OLIVE BRANCH COMMUNITY home

Dear Friends,

As fear spreads at and around the White House, the homeless have been driven away from their usual habitats. On Sundays, we have begun to gather and feed the Diaspora at Franklin Park (13^th/K Sts NW).

Meanwhile, we have resisted the radical restructuring and shrinkage of D.C. health care. The medical and dental services for the homeless and the poor of the District of Columbia have been drastically reduced before the ”better plan” has been implemented.

The same can be said for HUD’s ‘Hope VI’ which destroys many public housing units before alternative housing is available. The voucher approach has been woefully inadequate. Less than 23% of those that need them get them. Half of these are returned within two months because ‘appropriate’ and ‘available’ units cannot be found; seventy-five percent if you are a minority or a mother with children.

Gentrification has not stopped at our neighborhood -- our rent has increased 36% along with the other expenses of serving our friends; and our lease shortened. We send out only one appeal each year …so please give as much as you can. (OLIVE BRANCH, PO Box 73497, Washington, DC 20078-0009)

For the community,

Harold Moss

P. S. Our Christmas Party will be on the 25^th this year, please call if you can help in any way. 202-682-9056