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The planned clearing of a homeless encampment in Americsa’s capital city has again put a spotlight on the homelessness crisis.
VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias visited the park where scores dwell in makeshift shelters to learn about the challenge.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptWashington Homeless Camps TV ))
HEADLINE: Why clearing homeless encampments in DC isn’t a permanent fix
TEASER: What will be needed to reduce homelessness in the US by 2025
PUBLISHED: 2/13/2023 at 9:20 am
BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
VIDEOGRAPHER/VIDEO EDITOR: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bowman, Tom Turco
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:29
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES ))
((NOTE: The homeless encampment clearing is to take place Wednesday 2/15. Please update the intro as needed. The package holds beyond Wednesday otherwise.))
((TV INTRO: ))
[[The planned clearing of a homeless encampment in Americsa’s capital city has again put a spotlight on the homelessness crisis. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias visited the park where scores dwell in makeshift shelters to learn about the challenge.]]
((WEB LEAD))
[[ The planned clearing of a homeless encampment in America’s capital city has again put a spotlight on the homelessness crisis. To learn about the challenge, VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias visited the McPherson Square Park where scores dwell in makeshift shelters.]]
((NARRATOR))
Homeless people living in tents in park lands across the U.S. capital. It’s a sight that federal authorities want gradually gone by the end of this year. McPherson Square is on the list of sites where a “no-camping” regulation will be enforced.
((Veronica Balderas Iglesias/VOA News))
“The National Park Service told VOA in a statement that closing this encampment, which is just a couple of blocks from the White House, will allow the authorities to ensure the safety of the general public and of those living here.”
((NARRATOR))
Alisa Griffin, who works in D.C., looks forward to having a neat park back.
((Alisa Griffin, Works in DC))
“At the same time, at the expense of relocating people that don’t have anywhere to go, I don’t see that as a solution either.”
((NARRATOR))
The office of Washington’s deputy mayor for health and human services says it’s connecting those experiencing homelessness with services based on their needs and eligibility for housing services.
((NARRATOR))
Daniel Kingery, who moved to McPherson Sqaure from another park in 2020, says clearing encampments is a flawed strategy and many dwellers will just switch locations.
((Daniel Kingery, Experiencing Homelessness))
“It’s a cycle that the government keeps going to make it look like it’s doing something. They’ll clear this area while they scatter the population. Then they’ll go to another one.”
((NARRATOR))
Last year, the U.S. government calculated nearly 600,000 people were experiencing homelessness across the nation.
Kelly Andreae, who heads Georgetown Ministry Center, says a permanent fix demands a holistic approach.
((Kelly Andreae, Provides Services to the Homeless))
“To support individuals with their mental health, with their substance use disorders or with their employment and employability within the community.”
We first met A. Adekson back in 2020 when he was experiencing homelessness. After deciding to seek help, he now has his own apartment and is employed.
((A. Adekson/Experienced Homelessness in the Past))
“I look at it from the perspective of having empathy and compassion and being able to lend a helping hand to individuals that are homeless, and maybe to lead them towards the right resources.”
((NARRATOR))
Boosting affordable housing coupled with providing health care, job training and legal assistance are among the strategies the Biden Administration is betting on to reduce homelessness by 25% over the next two years. Washington’s mayor has pledged to end homelessness in the district by 2025.
((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, VOA News, Washington))
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