Statement of ANC 2C on the National Park Service Closing of the McPherson Square Encampment

On Wednesday, February 15, the National Park Service (NPS) will clear the encampment located at McPherson Square, two months ahead of the original planned date of April 12. The NPS and the District of Columbia’s Department of Health and Human Services have determined that conditions at the encampment (which is both on federal land and part of ANC 2C) have deteriorated to the point that it is no longer safe to keep serving the population there and it is unsafe to keep it open any longer.

Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, social service provider Pathways to Housing, and the DowntownDC Business Improvement District’s Homeless Services team are working with several District agencies to ensure that everyone who wants housing can be matched on an emergency basis as soon as possible.

We respectfully request that any agencies, including the National Park Service and Park Police, who are enforcing the clearance of this encampment treat these residents with compassion and dignity.

As ANC 2C Commissioners, we are residents of this neighborhood and these are our neighbors. We will do everything in our power to support getting services to those in need, while looking out for the safety of everyone in the vicinity of McPherson Square.

Michael Shankle, Commissioner, 2C01

Rebecca Strauss, Commissioner, 2C02

Thomas S. Lee, Commissioner, 2C03

Kristin Roe, Commissioner, 2C04

Statement approved at a duly notice meeting of ANC 2C, February 14, 2023, with four of four Commissioners voting to approve its release.