I have not been attending the meetings that North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) has held regarding the planned temporary hypothermia shelter site at Faith United Church of Christ. But I figured I would make a post with the information I do know. If you want to get on NMPCA’s distribution list, email Carmen Williams at carm8954@aol.com.

ANC 5A plans to hold a special meeting on November 6, 2023. The hypothermia shelter is one agenda item.

Faith United Church is located at 4900 10th Street NE. Its property sits along South Dakota Avenue across from the Sunoco station.

Church representatives put together a list of FAQs: Faith United Church Hypothermia Shelter FAQ Link.

In those FAQs is a link to a DC Department of Human Services (DHS) winter plan that the church said may answer questions residents may have.

DC Department of Human Services Winter Plan Link

From the FAQs, the church plans to house up to 35 adult women at the church for the 2023-2024 hypothermia season. The shelter will be open from 7:00 pm-7:00 am when hypothermia alerts are in effect.

A resident at the ANC meeting on October 25 asked whether women with children would be turned away if they show up at the church. The church officials said that the shelter is for single women who would be transported to the site by DHS.

My understanding is that while cots, equipment, and security cameras/lights have been set up at the church already, the shelter will not begin operation until November 7 or November 15. There were a couple of hypothermia alerts earlier this week, but church officials said that the shelter is on the DHS list for use starting next week.

Church representatives want to form an advisory committee. If interested, email faithuccdc@gmail.com or call (202) 635-7777.

The FAQs list the following contacts.

Faith UCC Contacts:
Ebony Washington, Moderator, faithuccdc@gmail.com, 202-635-7777
Enrique Cobham, Property Coordinator, propertycoordinator@faithuccdc.org, 202-635-7777

DHS Contacts:
Anthony Newsome, Anthony.Newman@dc.gov, DHS Deputy Administrator
Quin Grier, Shaquin.Grier@dc.gov, DHS Supervisory Housing Coordinator