WASHINGTON D.C., DC — A disabled D.C. resident says he's facing discrimination and now may be out of a home.
Barry Hawkins says that after caring for his sick mother, he lost the housing voucher after she died. He says he's reached out to the DC Housing Authority and several city leaders with no luck. So, he called WUSA9 and our Delia Goncalves for help.
Facing his own health issues, Barry Hawkins cared for his dying mother until he lost her six months ago.
“I haven’t properly grieved,” he says.
But when mom passed, her housing voucher went away. Even though Hawkins is on the lease, he signed the voucher as a live-in aide. According to the DC Housing Authority, that takes away his right to inherit the voucher, even if he’s her son.
"It's so difficult and impossible,” he said, “I never faced a challenge like this."
Back in 2018, Hawkins and his mother lost everything in the massive fire at the Arthur Capper Senior Housing Center in Navy Yard. They lived in hotels until the city placed them in a new apartment with a housing voucher.
“These are highly chaotic times,” recalls Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, “I was there every day trying to work with families. A lot of things are moving fast. And I don't know if Barry signed something that he wasn't fully aware of.”
Now, Hawkins is six months behind rent that his disability check just won't cover. He's facing eviction and closed doors at every turn.
"I can't even go to the shelter. I tried every program and I'm told I don't qualify because I'm a male and I don't have kids,” he explained, “it's terrifying to know you don't have no place to go."
“It really highlights a couple of gaps. One is, for older single individuals that are also experiencing different health challenges, our system and city may not be geared to be able to help them the way that it should. But secondly, you know, when people talk about their frustrations of government not working, well, here you go!" said CM Allen.
The councilmember has been trying to help Hawkins and said this is just one example of why the Council has pushed to reform the DCHA board.
“If Barry ends up out on the street, the city - not just DC Housing - the city has failed him,” said Allen, “we have to be able to be nimble and frankly, I want the DC government to help make sure that that doesn't happen that we keep them in housing because that's what he deserves. It's frankly what all of us deserve.”
“There's a current problem going on in D.C. not only with housing but gender discrimination,” adds Hawkins. “Housing should be available to anyone who needs help."
DC housing told WUSA9 they’ll speak directly to Hawkins about his case. We will keep you updated.
WATCH NEXT: