“Healthy Shelters Act” to Improve Food Services within the District’s Homeless Shelter Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2019

Communications Director: Kelly Whittier

“Healthy Shelters Act” to Improve Food Services within the District’s Homeless Shelter Network

The legislation would also transfer the management of shelter food contracts away from The Community Partnership (TCP) to the Department of Human Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, April 2^nd, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) introduced the “Healthy Shelters Act of 2019.” The legislation will make significant improvements to the nutritional requirements and management of food service contracts for the District’s homeless shelters.

There are three main components to the bill: 1) improving the nutritional quality of meals served in District shelters by requiring that all meals meet the federalDietary Guidelines for Americans; 2) ensuring proper oversight of food service contracts by requiring all shelter meals be overseen by the Department of Human Services (this includes compliance monitoring) instead of the TCP; and 3) establishing new grants for healthier environments at the District’s new family shelters. These grants would be available for programs delivering nutrition education and cooking lessons, for building and maintenance of shelter gardens, and for promoting healthy physical activity and building play structures.

Councilmember Cheh’s statement on the bill is available below:

“The District has long undervalued the quality and nutritional standards of the meals served to residents and families in our homeless shelter network. In recent years, the District has paid its vendors as little as $1.50 for an adult supper –this is simply inadequate. I have seen this same lack of prioritization before and want this legislation to signal a reinvestment in good, quality food.

The current approach to managing shelter meals through large intermediaries has hindered oversight and led to ineffectual use of taxpayer dollars. It is evident that our food service contracts are poorly managed, with little-to-no communication on expectations or standards between contractors and vendors, and meal quality has clearly suffered as a result. Our shelters should provide healthy, dignified environments that enable residents to transition into permanent housing, and access to high-quality and nutritious food should be a part of that process. I’m particularly excited about the “Healthy Shelters Act” because it establishes equity for children experiencing homelessness with children in our school system. Just as we have school gardens, spaces for play, and access to healthy foods, younger children in our shelters should also have access to those same wonderful benefits.

Ultimately, this bill seeks to ensure that shelter residents are well served, our District tax dollars are well spent, and vendors are subject to proper oversight. And, as the District continues our short-term family shelter effort across all eight wards, I’m eager to see the “Healthy Shelters Act” passed and implemented.”

Councilmember Silverman is a co-introducer and Councilmembers T. White, Todd, Bonds, Evans, Grosso, and Allen co-sponsored the bill.

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