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As Encampment Clearings Continue, One Resident Seeks Peace and Justice

October 13, 2025

The D.C. Homeless Crisis Reporting Project details ongoing encampment clearings across the District by local agencies after the federal officers surge ended, with the Bowser administration encouraging unhoused individuals to enter public shelters. One resident, Getachew Gurumu, who lives along Arkansas Avenue in Northwest, has refused shelter options despite an upcoming October 15 clearing of his encampment. According to Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage, DMHHS has removed 200 unhoused residents from encampments, with 120 residents still living at 79 sites across D.C., primarily in Wards 2, 5, and 6.

Who is affected

  • Unhoused D.C. residents living in encampments, particularly the 120 individuals counted at 79 sites across the District
  • Getachew Gurumu, an unhoused resident who lives along Arkansas Avenue in Northwest
  • Residents of encampments near McPherson Square Metro Station, along 14th Street in Southeast, and at D.C. Department of Transportation sites
  • The broader community surrounding encampment areas
  • The District's shelter system, which has expanded to approximately 1,300 beds

What action is being taken

  • DMHHS is coordinating and conducting encampment clearings across the District, including upcoming clearings on Arkansas Avenue, Western Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, and M Street
  • The Bowser administration is encouraging encampment residents to enter public shelters
  • The E Street Bridge Housing Program is providing semi-private rooms and individualized case management to specific groups of unsheltered residents
  • The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless is monitoring encampment clearings and distributing information about residents' rights
  • DMHHS is attempting to connect unhoused residents with housing services during encampment closures

Why it matters

  • The District's approach to homelessness focuses on clearing encampments and connecting residents to shelters, rather than permanent housing solutions
  • Many unhoused individuals refuse shelter accommodations due to concerns about safety, inability to bring personal belongings, dislike of shelter rules, or preference for living outside
  • The D.C. Council recently approved a budget without funding for new housing vouchers and passed the RENTAL Act, which housing advocates view as detrimental to rent-burdened residents
  • Individual stories like Gurumu's highlight complex issues, including alleged illegal evictions during the pandemic moratorium and difficulty accessing legal remedies
  • Advocates argue that displacing people without investing in permanent housing solutions doesn't address the root causes of homelessness

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer