Mutual Aid Movement DC
Who is MAM DC?
In response to the exacerbated needs of the fixed income populations residing in the Columbia Heights Neighborhood, a group of experienced community workers, residents, Peacebuilding Connections, and Columbia Heights Village Tenants Association collaborated to form the Mutual Aid Movement DC (MAM DC).
The focus of MAM DC was to support the most vulnerable residents of Ward 1 and beyond in Washington, D.C. during the COVID-19 pandemic with necessary supplies and nutritious meals and groceries.
Who MAM DC Served?
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic it is clear that the federal and local DC government were not meeting the needs of the people. There is an ongoing gap in resources for Senior citizens and families, with fixed incomes, in Washington D.C. The current COVID-19 pandemic has made the disparities in those who have fixed incomes apparent. Additionally, many of these low-income families have lost additional income opportunities as a result of the current restrictions on non-essential business operations in DC.
Seniors and Disabled Citizens
According to the Census Bureau there are 85,134 residents who live in Ward 1 which is in a 2.5-mile radius, of the 85,134 residents over 33% (28,094 people) fall under the poverty line. These are the residents that more than likely don’t have a savings account or money to be used in an emergency. These are Seniors, Disabled residents, homeless and families living on fixed incomes or individuals who work in the service industry and are unable to work from home.
Seniors are asked to stay in the house. While they stay in their homes, they are unable to venture out to many of the programs they were receiving meals from before this Pandemic rocked the World. The agencies that provided these programs are not providing home deliveries to the Seniors or Disabled Citizens they served during normal circumstances. That means the Seniors and Disabled Citizens are left to fend for themselves. Many of them do not have family members or close friends that can ensure that they receive meals and cleaning supplies. The local municipalities often speak on how they are taking care of Seniors and Disabled residents, but it is not the complete truth. We have encountered thousands of residents that have not been contacted at all by the numerous agencies who claim to be providing direct services to our most vulnerable residents.
Children and Families
Families that are on fixed incomes or work labor positions are unable to work from home. These families are unable to purchase supplies in many instances because if they are receiving benefits from the city, the benefits were not intended to cover meals and expenses of a family that has to stay in their homes with their children all day. Low income families are in desperate need of cleaning supplies, food, CPU’s and internet access in order for the school age children to effectively continue their schoolwork. These families are also in need of up-to-date information and instructions on how to manage these trying times.
See more at https://instagram.com/themamdc