HOMELESSNESS (1990 and 2007, 2012, 2013 name update 2022)

The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City supports:

1. An Arlington County goal of providing temporary shelter for everyone in need. Cooperation with other jurisdictions in the region is recommended. Programs for homelessness prevention, transitional housing, housing for individuals with physical or mental disabilities, and substance abuse treatment should be priorities for County funding.

2. County funding of a program to avert homelessness by keeping people in their present housing while receiving homelessness prevention services; amendment of the zoning ordinance to allow rooming and boarding houses by use permit (SROs).

3. Expansion of the total number of emergency shelter beds, expansion of a year- round shelter and establishment and expansion of transitional housing programs.

4. Provision of adequate substance abuse treatment and detoxification programs; the minimization of waiting time for admission to treatment.

5. Maintaining the Arlington Consortium to prevent and end homelessness.