WASHINGTON (AP) — District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser wants to make it easier to deny shelter to homeless people who don’t live in the District.
Bowser proposed emergency legislation on Tuesday that would allow the city to turn people away if their last place of residence can’t be verified.
The District guarantees shelter to homeless people on freezing nights, and the homeless population has increased over the past few years. The city’s main homeless shelter is full, and the city is currently spending $80,000 a night on hotel rooms for families who have nowhere else to stay.
The Democratic mayor says the city can’t verify residency for 12 percent of people seeking shelter. She says emergency housing should be reserved for District residents who face true emergencies.
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