2. But now the city has closed the Franklin School entirely and intends to sell it to profiteers to create housing for the wealthy, leaving more than 160 people with no shelter or housing at all. “There is a dire need for shelter and low to no-income housing in Washington, D.C., specifically in wards 1 and 2.” says Jamie Loughner, a Mayday DC organizer. "Over the past 10 years, the number of children living in poverty in the district has increased 29%. 3,866 children were homeless in DC on any given day in 2002 here in DC.” Meanwhile, the city has done little to create and preserve affordable housing, as thousands of units are lost to gentrifiers - developers of high rent luxury buildings.

“We are dedicated to the reopening of the Franklin School as shelter and then housing” Geraldine Brittain, of the Gray Panthers Of Metropolitan Washington, stated. Meanwhile, the occupiers issued the following demands:

· That the Franklin School continue to be used as a homeless shelter year round until it is sold.

· That the sale be exclusively for the purpose of providing real low-income and no- income housing (the definition of low-income should be based on the median income of Washington D.C. proper, rather than that of the wealthier surrounding area).

· That, since the hazards of sleeping outside are the harshest for seniors, the disabled, and families, these most vulnerable groups must have the first priority in receiving shelter beds.

· That the city must immediately increase the number of safe, clean, welcoming, available shelter beds [more reserved “work beds” particularly] and day space until no one is forced to sleep on the street.

· That public facilities, especially, toilets but also showers and lockers be made available.

· And that, ultimately, the city be firmly committed to ending homelessness rather than managing it. This should be done by two immediate actions: first, mandating that a Plan to End Homelessness be created [NOT by those who make their living by managing the problem] and then adopted into law by the city; second, adding substantial amounts of dedicated money to the DC budget for the creation of real low- and no- income housing with some of that money becoming a part of the Housing Production Trust Fund Program. [At least equaling what has been proposed to be spent for the baseball stadium and Olympic efforts]