Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has expanded its shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia, as dozens of homeless encampments have been removed in Washington, D.C., following President Trump’s declaration of federal control over law enforcement in the nation’s capital.
The agency operates five low-barrier shelters offering 760 beds nightly. On Aug. 14, Catholic Charities added an additional 95 beds and cots. Those shelters reached full normal capacity by 10 p.m., with 23 of the 95 extra beds filled.
“For almost 100 years, Catholic Charities has opened our doors to anyone in need of shelter and support,” said Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. “We are guided by our belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, and we serve those who come to our doors seeking help, providing not only emergency assistance, but comprehensive social services to assist in rebuilding their lives through lasting solutions.”
Catholic Charities’ shelters provide not only beds but also hot meals, shower facilities, emergency clothing, toiletries and case management services. In addition to its five low-barrier shelters, the agency manages transitional housing programs, permanent housing programs and support services designed to meet people where they are, treating them with compassion, respect and dignity.
“We remain ready to serve people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia and are closely collaborating with our community and government partners,” said Amanda Chesney, executive director of homeless and housing services at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. “We’ve been concerned about the ever-increasing number of single individuals experiencing homelessness in our community… but (we) remain keen on working with local and federal partners to better meet these needs now and in the future.”
An Aug. 15 press release issued by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington noted that the agency “continues its decades-long commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia, working with the District to provide comprehensive services that address both immediate needs and long-term pathways to future stability.”
The agency’s expanded homeless shelter capacity in Washington followed President Trump’s Aug. 11 announcement that he would place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, activate the National Guard and remove homeless encampments in the nation’s capital. At a White House press conference that same day when the president decried the city’s crime rate, he described homeless encampments as unsafe and unsanitary and said they would be removed from public land.
“They (the homeless camp residents) will not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see,” Trump said.
OSV News reported that on July 24, the president signed an executive order titled, “Ending Crime And Disorder On America’s Streets,” directing the attorney general to attempt to reverse federal and state judicial precedents to make it easier for local governments to remove people experiencing homelessness from encampments into treatment centers.
“Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order,” the order said.
At an Aug. 12 press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said those who refuse homeless services may face enforcement.
“Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services, and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail,” she said, citing local codes and regulations.
According to an Aug. 14 update on the website of the D.C. attorney general’s office, refusing shelter or mental health treatment is not a crime. While police can order encampments to be cleared, they cannot jail people solely for declining services.
In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported homelessness nationwide had reached its highest level since tracking began, with more than 770,000 people unhoused on a single night in January — an 18 percent increase from the year before.
The Catholic Charities’ press release also noted “through close partnerships with other housing agencies, communities, volunteers, and the local government, Catholic Charities remains steadfast and dedicated to ensuring people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations have access to all our services and support they need.” The agency added that it has a shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 for people needing that assistance.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington is the largest independent social services agency in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area and serves the District of Columbia and the five surrounding Maryland counties. In the past year, Catholic Charities’ 47 programs in 29 locations served 158,000 people.
The agency provided more than four million meals to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. A total of 8,733 people received medical, mental health and dental care, and 1,789 low-income individuals and families received pro bono legal services. Job training and employment programs served 2,361 adults, and permanent supportive housing was provided to 441 individuals and families.
Catholic Charities’ initiatives include St. Maria’s Meals, which offers hot and nutritious meals to unhoused or food-insecure individuals every Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. outside the agency’s headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., at 924 G Street, N.W. During his 2015 pastoral visit to the nation’s capital, Pope Francis visited Catholic Charities and blessed people gathered for that meal program. The St. Maria’s Meals program serves tens of thousands of meals annually, including special holiday sit-down dinners served to guests by volunteers.
Catholic Charities continues to work with local agencies, volunteers and government and community partners to provide services. Its outreach extends across the District and into Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland.
For more information on Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org.
What the law says about homeless encampments in Washington, D.C.
(Source: D.C. Office of the Attorney General, Aug. 14, 2025 FAQ)
- Homelessness is not a crime. Police cannot arrest someone simply for being unhoused.
- Encampments can be cleared. Public spaces cannot be used as permanent dwellings.
- Refusing to leave can lead to arrest. Police orders to vacate encampments are lawful.
- Shelter refusal is not a crime. Police cannot jail someone solely for refusing shelter or services, unless ordered by a court.
- Mental health interventions. Police or health officials may hospitalize someone for evaluation if they believe the person poses a danger.
- Property rights. Nonhazardous, nonabandoned belongings cannot be destroyed. They must be stored so owners can reclaim them. Hazardous items may be destroyed.
