From the Forum – Where to Rollerblade and Residents Concerned about Group Home moving into Ward 4

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

Best places to rollerblade?

“Hi everybody, I’m wondering where some good places for a novice in-line skater are. I’ve done the Capital Crescent Trail which is fine (except for the bridge over River Road, which is scary!) but I’m wondering where else people go. Difficulty: No steep hills but I am comfortable crossing the occasional street.”

Group Home moving into Ward 4:

“We are writing to relay our concerns regarding a group home proposed by the business Life Deeds at 1345 Taylor Street NW, directly behind Powell Elementary School, on a block with known drug-dealing, and within blocks of several existing social services facilities.

Other social service organizations on Taylor Street NW are good neighbors, but the management of this particular program by Life Deeds concerns us. The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) provided no official public notice before it awarded the contract for this home, and our repeated attempts for communication with Life Deeds and DYRS have produced little clarity or information since.

According to the testimony of DYRS Director Neil Stanley at a hearing of the DC Human Services Committee yesterday (2/21/2014), we understand that decisions about whether to award contracts to group homes — including this one — do NOT consider the impact of their location on a community, because DYRS believes it is at the “mercy of the market.” The market has no mercy. As long as DYRS continues to locate group homes with complete disregard for their impact on residents, the same populations of the city will continue to shoulder the added burden they pose on public safety, and there will be no mechanism to ensure that thriving elementary schools like Powell — 98% of whose students are people of color — are protected.

As parents, DC voters, and neighbors of Powell Elementary School, we deserve to know why this site was selected, how such a facility will be used, what precautions are being taken to ensure that the facility is safe, and what recourse is available should the facility ultimately pose a danger to us and our children.

Based on the proximity of the group home to Powell Elementary, the saturation of existing social services in the neighborhood, the known drug activity on the block and in the area, and the lack of official public notice pre-award, we ask that your administration reconsider the location.

We will take this case to the media, and intend to make the selection of group home and jail diversion facility sites in the District an election issue.

We will not rest until we have ensured the safety of our neighborhood, our children, and the children and parents of Powell Elementary School. We urge you in the strongest terms possible to use the full force of your office to advocate for the safety and interest of District families.”

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