The split is agonizing for the Turner family, which is one reason Teri Turner was among several District homeless parents who rallied in front of the DC Control Board office March 13 to protest a government they said is insensitive to their plight.

At the rally, the parents told their personal stories of the tragedies of family separation and the hardships of homeless life.

“Too many times, families have been separated when there are resources to keep them together”, said Turner speaking through a bullhorn. “But most of the employees at the shelters have no clue where to look”.

Turner, who misses her daughter and her husband desperately, said she refuses to believe that most shelters in the area cannot accommodate entire families.

Some speakers blamed the District government for snatching children away from their parents.

“Homelessness is hard to deal with already”, said Crystal Sylvia, the program director at Rachael’s Women Center, a day program for mentally ill and drug –addicted homeless women on 11^th Street N.W. “The last thing they should have to cope with is losing their families-the government doesn’t care.” she said.

According to Sylvia, the D.C. budget for homeless care was cut from $28 million in 1992 to $11.3 million in 1997.

Next year, Sylvia said, there would be yet another cut to $4.3 million –even in the wake of an expected budget surplus of $348.2 million for the district.

The homeless protestors were joined by some of the employees of the Bethany Shelter, the House of Ruth and Rachael’s to show their support.

United, they chanted, “One-two-three-four, families in crisis need more!. Five-six-seven-eight, we don’t need a tax break!”

Harold Moss, a homeless man who coordinated the rally, knows that a bitter battle between the homeless and the DC government lies ahead. But he hopes the rally will raise the consciousness of D.C. residents to the obstacles homeless people face everyday.

“We’re at the point where the pain must stop”, said Moss. “We must demand from the Control Board and the city council that we have shelters from homeless people now!” he said.

Sylvia said that the Families First Coalition will hold another rally March 30 to demand that the government change its priorities to make a difference in the lives of the homeless. Even if they have no home, at least they should have each other, she said.