The Washington, D.C. area expects to receive as many as 5 million visitors for the inaugural events between Jan. 18 and Jan. 21. There are reportedly more than 14,000 homeless people in the Washington metropolitan area. So when droves of Obama maniacs rush D.C., what will happen to all the homeless people?

The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), which worked with the mayors and police departments of Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul during the Democratic and Republican national conventions, plans to work similarly with D.C. to ensure the safety and protection of the homeless population during the inauguration. The NCH, however, has not met with city officials yet. They plan to do so after the New Year.

There are 45 emergency shelters that offer just over 3,000 individual and family beds in the city. Central Union Mission, one of the oldest shelters in the city, provides beds to 100 homeless men every night. The organization, thus far, has neither been asked by city nor federal agencies to do anything extra in preparation for the inauguration. But Central Union Mission and many other shelters are expecting increased demand, as homeless people who settle around the grounds of public buildings get pushed out by authorities.

Because the four-day event has been declared a National Special Security Event, the operational security plans are being directed by the U.S. Secret Service. In addition to the Presidential Inauguration Committee, several other local and federal agencies and offices are involved in the planning including the D.C. mayor's office, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and several police departments. For the period around inauguration, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's office plans to continue the Housing First plan—started in 2004 as a 10-year plan to end homelessness—which has already placed up to 400 individuals in permanent and supportive housing.

The Secret Service will perform a sweep of policed public spaces the night before the inaugural swearing in and parade. Part of their no-nonsense plan is to clear the entire National Mall area well before the inauguration begins. Presumably, the only people allowed to be in the vicinity of the parade route will be big guys with German Shepherds. It is expected that all people trying to enter areas along the parade route, the National Mall and around the Capitol will be required to go through some type of security. That's a hassle for visitors and partiers. It's destabilizing and potentially life threatening to the thousands who call the streets around the White House and Capitol home.

But, there is one potential bright spot. Wealthy businessman Earl Stafford, CEO and chairman of UNITECH, Inc., a telecommunications and engineering firm, is sponsoring what he calls "The People's Inauguration." The ball, on Jan. 20, will be the crown jewel of three days at the JW Marriott hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue—just three blocks from the White House. One-third of the guest list will be homeless people, battered women, and others who Stafford and the Urban League have invited.

The Root Explainer thanks David Treadwell, the executive director of Central Union Mission; Michael Stoops, the executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless; the Office of Mayor Adrian Fenty; and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Matthew McKnight is a graduate student at Georgetown University and a writer for The Root.

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