Kelly Sweeney McShane, President and CEO of Community of Hope, joined WUSA9 to address the urgent and deeply concerning closures of encampments on National Park property in Washington, DC. With just 24 hours’ notice, residents have been forced to leave or face arrest — a move that Kelly warns is both devastating and ineffective.
In the interview, Kelly shares what she’s seeing on the ground: fear, confusion, and trauma among unhoused neighbors. She calls out the lack of resources for affordable housing and treatment, and urges that federal funds be directed toward proven solutions rather than criminalizing homelessness.
“Putting someone in jail doesn’t solve their homelessness. It doesn’t address underlying health or economic issues — it just creates new problems,” Kelly says.
Read more about Community of Hope’s stance on the importance of not criminalizing homelessness.
