11.08.2023 by Street Sense Media

VOL. 20 ISSUE 42

NOV. 8 - NOV. 21, 2023

Real Stories

Real People

suggested contribution goes directly to your vendor

Real Change

WINTER RESOURCE SHEET 8

Scan QR Code to download the app and pay your vendor!

LIVING OUTSIDE DURING

6 EXTREME WEATHER STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

@ STREETSENSEDC

2 / / S T R E E T S E N S E M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 2023

OUR STORY CASE MANAGEMENT

people moved into housing using case management services

n 2013, we began offering case management services to help anyone, including vendors, with their needs — from obtaining identification cards and emergency cash for bills and food to accessing supportive programs and applying for housing vouchers. Our team builds long-term relationships with our vendors and other clients to understand their needs and help them create plans to achieve their goals.

people, including artists/vendors, used case management services in 2022,

Physical and mental health services, emergency cash assistance and housing services were and are being provided hundreds of times throughout 2022 and 2023.

of which were new clients.

The Cover COVER ART BY NIKILA SMITH, COVER DESIGN BY ANNEARIE CUCCIA

THE TEAM VENDORS Abel Putu, Aida Peery, Al Edmonson, Akindele Akerejah, Amia Walker, Amina Washington, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Antoinette Calloway, Archie Thomas, Beverly Sutton, Brianna Butler, Burton Wells, C. Smith, Carlos Carolina, Carol Motley, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Chris Cole, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Daniel Ball,

Darlesha Joyner, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon (Gigi) Dovonou, Denise Hall, Dominique Anthony, Don Gardner, Donté Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Dwayne Butler, Eric Glover, Eric ThompsonBey, Erica Downing, Evelyn Nnam, Floyd Carter, Franklin Sterling, Frederic John, Frederick Walker, Freedom, Gerald Anderson, Greta Christian, Harriet Fields, Henrieese Roberts, Henry Johnson, Ivory Wilson,

Jacqueline “Jackie” Turner, Jacquelyn Portee, James Davis, James Hughes, Jeanette Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Jeffery McNeil, Jeffrey Carter, Jemel Fleming, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jermale McKnight, Jet Flegette, Jewel Lewis, John Alley, John Littlejohn, Josie Brown, Juliene Kengnie, Kenneth Middleton, Khadijah Chapman, Kym Parker, Laticia Brock, Laura Smith, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Lu Potter, L. Morrow,

Mango Redbook, Marc Grier, Marcus McCall, Mars, Martin Walker, Mary Sellman, Maurice Spears, Melody Byrd, Michael Warner, Michele Rochon, Morgan Jones, Nikila Smith, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Rachelle Ellison, Rashawn Bowser, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Richard “Mooney” Hart, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron

Dudley, Sasha Williams, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Sybil Taylor, Tonya Williams Vennie Hill, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams, William Mack BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mary Coller Albert, Blake Androff, Nana-Sentuo Bonsu, Jonquilyn Hill, Stanley Keeve, Clare Krupin, Ashley McMaster, Matt Perra, Michael Phillips, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson, Corrine Yu

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Brian Carome DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Darick Brown DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT Thomas Ratliff VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES Aida Peery, Chon Gotti, Nikila Smith

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nonprofits revive right-to-counsel program for tenants facing eviction MORGAN BASKIN

□

The Street Sense Media offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10, for Veterans Day.

□

The offices will also be closed Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. 24, for Thanksgiving. Please be aware the new issue comes out Wednesday, Nov. 22, just before the holiday.

□

The November vendor meeting will be on the third Friday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.

□

Vendor surverys are happening all November! $10 and 10 newspapers for 10 minutes of your time. Ask the front desk!

□

Street Sense Media follows the federal government for weather closures. Check the office status by going to opm.gov/status.

□

Find announcements and other useful information at streetsensemedia.org/ vendor-info.

DCist/WAMU

A group of six nonprofit legal service organizations and 19 law firms are reviving a pilot program that matches some tenants facing eviction with free legal assistance, reviving a pre-pandemic effort that helped dozens of families stay in their homes. Spearheaded by Legal Aid DC, participating groups will begin notifying eligible tenants about the program by the end of November. Program participants have pledged to provide counsel to one out of every six tenants who use a housing subsidy and are facing a publicly scheduled eviction proceeding in November and December. “Everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing, and no one should be forced to defend themselves in court without a lawyer present – especially when the effects of eviction are severe,” Vikram Swaruup, executive director of Legal Aid DC, said in a statement. The program is a boon for tenants, only 15% of whom have historically enjoyed legal representation during eviction proceedings. About 95% of landlords, meanwhile, have a lawyer while pursuing an eviction case. Lower-income renters who use housing subsidies are even more vulnerable during an eviction proceeding. “If residents using subsidies are evicted, it becomes functionally impossible for them to access a subsidy again, forcing them into homelessness,” Nancy Drane, executive director of the D.C. Access to Justice Commission, which will help administer the program, said in a

statement. “But this project will work to change that trajectory for many residents by providing free attorneys who can help tenants assert their rights and access the tools to stay in their homes.” When the Housing Right to Counsel Project initially ran from 2016 to 2019, it provided 300 tenants facing eviction with lawyers. Those tenants were 16 times more likely to challenge their eviction filings and eight times less likely to face an eviction judgment, according to Legal Aid. Other organizations involved include Bread for the City, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Neighborhood Legal Services Program, Rising for Justice and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. Those groups will coordinate with 19 participating law firms to match recipients with a lawyer. Per Legal Aid, D.C.’s program is the only housing-focused right-to-counsel initiative in the country supported primarily by pro bono assistance from law firms. The announcement comes as housing insecurity among D.C. residents grows. More than 44,000 residents spend at least half of their income on rent, while scheduled evictions increased by 250% between January 2022 and January 2023, according to data from the U.S. Marshals Service, which carries out evictions in D.C. This story was originally published by DCist/WAMU. Street Sense editor’s note: D.C. residents not using housing subsidies can get free legal assistance by calling the Landlord Tenant Hotline at 202-780-2575.

BIRTHDAYS

ARTIST/VENDOR

George Gray Nov. 14

ARTIST/VENDOR

Jeffrey Carter Nov. 16

ARTIST/VENDOR

Street Sense Media vendors keep all of your suggested $2 donation. Get a Street Sense newspaper today! VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS Beverly Brown, Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Madeleine McCollough INTERIM EDITORIN-CHIEF Annemarie Cuccia

MICHAEL STOOPS FELLOW Eliza DuBose ARTISTS-INRESIDENCE Ariane Mohseni (Film), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration), Lalita Clozel (Film), Willie

EVENTS AT SSM

NEWS IN BRIEF

Andre Brinson Nov. 9

Schatz (Writing), Leslie Jacobson (Theater), Roy Barber (Theater), Rachel Dungan (Podcast) OPINION EDITOR (VOLUNTEER) Candace Montague

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS J.M. Acsienzo, Josh Axelrod, Ryan Bacic, Casey Bacot, Dakota Bragato, Chelsea Ciruzzo, Lenika Cruz, August Ditcher, Anne Eigeman, Matt Gannon, Dan Goff, Alison Henry, Micah Levey, Benjamin

Litoff, Kate Malloy, Taylor Nichols, Anisa Noor, Kathryn Owens, Rachel Siegal, Jessica Webster, Miles Wilson, Elise Zaidi

Gigi Dovonou Nov. 17

ARTIST/VENDOR

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT Read this democratically elected code of conduct, by vendors, for vendors! 1.

I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.

I will treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and fellow vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making donations, or engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.

I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.

While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $2 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.

I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.

“I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.”

I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.

I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”

I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

10.

I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”

4 / / S TR E E T S E N S E M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 202 3

NEWS

Coffee with a purpose: How this business owner is making a difference for LGBTQ+ youth TAYLOR NICHOLS Freelance Reporter

ix years ago, drop-in centers were one of the few places in the D.C. area where Skyler Kelley could shower, do laundry and get a hot meal. As a homeless single mother caring for her infant daughter, she made the most of the resources available to her. Kelley, 29, is now in her element as she grinds espresso beans, takes latte orders and calls out the names she’s written on each cup. Just one month ago, she became a small business owner with the grand opening of her new coffee shop, Brij Coffeehouse in Crystal City, Virginia. Kelley opened Brij with one goal in mind — to help folks without stable housing. Proceeds will help fund a drop-in center for queer youth in D.C. “I knew I wanted to give back, but in order to give back, you need money,” Kelley said. “So I thought to myself, I love coffee, I love people, why don’t I open a coffee shop?” Kelley grew up experiencing homelessness and spent her late teens and early 20s couch surfing and sleeping in her car with her daughter in Walmart parking lots. She finally secured subsidized housing in 2018. When Kelley’s mom moved in with her, it was the first time either had ever had a stable home. “It was like everything happened together. It was a dream,” Kelley said. Kelley had worked barista jobs in the past and always wanted to have her own cafe, but opening her own business seemed out of reach. However, when she lost her hospitality job during the pandemic, she didn’t want to get laid off again. She decided it was time to start working on opening Brij. “It was a bold move,” Kelley said. “A lot of people thought I was stupid when all these restaurants were closing.” First, Kelley needed to raise money to help fund her vision. During the pandemic, she started hosting outdoor wine and jazz nights to help local musicians make some extra money. The events were very successful, Kelley said, but got harder during colder months when there were fewer places to host. Once she got some funding together, she was able to start working toward securing a location and building her brand. She reached out to architectural studio Wood+Starr to find out how much it would cost to get a coffee shop set up. That’s when Matt Starr, co-owner of the firm, connected her with commercial real estate broker Lisa Banusiewicz. Kelley was determined to open a business that could support her and

give back to her community. That enthusiasm was partly what helped her connect with resources and made Banusiewicz and others want to help her. “Skyler didn’t wait to be perfect to start — she just went all into everything she did,” Banusiewicz said.

“So I thought to myself, I love coffee, I love people, why don’t I open a coffee shop?” Skyler Kelley “The things that seem small and minor developed her track record as a business owner even if she wasn’t a millionaire CEO in an office. It highlighted her grit and showed that she was capable of showing up and giving her all.”

Banusiewicz connected Kelley with other resources, like the branding company Noted. Banusiewicz and people at Wood+Starr and Noted worked together to help Kelley navigate opening a business without much initial funding, offering lowcost services and connecting her with other resources. “We started working with her during the pandemic and it was a project everyone felt really good contributing time that we all had,” Banusiewicz said. Three years later, Brij opened its first location across the street from the Amazon headquarters in Crystal City, Virginia. A second location in Mount Vernon Square is slated to open this winter, Kelley said. “I've experienced homelessness pretty much all my life, and never knew why,” Kelley said. “But I think as I got older, I was like, there's a reason behind this.” At first, Kelley wanted to help support single mothers experiencing homelessness like she was when her daughter was young. However, she realized there was a gap in services for another demographic she cares deeply about — LGBTQ+ people. “I would just meet so many young homeless queer people throughout my life,” Kelley, who is queer herself, said. Many

Skyler Kelley in her coffee shop, Brij. Photos by Taylor Nichols

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

of those young people didn’t have anywhere to go, she said. “It just really bothered me.” She plans to partner with the Latin American Youth Center to help fund its drop-in center in D.C., a program that serves many LGBTQ+ youth. Homelessness uniquely impacts the LGBTQ+ community, especially youth, who may not be welcome at home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. "Our work is always about creating safe spaces for our youth to be able to come here, and to be able to provide them the resources they need," said Norma Sorto, communications specialist at the center. The drop-in center provides access to shower and laundry facilities, three meals a day, case management and computers to work on resumes and do job searches. It’s also focused on connecting youth to housing programs in D.C. “When I was homeless I had the opportunity to go to a lot of day centers. I didn't have anywhere to go so I would just have breakfast, I would have a place to have lunch, a place to take a nap, a place to do laundry,” Kelley said. “So that's what I want to do.” Proceeds from Brij will go to the drop-in center’s hygiene

and emergency clothing closet to help pay for things such as toiletries, t-shirts and underwear, Winstead said. While the origin of Kelley’s shop is rooted in her past, she’s focused on the future. She said she hopes to open coffee shops in New York and Atlanta and partner with day centers there to employ their clients. Ultimately, she wants to open her own

LGBTQ+ housing center to provide a safe space for queer homeless people. “Housing is a right and we need to stop holding it back from people because we don’t agree with their lifestyle,” Kelley said.

Kelley says she will donate a portion of Brij's proceeds to drop-in-centers.

Brij is located in Crystal City, Virginia. A second location is set to open in Mount Vernon Square this winter.

6 / / S TR E E T S E N S E M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 202 3

NEWS

Where do people who live outside go during extreme weather events? ELIZA DUBOSE Michael Stoops Fellow

very year, D.C.'s government issues two plans to help Washingtonians handle extreme temperatures — the winter plan, which is active from Nov. 1 to March 31, and the heat emergency plan, which is active over the summer. Both of these plans include a section dedicated to people who live outside, guiding the city to open additional shelters to get people experiencing homelessness out of the elements. But the city does not have similar plans for other extreme weather events like hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornados and flooding, people who sleep outside and advocates say. This summer, the world saw the highest number of extreme weather events in recorded history, according to the Council of Foreign Relations. Most of the local guidance available for extreme storms, like the ReadyDC thunderstorm website, suggests that people get inside. But for those who are unhoused, finding a safe space inside isn’t easy. In August, a thunderstorm and tornado warning shut down public buildings, including the libraries many unhoused people use for safety. Umi, who is unhoused, spoke at an Aug. 23 meeting held by the Interagency Coalition on Homelessness where officials and advocates discussed the thunderstorms and the winter plan. “When everyone is planning for an emergency, [they are] thinking everyone is housed,” Umi said at the meeting. “We are not housed, so when you email me an alert, ‘Go to your bathtub or your basement,’ that's not feasible.” She worried that climate change will only worsen matters. “The world is on fire, we are going to have more weather events, so there does need to be a plan in place,” she said. On Aug. 7, libraries were open to unhoused citizens for a heat emergency. Heat emergencies occur when the temperature reaches above 90 degrees, which poses serious health risks. After the government sent out a thunderstorm warning, many of the libraries closed. The buildings, which are largely constructed of glass, are considered unsafe shelters during tornados. In the August meeting, unhoused residents expressed indignation at being kicked out of relative safety. Many said they were forced to weather the storm in Metro stations. ICH representatives acknowledged people’s distress and said they would facilitate conversations with D.C. libraries and government agencies to create more weather emergency procedures. Officials from D.C.'s Department of Human Services, which is responsible for implementing the winter plan, did not respond to a request for a comment about plans for people living outside during extreme weather events. D.C.'s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates responses to threats, including extreme weather, also did not comment. At the moment, there are no publicly available plans detail how people living outside should respond to extreme weather events outside cold and heat emergencies, like those this summer. In June, D.C. faced its first Code Purple air quality alert after Canadian wildfires blanketed the East Coast, prompting the D.C. government to advise people to stay inside. Those who don’t have dependable indoor shelters are already at greater risk of health issues that were only exacerbated by the poor air quality, according to reporting from DCist. The same problem

Street Sense vendors say hypothermia and rain are the biggest weather issues they face. Photo by Yohan Marion // Unsplash

of finding indoor shelter threatened unhoused citizens. While day centers and low-barrier shelters are open most of the time, they have limited capacity. The lack of preparation for unhoused citizens is not just a D.C. issue. Wendall Williams, a Street Sense vendor who works as a case manager in Prince George’s County, saw that firsthand during a trip to Savannah, Georgia, that intersected with Hurricane Ian in September 2022. “The people who can get out are getting out. And then I thought about the people who couldn't get out,” Williams said. He heard NPR blaring warnings to get inside but he couldn’t help wondering what unhoused people were expected to do if they couldn’t find room in a shelter. By the time the hurricane reached D.C. the weather had reduced to rain, dumping more than half of the monthly average rainfall in five days. But even rainstorms like that can be dangerous for unhoused people’s health, as reported by DCist. Rainstorms like the one prompted by Hurricane Ian increase flood risks in the District. “There was nothing in place for people who are experiencing homelessness, let alone people who were financially challenged and unable to leave,” Williams said. The experience prompted him to write an op-ed for which he spoke to government agencies about what procedures exist for unhoused people in case of emergency. There are few to no guidelines on what unhoused people should do during storms. Also, Federal Emergency Management Agency shelters are only available to unhoused people if the president declares a state of emergency, he found. “I was very concerned and disturbed,” Williams said, “It varies from county to county and then within the county from local jurisdiction to local jurisdiction. ” In the District, many people living outside learn about emergency plans and immediate weather events from outreach teams. For those with phones and cellular plans, an additional resource called AlertDC, sends mobile weather alerts to phones that have the app downloaded. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency runs the app.

While extreme weather events are becoming more common, people who spoke to Street Sense said the biggest weather issues they face are still more common events like hypothermia season and rain. Williams, who worked in D.C. as an advocate for years, said he was proud of the heat and hypothermia systems in the city and wished more cities had similar programs. Carlton Johnson, a vendor with Street Sense, lives outside most of the year. His method for dealing with the weather is to remain vigilant and prepared. He wraps all of his belongings in ziploc or plastic bags to protect them from water damage. In the cold, he lays out on a camping cushion to avoid sleeping directly on the concrete and ensures he stays warm with blankets and sleeping bags. It’s the dampness he’s concerned about. “I can not afford to get wet,” he said. There is no guarantee he’d be able to get his belongings dried again. Street Sense vendor Daniel Ball, who also lives outside, depends on churches to keep warm and dry, especially in the winter. After churches close, he typically rides the train until it closes to avoid being in the elements. He once got stuck at the end of the train line and spent the evening watching TV in an emergency room waiting room at a nearby hospital until the trains started in the morning. This year, D.C. is looking at a potentially snow-filled winter. With El Niño affecting weather patterns across the country this year, the Washington Post reported the East Coast could be subject to rather heavy snowfall this winter. On Nov. 1, the city issued a hypothermia warning for the first time this winter as temperatures dipped below 30 degrees with wind chill. This comes after the hottest summer in recorded history. According to a Washington Post analysis, D.C. and Arlington spent almost a week in temperatures that threatened human health, particularly when in direct sunlight. The number of heatrelated deaths of people over 65 increased by 68% between 2017 and 2021 compared to 2000 and 2004, according to a report from the Lancet medical journal last year. Ball said that being unhoused in the current weather requires constant adjustment. “Weather does what it wants to do, you can't control it. You just got to live with it,” he said.

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

If you need overnight shelter this winter, here’s where you can find it ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Interim Editor-in-Chief

f you’ve looked for winter shelter in D.C. in the past, you might notice the options look different this year. For the first time in several years, D.C. plans to operate winter overflow shelters exclusively in existing shelters, churches and facilities run by missiondriven organizations. Recreation centers that have been open in the past will not be available because of the expansion of youth violence prevention programs. “While a lot has changed, our core commitment remains the same,” Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) Executive Director Theresa Silla said before the ICH voted on this year’s winter plan. From November through March, the D.C. government opens additional overnight shelters for people who sleep outside to escape freezing temperatures. The locations open on the first night the temperature drops below 32 degrees. This year, that was on Nov. 1. Unlike D.C.’s year-round shelters, which are largely open 24/7, overflow locations are open only from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and visitors cannot leave belongings at the sites. Shelter beds in D.C. have been nearly full for much of the year, meaning there is little room for the surge that often comes with colder weather without the overflow sites. While some people experiencing homelessness in the District avoid going to shelter most of the year because of concerns about safety and privacy, there’s consistently a higher demand in the winter due to inclement weather. And D.C. legally has to meet that demand, given that the

The Community for Creative Nonviolence building. Photo by Kate Santaliz

city guarantees a right to shelter for all residents when the temperature is at or below 32 degrees. This year, the city is anticipating needing a total of almost 2,000 shelter beds during the coldest months, according to numbers presented at an ICH meeting on Oct. 17. The forecast, which is based on models from D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS), allows for a small increase in demand from last year. D.C. has just under 1,300 year-round beds, all of which will be open during the winter, in addition to about 700 overflow beds. For men, year-round shelters 801 East, New York Avenue, Adams Place, Emery and Blair remain open. There are additional beds in overflow spaces at 801 and Emery. Four other sites are open for the season — Salvation Army, Church of the Epiphany, Naylor Road and the KBEC Family Life Center. By the height of the season, parts of the Center for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) currently under construction will reopen. For women, year-round shelters Harriet Tubman, Patricia Handy and St Josephine Bakhita remain open. For the season, there will also be beds at Adams Place Day Center, Salvation Army Harbor Light, Faith United Church of Christ, Naylor Road and CCNV, once open. Living Life Alternatives, an LGBTQ+ shelter, is open all year. Except for CCNV, all overflow shelters opened on Nov. 1 and will stay open until March 31, unless there’s a significant drop in demand before that. D.C.’s Department of General Services is working on repairing parts of CCNV for the season,

and it’s expected to reopen in December. The drywall, tile, plumbing, lighting and HVAC upgrades will allow the city to use more of the building for shelter. The city does not plan to open any overflow sites at recreation centers, as has been common in the past. At the ICH meeting, City Administrator Kevin Donahue attributed the decision to rising violence in the city. The mayor is expanding programming for youth at recreation centers later into the night, which would make it impossible for centers to open at 7 p.m. as shelters. In the past, some communities have pushed back on the use of recreation centers, worried their children will not have anywhere to go. In addition to churches, this year’s plan relies on Naylor Road, which generally operates as a short-term family housing facility. While the city has to open additional sites to deal with the winter surge for singles, the family system has open beds, according to the ICH presentation. Kate Coventry, deputy director of legislative strategy at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, worried at the meeting that this year’s reliance on large facilities like CCNV may discourage people from seeking shelter. For people who have safety or privacy concerns, overflow sites with 20 to 40 beds can be more attractive than 100- to 300-person shelters. Those same people may not seek overflow shelter if the only option is CCNV, a hundred-plus-bed shelter, Coventry said. This will be the first season since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic without the Pandemic Emergency Program for Medically Vulnerable Individuals (PEP-V) or quarantine sites for people in shelters. Shelter densities, which D.C. drastically reduced at the start of the pandemic, have also been increasing. Throughout the year, some providers have raised concerns that the lack of PEP-V combined with continuing arrivals of migrants will place too much demand on shelters. If more than 2,000 people seek shelter, the city may open additional sites, including recreation centers, according to the winter plan. When the temperature is forecast to be 15 degrees or below, D.C. may also operate warming buses in areas near encampments. The city may also extend day center and overflow shelter hours and open overnight warming sites on especially cold days. People seeking overflow shelter for themselves or their neighbors can call the shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 to ask about open beds or request transportation, though it may not always be available. There are also scheduled routes between day centers and programs and shelters, with shuttle buses operating from 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 to 8:30 in the evening. Morning pickup is at shelters and overflow sites; evening pickup is at day centers, North Capitol Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE and North Capitol Street and New York Avenue NE. Any families seeking shelter should contact the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center. Young people between ages 12 and 17 can call 202-547-7777 to be connected with youth shelters. Young people between ages 18 and 24 can go to adult shelters and overflow sites but can also contact Covenant House or Sasha Bruce Youthwork for youth-specific shelters. To stay updated on potentially dangerous weather conditions in D.C., sign up for AlertDC at hsema.dc.gov/page/alertdc or HopeOneSource at hopeonesource.org/dc.

8 / / S T R E E T S E N S E M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 202 3

District Hypothermia Season Resource Guide 202-399-7093 (Shelter Hotline) | 311 (Mayor’s Call Center) Sign up for Alert DC via ALERT.DC.GOv

Issue date November 1, 2023

TRANSPORTATION Scheduled pick up and drop off locations and times vary by site and are subject to change due to traffic conditions and winter weather challenges including snow emergencies and ice. Safety is the primary concern. Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities is provided upon request. Unscheduled (on-demand) transportation outside the schedule will be offered regardless of the alert status, subject to traffic conditions and winter weather challenges noted above.

LOW BARRIER SHELTER SITES : OPERATES 24/7 YEAR-ROUND MEN’S

801 EAST MEN’S SHELTER 2722 Martin L. King Avenue SE ADAMS PLACE 2210 Adams Place NE NEW YORK AVE NE 1355 New York Avenue NE EMERY SHELTER 1725 Lincoln Road NE

LIVING LIFE ALTERNATIVES (LGBTQ+) 400 50th Street SE

WOMEN’S HARRIET TUBMAN 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE PAT HANDY SWING 1009 11th Street NW SAINT JOSEPHINE BAKHITA 6010 Georgia Avenue NW LIVING LIFE ALTERNATIVES (LGBTQ+) 400 50th Street SE

HYPOTHERMIA OVERFLOW SITES : OPERATES 7 PM – 7 AM NOV 2023 – MAR 2024 MEN’S

801 EAST DAY CENTER 2722 Martin L. King Avenue SE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY 1317 G Street NW

WOMEN’S EVE’S PLACE 2210-B Adams Place NE

EMERY - OVERFLOW 1725 Lincoln Road NE

SALVATION ARMY HARBOR LIGHTS CENTER 2100 New York Avenue NE

KBEC - FAMILY LIFE CENTER 4100 South Capitol Street SE

NAYLOR ROAD 2601 Naylor Road SE

SALVATION ARMY 3335 Sherman Avenue NW NAYLOR ROAD 2603 Naylor Road SE

Families experiencing homelessness can call the shelter hotline at (202) 399-7093 or visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920-A Rhode Island Ave NE. *Call the Shelter Hotline for availability as some sites will not yet be available NOVEMBER 1 or are operating on alert night only.

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

Hot and cold NIKILA SMITH Artist/Vendor

It feels like eternal menopause am I in labor with the heat contractions of hot flashes I'm using my breath to blow on the sweat that's dripping this is my portable air conditioner cordless and free

just smoke signals yes I'm that cold I'm a walking corpse without the smell I’m frostbitten in places unseen

HOT is holding on to me and your sticky candy called skin is touching me

warning: my lips are cold I say it's from eating ice the truth is I'm cold

my skin has a fever it's so hot I see waves on top of waves of heat my smile melted to a frown the nameless one came up and all hell broke loose negative energy to the second power

how do I defrost my cold heart maybe it will thaw out with a kiss

I'm cold-hearted I remember when it all started the only way you would want me is if you were immune to the cold

People getting their paychecks and not doing their jobs AIDA PEERY Artist/Vendor

I need a lawyer on my side or anyone who will help me sue my housing provider that doesn’t care about my health or me going to the emergency room. I’ve been in and out of hospitals for respiratory issues, and it’s not COVID-related. It’s due to nasty mice and roaches. The building tried to get rid of the mice. The mice still got into the apartment. I found a dead mouse. It made my apartment stink so bad. I still have the same broken refrigerator, and I have roaches inside the fridge. I have pictures of the roaches, too. The people in charge have seen the roaches, and they don’t care! They bought me a dirty stove full of roaches and now I have an apartment full of roaches and I can’t get rid of them at all. The roaches are causing me to have monthly to weekly flare-ups in The roaches in the fridge. my respiratory system. I stopped smoking months ago, so it has nothing to do with me smoking. It has to do with the people in charge of where I live not caring about my health issues. I told my case worker about the roaches in my apartment, and they told me I needed to clean my apartment. Funny, I don’t have dishes in my sink. I didn't ask for a filthy stove. I replaced a stove that stopped working. This is why I’m asking for help from professionals and lawyers. I need help. And I’m not getting it from my housing provider at all! Please contact me through Street Sense Media if you can help.

there is a snow cloud that follows me rejuvenating my cold heart

I see ripples in the air that looks like soot it's so hot

maybe I can use a heating pad to appear warm

the pool feels like a pot of boiling water but I need to dive in

my thoughts penetrate my heart crying out deep inside to escape this cold place

COLD cold to the touch if you touch me you are definitely not getting a rush

can hearts scream well mine did and once your heart is broken yours will too

Last issue, we published a piece by Josie Brown remembering her daughter who passed away. This is a photo of her.

It’s ok if you rip our paper!

Tear out this page to use or give to a neighbor sleeping outside.

10 / / S T R E E T S E NSE M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 2023

OPINION

Road trip stories LISA BLACKBURN ULLVEN AND ANGIE WHITEHURST

ith many people living paycheck to paycheck, the skyrocketing cost of living keeps us up at night. People are pushed to choose which is more important: food or shelter. Well, my name is Angie Whitehurst (a.k.a. D.C. Angie) and I say it is time to shed light on what we can do to empower ourselves and improve our lives. Joining me on my quest is Lisa Blackburn Ullven, CEO of Guided Results and author of “Secrets to Sustainable Solutions – Tips from Business, Science and Non-Profit Experts.” In May we officially started our road trip. We want to have conversations with real people to explore tools benefiting families and communities. Now, we’re bringing that experience to you. For today’s adventure, we are headed to the orientation for an equine therapy program. While there are a variety of equine programs, our initial visit was to the Veteran’s Equine Therapy Program at the INSPIRE Equine Assisted Center in Clearwater, Florida. Melissa Yarbrough, the owner of the ranch, said just 30 minutes with the horses has been shown to significantly reduce in blood pressure for participants. The calming equine-assisted therapy can help with a multitude of the growing challenges that we face including but not limited to: anxiety, addiction, autism, depression, eating disorders and grief. It can even help build confidence and communication skills. Horses model the behavior to return to a state of peace after a threat, helping people impacted by trauma, loss and even war. The National Institutes of Health concluded that equine-assisted Therapy could be a new way to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. At the ranch, Alex arrived early for the session, thrilled to participate. “There is a waitlist,” he said, and he felt “lucky to get in.” “My buddies don’t even know about these benefits,” Alex added. Alex started out reserved, his hands in his pockets. Yarbrough explained that horses, too, communicate through their posture and position. In this case, the horse’s stance was inviting Alex to connect in a warm, friendly, judge-free zone.

Lisa and Angie with the horses.

Within minutes, we could easily see that Alex built a meaningful connection with the horse. Like Alex, Nicole, another participant, started out standing next to the horse. But soon she and the horse were connecting face to face. The great news is that equine therapy is becoming more utilized around the world. And it can help people feel connected. Alex summarized our top takeaways when we arrived. He shared how it can be hard for us to “get out of our comfort zone” to do something new. Yet, Alex was the first to illustrate the meaningful connections we can make by stepping out of our comfort zone. It was an incredible experience to be a part of, as we watched people and animals “rescue each other” by simply connecting and being together. You can check out the photos of our road trip adventure at youtu.be/ejBnxSaPlMI. Angie Whitehurst is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media. Lisa Blackburn Ullven is the CEO of Guided Results and an author.

The government vs. God DONTÉ TURNER

know we all have our opinions about our government and God. We debate on what we want out of both to fit our comfort. For instance, we want equality from the government, but on a lot of occasions it is not given. Then we look to God for certain things but get mad when He doesn’t give them, or think He’s just punishing us for whatever reason, or maybe just thinking He doesn’t care because we’re not good enough (which is not true). Some people don’t care at all. I can tell you this one thing though, New Covenant Evangelistic Center (NCEC) cares. I’ve been attending this church located on New Jersey Ave. NW, and in the process of attending their services, I’ve never seen a people so committed to loving and helping others while doing their work for The Lord. Others make promises and tell you that they’re there for you in your time of need. When that time comes, a lot of the time, they are not there. Sometimes you don’t even get a phone call from the ones you love just to check in and give encouraging words or tell you that they “love you.” Not NCEC! These people, and the doing of God’s will, is the reason I’m sober ‘till this day. I’ve been into drugs and drinking and even went into programs under the influence because of their lack of caring for their clients. The employees didn’t feel like being bothered with you because they didn’t like what you were saying or because not everybody wanted to talk about religion or God. They dismiss you or end the session and tell you to come back when you calm down, instead of helping

defuse the situation. You have programs like mental health that have case managers who walk out on clients when they get into a mental breakdown or “episode,” if you will. Some programs, employees or employers pass judgment, are the cause of some of these mental breakdowns, make clients feel worse than they felt before they came in to utilize their services and even tell you “I don’t feel like dealing with this today” when this is what they signed up for. I should know, because I attended some of these programs. I’ve come in contact with case managers who will do half of their work or ignore calls and messages for months. They will argue with you, ignore certain requests, or just ignore you period instead of helping. These situations led me back to drinking and smoking, and in certain situations, led me to incarceration because of actions done under the influence. No one to show you that they care, no one to be by your side in the time of your most frustrating moments, always pointing out your faults but not wanting to help you get better, or just plain heartless. But this is what the government is supposed to be spending our tax dollars on. Programs to help you get better. So let me ask you this: Why were things that I was supposed to be getting from these government programs something I got from NCEC? I attended one of their services during the pandemic and for some reason, even though I’m one of those people who don’t get into things like church that easily, I could just feel the love and the presence of the spirit when I come around them. Some of you all that’s reading this right now will probably go to the next page because a lot of you don’t want to hear about nothing that has to do with The Lord, and that’s

totally up to you. But I can tell you this one thing: They’ve provided better service than half of you that’s supposed to be using our tax dollars to help people in need like me. Not only were they there to teach about the gospel of Christ, but they offered support and told me to reach out to them and let them know what I needed help with. They always reminded me that God cares and showed me in so many ways that they do too. They’ve offered a helping hand when me, my companion and child were in need, they offered to be a support at my court hearings if need be, continued to console me throughout my stages of substance abuse, prayed for me and talked me out of doing wrong. Yet throughout all the troubles and even some financial problems with the church, they still lend out a helping hand. The pastor and his wife have been good people of hope and direct me in the right path whether I'm completely in the wrong or not. Unlike some of you people who work in these so-called rehabilitated programs and get paid to add more to the confusion we’re already going through. So with that acknowledged: mayor, president, any government officials that might be reading this, you may need to check your house. We’re going into a government shutdown because the people of The Lord are doing what your government programs are supposed to be getting paid to do. Just something for you to think about before you continue to allow people to talk recklessly about the church, God and the people of God. Donté Turner is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

Be brave (and thanks to those who have been) WHITE JEZUS Artist/Vendor

Be brave, be bold, be who you were meant to be. Fear may mislead, fear may discourage you. Fear may say you cannot be who you’re meant to be, and many never become their best self. Honor to the brave folks; who left family behind, who left friends behind, who left wives behind, who left husbands behind, who left children behind. This Veterans Day I celebrate you, the few who responded of the many called. And the families and friends of those who bravely gave their lives for our imperfect nation. We celebrate you, who have not let their dedication go without notice this Veterans Day.

Veteran, and peaceful warrior FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor

Here in dystopian D.C., traveling toward the midst of a not-so-roaring twenties, no one is either sitting atop flagpoles or celebrating with bathtub gin. And the red-white-and-blue doughboys of World War I limped back off the troop carriers badly bent — today we call it PTSD — if they could walk at all after being showered with mustard gas. My uncle Jacques was lucky. Born in 1915 in New Jersey, although he teethed in the shadow of the "Blacktown” ammo dump explosion, his memories coasted through the Jazz Age. Though it was said the ‘Deutsch’ set off the pyrotechnics and inadvertently blew themselves up. So, no harm done; just a nasty, sooty column of smoke to scare both sides of the Hudson. Fast forward to July 4, 1981. A drum, a tinny trumpet and possibly a tootling fife led the way down leafy St. John’s Street in sleepy, genteel New Canaan, Connecticut. Parading hesitatingly but proudly, my now 66-year-old Unk held his tattered 47-star silken stars and stripes high over his head and smiled wanly as he passed my folding chair perch on his lush green lawn. In 1942, Jacques was already in line for a professorship in Classics and Ancient Languages at the University of Bridgeport. He participated in some skirmishes with the Nazis — was it in Italy? — but sustained no lasting damage. After the three-block Independence Day parade concluded, Jacques and I sat in the kitchen. He beat me soundly in two to three rounds of chess. Two years hence, after his death from metastatic cancer, the Bridgeport dean established a chair in his name. Amen, Jacques!

Veterans JACQUELINE TURNER Artist/Vendor

The truest Americans are the armed forces members who keep us free. Imagine traveling to faraway places, facing difficult conditions and hostile people who let it be known they are the enemy, and running for your life while enduring hardships. Your energy can last minute-tominute or day-to-day. The only things that keep you going are a love of family and country. I can only imagine this because I am not a veteran. I think many people consider being in the military but may not be brave or proud about joining the armed services.

Happy Veterans Day BRIANNA BUTLER Artist/Vendor

This is a salute to all the veterans who have served our country. I appreciate your good works. I know it’s hard to keep up with your loved ones when you are so far away. I understand you want to reach out and touch them. When you finally get to talk with your family on a computer, you start giggling and crying because of the emotional toll that missing each other takes on your lives. Then, arriving home at last, you will receive lots of hugs and squeals of joy for the years spent apart. After all that pain, I think our government should do a better job of supplying your needs with jobs and sufficient mental health services. After all, you veterans put in all you have to give, the government should fully take care of you. To me, you’ve already qualified. You don’t have anything more to prove.

Grateful LATICIA BROCK Artist/Vendor

Coming from me a little old girl well, woman (Pweezy) from the block imagine what veterans feel after their service for our country Imagine seeing your friend or brother shot next to you or Agent Orange left on your skin or your homeless family member freezing to death right beside you Why after all they’ve done do veterans have such problems getting their pensions and their health benefits I was never drafted but I went to jail so I know about post traumatic stress and that’s why I’m thankful to the veterans and to Street Sense for stabilizing my mental health and feeding my stomach

12 / / S TR E E T S E NSE M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21, 2023

ART

To be

Time

Damned me

KYM PARKER

DWAYNE BUTLER

GRACIAS GARCIAS

Artist/Vendor

To be a Black woman in this world To be a strong, understanding and loving woman To know love, to know compassion, to know respect That frees us To be loved, that’s me To be an African queen, a vampire So, Kymra, know that God loves you Know where we are in this world We are all strong, beautiful vampires We know what love is We feel it everyday We are strong, beautiful, proud women We are teachers, lovers, parents and friends We know that We tell it all I know where I am in this world I feel pain, grief every day I feel joy, life every day I understand my place And I love God for it My path is righteous I am always worthy Kymra loves us, Kymra loves you We feel, we know love, life, laughter — we have fun We dance — we are dancers, poets, lawyers, doctors and the president of the United States We are CEOs, we own property We are strong We work hard at what we do And all of this is for God So promise me, worship her and she will love you For all time, all day Know her plans are always working And know she loves us To be

My birthday is coming up JEFFREY CARTER Artist/Vendor

I will be 60 on Nov. 16, and I don’t know what to do about that. I’ve done everything in life I can think of. My mother and my sister always made sure I had a good birthday. They went out of their way to make that happen, like decorating the house and making sure I had what I wanted. They didn’t really surprise me with gifts because they knew what I wanted. If I wanted a new bike, I got it. If I wanted a new coat or a new watch, I got it. That showed how much we loved each other. We would do anything no matter the cost. We really loved each other very much.

Time for loving, no time for hating, Time for caring, no time for fighting, Time for thinking, no time for racism, You don’t have a lot of time. You are given time to make changes. The best thing you can do to help yourself is to make time for God and put him in your life. Be real with yourself. Give time to heal. Follow God’s rules, ask for forgiveness, and he will bless you. Never give up on him or yourself. Give all of yourself to Yehovah and your God and your time will be even greater. I want everybody to remember that well-spent time equals valuable time. Time to love and no time to hate. To get a greater understanding of love. Time is the answer. Time to see righteousness and feel righteous.

I cursed me from Without and within. This mirror that names me These thoughts be cursed With this world in flames. Doomed by actions and reactions. May suffering this fate be My way out from me.

People for Fairness Coalition QUEENIE FEATHERSTONE Artist/Vendor

A nonprofit advocacy and mentoring peer support organization helping people experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to end chronic homelessness. One day while I’m alive and well, I will be able to see many people reach this reality and receive a roof over their heads. Yes, housed! I, Queenie Featherstone, being homeless for 12 years, now have secured housing. I’ve been living in my abode for over one year. May 2022, and still there in 2023.

Homelessness 101: Laws and strategies to survive homelessness CARLOS CAROLINA Artist/Vendor

Law #1: Never let your situation show For the moment you let your situation show, You will be treated as your situation.

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

Navigating tomorrow's compass CHON GOTTI Artist/Vendor

In the heart of this great nation, where dreams are born anew, A coalition stands united, to shed light on a truth so true. For in the shadows of prosperity, where dreams can disappear, The National Coalition for the Homeless asks, "Where do we go from here?" In the city's endless bustle, where ambition knows no bounds, There exists a stark reminder of those lost, who wander in their rounds. Through the alleys and the byways, where despair so often seers, The question lingers in the air, "Where do we go from here?" The homeless, not faceless, but with stories to unfold, Carry burdens, silent battles, in the search for warmth and gold. In the heart of this great struggle, where injustice often sneers, A plea arises from their souls, "Where do we go from here?" The coalition, like a beacon, shines a light on darkened streets, Advocating, caring, striving, to make homelessness retreat. In the tapestry of their mission, compassion surely steers, As they strive for lasting answers, "Where do we go from here?" With every shelter offered, with every meal and care, They combat the indifference, alleviate the great despair. But the ultimate solution, not just soothing present tears, Demands a forward-looking vision, "Where do we go from here?" It's a question for our consciences, a challenge for our hearts, To redefine society's compass, where every life imparts, The promise of a home, where love can reappear, As we ponder, plan and act, "Where do we go from here?" The coalition's mission, not just to provide respite, But to ignite a revolution, where hope takes its rightful height. A world where homelessness retreats, where compassion perseveres, In their tireless quest, they find the answer, "We go forward from here." So let us stand beside them, let empathy guide our way, For together we'll discover a brighter, kinder day. In the face of this great challenge, with conviction so sincere, We'll forge a path to change, as we boldly say, "We shall and we will go from here."

Chosen few DOMINIQUE ANTHONY Artist/Vendor

In 2007, my life changed. I became infected with HIV and I decided that I needed to change my life. Around that time, I became involved with HIPS in D.C. and I started going to some trainings and became more involved with the community. I learned more ways to help people. Harm reduction can save lives. We can prevent HIV and AIDs and overdoses and teach more harm reduction. There should be harm reduction vending machines all over the city. I am a former peer educator and volunteer at HIPS. I am also a former drug user and I was in the streets, hanging with the hustlers and drug dealers. I was a young girl growing up in D.C., looking for love in all the wrong places. I had an affair with a young man who was a drug dealer and was negatively involved in the community. I became a speaker and advocate for people in my community. I learned to live with my HIV status and how to take care of myself. My oldest son is 21 years old, a freshman. I never thought I would see him growing up.

Homeless is not a joke GIGI DOVONOU Artist/Vendor

I was born into a perfect family. My father, the late Raphael, was a wise teacher. My mother, the late Philomene, was wonderful too. With my family and siblings, we were doing well until I decided to come and experience the American dream, as everyone does. I came to the United States. I made more than $45 million dollars through five gas stations within five years. Still, I fell into homelessness. But I refused to be called homeless. I demanded to be called houseless, because of two factors: One side: I had a home, and America is home. I rested all day on G Street in front of Martin Luther King Jr. Library where I lived and had my belongings. I always go to 1313 New York Avenue where I have my bathroom. My kitchen is located at Miriam’s Kitchen. My closet store is at So Others May Eat. My shack is located right there at Pathways. My dining room is at Shepherd‘s Table. My job and office is at Street Sense Media. Another side: I had houses I constructed myself in Africa. My family had many acres of land that I called earth home. I know that as long as I’m living on this earth, on this planet, I am home. Earth home. When my time is over down here, I have a service to head to heaven home. In conclusion, I will say no one is and should not be called homeless, but houseless. It is time to thank all those who are actively involved in working to end homelessness. Homelessness is not a joke. Every human being is free to choose where to live on this planet. We don’t need to be born there to belong to here. For those who are discriminating, please stop! As long as we all follow the rules and laws and contribute to the country, we all belong here.

Let’s rhyme again DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor

The word call rhymes with the word ball. The word net rhymes with the word pet. The word cool rhymes with the word fool. The word girl rhymes with the word pearl. The word will rhymes with the word chill. The word cook rhymes with the word book. The word Thomas rhymes with the word promise.

Squared up, bringing up the rear LEVESTER GREEN Artist/Vendor

Big Rubes, not rude, and I'z not Lee, But I'm definitely in the lead. As well as this here street league, they just refused to let me be, thinking they could be bigger than the city. Cause he stayed up the street at Kings Square! Met him through Monica and Monique back when we were selling body oils in the streets, out in front of the stores trying to compete against the guys with CDs just so we could eat! I met Diamond in the rough, legend in the streets! Known for not needing heat. Showing and proving that they are the weak. On my grind, I search and I seek until I find. Got my money on my mind. Making it mandatory to see my sink, and no it doesn't mean I’m going to sink. Players ain't answering their pings like their pongs, well then poof, be gone somewhere you belong. I'm way too far gone. I set sail and set my diamonds square. Even people there know that not many can or could compare — only those unaware would even dare.

14 / / S TR E E T S E N SE M ED IA // N O V. 8 - N O V. 21 , 2023 CROSSWORD

FUN & GAMES

That Lovin’ Feeling

Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre

1. Packs (down), as pipe tobacco 6. Burn with hot water 11. It might be run back for a TD (abbr.) 14. Symbol of slowness 15. Mystery writer’s award 16. “There’s ___ in ‘team’” (2 wds.) (2,1) 17. How lovers feel (3 wds.) (2,5,4) 19. RR stop (abbr.) 20. Healthcare benefits giant 21. Following 23. 2006 animated film that could well have featured Harrison Ford’s and Chevy Chase’s voices? 25. Swedish furniture chain known for readyto-assemble pieces 27. TV’s “American ___” 28. G.I. entertainers (abbr./acron./initialism) 29. How lovers feel (4 wds.) (5,2,2,2) 32. Country singer Tucker 34. “Aida” composer 35. Observed secretly and without permission (2 wds.) (5,2) 38. Hold in contempt 42. Oohed and ____ (gushed over) 44. Pizazz 45. What lovers are (3 wds.) (4,3,4) (VOTE HORMONE anagram) 50. Setting for many a joke 51. Ivy in Philly 52. Fairly good-sized holder? (2 wds.) (1,3) 53. Mother of the Valkyries (DARE anagram) 54. Dull and unimaginative 57. Result of changing locks? (2 wds.) (3,2) (OWNED anagram) 59. Windsor’s prov. (abbr.) 60. How lovers feel (4-7) 64. Ed.’s request (abbr./initialism) 65. Flavorful sense 66. Actress Knightley, of “Love Actually” 67. Chicago trains, briefly 68. “Angela’s ____” (Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of growing up in Ireland) 69. Spiral-horned Serengeti antelope Down 1. General associated with chicken 2. ___ Arbor 3. What Yankee Doodle called “... a feather in his cap...” 4. Stock____ (collects and sets aside for future use) 5. Opening for a coin or a would-be-candidate 6. “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” singer Neil 7. Like so-called “Loonie” dollars on currency exch. boards (abbr.) 8. All worked up 9. Female name concealed in “Call an ambulance” 10. Eins, zwei, ___... (Ger.) 11. Type of poker straight that is roughly twice as difficult to fill as its counterpart 12. “Later! I’m tied up at the moment.” (2 wds.) (3,3) (WON TON anagram) 13. Goose bump-producing feeling 18. Together, in Toulouse (Fr.) 22. Drive that might result in scoring? 23. Chuck, loin, rib and round, for meat

SOLUTION: Where’s the Candy?

Across

LAST EDITION’S PUZZLE SOLUTION ____ Issue 1 14 16 19 22 25 30

36 43 49 52 56

27 31

N A

61 63

40 48

E 59

24. Alternative initialism for P.D.Q. 26. The “E” in 64-Across (abbr.) 29. Angry with, familiarly (2 wds.) (3,2) 30. Prefix with angle 31. Uses/consumes way too much of, briefly (2 wds.) (3,2) (incls. abbr./initialism) 33. Longs (for) 36. “I finally get it!” 37. Attention-getting question in payday loan co. ads (2 wds.) (4,4) (HE DANCES anagram) 39. Fruity dessert, or so-called Food of the Gods 40. Apple product since 2010 41. Drag racing or. (abbr./initialism) 43. Run-____ (hip-hop group) 45. Fight against, as a policy proposal 46. ____ equinox (astronomical beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere ) 47. Online memos (SEEN TO anagram) 48. Pound parts 49. Letters above or beside 0 (abbr.) 53. 1950’s Ford flop 55. Nick and Nora Charles’ canine in old Hollywood film franchise 56. “I’ll take ____ a compliment” (2 wds.) (2,2) 58. What Fla Governor DeSantis says “comes to die” in his state 61. A.A.A. recommendation (abbr.) 62. Coastal flier 63. One’s grandpa’s male offspring

*This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre. It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.

44 48

AKINDELE AKEREJAH Artist/Vendor

27 30

19 21

20 23

17 18

X 47

I 46

W 45

I M

G N

Illustration of the week

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

COMMUNITY SERVICES

SHELTER HOTLINE Línea directa de alojamiento

(202) 399-7093

YOUTH HOTLINE Línea de juventud

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE Línea directa de violencia doméstica

(202) 547-7777

1-800-799-7233

Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento

Education Educación

Health Care Seguro

Clothing Ropa

Legal Assistance Assistencia Legal

Case Management Coordinación de Servicios

Food Comida

Employment Assistance Assitencia con Empleo

Transportation Transportación

Showers Duchas

All services listed are referral-free Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org

Bread for the City - 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 - 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Good Hope Rd., SE calvaryservices.org

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry Identification services Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org

Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9128 425 2nd St., NW jobshavepriority.org

Charlie’s Place // 202-232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org

Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org

Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

2375 Elvans Road SE 2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2060 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

Laundry Lavandería

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-888-793-4357

JOB BOARD Utility worker

The George Washington University Hospital // 900 23rd St. NW Full-time

Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org

Responsible for the general cleaning and sanitation of the equipment and serving utensils throughout the department. REQUIRED: High school diploma or GED APPLY: tinyurl.com/GWUHUtility

Server St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-333-4949 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org

Hot N Juicy Crawfish // 2651 Connectivut Ave. NW Part-time/Full-time Provide enthusiastic and dedicated customer service to dining patrons. REQUIRED: N/A

Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699

APPLY: tinyurl.com/crawfishserverdc

1500 Galen Street SE, 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 555 L Street SE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place, NE, 810 5th Street NW

Full-time

Bellman

Cosmos Club // 2121 Massachusetts Ave NW

Responsible for welcoming members and guests and carrying their belongings to their rooms. REQUIRED: N/A APPLY: tinyurl.com/bellmancosmos

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org

For further information and listings, gs, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org

Like what you see? All visual art in this issue is available for sale, with half the proceeds going to the artist and half to support Street Sense Media. Email annemarie@ streetsensemedia.org for details.

MARS

CHRIS COLE Artist/Vendor

Artist/Vendor

RACHELLE ELLISON Artist/Vendor FREEDOM Artist/Vendor

From your vendor,

In Our Own Voices

N O V. 8 - N O V. 2 1 , 2 0 2 3 | VOLUME 20 ISSUE 42

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE AN APP! SEARCH “STREET SENSE” IN THE APP STORE

Artist/Vendors 2003 -2023 Oral Histories

Hear Conrad Cheek Jr. talk about insect coffins, discrimination, and stealing back his own car.

streetsensedc.podbean.com

WWW.INSP.NGO

3.2 million READERS

5,700 VENDORS

90+

STREET PAPERS

COUNTRIES

LANGUAGES