Category: Advocacy
Why We Oppose the Evictions with Dignity Act — And You Should Too
We stand in opposition to the Evictions with Dignity Act. We'd like you to ask your Councilmember to do the same when the legislation comes up for a vote on July 10, 2018.
Put Me Out of Business
For the last 22 years, I have had the privilege of serving as CEO at Bread for the City, a nonprofit that provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social assistance to DC residents living with low-income. Each year, my staff and I talk to each other, our supporters, and policy makers about how we can do this work better. While that’s an important question, I also believe we fail to ask a question more important: how do we get to a point where we don’t have to do the work at all?
Building on Good Hope: Bread is Always There
Bread for the City was there for Terri through five daughters and many of life’s ups and downs. “There were times when I got laid off from a job. I’d think, ‘Here we go again.’ But Bread was always there.” And now, Terri is there for Bread for the City—as a staff member! After going through our community organizers training, she was hired as a community organizer. Today, she helps individuals who are struggling—very much like she was—to find their voices and advocate for their rights. Specifically, Terri is passionate about fighting for affordable housing for residents of the district and has even testified at a District of Columbia Housing Authority commissioners meeting. Meet Terri and other Southeast Center leaders at the groundbreaking for our new Southeast Center on Thursday, May 17th at 9am. RSVP here: www.breadforthecity.org/groundbreaking.
Values and Rapid Re-Housing: It’s Time We Do What Works
BFC attorney Samantha Beckett questions whether DC's policy is aligned with DC's stated values on affordable housing, and she calls for long-term housing solutions for families experiencing homelessness.
Managing Attorney Rebecca Lindhurst Calls for Stand-Alone Agency Focused on Rental Housing Inspections and Enforcement of Housing Code Violations at Recent DC Council Hearing
BFC Managing Attorney Rebecca Lindhurst testified on Thursday, April 19th to the DC City Council regarding the proposal to sever functions of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and create a new Department of Buildings. Part of the function that will move is the division managing tenant inspections. Advocates are concerned that (even with the severing of the agency) tenants will still face the same problems with getting inspections and having the agency follow through and properly enforce the housing code. Lindhurst's testimony focuses on a specific Tenant Protection Division.
Interview with BFC Managing Attorney & Cicchino Public Service Award Winner, Tracy Davis
Tracy Davis is a BFC managing attorney and supervises the family law work of our legal clinic. Her advocacy work was recently recognized by her alma mater, American University’s Washington College of Law., where she was one recipient of the Peter M. Cicchino Public Service Award.
From Police Shootings to Policy Making: The Dangers of Implicit Bias
Last week, Advocacy Director Aja Taylor offered testimony at the Department of Human Services budget hearing about the need for anti-racism training within city agencies to root out biases that lead to policies that continue to disadvantage the city’s Black and Brown residents. At Bread for the City, we work with residents living with low incomes to develop the power to determine the future of their own communities. Part of that work is calling out the people and policies that make life harder for those we serve. The following is a portion of Aja’s oral testimony.
What Happens to a Dream Deferred? King’s Assassination, 50 Years Later
BFC's CEO, George A. Jones, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our city's critical need for policies that make amends for intentional divestment from Black communities.
Low-Income Residents Once Again Left in the Dust: BFC Reactions to Bowser’s 2019 Budget
The Bread for the City (BFC) community comments on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed fiscal year 2019 budget.
Four Things You Can Do to Demand Affordable Housing in DC
Take action this week (March 14-16) to support Bread for the City's campaign to create and preserve affordable housing in DC.