DCFPI envisions a future where no one is homeless for a long time and no one dies without the dignity of a home. The FY 2022 budget will bring us much closer to this goal but only if we ensure timely implementation of the resources and commit to greater transparency.
Kate Coventry
(she/her)
Director of Legislative Strategy
Kate is DCFPI’s key liaison with the mayor’s office and DC Council. She focuses on a range of issues affecting residents of DC, particularly TANF, Interim Disability Assistance, and ending homelessness. She is a voting member of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness, a body comprising representatives from the DC government, nonprofit providers, advocates, people experiencing homelessness, and formerly homeless individuals. Kate’s professional background is rooted in working with community-based organizations in the DC area. Kate holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University.
Recent posts by Kate Coventry
DC Fails to Invest in Vital Health and Income Support Programs Despite Moment of Great Need
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate our public health and key sectors of our economy, with Black and brown residents bearing the brunt of these hardships due to longstanding inequities in health care, education, employment, and wealth-building opportunities. The uneven harm of the pandemic throws the inadequacy and inequality of our core health and income support programs into sharp relief.
Statement from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute on “Encampments Protection and Public Health and Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2021.”
DCFPI calls on the Council to support the “Encampments Protection and Public Health and Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2021” to halt clearings through hypothermia season while allowing the District to continue housing people staying in encampments.
Testimony at the Public Oversight Hearing on Implementation of Historic Investments in Housing
I am here today to thank the Council for passing the “Homes and Hearts Amendment Act of 2021” (“Homes and Hearts”) that created historic investments in housing. Today, I request the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) make greater effort to increase transparency on how they are implementing these historic funds.
Testimony at the Health & Human Public Oversight Roundtable about the CARE Pilot Program and Ending Encampment Clearings
I am here today to discuss the new Coordinated Assistance and Resources for Encampments (CARE) Pilot Program and to ask the Council to end encampment clearings and no encamping zones.
Testimony at the Oversight Hearing on “The Public Health Element of the District’s COVID-19 Response” About Health Care Access
DCFPI recommends the DC Council to require the Department of Healthcare Finance (DCF) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to stay all terminations from the DC Healthcare Alliance and Immigrant Children’s Program (ICP) and to extend all enrollees’ participation in the programs for at least six months, or longer if needed, to address the problems that enrollees and community providers have reported.
Testimony at the Public Hearing on the Human Rights Enforcement Amendment Act of 2021 to Make Homelessness a Protected Class Under the DC Human Rights Act
Chairman White and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Kate Coventry, and I am a Senior Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. DCFPI is a nonprofit organization that promotes budget choices to address DC’s...
DC Council Makes New Investments that Promote Equity But Could Go Even Further
While the DC Council has made important investments already, DCFPI calls on Councilmembers to make additional changes in the upcoming BSA vote to ensure a just recovery for all residents.
In Historic Budget Vote, DC Council Makes Transformative Investments But Misses Important Opportunities for Equity
The DC Council cast its first, and arguably most important, vote to advance the fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget last week. The Council budget leverages over $3 billion in temporary federal recovery funds and maintains the Mayor’s strong investments in affordable housing production, shelter repair and improvements, and education funding, among many other areas. It goes even further with modest tax increases on DC’s wealthiest households to help pay for ongoing, transformative investments.
DC Budget Markups: Council Boosts Funding for Some Services but Substantial Shortcomings Remain
Last week, DC Council committees voted on changes—or “mark-ups”—to the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and supplemental FY 2021 budgets. While the mark-ups resulted in some funding increases for vital education, housing, and other programs, Councilmembers missed key opportunities to ‘build back better’ through a just recovery.
Testimony at the Budget Oversight Hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Increasing Investments in Housing
I am here today to testify on how the Council should increase investments in permanent housing, Project Reconnect, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), public housing repairs, and excluded workers.
Testimony of Kate Coventry, Senior Policy Analyst at the Budget Oversight Hearing on the Department of Human Services, Committee on Human Services
DCFPI envisions a future where no one is chronically homeless and no one dies without the dignity of a home. The fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget is a tool to make this vision a reality but only if the Council makes bold investments that build upon what is included in the proposed budget.
Testimony of Kate Coventry, Senior Policy Analyst Performance Oversight Hearing on the DC Department of Health Care Finance, DC Council Committee on Health
I would like to focus my testimony on the need for services for residents with low-incomes with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), also known as acquired brain injuries (ABIs), and the need to simplify the DC Healthcare Alliance recertification process.
Testimony of Kate Coventry, Senior Policy Analyst Performance Oversight Hearing on the DC Department of Behavioral Health, DC Council Committee on Health
I would like to focus my testimony on the need for services for low income residents with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), also known as acquired brain injuries (ABIs). The fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget includes $698,000 to allow some behavioral health outpatient providers to offer enhanced services for these injuries as well as autism spectrum disorders.
American Rescue Plan Presents a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to Tackle Homelessness
The federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) offers a historic opportunity for the District to “build back better” by investing in our residents and communities. In addition to dedicated funding for homelessness, the District will receive $2.3 billion in flexible dollars through the ARP’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (Recovery Funds) that can be used to help tackle homelessness.
Testimony of Kate Coventry, Senior Policy Analyst at the Public Oversight Hearing on An Equitable End to Safety Net Protections Put in Place During the COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery, DC Council Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery
My written testimony includes recommendations on the eviction moratorium, STAY DC, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Interim Disability Assistance, homelessness, and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding.
Testimony of Kate Coventry, Senior Policy Analyst at the Public Hearing for the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration Hearing on the Fair Tenant Screening Act of 2021.
B24-0106 sets tenant eligibility screening standards for landlords. Given overwhelming evidence that current tenant-screening processes are rife with errors, this legislation is needed to ensure fairness in this process.
Advocates’ Letter to Mayor Bowser: American Rescue Plan Offers DC a Down Payment on a Just Recovery and Future
by Tazra Mitchell, Kate Coventry and
Nearly 80 organizations organizations sent Mayor Bowser and the DC Council a letter urging them to use the funds on intentional investments and interventions in a timely way, with a laser focus on targeting those most in need and addressing the racial inequities that have excluded Black and brown communities from economic gains and left them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Mayor Should Invest in Programs that Boost Incomes and Health
As we move to vaccinate residents and hopefully emerge from the pandemic stronger, our leaders must address the needs of thousands of residents who have fallen behind on bills, need stable health insurance as well as physical and mental health care.
The Mayor Should Invest in Ending Homelessness Among Youth
To tackle youth homelessness, the District must continue making investments in youth programs, and it’s particularly important because youth experiencing homelessness on their own are particularly vulnerable and need programming that meets their developmental needs.