April 2023 STREETZine

STREETZine

Offering financial opportunity to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals.

STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot and a member of International Network of Street Papers

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One Ride at a Time

By Wendy Rojo

Every morning I wake up and get ready for work, then I drive to work. I wake up knowing that my car is waiting for me to start my day. I know my car can take me from Point A to Point B. A privilege that many of us take for granted until we have a car problem. We get a flat tire, or the battery stops working; however, many of us are still able to adapt, and we quickly address our car problems.

Living in a quick-paced environment like Dallas requires us to make it to work, to school, to dinner, etc. I tend to forget how valuable a car is until I realize that many do not simply wake up and expect their car to transport them places. For many, there is a concern about how they will get to work or how they will make it to a doctor’s appointment.

Luckily, we count on public transportation. The Dallas transit system (DTS), a public transit service, operated in Dallas from 1964-1983. On August 13, 1983, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) replaced DTS as expansions occurred. In 1996, the DART light rail began operating and is now the longest light rail system in the United States. The rail is 93 miles long and operates within 12 cities in Dallas. The DART system allows individuals to move around Dallas and surrounding cities with ease.

In fact, DART gets around 140,000 riders per day. Fare prices for DART rides range from two dollars for a day pass to a couple hundred if you buy an annual pass. However, it can add up for those who have to use public transportation every day or for those who depend on DART for more than just transportation. Some of our neighbors depend on the DART as an escape from the weather or as a type of shelter.

As helpful as those rides are, there is a need for free transportation for our neighbors who need to be able to access the resources they require. So, in October of 2019 a new Dallas Connector Project launched to offer free, regularly scheduled transportation for those experiencing homelessness. Various organizations hoping their clients can easily access necessary services launched the project. Daniel Roby, CEO of Austin Street Center puts the need this way: “Lack of affordable public transportation is a long-standing problem for the homeless.”

[I]n October of 2019 a new Dallas Connector Project launched to offer free-regularly scheduled transportation for those experiencing homelessness.

Between October 2019 and September 2020, The Connector provided rides to 2,289 different passengers. The Dallas Connector Project directly correlated to 86 individuals placed into housing and 157 being added to the housing priority list. The need for this service is seen every day, as providing a shuttle can lead to positive changes like a job interview, an ID, or a shelter.

We need to keep pushing for affordable transportation for all. The DART system is an option but purchasing a pass for every single day can add up to hundreds of dollars. Projects like the Dallas Connector need our continued support.

Wendy Rojo is managing editor of STREETZine.

Things to Know

*An American Public Transit Association survey of 49 transit agencies found that 73% of them believe homelessness impacts their ridership in some way and 68% believe that transit agencies should play a role in addressing homelessness.

Source: American Public Transportation Association

*In March 2021, the City of Dallas reported the Dallas Connector resulted in savings of $1.2 million when compared to the costs of nonprofits supplying bus passes to clients.

Source: City of Dallas

The Dallas Connector

Photo Courtesy of Mike McCall.

STREETZine

STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot.

Pastor’s Letter: We are Cain and Abel

By Reverend Amos Jerman Disasa

Editor’s Note: This essay is excerpted from a sermon that Rev. Disasa delivered at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas on March 11, 2023.

The STREETZine is a monthly newspaper published by The Stewpot, a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. The Stewpot provides services and resources for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of being homeless. The organization also offers opportunities for a new life.

As part of this ministry, the STREETZine seeks to raise awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The monthly publication also offers financial opportunity for Stewpot clients who sell the paper to Dallas residents. Vendors are able to move towards economic self-sufficiency by using the money they receive from selling copies to purchase bus passes, food, and necessary living expenses. Clients also receive stipends for contributing articles to STREETZine.

The content in STREETZine does not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of its publisher, editors, contributors, sponsors or advertisers. To learn more about this publication, contact Betty Heckman, Director of Enrichment, 1835 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 or BettyH@thestewpot. org. To read more about STREETZine, a member of the International Network of Street Papers, go to www. thestewpot.org/streetzine.

STREETZine is published by The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church.

Managing Editor: Wendy Rojo

Editorial Advisory Board:

The Rev. Amos Disasa

Brenda Snitzer

Suzanne Erickson

David Moore

Poppy Sundeen

Sarah Disasa

William McKenzie

Betty Heckman

streetzine@thestewpot.org

As the story goes, the first humans had been tempted by a talking serpent to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the one tree God specifically said not to touch, or else they would die.

They didn’t die after eating the fruit, but their life in the perfectly situated garden, tenderly and slowly created by God, was over. They lost everything. And God pronounced four curses: One for the woman, one for the man, one for the talking serpent, and one on their future farmland.

God sent them east of the garden. To make sure no one attempted to reenter the garden, a cherubim armed with a flaming sword was stationed outside the garden at the entrance.

The flaming sword signals the threat of death and anticipates the violence that will soon come. God determined that the humans were capable of anything, even an armed rebellion. We shouldn’t be naive to the fact that the first angel sent by God carried a weapon.

On the other side of the garden gates

Seven verses later we find out why. Our reading begins with verse 8 of chapter 4, but to understand the saga of Cain and Abel, you’ll need to know what happened in the first seven verses.

On the other side of the garden gates, Eve gave birth to two boys. The oldest son’s name is Cain. He would grow up to be a farmer, like his father Adam. His name doesn’t carry any obvious meaning. But his birth position does.

Next, she bore his brother Abel. He became a keeper of sheep and Cain a tiller of the ground.

Older and younger. Farmer and shepherd. Cain and Abel. But the divine blessing was missing for Abel’s birth. Abel is the Prince Harry of Genesis 4, a spare. A back-up plan.

We shouldn’t be naive to the fact that the first two verses of Genesis 4, the first two verses documenting the life of human beings on the other side of the garden gates, assume that we are intrinsically aware of and have no reason to question the preeminence of unearned social status.

Or to put it another way, in the first recorded story of humanity outside the idyllic garden, there is a perceived pecking order that the mother of all living generously promotes without any pushback! We are like two steps out of the garden and it’s already a fact of life that Cain’s existence is more valuable than Abel’s? The first two humans are coming off an epic encounter with God in the garden from which they should have learned from God’s equal treatment of Adam and Eve that we are all in this together.

We are like two steps out of the garden and it’s already a fact of life that Cain’s existence is more valuable than Abel’s?

But Adam and Eve can’t help themselves. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The knowledge they consumed was that they were free to choose between good and evil. But since both came from the same place, they were easily confused. And so, Adam and Eve named their second son Abel, which means futility or nothingness.

The expendable Abel

Adam and Eve couldn’t return to the garden to eat from the tree of life and live forever, but if they had a son, their name would never be forgotten. Cain was their ticket to immortality. Abel was their backup plan. As long as both brothers were alive, Abel was nothing: a spare, expendable.

Which is why I think Cain was so angry when God accepted Abel’s offering and ignored Cain’s. Cain brought an offering from his farm. Abel brought an offering from his flock. Some commentators argue that God favored Abel’s offering because it was more lavish.

But an explanation for Abel’s offering being accepted instead of Cain’s based on which brother sacrificed more, is speculative and ignores they both brought what

Continued on page 5

Executive Director’s Report

By Brenda Snitzer

Folks experiencing homelessness usually do not have reliable transportation. The Dallas Area Rapid Transportation (DART) system has many routes all around the city, but many people lack the access to or funds for DART tickets and passes.

If people experiencing homelessness do have a car, it is costly to maintain the upkeep, registration, and insurance. It also is expensive to keep it fueled. People who are working may be unhoused because they need to spend what little funds they have on transportation to and from their jobs.

With any type of housing being unaffordable for so many people, you will see someone working a full-time job and still living in shelter or in their car. This is why housing programs like The Stewpot and other partners have is so important. They help clients get on their feet and ahead of all the costly daily-living items.

The lack of mobility is a huge issue for people trying to get a job and/or housing. Every employment opportunity demands that you interview (mostly in person) and that could be anywhere in the city. Riding the bus or train — and sometimes both — to an interview somewhere new may mean a lot of planning and bus fare that individuals might not have.

Once someone gets employed, they have to plan for bus fare for a number of weeks before they begin getting a paycheck. If their job is far from where they are staying, it may mean a number of routes and different bus transfers and a long commute. And that is if they don’t miss any buses. An eight-hour day may end up being a 10-11 hour day. Since many of these jobs are for minimum wage positions, the person has difficulty getting ahead.

To deal with these needs, several nonprofits, including The Stewpot, started The Connector. The service came about after a number of discussions about the challenges unhoused and shelter guests have in getting to appointments for medical, mental health, employment, housing and other services.

Leaders from The Stewpot, CitySquare, and Austin Street began planning for a transportation system that could help folks get to the various service providers that assist those experiencing homelessness. Edd Eason, who was a long-time leader at CitySquare, helped spearhead the project along with Daniel Roby, CEO of Austin Street, and myself. Together, we developed a proposal for the system and sought funding.

The biggest hurdle was the funding, and we scored when the City of Dallas became our major funder. We brought on a few other organizations that now help fund and oversee The Connector. The entire list includes: Austin Street, CitySquare, OurCalling, North Texas Behavioral Health, Salvation Army, The Stewpot, and the City of Dallas. CitySquare helped manage the first two years of the project; Austin Street is now managing it. (A huge shoutout to Edd Eason who has continued to assist with everything from driving when drivers were out to now, long-after his retirement from CitySquare, continuing to run The Connector as a part-time Austin Street employee. Without Edd, The Connector might not have happened!)

Anyone can ride The Connector, but the majority of riders are those who are in shelter or unhoused. There are two routes and two buses. One larger bus moves around the city in a smaller circle that includes locations of all the partner agencies. The smaller bus includes a few other stops, such as at the jail and the Veteran’s Administration.

Maintaining The Connector is less expensive than giving all our clients bus passes. It also is a more direct transportation route to these various locations than riding DART. In the more than three years that it has been operating, we continue to have a high ridership and satisfied users.

This collective impact solution is why we all continue to collaborate on this and many other projects. Our goal is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Things to Know about Transportation and Homelessness

*Public transportation systems face significant increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness, including people using public transportation services and facilities as shelters.

Source: National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

*One study in Minneapolis showed that 55% of unsheltered residents were sleeping on transit cars. The survey included data from five biannual counts of people experiencing homelessness in Minneapolis.

Source: Homelessness on public transit: A review of problems and responses

*Often homeless individuals use public transit service and facilities as make-shift shelters which may lead to the perception for some people that public transit is unsafe or an unpleasant transportation option.

Source: American Public Transportation Association

*Transit facilities provide basic needs, like shelter when no facilities are available, police presence, public restrooms, and food and clothing donations.

Source: American Public Transportation Association

*A 2018 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) study found that only five percent of surveyed transit operators had resources allocated for homeless outreach efforts.

Source: American Public Transportation Association

*Transit agencies across the U.S. have begun to recognize the importance of assisting unhoused individuals on their services, including using more targeted support personnel with the social services skills needed to support these individuals.

Source: National Center for Mobility Management

*The Dallas Connector Project provides free, regularly scheduled transportation to persons experiencing homelessness so they can access services needed to secure health care, housing and employment.

Source: City of Dallas

Brenda Snitzer is the executive director of The Stewpot.

Site to Site, Unsighted: A Blind Woman’s Journey

By Poppy Sundeen

Twenty years ago, Nicole Massey’s world changed abruptly. The sudden onset of blindness forced the college student to rethink everything. One of the most pressing issues was transportation. “At first, I was relying on the kindness of friends to get to campus,” she says. “Then I’d feel my way along walls, bumping into benches.”

Nicole soon realized that her original plan — getting a Bachelor of Music degree and teaching a high school jazz band — was no longer practical. “My goal at that point was just to get my degree. I wanted to get that accomplished.”

She did indeed accomplish that — and so much more. Today, Nicole is adept at navigating life as a blind person. She walks confidently with a cane. She cooks. She writes both music and fiction. And she knows how to get around the Dallas area using buses, light rail and paratransit.

Learning the ropes

“I figured things out in dribs and drabs, mostly by asking questions,” says Nicole. One thing she knew for sure was that she’d need to rely on Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). “I went through their process for the disabled, and because I’m blind, they issued me a DART picture ID that allows me to travel on the bus or train for free.”

For a number of years, she rode DART in the company of Guardian, a yellow Labrador Retriever guide dog. “If I was at a light rail station and the train wasn’t there, Guardian would divert me and keep me from stepping off the platform.”

Using the DART system, Nicole managed to get where she needed to go, although some of the trips involved multiple buses and/or trains. She recalls one expedition from her home to a mall in North Garland, a store at Mockingbird and Abrams and then back home as an all-day affair. “It took eight buses and a light rail train, and we had to go through downtown to make it work.”

Paratransit to the rescue

Nicole’s blindness made her eligible for DART paratransit. Using Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, the program offers qualified participants curb-to-curb transportation for just three dollars a trip.

“During Covid, paratransit was restricted. At one point, I had to carry a letter saying that I was on dialysis.”

It wasn’t until 2018 — the year she was diagnosed with kidney failure — that Nicole began using paratransit regularly. Her treatment called for dialysis three days a week, making the need for reliable transportation vital to her health. To complicate matters, the dialysis clinic was in Mesquite, and at the time, Mesquite wasn’t served by DART buses and trains. “I knew paratransit had to be an option, because there weren’t any other ones.”

Nicole contacted DART and learned how to set up rides. “At first, I was calling in the day before each trip. Then I did a little more research and found out about subscriptions.” Subscription service enabled her to book ahead for convenience.

The good, the bad and the memorable DART contracts with taxi services to fulfill many of its paratransit requests. Because drivers vary, the experience does as well. Nicole considers most, but not all, of her taxi rides successful. “I had a time or two when a driver took me to the wrong place. I was lucky to catch them before they left.” She points out that if she hadn’t stopped them in time, she could have called for someone to pick her up, although it might have caused a few problems. Other rides have presented unexpected delights. “One driver was listening to Prince,” she recalls, “so I asked him to turn the volume way up, and we bopped all the way there.”

A happy ending

These days, Nicole doesn’t use paratransit very often for a very fortuitous reason: no more dialysis, thanks to successful kidney transplant surgery in 2021. With three-day-a-week treatments behind her, Nicole has more time to work on her writing and other interests.

She continues to be a fan of transit, but is reluctant to use it when traveling alone. “It’s so much simpler for sighted people, because there’s a code on every bus stop sign you can use to identify the route and tell you when the bus will arrive based on current traffic.”

Nicole hopes that one day DART bus stops will be linked to a popular wayfaring app for the visually impaired. “I use Nearby Explorer Online to tell me the addresses of where I’m walking, whether it’s a business and what kind. I wish DART could to tap into that and identify bus stops. It would make things so much easier for blind folks.”

Until then, she’ll continue to take the bus with sighted companions and grab the occasional ride with friends. Those who do her a favor can expect to be richly compensated with interesting conversation and a dose of inspiration.

Poppy Sundeen, a Dallas writer, is a member of The STREETZine editorial board.

Photo Courtesy of Nicole Massey.

Genesis 4:8-16

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!

11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!

14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.”

15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.

16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Continued from page 2

they had. Cain was a farmer; Abel was a shepherd. Cain couldn’t have offered a piece of meat if he wanted to.

Other commentators say that God rejected Cain’s offering because he didn’t make it with a pure heart. But those readings give God more credit than deserved for knowing what’s in Cain’s heart.

The God we’ve come to know so far in the creation story seems to be learning about the humans at the same time they are learning about God, who is surprised that the humans ate from the one tree they were told not to touch. God stands an armed cherubim at the garden gates in a sign of uncertainty about what the humans are capable of doing. And we see in this text that God is genuinely surprised to learn that Cain killed his brother.

The Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” he said, “I do not know, am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done?”

We shouldn’t be naive to the fact that the first murder in the bible is committed immediately after the first worship service. The futile one, the back-up plan, the nothing brother, is erased.

The story ends with a profound measure of grace. God doesn’t kill Cain in return, but the grace is complicated. Cain is cast out of his family and forced to settle east of the garden in the land of Nod. He is marked in a way that protects him from others but also identifies him as a murderer.

The impulse to erase the innocent

In his name and with his blood-stained hands, a civilization will be built and named after him, which is the creation story of all the world’s empires. They all depended on someone being erased.

Rome was named after a man that murdered his own brother. And it was built on the tragic lie that goes like this: For me to be, someone else must be erased. That tragic lie excused the erasure of North American natives and colonized and enslaved Africans, Japanese Americans during World War II, European Jews during the holocaust, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Tutsis in Rwanda, and Ukrainians minding their business beside Russia.

The impulse to erase the innocent is as old as time. And so is God’s preference to protect them. I’ve been telling us that we shouldn’t be naive to certain facts of the creation story, but maybe we should. There is no easy answer to God’s preference for Abel’s offering rather than Cain’s, until you notice that the rest of the bible is a story of Abels. From Abel to Jesus, God persistently takes the side of people with their backs against the wall, the nothing brothers and sisters, the one’s whose life stories are titled “futility.”

This text tempts us to choose between the two brothers, to pick a side. Don’t. None of us are 100% Abels or 100% Cains. We are both.

This text tempts us to choose between the two brothers, to pick a side. Don’t. None of us are 100% Abels or 100% Cains. We are both.

Ultimately, the difference between them was their voice. Up to this point, we hear from every character in the creation story. Adam talks, Eve talks, Cain talks, God talks, even the serpent talks. All of them are quoted defending themselves, explaining their sin, manipulating others.

The only character that never speaks is Abel. The creation story will always be unfinished, until and unless someone speaks for him. May it be so.

Reverend Amos Jerman Disasa is senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.

Traveling Adventures

By Vicki Gies

I’ve enjoyed traveling to various places throughout my life. Some travels were for fun. Some were to visit friends or family. Some were to see new things. No matter where I traveled, or how I got there, I always enjoyed it.

I would say that my first travels started out in some kind of old-timey stroller, although I don’t remember it. I do, however, remember my very own metal tricycle. It was red and white with black handles. I traveled everywhere on that thing! I went all over our yard and our neighbor’s yard. I’m not sure what happened to it, but it may be in an antique store somewhere. It was also around that time that I did a lot of traveling in my wagon.

When I was three or four years old, I went on my first and only trip on a passenger train from Little Rock, Arkansas, where I was born, to Tupelo, Mississippi, to visit my grandparents and other relatives. The train wasn’t the only thing traveling —I also traveled from window to window to keep myself entertained.

When I was eight years old, my mother and I got to travel on my dad’s tour bus to Florida. He was part of a gospel quartet, and it was a real treat to get to ride on the bus. I remember it being very crowded.

In the early 1970s I traveled to New Orleans after visiting relatives in Mississippi and Alabama. I remember riding in the car across Lake Pontchartrain and feeling like it went forever and ever. It seemed like we were driving on the lake as we went across the 24-mile bridge and couldn’t see anything but water on either side.

Soon after that trip to New Orleans, my parents and I took what we called The Great American Road Trip out west. We started our two-week journey in Dallas, and we headed to Big Bend National Park. It was beautiful, and I remember thinking that it was odd to see mountains in Texas. Big Bend National Park is one of the only places in Texas that has mountains.

From there we traveled to New Mexico to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We took the tour and ate our packed lunch in the

“Big Room,” which is the largest cave in North America. Even though there were hundreds, maybe thousands of bats in the caverns, our lunch stayed safe from attack.

We left the caverns before getting to see the night flight that evening because we needed to continue our travels to Albuquerque to stay for the night. From there we traveled along I-40 through Monument Valley in Arizona, and on to Flagstaff, where we spent another night.

The next morning, we traveled north for the greatest highlight of the entire trip: the Grand Canyon. I’d seen pictures of it before but seeing it in person was breathtaking. From there we drove though Kayenta, Arizona, to the Four Corners, and then on to Colorado. We went through Wolf Creek Pass and on to Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge. I remember it being a very windy day when my dad drove us across the bridge.

When we got to Colorado Springs, we took the cog train up to Pike’s Peak, which is the best way to go! I got to see a bald eagle in free flight. The conductor said that the eagle’s wing span was eight feet!

My travels continued after I got married. My husband at that time was a Hella

Shriner. Whenever they had an event or convention, I got to tag along. I remember one particular event in El Paso. No one wanted to drive, and flying was too expensive. We put our heads together and chartered a Greyhound bus. The bus was to leave at night, just about the time I would be falling asleep. I don’t know about you, but I don’t sleep very well sitting up. So, for that trip, I crawled up in the luggage rack and slept as we traveled all the way to El Paso.

Whether by way of stroller, bike, wagon, passenger train, tour bus, car, cog train, or Greyhound bus, I am thankful that I have been able to travel and see so many beautiful parts of America.

Vicki Gies is a STREETZine vendor and frequent contributor.

Photo of Carlsbad Caverns National Park Courtesy of Wendy Rojo.

Writers’ Workshop Essays

Editor’s Note: Each Friday morning at 10 a.m., The Stewpot hosts a Writers’ Workshop. During the sessions, participants address selected topics through prose or poetry. In this edition of STREETZine, we feature the essays of writers about transportation.

Making the Journey

By James Varas

I was quite proud of my Cadillac CTS with a sunroof. I strolled into Dallas, in my new ride, from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. This took place around a year ago, back in April 2022.

Dallas was a new territory for me. I lived in Houston for almost 20 years, so I would treat Dallas as a younger brother. I was leaving my hometown of San Antonio. My mother had gone to heaven, and it was time to move on. I would now have time with my dad.

I drove to see my dad on a surprise visit. It had probably been around a decade since I had been to the house in Frisco, Texas.

I made the call and talked to him with gentle words. My dad always studied my voice to find clues on how I was. We are very close to one another. If I am upset, then he is upset.

I told him I was trying to rebuild my life and I needed help. I then asked if I was ever in the area could I come see him? I was surprised he didn’t put two-and-two together because I was calling from maybe half a mile from his house, and they were shooting fireworks in the background.

I drove to see my dad on a surprise visit. It had probably been around a decade since I had been to the house in Frisco, Texas.

Finally, I said, “Pops, I’m right down the street from you.” He said, “Come home.” His voice was very calm to mask his concern. I told him I would be there in the morning.

I parked my car in the shade, in a parking lot with lots of trees. My two darling puppies were with me. I made sure they were well situated as I gathered myself to see my dad.

I walked up to the huge house on the corner and knocked on the door. He opened the door and said with a smile, “Go take a shower, son. I am gathering new clothes.” I began stripping off my war clothes, the clothes that I wear as I fight through struggles. (There are many battles in life that only God knows about.)

I remember the feeling of being somewhere safe for the moment. But it wouldn’t take long for the army of people to encamp around me. And all they seem to do is make noise.

I remember embracing the comfort of the water as it washed away my pain. It called to my body like my soul calls to Jesus. How wonderful that hot water felt as it penetrated my skin.

Then I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and my dad handed me an electric razor and a brand-new shaving blade. He said, “Shave all that beard off. “ He then returned with new clothes, and I began to get dressed.

I entered the living room, dressed in his wardrobe, and I was clean and shaved. He said, “There’s my son.” I smiled holding my agony inside, as tears poured down my face, in a silent cry. I wiped my face and smiled like some crazy warrior coming in from battle. And then I laughed like I always do to cover up the pain.

He began to bring more and more clothes to me. He really despised my camouflage sandals that I was wearing. His prayers would eventually be answered, as I would give up my sandals, along with my saddle, in the days to come.

I was in paradise for a moment, but I could not keep my animals at my father’s house. The truth is, my animals were not well trained, and there were too many animals at the house already. Giving up my dogs would be like an amputation, like chopping off my hand, except it was a piece of my heart being removed. I prayed to Jesus for the answers.

When I learned about The Bridge, I drove there to speak with a care manager about putting my dogs up for adoption. They talked with me and informed me that they have kennels. It was like witnessing a miracle, and all heaven rejoiced. My Heavenly Father said, “Keep the dogs, my son.”

So, I moved to The Bridge. They fed me, took care of me and guarded me.

I kept my Cadi and continued to drive through the downtown traffic, the highways. I found the toll roads most joyous with no toll tag. Even if I wanted to pay them with cash, they didn’t have toll booths like Houston. “Put it

on my tab,” I would say to myself as I drove under the toll road sensors. What else could I do, being new to the city?

So, I moved to The Bridge. They fed me, took care of me and guarded me like my Homeland Security family. As I brush my hand over my head, cover.

One night, my car had a fatal blowout to one of the front tires. The end result was a wheel missing. All I needed was four thousand dollars to fix it. I began to walk again.

I even had the adventure of walking through high winds, and I called it wind walking. I knew what a kite felt like. I encountered downtown Dallas’s ice-capades during the snow. I advise using steel-toe work boots when walking on the ice.

If I wanted to go for a swim, I would go for a walk in a storm, splashing through the watered streets and flooded roads. I was amazed the trains traveled to just about all the places I had driven.

The buses would close the gap on any distance I would have to walk. I have lost about 12 pounds from walking and public transportation. I quit smoking and drinking as well. I am on a saving path of victory and I must protect it at all lengths.

My mind is alert and I enjoy the beauty of walking these gorgeous streets of downtown Dallas. Jesus Christ is carrying me, and all places look gorgeous to me now like a great awakening.

James Varas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

Life Without Wheels

By Mike McCall

Having grown up in Dallas, I learned how to navigate this city behind the wheel of my own vehicle. Back then, public transportation wasn’t what it is today. DART has been evolving over the years and is now a major force, especially in the downtown area. Learning how to utilize the services DART provides didn’t take long. Now, I have developed quite a love for the system of trains, buses, connectors, and rideshares interwoven throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

If you stay at The Bridge, as I did, the 13 route is the start and finish of your journey. The bus will get you to many areas, along with taking you to the train. This is my favorite service because the trains act as the outstretched arms that touch the edges of the city. Each major train station spreads its fingers with bus routes in that general area. Just be ready to add at least an hour to your travel destinations.

In order to embrace public transportation, you must be willing to plan ahead and compromise. The luxury of point-to-point service that a personal vehicle provides is lost when it comes to mass transit. You will be able to get to where you need to go but it will take longer due to the routes and possible transfers.

This is where the art of planning comes in handy. You can make these extending travel times work to your benefit. I personally check emails, make calls, or simply watch the scenery go by while listening to music or a podcast. These are valuable times when you are not required to do anything but sit and enjoy the ride. A perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life.

For those of us who have mobility challenges, having a ride is a major part of our daily routines. DART and The Connector have done a great job making their services available to handicapped riders. Without these features many of us would have a real problem making appointments or even getting to work.

With services being expanded every year, you could see Dallas becoming a city like New York where owning a vehicle is more of a hassle than a convenience.

Mike McCall is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

God Provides When I Need Help Moving Around the City

By Charles Duff

One of the greatest challenges for a homeless person who needs to get from one place to another is lack of transportation. If you have no finances, it is a challenge when you have a doctor’s appointment and a psychiatrist appointment in two different parts of the city. This happens to me a couple of times a month.

Although Dallas has an excellent transit system, it costs money, which is another challenge. So we must improvise, change the situation, and make the moment work for us.

For me, I usually just sit still and pray, for God will provide. It is written we have not because we ask not. It also is written to lean not on your own understanding. In my life this has come to be true. I ask people for help and have found that one out of five will give me money and say “Here you go. God bless you.” When I ask God first, He will send someone on the same frequency who will help.

Thank God for The Connector, a bus specifically for the homeless. It takes us everywhere we need to go for no charge. From the food stamp office to medical care at Parkland Hospital to other places in this city. One afternoon I had a medical appointment in the morning at Parkland. On the same day, my food stamp town was across town in early afternoon. The Connector got me to both with time to stop and get a meal at The Salvation Army.

So transportation for the things I need is pretty much covered. Praise to the most high. This is another prime example of how we can rely upon God for anything we need, anywhere we need to go! He will provide.

Charles Duff is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

Moving Around Dallas

By David Yisrael

Living in a large metropolitan area such as Dallas, Texas, one often finds oneself at the mercy of the local transportation system in order to get around. I have found as of late that the DART transportation system is decent as a whole.

With the fairly new overhaul to the DART transportation system, the buses and rail now operate on a more frequent basis and run later. Also, the buses now cover an even wider area.

I have utilized both the bus and rail systems in order to get to my destinations. Frankly, I have enjoyed the trips on the rail systems more than on the bus. I have found the bus drivers are usually patently unfriendly, though I have found some who were actually very professional.

One of the other reasons I like the rail is it has fewer stops than the bus system. You get to your destination a lot quicker than taking the bus. The prices for the fares, I find, are fairly reasonably priced although there are times that I wish they could be a bit cheaper or even free like transportation system in some countries.

I would like to use this opportunity to issue a P.S.A., of sorts, to the strong independent women that populate our community. If you insist on traveling alone at night, be aware of shady characters looking to take advantage of easy prey. Perhaps travel in groups or at the very least be aware of your surroundings, and act accordingly if there is something that makes you feel unsafe.

All in all, I would say that, for what it is, the DART transportation system is a good way to get you where you need to go and won’t bankrupt you in the process.

Drawing Courtesy of David Yisrael.

David Yisrael is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

Photo Courtesy of James Varas.

Moving Around Dallas

By Darin Thomas

I move around Dallas on the bus and train. They help me get to the places I need to go, but sometimes it is crazy catching the bus and train around Dallas.

Some people on the bus might be smoking, sleeping, or stealing. I have seen one passenger steal another passenger’s wallet while he was sleeping. And I saw one man getting on the bus smoking weed. Crazy stuff like that can happen.

It also can be hard to find the right bus and train since there are so many of them. You have to know the number and times, so I am working on learning bus routes and schedules.

I rather have a car because I grew up in Dallas and know how to get around. I am working on saving money from my new job to get one.

But I make the best of moving around on the bus and train. They got me to my job last fall while I was working at the State Fair. I would have to catch a bus and two trains to get there.

Now, I work at Goodwill Industries in West Dallas. It usually takes me about 75 minutes to get there. I ride the train and two buses each way.

Affording bus tickets can be hard, so I am grateful that my Stewpot caseworker has gotten me a monthly bus pass. Getting that pass allows me to continue getting to the places I need to go.

I was fortunate that my sponsor was able to pick me up and take me to my Alcoholics Anonymous-Narcotics Anonymous classes every morning. Now that I have a bus pass, I can get there on my own. I have to catch more buses and trains but that is okay. I like riding them until I can buy a car.

I also walk a lot to get to where I am going. Those walks can be long and exhausting. When I was working at the State Fair, I walked five minutes from my house to the bus stop, then I walked about 30 minutes from where the bus stopped to the train station. Coming back home was the same way: two trains and one bus.

Once I can afford a car, things will be better. I can drive my car and ride the buses and trains.

Darin Thomas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

My Experiences Traveling Within Cities

By Jason Turner

Public transportation is a very important topic to me. Traveling within the main area of a town or city is exciting. And since it is often cheaper and entertaining, public transportation can open up new experiences in life. For example, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas are three cities that I have learned from Main Street out.

I have traveled across the U.S. many times and enjoyed new cities and towns from the inside of downtown, out to the suburbs and fields. Historic and modern architecture as well as lights at night are the veins of a city. To me, a city is best seen from a train traveling on an overpass. You can have a personal experience with the skyline. It’s not the same as if you are just driving.

I also use public transportation back and forth from work in Dallas. One should be prepared for that. The trip may have some wait times and/or long rides. The costs may vary from city to city, too. But you can always find a deal.

The ideal is to have headphones, play a game, and bring snack bags. Headphones are a definite plus so you can take incoming calls. Buses and trains are loud without them. For example, I enjoy a bag of Skittles, M&Ms, or beef jerky while I listen to my favorite playlist. The playlist changes depending on where I am traveling to. On my recent trip to Houston I listened to DJ Screw.

Jason Turner is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.

Stewpot Artists

Cornelious Brackens

Stephen Kehr

Michael Norwood

Street Newspapers - A Voice for the Homeless & Impoverished

What is STREETZine?

STREETZine is a nonprofit newspaper published by The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church for the benefit of people living in poverty. It includes news, particularly about issues important to those experiencing homelessness. STREETZine creates direct economic opportunity. Vendors receive papers to be distributed for a one-dollar or more donation.

Distributing STREETZine is protected by the First Amendment. STREETZine vendors are self employed and set their own hours. They are required to wear a vendor badge at all times when distributing the paper. In order to distribute STREETZine, vendors agree to comply with Dallas City Ordinances.

If at any time you feel a vendor is in violation of any Dallas City Ordinance please contact us immediately with the vendor name or number at streetzine@thestewpot.org

CHAPTER 31, SECTION 31-35 of the Dallas City Code PANHANDLING OFFENSES

Solicitation by coercion; solicitation near designated locations and facilities; solicitation anywhere in the city after sunset and before sunrise any day of the week. Exception can be made on private property with advance written permission of the owner, manager, or other person in control of the property.

A person commits an offense if he conducts a solicitation to any person placing or preparing to place money in a parking meter.

The ordinance specifically applies to solicitations at anytime within 25 feet of:

Automatic teller machines; Exterior public pay phones; Public transportation stops; Self service car washes; Self service gas pumps; An entrance or exit of a bank, credit union or similar financial institution; Outdoor dining areas of fixed food establishments.