Officials announced at a Community Advisory Team meeting Monday that the quarterly report updating members of the body on The Aston shelter’s progress would be slightly delayed.
D.C. Department of Human Services Deputy Administrator Anthony Newman said he originally expected to share the metric report at Monday’s meeting, but internal staff turnover pushed the release of the metric’s report on the progress The Aston, an unhoused shelter located on New Hampshire Avenue, makes toward transitioning up to 100 occupants from the shelter’s short-term, apartment-style housing to permanent shelters. The report is stipulated in the CAT’s nonlegally binding Good Neighbor Agreement, which outlines the communication locals should expect from DHS, the CAT and the shelter’s provider, Friendship Place.
The report would include updates on The Aston’s facility, as well as program data on the noncongregate shelter, like average number of monthly participants, average length of stay and number of participant exits to housing, according to the agreement.
“It would have been released today, but we’ve had some internal turnovers,” Newman said.
Newman said the report will be released to CAT members by the end of the week, and DHS officials have approved the document internally. The document will not be made public until the next CAT meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.
“We are very satisfied and pleased with some of the data we will be sharing with you,” Newman said.
Newman added that the report outlines some “positive developments,” and officials are working to streamline the process for future quarters.
ANC 2A01 Commissioner Keaton DiCapo also joined the local body as the co-chair, filling the role Jim Malec resigned from late last month.
Department of General Services Associate Director of External Affairs John Stokes said The Aston’s roof replacement is slated to be completed by August or September, pending the city awarding a contract for the work.
DGS conducted in July 2023 an asset condition assessment of The Aston, which found the roof “needs immediate replacement.”
The roof replacement comes after the Foggy Bottom and West End Advisory Neighborhood Commission passed a resolution in May 2024 and two resolutions in April 2024 urging the D.C. Council to provide funding for a new roof in fiscal year 2025.
“We’re in the final throes of getting an award to get the roof fixed at The Aston,” Stokes said at the meeting.
Division Director of The Aston Jeremy Jones meanwhile updated CAT members on the shelter’s census — 87 tenants. He said nine more tenants are scheduled to enter The Aston by the end of the week, bringing the shelter near its 100-person capacity.
