The District government also plans to provide alternative shelter space for homeless women at the nearby John L. Young Center. However, the Center will close at the end of the hypothermia season on March 31, 2004, whereas Gales has operated year-round.

Street outreach workers are reporting a 20% increase in street homelessness in the District this year. "If anything, we need the city to open up more shelters for this winter, not close places down," said Arnoldo Borja, Outreach Worker for Neighbors' Consejo.

The announcement to close the Gales Shelter coincides with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 18 - 21). The planned closure date is two days before National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, an annual day of mourning and remembrance of individuals who have died while homeless.

Gales residents have more than 1,000 signatures on a petition in support of keeping the shelter open. They are joined by the Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations (COHHO) in calling on Mayor Williams to renovate Gales as a permanent, low-barrier shelter while identifying alternate space for the nonprofit offices currently seeking to locate at Gales.

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COHHO is a diverse group of over 30 non-profit organizations and homeless individuals who have a common goal of ending homelessness. Toward that end, COHHO seeks to improve housing and supportive services for all homeless and nearly homeless people in the District.

The Coalition of Housing & Homeless Organizations (COHHO)

Contact: Brian Carome, 202-223-0144
Press Release, For Immediate Release