The early-morning fire at McKenna House — an affordable housing facility in Northwest run by Catholic Community Services of the Archdiocese of Washington — displaced more than just the 37 people who were staying there last week. The building was also home to one of the few “day programs” in the Washington region, providing local homeless people with a place to shower, change clothes, do laundry, have a meal, rest or seek counseling.
“That’s unique in Washington,” said Michael Meneer, a spokesman for Catholic Community Services. “Being able to provide day services is essential, especially when it’s particularly hot or cold.”
The program typically served about 100 people per day from the Mount Pleasant neighborhood where McKenna is located. Services have been canceled because of the fire, but the organization hopes to secure a temporary location for the program by the end of this week, Meneer said.
Most shelters are open between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., but one of Catholic Community Services’ top priorities is pushing for more 24-hour homeless shelters, Meneer said.
“When most of the shelters are open, it gives people a safe place to lay their head and get a meal,” he said. “But when we think about the more in-depth needs these folks have, you need more than 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.”
But day programs remain few and far between in the Washington region, said Michael O’Neil, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless’ “Faces of Homelessness” Speakers’ Bureau.
“Unfortunately, they’re not very common,” he said. “There are a few place you can go, but there aren’t many with comprehensive wraparound services where people can get their needs met besides a bed. Just a bed is not going to get you off the streets.”
Cost is the primary reason for the scarcity of such programs, Meneer said. Catholic Community Services runs 17 homeless programs in the Washington area, but only McKenna House had a day program. The program adds an extra $100,000 to the facility’s budget.
Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria offers a day program that serves about 400 people annually.
Seeking shelter
Number of chronically homeless people in the Washington region:
» D.C.: 1,773
» Montgomery County: 144
» Prince George’s County: 194
» Alexandria: 91
» Arlington County: 100
» Fairfax County/City and Falls Church: 258
» Prince William County: 34
Source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
