District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0945 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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7	7	September 16, 2024
8	8	Nyasha Smith, Secretary
9	9	Council of the District of Columbia
10	10	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
11	11	Washington, DC 20004
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13	13	Dear Secretary Smith,
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15	15	Today, I am introducing the Housing is Maternal Health Amendment Act of 2024. Please find
16	16	enclosed a signed copy of the legislation, which is co -introduced by Councilmembe rs Bonds,
17	17	Henderson, and Pinto.
18	18	Stable housing is essential for expecting mothers.
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20	20	Housing insecurity contributes to elevated
21	21	stress levels, which can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes, including increasing the levels
22	22	of cortisol, a stress hormone that can affect fetal development. Earlier this year, my Legislative
23	23	Director, Kendra Wiley, visited non- profit Mamatoto Village in Ward 7 to learn more about the
24	24	ways they serve Black women in maternal health. When she asked about improving maternal
25	25	health outcomes, leaders at Mamatoto Village again emphasized the centrality of stable housing
26	26	for expectant mothers.
27	27	For purposes of providing services for people who are unhoused, the definition of “family” under
28	28	the Homeless Services Reform Act is defined as “a person with a minor or dependent child, or a
29	29	pregnant woman in her third trimester.” The enclosed legislation proposes an important
30	30	amendment to the current definition of "family" under the law, extending access to short -term
31	31	family housing to expecting mothers beginning in the ir second trimester instead of the third.
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34	34	This change allows expecting mothers in their second trimester to receive similar priority shown
35	35	to other families, such as interim eligibility placement when shelter is unavailable, automatic
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38	38	Bhatnagar, P., Abdus-Salaam, R., Canzater, S., Efetevbia, V., Freeborn, R., Girard, V.,
39	39	Nedhari, A., F. Perry, D.F., Snowden, E., & Watson, K. (2024). Housing Justice Is Reproductive
40	40	Justice: A Review of Housing Justice as a Structural Determinant of Black Women and Birthing People’s Reproductive Health in Washington, DC: Mamatoto Village.
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42	42	The Department of Human Services provides an overview of homeless services available to
43	43	families, individuals, and youth here: https://dhs.dc.gov/page/homeless -and-homelessness-
44	44	prevention- services. 2
45	45	eligibility determination if the Mayor does not issue one within 12 days of an eligibility
46	46	placement, and mandatory placement in shelter when determined to be eligible.
47	47	Making this change represents a targeted but crucial step towards improving maternal health
48	48	outcomes in Washington, D.C. The District’s maternal mortality rate is alarmingly high, nearly
49	49	double the national average, with women of color bearing the brunt of these adverse outcomes.
50	50	As a member of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Health. I look forward to working with my
51	51	colleagues on the C ouncil and in the e xecutive to advance better maternal health outcomes in the
52	52	District. Please contact my Deputy Chief of S taff, Conor Shaw, at cshaw@dccouncil.gov if you
53	53	have any questions about this legislation.
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55	55	Sincerely,
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60	60	Zachary Parker
61	61	Ward 5 Councilmember
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71	71	______________________________ _______________________________ 3
72	72	Chairman C hristina Henderson Councilmember Zachary Parker 4
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75	75	_______________________________ ________________________________ 7
76	76	Councilmember A nita Bonds Councilmember Brooke Pinto 8
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78	78	A BILL 10
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80	80	_________________________ 12
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82	82	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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84	84	_________________________ 16
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87	87	To amend the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to change the definition of “ family” to 19
88	88	include a pregnant woman in her second trimester. 20
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90	90	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may 22
91	91	be cited as the “Housing is Maternal Health Amendment Act of 2024”. 23
92	92	Sec. 2. Section 2(16)(B) of The Homeless Services Reform Amendment Act of 2005, effective 24
93	93	October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16- 35; D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01(16)(B) ), is amended by 25
94	94	striking the phrase “third trimester.” and inserting the phrase “second or third trimester.” 26
95	95	Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 27
96	96	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 28
97	97	impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 29
98	98	approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 30
99	99	Sec. 4. Effective date. 31
100	100	This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 32
101	101	Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 33
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105	105	provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 34
106	106	24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 35
107	107	Columbia Register. 36