Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Learn more about affordable housing in DC
February 20th, 2012
Please join our partner, the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development to learn more about affordable housing in the District and their campaign to win “Housing for All.”
Join them at a Housing Town Hall in Ward 4 Housing Town Hall on February 28th or in Ward 7 Housing Town Hall on March 3.
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Join DC-AYA for a community breakfast
February 17th, 2012
DCAYA is pleased to announce a community breakfast for youth-serving organizations in Ward 7 or 8 on February 24 from 9:30am-11:30am at THEARC Recital Hall.
DCAYA staff and current members of the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates will be available for a community discussion on the state of youth programs East of the River. This will be a great opportunity for those organizations to learn more about DCAYA and for DCAYA to learn more about their programs!
If you have any questions, please click here.
Tags: @dcaya
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Discovering Technology Again with Bread for the City – Free Event
February 17th, 2012
Please join our friends at Bread for the City for their second Discovering Technology Fair — hosted at Bread for the City and organized by the Broadband Bridge.
On Saturday, February 25th, at Thurgood Marshall Academy from 12-4pm, we’ll gather to learn about computers, the internet, and any kind of technology that helps people and communities.
Check it out and sign up to participate at the Broadband Bridge: http://broadbandbridge.org
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RSVP now – Invest in Literacy Forum
January 18th, 2012
Please join us at our first Invest in Literacy forum at the True Reformer Building at 1200 U Street, NW on January 26th at 8:30 AM.
Our panel will feature Daniel Horgan from Capital One and experts and service providers from across the District discussing why we need to invest in literacy to cut poverty.
Following the panel, there will be a special announcement from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.
RSVP by January 23, 2012 to krystal@aohdc.org or 202-269-6623 and join us on Thursday, January 26!
To download a flyer for the event, please click here.
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Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 12th, 2012
In his final years, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. shifted his focus to the audacious goal of ending poverty in the United States.
…And one day we must ask the question, Why are there forty million poor people in America? And when you begin to ask that question, you are raising questions about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy. And I’m simply saying that more and more, we’ve got to begin to ask questions about the whole society…
– Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 16 August 1967
As we prepare to celebrate his 83rd birthday, let us be dissatisfied with the progress that we have made. And, let us honor Dr. King by fulfilling his dream.
Please endorse our campaign to cut poverty in half in the District. And, together we can meet Dr. King’s audacious goal.
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Invest in Literacy
January 5th, 2012
Join us on Jan 26
Almost one in five D.C. residents over the age of 16 is functionally illiterate, or unable to read and write well enough to effectively participate in society. One in seven Americans nationwide has difficulty reading.
There isn’t data on how many of the 19 percent of D.C. residents who lack basic literacy skills is unemployed. However, it’s clear that the wards with the highest numbers of illiterate adults also have the highest unemployment rates.
The workforce is not the only social arena where illiterate adults struggle. According to experts, below basic and basic literacy contribute to problems with health access and even the mortgage crisis. Illiteracy undermines the strength of our neighborhoods and prevents families from living stable lives.
Expanding access to Adult Literacy Programs must be a priority for our city if we are to cut poverty. Among those living in the District, approximately or 1 in 5 adults are functionally illiterate. This means that cannot fulfill tasks that include filling out a job application, reading a note from their child’s teacher or comprehending street signs. Literacy rates correlate with employment, meaning that when literacy rates are high, more people are working.
Defeat Poverty DC is proud to be joining Deputy Mayor De’Shawn Wright, Academy of Hope, and the Latin American Youth Center in a discussion about proven solutions to illiteracy in the District.
Please join us on January 26th at the Public Welfare Building at 1200 U Street, NW to learn more about innovative solutions to re-engage youth through literacy programs.
A light breakfast will be provided at 8:30 AM. The program will begin at 8:45 AM.
Click here to download an event flyer.
To learn more about Academy of Hope, click here.
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housing in dc
December 30th, 2011
Thousands of District of Columbia residents struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
26,000 DC households are currently on the waiting lists for affordable housing in the District.
Approximately 40 percent of DC households (about 100,000) have affordable housing problems, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Approximately 20 percent of DC households (about 50,000) have severe housing affordability problems, meaning they spend half or more of their income on housing.
From 2000-2007, median monthly rents increased by 23 percent, reaching $930 in 2007. Meanwhile, median income in the District grew just 10 percent – to $54,300 – over the same time period.
The number of homeless families in DC grew by 25 percent between 2008 and 2009.
impact of affordable housing
Stable affordable housing provides much more than simply shelter. According to a 2007 report from the Center for Housing Policy, affordable housing has ancillary benefits in individual and family mental and physical health, and in education achievement. Affordable housing reduces family stress by providing a stable place to live. Lower housing costs can free up family income for food and health-related expenses. Affordable housing also provides a stable foundation for schooling.
Children who are not subject to unwanted moves are able to stay in their schools without disruption to their education. Affordability can reduce overcrowding, resulting in less stress for children, which may lead to higher educational outcomes. Affordable housing developments that incorporate after-school programs may support higher educational achievement among children.
the need
- More 47,500 households had severe housing burdens in 2007, spending half or more of their income on housing. More than 26,000 households are currently on the waiting list for public housing or housing vouchers.
- A resident of the District earning a minimum wage of $8.25 per hour would need to work 153 hours per week to afford the 2010 fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment.
- Local funding for affordable housing has been cut by a third in the last two years, one of the severest reductions in funding of any major DC program.
- The District’s primary affordable housing production and tenant purchase tool, the Housing Production Trust Fund, is projected to end FY 2010 with less than $4 million in the Fund, with projects in the pipeline awaiting funding of more than $80 million.
- The FY 2010 budget for affordable housing is equal to only $1.33 out of every $100 of the District’s locally funded budget.
- The Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force (CHSTF) issued a report in 2006 calling for an increase in local funding of affordable housing to $255 million, which is equal to $4.26 out of every $100 of local funding budgeted by the District for FY 2010.
to learn more about housing in the district, click here.
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Washington Interfaith Network to hold D.C. Politicians Accountable
December 8th, 2011
After Unfulfilled Promises, WIN Restrategizes to Hold Politicians Accountable
Washington Interfaith Network, founded in 1996, is a multi-racial, multi-faith, non-partisan non-profit rooted in local congregations and associations. WIN is committed to training and developing leaders in order to address community issues and to holding elected corporate officials accountable in the District.
On Monday, December 5, WIN called on city officials and urged them to Make Work Possible and Make Work Accessible for all District residents by adding more jobs and affordable housing. More than 2,000 people gathered inside of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Northwest for the meeting.
Earlier this week, the Washington Post covered this event. click here and here for their coverage.
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“The D.C. Employment Bus”
November 30th, 2011
The Department of Employment Services and the Constituent Services Office of Council Member Marion Barry present “The DC Employment Bus.”
Details can be found here.
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Thanksgiving in the District
November 17th, 2011
Thanksgiving marks a time when many Americans give thanks and show gratitude for all they have. While we experience the current economic downturn, it is critical that we acknowledge and work to bridge the growing gap between the “rich” and poor. The unemployment rate in the District currently stands at 11.1 percent. According to the Census Bureau, the poverty rate is now over 19 percent, meaning that we have nearly 110,000 neighbors living in need.
One organization working to help reduce hunger this holiday season is D.C. Hunger Solutions. This organization aims to improve the health, nutrition, economic security, and well-being of low-income District residents by trying to create a hunger-free community. Specifically, D.C. Hunger Solutions seeks to improve public policies to end hunger, reduce poverty, promote nutrition and curb obesity. Through vigorous outreach and close work with social service agencies, D.C. Hunger Solutions tries to maximize participation in all federal nutrition programs.
This holiday season those who are fortunate enough to afford a meal will most likely travel to the local supermarket and stock up on food and other goods. The District residents who cannot afford to buy an abundance of food or have transportation to the supermarket, however, may have to get their holiday goods from the local corner store. Traditionally, corner stores are known to have less variety and an unhealthier selection. In consequence, one of D.C. Hunger Solutions’ initiatives is the Healthy Corner Store Program. This initiative focuses on increasing access to fresh produce and nutritious beverages in order to improve D.C. resident’s health.
This Thanksgiving as we spend time with family, watch football games, and enjoy our favorite foods, let us celebrate those who are working to provide underserved District residents a chance to enjoy this holiday. In addition, we must also do our part to ensure our less fortunate neighbors are able to have enough food to eat by participating in canned food drives and volunteering at local soup kitchens.
Happy Thanksgiving from Defeat Poverty DC.
Below are some suggestions on where you can volunteer to help those who are hungry this Thanksgiving.
Salvation Army – National Capital Area
Washington DC Jewish Community Center
Turkey Trots in the Washington, DC Area
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