The Aston’s director reported a positive first month of operations for the unhoused shelter, with the facility not hearing “particular concerns” from community members and admitting 39 of the 50 tenants that will comprise the inaugural cohort.

Division Director of The Aston Jermey Jones said at a Community Advisory Team meeting Monday that The Aston, a former GW residence hall on New Hampshire Avenue that District officials purchased in July 2023 to convert into a bridge housing facility, onboards more tenants “every day,” with staff admitting 39 occupants as of Monday. Jones updated CAT members on the status of onboarding the first cohort and answered questions about The Aston’s website and tenants’ anticipated access to computers.

“It’s really been going well, to be honest,” Jones said.

The Aston opened its doors in November after the bridge housing facility received a conditional 90-day Certificate of Occupancy — a District-issued document required to open the shelter, which officials in September denied The Aston because of a failed building inspection — on Oct. 25, that will be in effect for 90 days. The conditional certificate mandates that officials complete necessary upgrades to the building before they reapply for a permanent certificate.

Interim CAT co-chair Sakina Thompson, who shared an update on the behalf of the Department of General Services, said the work to receive a permanent Certificate of Occupancy is underway. Thompson said the shelter is “on track” to add a lift to the stairs that bring people to the elevator and add additional parts to the elevators. She said officials expect to complete the projects in the next few weeks, assuming there are no additional delays with securing materials.

Thompson also said while the Good Neighbor Agreement, a non-legal agreement between unhoused shelter The Aston’s tenants and neighbors, asserted that the Department of Human Services would spearhead efforts to set up an informational website about The Aston, the provider is the entity that “typically” oversees the website.

The agreement states that DHS planned to create a website with information on the shelter ahead of its opening. The website would include updates for community members that are “relevant” to The Aston’s housing program, information about bridge housing, contact information for Friendship Place and information on how people can submit feedback.

Thompson said Friendship Place, the organization that oversees and runs daily operations at the bridge housing facility, has a website with a page dedicated to informing community members about The Aston. The webpage includes information about The Aston, the populations the bridge housing facility serves and an email address that neighbors can contact with questions.

Thompson said DHS could also create an informational page about bridge housing. She said there are currently three bridge housing facilities in the District, but The Aston’s noncongregate model and entry system is a new model for the city.

Co-chair of the CAT Jim Malec said because community members may not understand Friendship Places’ relationship with The Aston, he would like the provider to create a website for The Aston using a different domain name like “astondc” or “astonwestend.”

Jean-Michel Giraud, the president and CEO of Friendship Place, said the organization could look into a solution that isn’t directly housed in Friendship Places’ website.

Department of Human Services Deputy Administrator Anthony Newman said he’d check back with DHS’ IT department to ask if Malec’s proposal is possible.

Newman also said DHS is in the process of securing public computers on each floor of the building for tenants to use. Newman said The Aston acquires the computers using a procurement process — which involves documentation and statements, multiple government agencies and the computer to first be a District enterprise — or donations, which extends the timeline to secure the technology.

Newman said he could not share an exact timeline for when officials will install computers on every floor, but he expects it will take place in a few weeks.

Newman said in the meantime, The Aston tenants can work with Jones, The Aston’s director, and other members of shelter’s faculty, to get access to computers in urgent situations. Newman said The Aston tenants can access computers at DHS Day Centers and public libraries.

“I think some of what we’re experiencing right now is just the growing pains of a new shelter,” Newman said.

Albert Kramer, the West End Citizens Association designee to the CAT, said while he appreciates it takes time to secure computers for The Aston, he urges officials to move as quickly as possible because access to a computer can help with tenants’ transition from the bridge housing facility into permanent housing.

“The purpose really is to give people access to computers in non-urgent situations and to let them, you know, get the benefit of what access to a computer means,” Kramer said.

Additionally, a member of the public asked how neighbors can volunteer or donate to The Aston. Jones said his team at The Aston is currently focused on moving tenants into the facility, but they would be eager to discuss opportunities for donations and volunteerism once the initial 50 tenants have settled in.

“Everything is about getting the participants into, you know, the building, getting them comfortable, getting a routine and things of that nature,” Jones said.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A03 Commissioner Trupti Patel said she’d like to see The Aston’s capacity expanded, echoing her call in October for officials to consider moving more tenants into the building.

In its first phase of opening, Aston can welcome up to 50 people, per the 50-person move-in system that District officials agreed to. After 50 tenants have moved into The Aston, officials said they will evaluate how residents are adjusting to the bridge housing facility and potentially raise the capacity to 100 people.

Giraud said people are moving into The Aston “quickly” and “efficiently,” but given hypothermia season, he’d propose discussing allowing the second cohort of tenants into The Aston, which would bring the total to 100 residents.