01 20 2010

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

Where the poor and homeless

earn and give their two cents

January 20 - February 2, 2010

D STE GE ON G I S U N AT DO

Volume 7 Issue 6

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

Waiting in the Cold A new report looks at the need for day shelters during the winter season See page 5

Syringe exchange program is low on resources Page 4

Ken gives his two cents on Potbelly Sandwich Works

Give a Vendor a Gift That Will Last All Year, details see page 3

$24,000

$22,000

$20,000

$18,000

$16,000

$14,000

$12,000

$10,000

$8,000

$6,000

$4,000

$2,000

Page 10

Homelessness, divorce and suicide rates increase for soldiers Page 13

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

Our Mission 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristal DeKleer Lisa Estrada Ted Henson Mary Lynn Jones Sommer Mathis Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Martin Walker David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abby Strunk EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Lisa V. Gillespie VENDOR MANAGER Gregory Martin FOUNDERS Ted Henson & Laura Thompson Osuri VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Robert Basler, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Carol Cummings, Rebecca Curry, Katie Edson, Andy Freeze, Robert Fulton, Jane Goforth, Cassandra Good, Joanne Goodwin, Roberta Haber, Erica Hall, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Geof Koss, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Starlett McNeill, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Robert Orifici, Katinka Podmankzy, Sarah Birnie, Diane Rusignola, Cara Schmidt, Jamie Schuman, Jesse Smith, Christna Studivant, Matthew Taylor, Robert Trautman, Linda Wang, Denise Wilkins, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu, Shivan Sarna, Catherine Dill, Liisa Rajala

VENDORS O’Jango Amen, Michael Anderson, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Ernest Ballard, Carlie Banks, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Corey Bridges, Michael Brown, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Conrad Cheek Jr., Aaron Conner, Pamela Cooper, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Chino Dean, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Charles Eatmon, Eric Ellis, Richard Embden, Randy Evans, Craig Fleming, Tanya Franklin, Roger Garner, Robert Gregory, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Shawn Herring, Michael Higgs, Phillip Howard, Lester Irby, Michael Jackson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, DeRutter Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Kevin Lasister, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Frank Mearns, Virginia Moore, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Lester Myers, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Charity Ogbonnaya, Moyo Onibuje, Gregory Phillips, Harry Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Forrest Rainwater, Michael Reardon, Jeanette Richardson, Sean-Christopher Riley, Tyrone Rogers, Ed Ross, Denise Sanders, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gerald Smith, Yvette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Sybil Taylor, Steve Thomas, Eric Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Patsy Uzzell, Martin Walker, Joseph Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Darrell Whitmyer, Edna Williams, Brian Wills, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods

Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

We are proud Street Sense began in August 2003 after two project of the National Coalition for the Homevolunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted less, but in October 2004, the organization inmembers of: Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 25 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world.

After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network.

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a

corporated and moved into its own office space.

In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization.

In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director.

A year later in November 2006 , the organization hired its first vendor coordinator, and began partnering with several service providers.

In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first fulltime editor–in–chief in April.

As of January 2009 the paper had 80 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

Do you want to continue to support Street Sense throughout the year?

Order a subscription today!

Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area.

___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________ Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ City:____________State:__________ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ________________________ E-mail: ________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense.

North American Street Newspaper Association

International Network of Street Papers

Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).

3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers.

4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense.

5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.

6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper.

7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it.

I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers.

10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

Thank you to all our donors!

Mail to: Street Sense, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

We Thank You!

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

Third grader sews blankets for homeless Sarah Lentz, a third-grade student in Gainsville, FL., is making blankets for area homeless with the words “hope,� “love,� and “caring� embroidered in each one, The Gainsville Sun reports. “I’m donating [the blankets] because I don’t want [homeless people] outside in the cold,� the 9-year-old said. “They’d rather have one [blanket] than nothing.�

Lentz started making the blankets at the sewing studio inside the Millhopper Montessori School. Lentz and other students have embroidered 16 blankets for donation so far.

Lentz said the word “hope� symbolizes faith that the recipients will soon find work, “love is a sign that she loves them and “caring� represents her concern for them,� the Sun reports.

Homeless students on the rise in South Carolina Since 2007, when the current recession began, the number of homeless students in South Carolina has ballooned more than 45%, The Associated Press reports.

As of June of last year, 8,750 homeless students were enrolled in public schools statewide, up from about 6,000 just two years earlier.

About 60% of students in South Carolina’s public schools qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Nearly 30,000 addi-

tional children are eating for free. “Many families have lost homes due to eviction and foreclosure due to job losses,� said Serena Williams, homeless coordinator for Rock Hill schools, which reported 300 homeless students for 2008-09.

N.Y. church becomes landmark – but homeless lose refuge The West Park Presbyterian Church in New York achieved landmark status, an important step in preserving the 116-year-old church. But with that status comes an unwelcome change for the city’s homeless, The New York Times reports.

Church officials installed metal gates in front of its doorways, which bring to a screeching halt the building’s tradition of serving as refuge for the homeless who used to sleep outside the building’s four doorways.

City Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer told The New York Times that neighbors complained that the church’s homeless encampment had grown louder in recent years. The church hasn’t offered religious or outreach services to the homeless since early 2008.

Volunteers help clean trash at homeless camps Homeless advocates and police began work on cleaning up piles of trash at a homeless camp in Colorado Springs,

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CO., News Channel 13 reports. Advocates and homeless alike say that the pile-up of trash accumulated on account of too many donations coming to the area.

Robert Jackson, a homeless camper, said he is embarrassed by the trash and was helping with the clean-up effort himself. “This is my girlfriend’s tent, I use to have a small one like this, but I’m claustrophobic,� Jackson told News Channel 13 while giving a tour of his living space. “This is my old tent that I burned down, and now I only use it for storage.�

While the problem started because of too many donations, homeless advocates want to underscore that donations are still needed and welcome. But they should be delivered to the appropriate organization for distribution.

Shelter opens in Washington, but no homeless show up Two homeless shelters opened in Sunnyside, WA., inside of churches, The Associated Press reports. But no homeless showed up for the opening nights.

The director of Sunrise Outreach, Dave Hansen, said that’s not surprising since it takes extra time for the homeless to hear about shelters.

Hansen said the shelters will be open each night through the end of February. One shelter is designated for men, while the other is for women and children.

Compiled by Dianna Heitz, from previously published reports.

Give a Vendor a Gift that Will Last All Year For 2010 Street Sense is making a concerted effort to better assist its vendors to help them improve their lives and get off the street. New programs include:

‡ Sales Training Workshops: 6DOHV SURIHVVLRQDOV ZLOO KRVW ZRUNVKRSV WKDW WUDLQ YHQGRUV LQ WKH ÀHOG RI VDOHV DQG KHOS WKHP DFTXLUH RWKHU VDOHV jobs outside of Street Sense. ‡ Vendor Savings Accounts: Street Sense will save 10 cents from each 35 cents it collects from each paper and set it aside in an account that vendors can access to put towards housing, education, or starting a business once they sell 3,000 papers. ‡Serial Novel poetry book.

& Poetry Book: Street Sense plans to publish a 24-chapter novel with each chapter written by a different vendor and another

+RZHYHU ZH QHHG VXSSRUW IURP UHDGHUV OLNH \RX WR JHW WKHVH SURJUDPV XS DQG UXQQLQJ DV LW ZLOO WDNH DGGLWLRQDO UHVRXUFHV DQG VWDIÀQJ WR PDNH WKHP D VXFFHVV :H DUH DLPLQJ WR UDLVH DQ H[WUD D PRQWK WKURXJK LQGLYLGXDO GRQDWLRQV WR VSHFLÀFDOO\ VXSSRUW YHQGRU SURJUDPV 6R SOHDVH KHOS VXSSRUW \RXU ORFDO YHQGRU WKURXJK these programs, and give them a gift that will last all year – and many more to come!

I want to donate:

My Information:

____$60 for supplies for one sales training workshop ____$100 for the printing of 25 Poetry Books ____$300 for the vendor savings account to match the “cashout� level ____$500 for the printing of 125 serial novels ____$1000 for the space needed to hold a complete series of training workshops ____$1500 for one month increase in the vendor manager’s salary to oversee all the new programs ____ Another amount of _________to go towards __________________________ ____The amount of _________to go directly to vendor _______________________

Name:_________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________ City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________ Phone:_______________________ Email:____________________________ Please make checks payable to “Street Sense� and mail to: * 6WUHHW 1: :DVKLQJWRQ '&

Donate online at www.streetsense.org

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

Syringe Exchange Still Kicking Despite economic downturn, Prevention Works continues services Add to the list of area organizations struggling for funding in the current economic crisis the local syringe exchange program Prevention Works.

Started in 1996 as a project of the WhitmanWalker clinic, Prevention Works became an independent organization in 1998.

According to its website, the mission of Prevention Works “is to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among injecting and other drug users, their sexual partners, and their children.”

The organization provides syringe exchange services as well as safe disposal of used supplies, HIV testing, drug treatment referrals and education.

“Now we are a full-service prevention and harm reduction program,” said Dr. Philip Terry, executive director of Prevention Works. “We use the term ‘harm reduction’ meaning that our intent is to reduce the harm and the risk for HIV, hepatitis C and other communicable diseases to injection drug users, their sex partners, their sharing partners and their families.”

He continued, “We say injection drug users, not IV drug addicts or anything like that because, quite frankly anyone who injects for any reason can make themselves available to our services.”

A Dec. 24 Washington Post article stated that Prevention Works was running out of money and described numerous financial shortfalls.

“We had a little cash crunch. I say little not to minimize it, but it’s kind of typical for nonprofits.

Donors are down. People that are giving are giving less,” Terry said. “We’ve been fortunate. Our major funders have been continuing to fund at consistent levels for us, but at the same time, expenses are up.”

Prevention Works receives its funding through a combination of private donations and from the city.

Terry estimates that his organization serves approximately 360 or so active users and averages 1600 exchanges a month, the largest such program in the District.

Syringe exchange is still relatively controversial. People shy away from it.

Philip Terry, executive director of Prevention Works’

PHOTO by Todd Huffman, Courtesy of Flickr.Com

By Robert Fulton

The contents of a needle exchange kit serve many purposes for those in need. Prevention Works provides kits such as these through a mobile unit and a fixed location on Benning Road in Northeast, D.C. Both locations are strategically placed to serve the populations that live there.

“There were growing pains associated with gearing the organization up,” Terry said, describing the struggles to “handle an influx of new participants to have the infrastructure to support appropriate program staff, and quite frankly, to grow the program so we can do more for the folks that we are working with.”

Prevention Works’ services are provided though a mobile unit and a fixed location on Benning Road in Northeast.

“We don’t set up a shop unless there is already a congregation of folks that are known to be injection users. We try to go where folks have the most need,” Terry said.

Syringe, or needle, exchange is still a controversial program. Detractors claim that syringe exchange encourages drug use and increases crime in the areas where the exchanges are done.

“Syringe exchange is still relatively controversial. People shy away from it. Not everyone understands that it doesn’t encourage an increase in injection,” Terry said. “These are folks that have had long histories of injection use and for whatever reason can’t or won’t stop.”

In addition to removing dirty needles from the population, Prevention Works also provides refer-

We had a little cash crunch. It’s typical of nonprofits Philip Terry, executive director of Prevention Works’

als to its clients to assist them with battling their drug dependency.

“We’re one of the only programs in town that doesn’t make value judgments because someone is continuing to use substances,” Terry said. “We want to support them and do everything we can to help them be successful in abating the use of substance.”

For more information on Prevention Works, or to schedule a visit, call 202-588-5580 or 866446-1896; or visit www.preventionworksdc.org.

Prevention Works is located at 501 Benning Road, NE, Washington, D.C.

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

PHOTO by Liisa Rajala

NCH Calls for More Funding for Shelters to Stay Open Day and Night

Above, a freeway overpass where homeless men and women congregate during the dayw while shelters are closed during the day. The National Coalition for the Homeless 2010 Homeless Services Report details the need for shelters to stay open during the day, especially during the winter months.

By Liisa Rajala Seven hundred people are killed annually by hypothermia in the United States, according to the 2010 Winter Homeless Services Report released by the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“I don’t choose to be in this situation, but I am in this situation,” said a homeless man in downtown D.C. who preferred not to release his name and asked to be called Jones.

Jones and other homeless persons experience increased exposure to the cold. Due to the lack of shelter, inadequate clothing (including often wet clothing), malnutrition and underlying infection, homeless persons are three to six more times likely to become ill, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Forty-four percent of all homeless persons are unsheltered.

NCH conducted surveys for its report with urban, suburban and rural shelters and organizations in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The surveys included 94 reporting parties from 60 cities

The NCH report calls for the winter season to be defined as October to April, and recommends shelters stay open during the day when the temperature falls below 40 degrees

and counties in the 40 states and D.C. According to the report, 66 percent adapt or add to their year-round services when the weather becomes cold, 24.5 percent offer their services only in the winter, two shelters offer both year-round and winter-only shelter based on needs of community and capacity of year-round shelters and seven shelters declined to answer. Only 11 percent of those who responded to the question had inadequate funds to provide shelter or give vouchers for displaced homeless persons.

Jones has stayed in shelters before but chooses to live on his own. “I prefer not to take advantage of the public funds,” said Jones who instead asks for individual contributions.

Jones explained that he avoids shelters because of the curfews and time constraints and to avoid catching illnesses from living in a closed community.

When asked how he copes with the cold weather, Jones, who wears a thick winter coat, said he builds a tent in a secluded location, with plastic and “warm cuddly blankets.”

He is able to stay warm by taking the necessary precautions to create a barrier against the wind, such as wearing hats, gloves and warm clothing. He noted that he is not criticizing shelters, but prefers his method.

Restrictions, such as the time schedule Jones referred to, are common for shelters across the nation. According to the NCH survey, typically due to lack of funding, shelters often cannot remain open during the day or the entire winter season.

Many have schedules restricted to severe weather. In rural areas, shelters reported having expanded services only during winter months when the temperature falls below a predetermined point.

According to the report, there are also restrictions for persons entering the shelters. Usually persons who are intoxicated are allowed into shelters only if the temperature has dropped below a predetermined temperature or when there is precipitation.

Some homeless persons are banned due to behavioral problems or a violent past.

While some restrictions should apply, NCH noted that those most susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite are persons who are addicted to alcohol and drugs, and therefore should still be taken in.

NCH states that few communities have city-wide cold-weather response plans, and many nationwide plans have large holes in accessibility. It calls for more government funding and the need for these plans to be examined yearly in preparation for extreme temperatures.

While many shelters do not open until the temperature drops below the freezing point, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, Dr. James J. O’Connell of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program said the most dangerous cases of hypothermia occur when it is 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and the temperature drops to the mid-30s at night.

Therefore, the NCH report calls for the winter season to be defined as October to April, and recommends shelters stay open during the day when the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Washington, D.C. and Boston are the best equipped cities with city-wide winter response plans, according to the report.

While improvements are needed, executive director of NCH, Neil J. Donovan praised D.C.’s efforts. “The hypothermia program in the District is working relatively well over the past few years with significant reductions in deaths directly attributable to hypothermia,” said Donovan.

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

ERC Promotes Equal Housing Rights This month, Washington D.C.’s Equal Rights Center (ERC) launched a Fair Housing “Know Your Rights” Campaign to educate survivors of domestic violence about their fair housing rights.

The Campaign focuses on a series of public service advertisements in both English and Spanish, printed in Metro Center, Gallery Place-Chinatown, L’Enfant Plaza, Mt. Vernon Square, and Shady Grove Metro stops.

Advertisements also appear on multiple bus lines throughout the D.C. Metro Area.

“Many renters do not know about the unique protections under DC’s Fair Housing Law. A landlord cannot evict you because of noise or damage, and you can break lease if you feel unsafe,” said Leah Maddox, ERC communications and outreach associate.

Put into effect in 2007, the Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act of 2006 amended the D.C. Human Rights Act to include a “victim of an intra-family offense” in the list of protected classes shielded from discrimination in housing. It also amended the D.C. Rental Housing Act to allow an individual’s status as a domestic violence victim to serve as a defense against eviction in the District’s landlord-tenant courts, provided that the individual is being evicted because of an incident related to domestic violence. Thirdly, it allowed a victim to terminate a housing lease early without financial penalty

PHOTO COurTesy Of THe equal rigHTs CenTer

By Carol Cummings

From left to right, communications and outreach manager Ashley White and communications and outreach associate Leah Maddox of the Equal Rights Center flock an ad, part of the “Know Your Rights” Campaign to educate survivors of domestic violence.

in order to flee abuse.

The Campaign aims to be a factor in eliminating homelessness nationwide. The ERC’s “Housing Discrimination against Survivors of Domestic Violence in the District of Columbia” 2008 report states that approximately half of the District’s 16,000 homeless are women and children. It cites a direct correlation between domestic violence housing discrimination and homelessness. While the report states that the District currently provides 48 safe beds in confidential locations for women and children who are domestic violence victims, the ERC maintains that this isn’t enough.

“Domestic violence is the number

one reason women are homeless in the U.S.,” said Maddox.

Maddox points out that there’s big need to educate domestic violence survivors about their rights. The campaign also includes targeting with the idea of incorporating the immigrant LBGTQ communities.

“Landlords worry about property values and crime but end up targeting their own individuals,” Maddox said.

Currently twenty two states offer some type of housing protections for domestic partners, although only five states plus the District classify survivors of domestic violence as a protected class.

The ERC plans to work towards

expanding protections as well as circulate their domestic violence report nationwide. ERC Communications and outreach manager Ashley White says their most important goal right now is to educate on the current D.C. law.

White and Maddox say that slogans that make statements such as, “My Life, My Rights,” “I’m an immigrant, I have rights,” and “Domestic violence survivors have a way out,” are the most important.

“We want people to be educated, feel empowered and go somewhere to know that they have rights,” said White.

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day:

Follow us

on

acebook : www.facebook.com/streetsense and witter : streetsensedc ...and, as always, find us online at www.streetsense.org.

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

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By Kristin Palitza SALDANHA, South Africa - The sound of sewing machines fills the room with a low, continuous hum. A handful of women sit behind the machines, their heads bent in concentration on their work.

The seamstresses belong to a business development project run by the West Coast Business Development Centre (WCBDC) in Saldanha, which aims to provide previously unemployed people with stable incomes and business support.

"I am working with the sewing project for three years now. I feel lucky because lots of people don't have jobs in this area," says Antonia Kuzani, one of the seamstresses.

The shy and soft-spoken 25-yearold used to work as a cleaner, but was unemployed for three years after being retrenched.

"For a long time, I was looking for a job, but I couldn’t find one because there is lots of unemployment. For a while, I tried to make money from selling sweets on the street, but I didn’t make enough to survive," she says.

She earns $215 a month working for the sewing project, which she says is just enough to make ends meet and send her nine-year-old son to school: "My salary is gone after I pay for rent, water, electricity, food, clothing and school fees. My transport to work alone is R280 ($38) a month. All of the money is gone for those basics."

Kuzani and her colleagues are on contract to manufacture more than 1,000 work shirts per year for South African mining group Exxaro Sands.

They also produce a few hundred laundry bags for Duferco Steel Processing.

Their business is founded on the concept that large manufacturers who own factories in the Saldanha Bay area may outsource some of their supply chain through the WCBDC to small businesses like the sewing project, and thereby help to grow them.

"The business development centre was brought about when big corpo-

rates (who moved their operations into the Saldanha Bay area) saw a gap in the market of small, local suppliers they can draw resources from. They needed to outsource smaller production jobs and wanted to invest in communities at the same time," explains WCBDC chief executive officer Abigail Murray.

A number of major companies, including Exxaro, Duferco Steel, Transnet National Ports Authority and ArcelorMittal, teamed up in 1998 to set up a corporate social responsibility initiative intended to reduce high unemployment in the Saldanha Bay region. The outcome was WCBDC and a database of small-scale suppliers.

The sewing project was one of the first small business development initiatives started by WCBDC in June 2001. That year's census captured unemployment figures in the municipality's two main towns, Saldanha and Vredenburg, of 27 and 28 percent respectively.

The sewing project has yet to become a sustainable business and provides employment to only four people. "We need more orders and more clients if we want to grow the business and make more money," says Kuzani.

Her colleague, Nondumiso Ntoyakhe, a sturdy 29-year-old who used to be a seasonal farm worker-unemployed for most months of the yearagrees,"The sewing project is a big improvement to our lives, but the income is still not enough."

The project was started with a financial injection of $7,600 from the Anglo American Group, to which Exxaro Sands belong, Shell and the South African Department of Labour.

Twenty-four local unemployed women were trained in technical sewing and business management.

"Most of them have moved on and are either employed elsewhere or have their own little business. Only a few women are still working with the project," says Murray.

Despite the centre's efforts to boost small business development, most start-ups struggle to build sustain-

Photo Courtesy of IPS

Hard Lessons for Small Business in South Africa

These seamstresses belong to a business development project run by the West Coast Business Development Centre (WCBDC) in Saldanha, which aims to provide previously unemployed people with stable incomes and business support.

able operations. "The sewing project, for example, is running at a loss at the moment. It's subsidized by WCBDC. Unfortunately, that's everyone’s story.

It's never enough, and unemployment is a big problem throughout the region," she says.

The idea behind the WCBDC initiative is to set up small businesses and support them with mentoring and training, but ultimately they are expected to operate and be profitable on their own. When this becomes too difficult, people either try to keep up one-person operations from home or find employment with larger companies throughout the province.

Ntoyakhe believes it's not enough for big businesses to create jobs-government also needs to show greater commitment to reducing unemployment in the region. "Government needs to invest more money into businesses here. Lots of people are

not working. Lots of companies have closed down. If there were jobs, everything would be better," she says.

"People are forced into crime because there is no money."

In the first few years of its existence, the business development centre received financial support from the South African Department of Labour, but the funding ceased about five years ago. Murray believes the funding period was too short to create long-term sustainability.

"There used to be a big drive from government to support small business development, but we were told to move away from the dependency and start projects that generate income and real jobs," says Murray.

Courtesy of Inter Press Service © Street News Service: www.streetpapers.org

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

S treetS ense.org

Damn Nation

By Dave Denny

Metal detectors mounted in schools A country divided and cannot choose Partisan efforts to disclaim votes Another winter of kids without coats We stand on the brink of a world gone mad With more bad news for the press to add Firestone companies paying small fines Families bereft in funeral lines While the faith in our nation declines Our daughters growing up too fast on the pill Our sons carrying weapons just for a thrill While the gun laws get kicked out on Capitol Hill Now our government is involved in worldwide relations Vocal in all foreign confrontation Can’t find a solution for our own damn nation

City

by Lauren McAlee, kinderga

My walk becomes the walk of the city Click-click-click pass.

Click-klick-klik past.

Klikklik Clik breeze.

I am more important than you, clik-clik I must be: I have so many places to go.

Mechanically exiting you in the laypressing tunnel, In the meandering lanes of the market

S treetS ense.org

January 20 - February 2, 2010

y Wa l k

arten teacher with D. C. Public Schools

y.

k.

t.

I am more important than you, klick-click.

Look how fast I walk.

We share the stride of the cold.

We have no room for wonder No time

for laughter or puzzles or play We are efficient.

We build everything.

if I call for help will you hear the sound

Photos by Dan Seligson

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

A’s Word Finder

By Patrick Azarius

Find the words to the right in the graph below!

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THE CALLthe Call

Shelter Hotline 1 800 535-7252 o r C a l l 3 11 Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia

S treetS ense.org

Will Write For Food:

Writer’s Group

January 20 - February 2, 2010

meets every Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Street Sense office.

The Writer's Group needs laptops; email: info@streetsense.org if you can help

Reggie’s Reflections- Family??

Writer’s commentary

The Washington Post recently ran an article called Their Daily Bread. We hope that you will also find ways to get your Daily Bread.

Thank You President Obama

by James Fetherson As the surge began and more troops enter Afghanistan. I want to support our Commander-in-Chief. However, in recent years the stop loss law has made it impossible for me to re-enlist in the military. Stop loss says,'' Once you are in the service, you can be sent anywhere including the war zone after ten years in the army''. I was in combat and awarded three purple hearts. I do not fight anymore, but I support the president. I will be joining the Army National Guard and help to train troops who are about to be deployed to Afghanistan.

Stop loss ended January of this year opening the door for me to began a new career in the U.S. Army, and help out my president’s efforts in Afghanistan. It will also help me get out of homelessness with military pay and benefits.

James is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Contact: James_Fethersen@yahoo.com

Who I Write For

by Reginald Black

Each morning I get up to take a shower and right before I get in, I always ask myself: Am I worthy of this day? What does the world ask of me? As I put on my clothes, I end up staring at a blue wristband. It was a gift from a fellow Street Sense vendor and it is ironic that it is blue, my favorite color but, it is also what the wristband reads “help the homeless”. At that moment I think of random folks. I know some of their stories and have felt their pain. I end up at the Street Sense office and I feel energized. During my time writing for Street Sense, I have crossed the metro area for numerous weeks, and the people I have met out there are amazing. They come from all walks of life.

Their vision of a homeless-free world gets me pumped. The connections you can make being a vendor are priceless. My daily breads comes from you the readers. I write for those who take time to actually find out what is really in the world around them.

What Really Goes On...

by Robert Warren

What really goes on in Washington D.C.? The truth is, I believe that there are people who help the poor and the homeless with no strings attached and there are people who have a job. Their job is to help people to up lift their lives. Some people do a really good job, some don’t do nothing at all. You have churches who truly open their doors to the poor and the homeless, and you have churches that want to appear that way to their congregation and other’s. Those who do things in the spirit of Christ, God sees all that you do.

When you use the homeless and the poor for your gain and not theirs, in the end you take only from yourself.

Robert is a member of The People for Fairness Coalition. Contact: Robertwarren47@yahoo.com

By Reginald Black Frustrated I struggle with flirting. I tried to hold my snappy lines to a bare none. All of a sudden, I found myself giving compliments. I kept them clean, but I couldn’t help what I was thinking. I wanted someone to tell my problems to. I decided to try family again. I went to my former residence and seeing the ever growing pile of clothes most of which, I wore for weeks angered me. But being involved with Street Sense began to change my thinking. When you talk about homelessness, choices are made on both sides and each has their own ideal. It was weird to be knocking on a door I used to own the key to. I knocked loudly and waited. It took a minute but my father did answer the door. I started grabing some clothes and stated my case. All I wanted was the anamostity to end. He didn’t want to hear none of that. I still persisted and after some more aggravating comments I left more empty than before. I didn’t know what else to do or say, but I knew no matter what I would have to pave my own way out of homelessness. But what about my heart, and the urning for companionship? Also what did family rejecting me mean? I didn’t know but the jouney is a long road that I was not afraid to travel.

Reggie hosts The Writer's Group Meetings. Contact: Rblackstreetreporter@ gmail.com

Our Daily Bread

by David Rubin

The First Amendment in the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights mentions freedom of speech.This aspect of the Constitution can go contrary to the Industrial Espionage Act passed in 1996 after the capture and conviction of a Canadian spy selling American secrets to China in the state of California. An explanation of the powerful contradictions to the law can be found in the case of the missing spys, Burgess and Maclean. It brought to light Section One of the Official Secrets Act. This is similar to the Industrial Espionage Act in United States. Indeed, before one handles top secret documents of the government. One needs to sign this clause in case they decide to defect and sell the secrets to foreign countries. This makes the renegade's capture enforcable. International press under the First Amendment made this important to control the actions of spys. It was useless, therefore setting up the release of Burgess and Maclean in Russia.

With too much headline news on the case. It was difficult to capture spies.

Many foreign countries have laws that are similar to the United States' First Amendment, where freedom of speech could compromise national security.

My daily bread comes from the Street Sense Writer's Group. The last thing on my mind is about hiding the truth to my readers, but sometimes this truth can compromise the survival of another homeless person trying to make it on the streets. Especially, when you begin talking about drug addictions and relationships. The First Amendment works for Street Sense, where rules and regulations apply to a level where there is no fear of the renegade who uses truth as a weapon.

David volunteers and is writing his own novel. Contact: stonepotts2000@ yahoo.com.

The Sun Does Come Out

by Paul Lee Taylor

The sun does come out tomorrow. What gets me going for the morning is knowing that I’m serving the community at it's most neediness. Homeless people need people who we can relate to and someone who cares about our conerns. I, also being homeless, emotionally I understand that it’s a struggle to get back into the mainstream. Not everyone is ready, but I’m ready to serve those that are. Everyday I’m proud to see outreach members from various organizations doing what they do best: giving and receiving love!!!

Paul is part of The People for Fairness Coalition. Contact: Paul.Lee.Taylor@ gmail.com

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Patty Smith, Reginald Black

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

J E F F ’ S TAK E

The Surge: Soldiers Face Increasing Difficulties

By James Fetherson

By Jeffery McNeil President Obama has said that eradicating Al Qaeda and the influences of the Taliban, shoring up the Afghan government and civil institutions, and addressing extremist threats in neighboring Pakistan are among his goals in the region.

In a speech at West Point on December 1, 2009, Obama said that he would be sending in 30,000 more troops, in addition to the 70,000 already in Afghanistan.

The president will start the process of bringing our troops home after 18 months.

As the surge continues, a homeless veteran’s shelter will open in Chicago to compensate for an increasing number of veterans.

The shelter will serve to provide a safe, secure and stable environment.

I am a former U.S. Green Beret, a combat vet, and I was in a war zone for over 12 months.

The army has been criticized not only for its’ response to the increased number of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, but also for its’ response to the growing suicide rate.

Last week the army said that 218 suicides have been reported among active, National Guard and Army reserve soldiers this year.

This number is up from the 177 suicides reported in 2008.

I recently learned that most soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder are six times more likely to commit suicide than those without.

The study conducted by Walter Reed Medical Center found that the more time soldiers spend at home, the lower the signs of posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety will become. But it takes three years stateside for a full recovery.

The series of studies conducted by Walter Reed Medical Center have been following the mental health of soldiers since 2005, but this was the first report that looked at the impact of how much time soldiers spend in the United States between deployments. In addition to dwell time, the intensity of combat is also a prime driver of mental health problems.

The amount of time spent at home was even more important than the total amount of time deployed.

For example, soldiers who were deployed for one year and also spent one year at home between deployments reported more symptoms than those who were deployed in Iraq for two years and had spent two years at home between deployments.

The military personnel subcommittee said that the army’s ranks would have to swell to about 800,000 soldiers in order to expand the amount of time soldiers can spend at home a

photO by Ilana Meagher

Winters have presented tough times for me. The days get shorter; the lack of sunlight and cold weather can be draining. I am not alone with my Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D. According to the latest statistics, approximately 18.8 million Americans suffer from depression, which is 9.5%of the population. Throughout one’s lifetime, one will experience some form of depression. A million preschoolers will contract some form of depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Is there a way out of depression? This is what usually makes me sad and withdrawn in the winter: 1. Self medicating will intensify, not improve, your depression. This is the first winter I can remember that I haven’t abused any substances to get out of my depression. I spent almost two years in and out of homelessness and the way I got through tough times was to drink alcohol; I didn’t know it made you depressed. I would drink because it warmed me up in the cold. Drinking will give you hypothermia and mess up your immune system.

2. Boil an egg. Depression doesn’t hit a moving target, so get moving. I know depression will hit me like a ton of bricks, so things like selling papers and being active are therapy for me. I get to meet people and make lots of friends. Doing something like boiling an egg, walking to the store, or any form of activity will make you active.

3. Exercise. One of the best ways to get out of a funk is to exercise.

Anything that gets you active, like jumping jacks, aerobics, jogging, or shadowboxing, will kick up the endorphins. Endorphins from your brain will induce happiness. It’s a natural high that comes from your body instead of self medicating. I generally do a maintenance routine which makes me feel better.

4. Don’t be a pity party. When I was in a funk I made it worse by grumbling and complaining. Misery is not attractive: fake it till you make it. Learn to laugh at people’s jokes, make phone calls to discuss how you are feeling, realize that you are not the only one who feels like you do. I learned what is sad today will make you laugh in the future.

So learn how to get a sense of humor by finding someone to talk to.

Misery only attracts misery.

5. Become involved in your community. You do not have to wallow in pity and loathing! “Poor me, poor me. I have it so bad!” Nonsense!

There are so many groups and community organizations where you can get involved. The libraries and hospitals are a good place to begin; it really isn’t hard to get involved. Just show up! There are all kinds of support groups around you, so join one and you will not be alone in the house, watching TV. 6. Get out of negative thinking. I learned from sales that happy people are buying people. Compliments and praise get someone to smile and wink at you. When I make someone laugh and giggle I am like a little kid full of joy. Laughter and joy are contagious, so by doing little things like buying someone a gift or giving a panhandler a dollar, doing something for someone else will get you out of thinking of yourself.

7. Last but not least, make a gratitude list. When I really get in the depths of depression, I write the good things that happened to me.

Here is an example: A. God gave me another chance to wake up.

B. I could be a vegetable. I am not bedridden and I have the ability to control my life. God gave me good health.

C. I am fortunate to have been born and to live in America. I could be suffering in Haiti and Darfur or other third world countries, where they don’t have clean water or even food.

These are just a few suggestions. I know I feel better than I did before; sometimes you have to do things differently.

price the nation cannot afford right now.

Homelessness and divorce rates are increasing among soldiers. The Pentagon reported that out of 767,000 married servicemen and women, approximately 27,312 filed for divorce in the past two years.

During this past year, the military has responded to the growing trend through support services and counseling programs.

In 2001 when troops were initially deployed to Afghanistan and later in Iraq, the divorce rate among soldiers was at 2.6% and has been steadily increasing since then. Findings show that a greater number of women are being affected; there is a 7.7% divorce rate among female soldiers while their counterparts have a 3% divorce rate.

While a three to seven percent divorce rate may seem minimal compared to the forty to fifty percent among U.S. civilians, the steady rise in divorces among soldiers is a cause for concern.

In addition, these figures do not include divorce rates among returning veterans who are struggling to adjust to civilian life.

The U.S. military is the best fighting force in the world. However it’s time to reconsider our role in Afghanistan.

Our soldiers are the best-trained and bestequipped fighting force in the world. We need to give our troops everything they need in order to win, so that they can come home.

Either we go big or we go home.

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

BOOK REVIEW

Using Literature to shift Criminal Justice Policy

By Robert Trautman “America, the land of the free”? No! The United States has 5 percent of the world’s population, but twenty-five percent of the world’s inmates, a rate almost forty percent more than its nearest competitors, including Russia, and 6.2 percent more than our neighbor, Canada; more people are employed in corrections in the United States than the total at General Motors, Ford and Walmart.

Statistics show that 2.25 million people are behind bars in the United States, most for nonviolent crimes, including property and drug offenses. The inmates, on average, have fewer than eleven years of schooling, and the majority are minorities.

The damage this mass imprisonment has done to U.S. society and what can be done about it are the subjects of two important new books: Race, Incarceration and American Values, by Glenn C. Loury (Boston Review/MIT Press) and Let’s Get Free, by Paul Butler (The New Press).

Loury, professor of social sciences at Brown University, notes that the criminal justice system was originally designed to return offenders to society “corrected,” as productive citizens, but the aim shifted over the years from rehabilitation to punishment. The shift can be viewed against the backdrop of the country’s violent racial history.

“This historical resonance between the stigma of race and the stigma of imprisonment serves to keep alive in our public culture the subordinating social meanings that have always been associated with blackness. Race helps to explain why the United States is exceptional among the democratic industrial societies in the severity of its punitive policy and in the paucity of its social-welfare institutions.”

How does this play out? Lowry says that 60 percent of black male high school dropouts born in the late 1960s are imprisoned before their 40th year and

while locked up, are stigmatized: Their links with family are disrupted, their chances for jobs are diminished and many will lose their voting rights – a way to try to change the system.

“Mass incarceration has now become a principal vehicle for the reproduction of racial hierarchy in our society. Our country’s policymakers need to do something about it. And all of us are ultimately responsible for making sure that they do,” Lowry says.

In Let’s Get Free, Butler, a former federal prosecutor and now law professor at George Washington University, cites many of the same dismal statistics, but adds something: one in five federal prisoners is a low-level drug violator, meaning he or she is nonviolent with minimal or no criminal history, and while behind bars, mixes with violent criminals.

After being released, about a fourth of those previously nonviolent inmates return to prison for committing a violent offense.

“Whatever else it reflects,” he writes, “this pattern reflects the possibility that prison serves to transmit violent habits and values rather than to reduce them.”

Well, what to do? Butler makes several solid recommendations. Among them: “Pay a kid to finish high school.” A Rand Corporation study found that based on effectiveness and cost, the best way to prevent crime, better than prison, “three strike” laws, and social programs, was to get kids to graduate from high school by using financial incentives.

“Hug a thug.” In High Point, N.C., in a drug incident, police rounded up known offenders and prosecuted the ring leaders, but instead of prosecuting the others, simply gathered up evidence and showed them unsigned arrest warrants and said the warrants would be executed if they didn’t straighten up. The community selected individuals, sometimes mothers, sometimes clergy, to meet with

the offenders individually. Crime in the area fell by thirty-six percent.

“Make punishment fit the crime.” Prison terms in other countries, including England, Canada and France are far shorter than in the United States, yet rates of violent crimes in those countries are lower.

“Unruly harsh sentences lead only to distrust of criminal justice and disrespect for the law.”

Butler writes that America can reduce its prison population by 500,000 by making sentences shorter, ending jail time for technical violations of parole, expanding the use of alternatives to jail, including home confinement and stopping the placement of nonviolent drug violators behind bars.

Will any of this work? Some or all of it just might if the country’s attitude toward crime, and Americans who commit crimes, can be changed back to rehabilitation from its present emphasis on punishment. Rehabilitation has been shown to turn people around, whereas punishment has been shown only to harden the already hard criminals and worse, to make criminals out of nonviolent offenders. This forces us, of course, to build more prisons.

Butler sees some hope. He quotes President Obama as saying that the war on drugs has been a failure and that the “warehousing of nonviolent offenders” has been counterproductive. But he notes also that President Clinton had said that the entire U.S. prison policy had to be re-examined.

Then Butler notes that both are politicians, and that with two wars and a weak economy, “he (Obama) will not be sufficiently motivated to create the fundamental change our criminal justice system needs, unless, we the people demand it.”

Ken Reviews Potbelly Restaurant Works

By Kenneth Belkosky, vendor 225 This is a review of a Potbelly’s sandwich shop located in the Dupont Circle area.

The sandwich I had was a pizza sandwich and a large diet coke. On the inside of the place the menu was done in chalk. The restroom was clean and they have hand sanitizer near the cashier. The place looks old with classic rock music coming over the sound system. The prices were pretty reasonable. I would go there again in a heart beat. Overall, I give the place five Street Sense stars out of five. All the sandwiches are cooked in a pizza oven. They also sell milkshakes and malts.

Your thoughts and editorials are welcome.

Please e–mail content to editor@ streetsense.org or mail to 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

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January 20 - February 2, 2010

SPOTTED: Street Sense Vendors Eric Thompson (left) and Jeffery McNeil (below) selling copies of Street Sense while braving the chilly D.C weather. McNeil stands outside the Eastern Market gates and Thompson sells in Dupont Circle.

The Next, “I Have a Dream.”

FOUNDRY A Reconciling Congregation Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church

1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010

www.foundryumc.org

By Reginald Black Martin Luther King day is celebrated on January 18.

As leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King is recognized on this day. The great works of Martin Luther King Jr. were resounded with the election of Barack Obama, our 44th president. Martin Luther King fought for African Americans. But, who is fighting for civil rights for the homeless? If such a thing even existed, what would be the guidelines?

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” This means that no matter where in the country one is, one cannot be stopped and searched if he or she is not partaking in illegal activities. Could this possibly mean that homeless people have the right not to be searched if they are not under suspicion?

In the Bush administration law enforcement officers used the Patriot Act, which gave them the power to monitor, search, and even detain persons they believed to be a threat to the countries security. This is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Yet the question still remains, under the law does being homelessness give you a right?

“The homeless are not a protected class,” said Anne Marie Staudemier of the Washington Legal Clinic for the homeless. Staudemier stated that the Bill of Rights

pertains to everybody. Although certain states have created hate crime laws to protect the homeless from unprovoked attacks, this does not provide the homeless with a set standard of rights. A review of the international Bill of Rights will show that it is not specific to the homeless.

In most countries there is something called Squatter Laws. This means that a person can claim a house or land that has been abandoned, according to a timeline set by the country or state. If a country or state says that a place has been abandoned for twenty years, and a person says that he or she have a right to be there, or has been living on the property, that person can claim the land or property. If the person is removed before the set timeline, the clock begins anew. Does this mean that the homeless have a right to abandoned properties?

So, who is the civil rights leader for the homeless? Yes, Dr. King did have a dream of a more united America, however that did not mean those who live outdoors have a right to anything. Any which way you slice it, the homeless do vote and therefore they should be given a voice.

Who will step up to the plate and champion civil rights for the homeless? The issue usually gets swept under the carpet because of other, more pressing issues.

It is clear that something needs to be done immediately. Even though the homeless do not have a place, that does not mean they are totally without rights or have to be silent about having rights. Hopefully someone will one day step up to a podium and say “I have a dream of a more compassionate and housed world.”

The promise land is on the horizon, and all that is needed now is a visionary who will work with determination for our impoverished citizens, in a manner similar to the way that Dr. King worked for African Americans.

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C. SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc. org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-5295991 domestic violence shelter N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter(Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD

Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only)2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Dinner Program for Homeless Women; “9:30 Club” Breakfast Club (breakfast Mon-Fri, 9:30-

January 20 - February 2, 2010 11, dinner for women and children, Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm); and Thrive DC St. Stephens Parish Church 1625 Newton St NW (202) 737–9311 www.dphw.org

Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org laundry, counseling, psych care

Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277 www.foodandfriends.org

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, clothing, child & family services

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

MEDICAL RESOURCES Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100 www.christhouse.org Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300 www.unityhealthcare.org Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500; www.wwc.org

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp. org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse & job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing

ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Gospel Rescue Ministries drug, alcohol program (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731 www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/ services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing

Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone & mail, clothing, social events

JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training & employment

Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services

Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation & placement

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some. org lunch, medical & dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870; www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance

DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job & substance abuse counseling, clothes closet

Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org

National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource & referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/ dc.html emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

SHELTER

SHELTER

Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.communityministrymc.org The Samaritan Group Inc. P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564

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Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B-Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org

Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org

The Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 9th Road, North, Arlington (703) 525–7177 www.aachhomeless.org

FOOD

FOOD

Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com

ALIVE!, Inc. 2723 King Street, Alexandria (703) 836–2723 www.alive–inc.org

Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda (301) 493–2400 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelte], substance abuse treatment + other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600–B East Gude Drive, Rockville (301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, & supportive services

Our Daily Bread 10777 Main Street #320, Fairfax (703) 273–8829 www.our–daily–bread.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Arlington Free Clinic 3833 N Fairfax Drive, #400, Arlington (703) 979–1400 www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823–4100 www.anchor–of–hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter Legal Services of Northern VA 6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Falls Church (703) 778–6800; www.lsnv.org civil legal services only StreetWise Partners www.streetwisepartners.org (202) 454-2022 lauren@streetwisepartners.org Free career mentoring

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

S treetS ense.org

January 20 - February 2, 2010

VEndOR PROFILE THE LAST WORd

By Ted Henson, Street Sense Board President As we head into the newspaper’s seventh year of serving the community, Street Sense has a new leader at the helm. I am eager to publicly welcome Abby Strunk as our new Executive Director. Abby brings years of nonprofit experience and an ardent enthusiasm for Street Sense and its mission. From the short time that I have worked with Abby, it is clear that she is a capable and competent leader who will build on the organization’s past successes.

Street Sense has accomplished great things in the six years since our former Executive Director, Laura Thompson-Osuri, and I founded it in November 2003. Our vendor corps now exceeds 50 men and women and our content is still generated in large part by people experiencing homelessness. Street Sense is an important voice in our community at a time when more and more people are living on the edge.

But Street Sense can still do more, particularly in the area of the services and training we provide to vendors. My personal goal - one I know the Board and Abby share - is to provide our vendors with more than a stream of income.

Street Sense can be an important stepping stone for vendors on their journey towards stable employment, housing and getting back on their feet. As much as I enjoy seeing and getting to know the familiar faces of our vendors in the office and on street corners week after week, it would be even better to see those same faces as alumni returning to mentor new vendors or serving as Board members. Laura and I always intended for Street Sense to not be an end in itself, but rather a stepping stone on the long

and difficult road towards economic self-sufficiency.

We also want to expand the distribution and reach of the paper. We need to do more to fulfill our mission of raising public awareness on the issues of homelessness and poverty in Washington, D.C. To accomplish this we need to develop creative distribution strategies and focus on quality content development. Luckily for us, we produce a paper that people believe in and have a strong editorial staff.

On a more basic level, we need to reevaluate the office culture, our outreach to the hundreds of individual donors that support the paper, and our advertising and fundraising strategies.

These are all ambitious goals that will require hard work, an openness to change and, of course, funding. That’s why we are so excited about the experience, energy and creativity that Abby brings to the table.

I want to take a moment to thank Laura Thompson-Osuri for all the time, energy, talent and passion that she invested into the organization. As the first Executive Director, she worked tirelessly to build a firm foundation.

Since one of our first collaborative sessions at the old Sparky’s coffee shop on 14th Street, NW, Laura has been a great partner in building the organization. She brought a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and effective leadership to the table. We are hopeful that Laura’s successes – both personal and professional – will match her successes here at Street Sense.

As we head into the second generation of leadership at Street Sense, the fabled “next level” appears to be in sight. I am confident that Abby -- with the support of vendors, volunteers, staff and readers like you -- will grow Street Sense in ways in which we all can be proud.

Lawrence Autry

By Catherine Dill Lawrence Autry, originally from Northeast D.C., has been a vendor for Street Sense for a little over a year. As vendor #167, Lawrence enthusiastically sells copies of Street Sense at 14th and P streets Northwest.

Lawrence likes being a vendor for Street Sense because it not only allows him to work for himself as an independent contractor but it also gives him the flexibility to set his own hours.

Lawrence says that the flexible timings are beneficial, especially for those vendors who may have to be at their shelter or at school at certain times.

In addition to Street Sense, Lawrence pursues a wide variety of other interests. He is currently studying for his commercial driver’s license in hopes of driving for a private company in the future.

Lawrence is also working on a book on the theory of evolution that he hopes to complete within

a year. Lawrence likes surfing the Internet and operating a ham radio, both of which allow him to communicate around the world.

Although he enjoys his work, Lawrence says that “if someone hands me a check for a million dollars, I’ll gladly accept it, as long as it doesn’t bounce.”

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