COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
DRAFT COMMITTEE REPORT
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004
TO:
All Councilmembers
FROM:
Councilmember Jim Graham
Chairperson, Committee on Human Services
DATE:
July 7, 2014
SUBJECT:
DRAFT Report on PR 20-0789, the “Interagency Council on Homelessness Luis
Antonio Vasquez Confirmation Resolution of 2014”
The Committee on Human Services, to which PR 20-0789, the “Interagency Council on
Homelessness Luis Antonio Vasquez Confirmation Resolution of 2014” was referred, reports
favorably on this nomination and recommends its approval by the Council of the District of
Columbia.
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
PAGE
Purpose and Effect
Legislative Chronology
Position of the Executive
Comments of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
Summary of Testimony
Impact on Existing Law
Fiscal Impact
Section-by-Section Analysis
Committee Action
Attachments
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I. PURPOSE AND EFFECT
The purpose of PR 20-0789 is to confirm the nomination of Luis Antonio Vasquez for
reappointment as a member of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), to serve as a
representative from an organization that provides services within the Continuum of Care for a
term ending three years from the date of appointment.
Page 1 of 5
A. The Interagency Council on Homelessness
The ICH was established by the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, for the purpose
of facilitating interagency, cabinet-level leadership in planning, policymaking, program
development, provider monitoring, and budgeting for the Continuum of Care of homeless
services. 1 The ICH is a group of cabinet-level leaders, providers of homeless services,
advocates, homeless and formerly homeless leaders that come together to inform and guide the
District’s strategies and policies for meeting the needs of individuals and families who are
homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless in the District of Columbia.
The ICH is chaired by the City Administrator and composed of the following: twelve
members who are heads of designated government agencies; one (1) representative of a private
entity designated to approve any grants or contracts for homeless services; at least four (4) and
no more than ten (10) representatives of organizations providing services within the Continuum
of Care; at least two (2) and no more than five (5) people who are or have been homeless; at least
two (2) and no more than five (5) people who are advocates for the District’s homeless
population; the Chairman of the Council or designee; the Chairman of the committee of the
Council having purview over homeless services or designee, both of whom are non-voting
members; and the administrative head of the Office of Shelter Monitoring who must be a nonvoting member. All non-government members of the ICH are nominated by the Mayor and
approved by the Council of the District of Columbia.
B. Nominee’s Qualifications
Luis Antonio Vasquez earned a BA from Catholic University in 2000, and a Master of
Social Work degree from Howard University in 2002. Mr. Vasquez has held a Licensed
Independent Clinical Social Worker credential since 2006. Mr. Vasquez began his career as a
social worker at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in 2002. In 2003, Mr.
Vasquez worked as the Program Coordinator in the Outpatient Substance Abuse Program at
Neighbors’ Consejo, where he counseled residents of an outpatient program for homeless Latino
men. In 2003, Mr. Vasquez returned to the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
where he has worked in Housing and Support Services, Adult and Family Services and Mobile
Crisis Services.
Since 2011, Mr. Vasquez has served as the Department Director of the Homeless and
Housing Services Unit at Catholic Charities, where he supervises 26 housing and related
supportive programs in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Mr. Vasquez has received
several awards including “Washingtonian of the Year” in 2007, from the Washingtonian
Magazine, and the “Chief of Police Medal of Merit” award from the Metropolitan Police
Department in 2010.
1
The ICH was established by section 4 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005
(D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01).
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C. Committee Recommendation
The Committee finds that Mr. Vasquez has extensive knowledge and experience serving
the District’s homeless population, and therefore recommends approval of PR 20-0789.
II. LEGISLATIVE CHRONOLOGY
May 20, 2014
PR 20-0789 is introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson at the
request of the Mayor.
May 28, 2014
PR 20-0789 is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
May 30, 2014
Notice of Intent to Act on PR 20-0789 is published in the District
of Columbia Register.
July 7, 2014
The Committee on Human Services holds a mark-up of
PR 20-0789.
III. POSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE
Luis Antonio Vasquez is the Mayor’s nominee for reappointment as a member of the
Interagency Council on Homelessness.
IV. COMMENTS OF ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONS
The Committee on Human Services received no testimony or comments from any
Advisory Neighborhood Commission on PR 20-0789.
V. SUMMARY OF TESTIMONY
There was no roundtable held on PR 20-0789.
VI. IMPACT ON EXISTING LAW
Members of the ICH are appointed pursuant to section 4(b) of the Homeless Services
Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4752.01 (b)).
Page 3 of 5
VII. FISCAL IMPACT
Pursuant to section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975 (DC Official
Code §1-301.47a), this confirmation resolution is exempt from the Act’s fiscal impact statement
requirement.
VIII. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1
States the short title of PR 20-0789.
Section 2
Confirms the reappointment of Luis Antonio Vasquez as a member of the
Interagency Council on Homelessness to serve for a term to end three years
from the date of appointment.
Section 3
Requires that a copy of the resolution, upon adoption, be transmitted each to
the nominee and the Office of the Mayor.
Section 4
Provides that the resolution shall take effect immediately.
IX. COMMITTEE ACTION
On July 7, 2014, the Committee on Human Services held an Additional Meeting to
consider and mark-up PR 20-0789, the “Interagency Council on Homelessness Luis Antonio
Vasquez Confirmation Resolution of 2014.” The meeting was called to order at ____ p.m. A
quorum was present, which included Chairperson Graham and Councilmembers _______ and
_______. Chairperson Graham provided an opening statement summarizing the provisions of
the legislation. He then moved for approval of PR 20-0789 and opened the floor for discussion.
Chairperson Graham then moved for approval of the Committee Print and Committee
Report for PR 20-0789 with leave for staff to make technical and conforming amendments.
Committee members voted as follows:
Committee members voting in favor:
Committee members voting against:
Committee members voting present:
Committee members absent:
The meeting was adjourned at ___ p.m.
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X. ATTACHMENTS
A. PR 20-0789 as Introduced
B. Legal Sufficiency Determination
C. Committee Print for PR 20-0789
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