DC's Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services runs the Encampment Protocol, scheduling cleanups with at least 14 days posted notice and partnering with outreach providers before any disposal of property.
Under the citywide Encampment Protocol, DMHHS coordinates regular cleanups at posted encampment sites with at least 14 days advance notice on signage. Outreach teams from the Department of Human Services and contracted providers must visit residents prior to cleanup, offer storage of personal property for at least 60 days, and document any items removed. Engagements are paired with shelter offers and connections to permanent supportive housing through programs like Pathways to Housing DC. The protocol distinguishes scheduled cleanings (residents return) from full closures (site permanently cleared), which require enhanced housing-placement efforts.
Cleanups that skip notice, ignore the 60-day storage requirement, or discard occupied tents are subject to litigation; rights groups have secured court orders enforcing protocol compliance.
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See how Washington's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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