Community members from across D.C.'s neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River congregated at Martha's Table for the Anacostia Coordinating Council's monthly meeting. The gathering was punctuated by a panel featuring speakers such as U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis, focusing squarely on tenant safety in HUD-supported housing. The themes of the day centered on eradicating environmental hazards and confronting sexual misconduct, with the support of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the Office of Environmental Justice.
Described by the U.S. Attorney's Office as an initiative to openly discuss strategies to promote safety and justice, the panel sought to actively engage residents who are or might be affected by environmental wrongs, such as lead contamination, and those who face or are at risk of sexual harassment by housing authority figures. The event was designed to not only inform but also empower community members to fully appreciate and assert their rights when threatened within their own homes.
U.S. Attorney Graves emphasized the imperative of secure and respectful homes. "No one should be subjected to unsafe conditions or harassment in order to have a roof over their head," he was quoted saying in a release by the Department of Justice. His message to the residents was clear: "You have a right to feel safe in your home." Inspector General Oliver Davis echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to directly communicate the HUD OIG's initiatives.
Those present at the panel got to hear about how the U.S. Attorney's Office and HUD's Inspector General are striving to better community living conditions and enforce federal law. Davis told participants, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, "We remain committed to working closely with our partners at the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to raise awareness about violations of federal law in these areas and pursue bad actors who victimize vulnerable people receiving HUD assistance."
