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Special Election Ward 8 candidates in brief pg 10

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National Conference

Seeks community solutions to poverty pg 6

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SPECIA L PULL OUT S ECTIO N: Guide t

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OUR STORY Street Sense began in August 2003 after Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003. In 2005, Street Sense achieved 501 ( c ) 3 status as a nonprofit organization, formed a board of directors and hired a full-time executive director.

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STREET SENSE April 8 - 21, 2015

5-Year Plan to End Homelessness in the District Approved Unanimously

By Sabrina Caserta Editorial Intern The District Interagency Council on Homelessness’ (ICH) new five-year plan to end chronic homelessness throughout the city was approved unanimously by the full ICH council at their quarterly meeting on March 31.

The strategic plan underwent 25 public meetings and two public comment sessions before being finalized. It seeks to end chronic homelessness among the sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons— including veterans by December 2015, and families by December 2017. It also aims to rehouse anyone within 60 days of becoming homeless.

According to the proposal, the District will close D.C. General, the largest family shelter in the city. Instead, smaller facilities dispersed throughout the city will be funded. In her budget proposal—released on April 2—Mayor Muriel Bowser has allocated nearly $4.9 million for 84 replacement units for families.

The strategic plan devised a threeprong approach to ending homelessness.

The first includes preventing homelessness whenever possible, primarily through a daytime service center that would provide resources for those on the verge of becoming homeless.

For those experiencing homelessness, the District will provide interim housing: emergency shelters, outreach beds and transitional housing units. However, the city seeks to end homelessness through more permanent solutions.

The District is pumping funding into permanent housing, including rapid rehousing, affordable housing units, and permanent supportive housing units. According to Mayor Bowser’s proposed budget, nearly $4.5 million will fund 350 rapid re-housing units for individuals, as well as the daytime center for homelessness prevention.

Another $2.5 million will fund “additional family homeless prevention,” and 80 units of rapid re-housing for families.

There is $1.5 million assigned to create 250 permanent housing units for individuals, and another $1.2 million will create 110 permanent housing units for families.

This funding will provide 600 housing units for individuals and 190 housing units for families. However, according to the ICH’s 2014 point-in-time count, the District hosts a total of 2,029 homeless people on any given night: 420 people in families; 1,609 individuals; and 406 veterans.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Homeless Weigh In on Hypothermia Season

By Sabrina Caserta Editorial Intern With the hypothermia season officially over on March 31, the District Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), Washington Legal Clinic and Department of Human Services (DHS) hosted a comment session to review the District’s 2014-15 winter plan to provide emergency shelter for homeless people.

The debrief covered topics ranging from public campaigns to hotline operations, transportation, facilities, meals, services and capacity. Representatives from the agencies took copious notes as people experiencing homelessness provided insight.

Suggestions included new ways of getting the word out to the homeless community when a hypothermia alert goes into effect -- strategic physical postings in every neighborhood and metro station, especially along the “edge” areas of city. Some also suggested getting local businesses to disseminate information.

During inclement weather, several commenters reported being stuck outside waiting to get into emergency shelter facilities, which operate 7 p.m.- 7 a.m. They requested flexibility in these hours to be built in for extreme conditions. The District hypothermia alert is activated any time the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit between November 1 and March 31, imme-

diately opening city shelters regardless of the time. Some in attendance at the briefing proposed more accommodation when weather is bad, but the temperature is not quite low enough to activate the alert.

Additionally, it was noted that some homeless couples will brave the streets in favor of being split apart. Commenters called for co-ed shelters as a solution to this problem.

There were concerns of misinformation and confusion among the homeless community. One attendee suggested that during times of cold emergency, when everyone was mandated to be in a shelter. Commenters voiced that officials could use that time strategically to engage the community on important issues. Suggestions included easier avenues of review and clearer accountability—places where they could voice their opinions. Cold emergencies are called when the temperature is forecasted to reach below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20 degrees Fahrenheit with steady precipitation for 60 consecutive minutes or snow accumulation of three inches or more.

Several more public comment sessions will be held before finalizing the 2015-16 winter plan in the coming months.

Delivering Hope

By Jesselyn Radack Volunteer In neighboring Loudoun County-one of the richest counties in the nation--there are about 1,100 homeless or “precariously-housed” children, as defined by the federal McKinneyVento Homeless Assistance Act. The Washington Post reported that a local nonprofit has found a unique way to support them.

Every Wednesday evening, Mobile Hope Loudoun, an offshoot of Inova Loudoun Hospital, delivers a bus full of groceries, toiletries, toys, clothes and books to children whose families can’t afford such items. In addition to the bus trips, the organization offers services at its office, such as free food distribution days and a bimonthly “shopping night” for clothes.

Donna Fortier, founder and executive director of Mobile Hope, said that representatives from other Washington-area organizations have expressed interest in operating a similar program. That’s hopeful news for D.C., which has 6,500 homeless children, according to a recent report by the National Center on Family Homelessness.

Sing Out for Shelter Concert 2015

By Julie Gallagher Editorial Intern Beautiful voices and a captivated audience filled the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church at the annual Sing Out for Shelter Concert on March 28.

The Augmented 8, an all-male a capella group in Washington, D.C., first organized this annual concert 23 years ago and has been hosting it ever since.

More than $200,000 has been raised since the first concert to support local organizations that help combat homelessness, according to the Augmented 8’s website.

“We try to help them any way we can,” said Ed Dickens, a long-time member of the Augmented 8. Dickens said that the group practices once per week in order to prepare for an event like this and that they try to pick different songs every year.

The beneficiaries of the concert were Christ House, a 24-hour medical residential facility for the homeless; Metropolitan House, a small men’s shelter housed in the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church; and Friend-

groups and the concert beneficiaries. ship Place, an organization that helps “My favorite part of the concert is alpeople find housing, medical care, jobs, ways seeing how many people are there case management, and other services . and supportive of the mission of Christ Each organization received one third of House, Friendship Place and Metropolitan the proceeds and spoke to the audience House,” Sarah Katz, director of developabout what they do to serve the homement at Christ House, told Street Sense. less community.

“It’s truly inspiring to see the support of “This is a labor of love for us. We can the wider community.” really do no less,” Ann Michael from Metropolitan House thanked the audience for all of their help.

This year, Capital Hearings, Grace Notes, and Euphonism also performed at the concert, singing a variety of songs that ranged from love ballads to pop songs that the entire audience sang and clapped along to.

During the intermission, the audience was able to Annual Sing Out for Shelter Concert at the Metropolitan speak with mem- Memorial United Methodist Church. bers of the a capella PHOTO BY JULIE GALLAGHER

Reginald Black expands on the State of the District Address exclusively @ StreetSense.org

Building the Pathway to Middle Class

By Clara Lishan Ong Editorial Intern On March 27, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the D.C. LEAP Academy (Learn Earn Advance Prosper) to train District residents for government jobs. Training will focus on in-demand government jobs, such as maintenance and technical support.

“The District employs hundreds of workers to maintain our buildings and keep our fleet vehicles road-ready. LEAP will serve as a conduit for motivated District residents to enter the workforce in a good, steady job and begin the pathway to the middle class,” Mayor Bowser said in her first State of District address on March, 31.

The D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) and the Department of General Services will coordinate partnerships LEAP Academy with private sector

employers, community-based organizations, educational institutions and District Government agencies. The program will offer District residents the chance to obtain industry-recognized credentials and paid apprenticeships.

According to LaToya Foster, senior communications officer for the mayor, LEAP trains for more than entry-level jobs with the goal of empowering people with the skills to become upwardly mobile.

“There are jobs here in the city but if people aren’t trained for them then it’s not helpful,” Foster said. “LEAP is for the unemployed, both homeless and not homeless people. But some people are homeless because they need employment.”

In her State of District Address, Mayor Bowser reiterated her plan to end family homelessness by 2018 and all homelessness in the District by 2025. Her proposed 2016 budget, released two days later, in-

cluded $100 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund, $40 million to begin replacing DC General Samily shelter, and $5 million to extend Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits.

“Mayor Bowser did not mention the failed Homeless No More plan,” said Eric Sheptock, a advocate for the homeless who is homeless himself. “How do you come up with a second ten-year plan and not address the first ten-year plan?”

In 2004, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams announced the “Homeless No More” plan to provide stable housing for all homeless people in the city within 10 years.

“I think that we should end homelessness all together – homelessness among families, individuals, disabled and able-bodied people,” Sheptock responded to Bowser’s separate deadlines for family and individual homelessness in her ten-year plan.

He believes there is insufficient atten-

tion given to homelessness among working, able-bodied people.

“If you’re going to focus more on the disabled people, then those who are ablebodied are going to grow old and possibly become disabled,” Sheptock said. “Half of the homeless people are already working part-time or full-time.”

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s annual homeless census found in 2014 that 19 percent of homeless single adults were employed, and income from employment made up 44 percent of homeless single adults’ income, dwarfing other sources such as public assistance or disability.

“The Mayor acknowledges that homelessness is a challenge that will take time to fix. She is totally committed to ending homelessness overall. She is not looking for a short-term plan, a band-aid to put on the issue,” Foster said.

District Strives to be Physically and Financially Age-Friendly Viable and

By Lillianna Byington Editorial Intern A new program to benefit elderly District of Columbia residents is now in the early stages of implementation.

“Age-Friendly DC” coordinates collective action through 2017 to improve accessibility to transportation, health services, housing, and more for District residents over the age of 50. DC was selected for a global initiative by the World Health Organization Kobe Project to pilot Age-Friendly Indicators, which collects data and gathers input for improvement to make cities more friendly for its aging population. The program was approved

by Mayor Vincent Gray in 2012 with unanimous support from the Council of the District of Columbia.

This plan hits home for Angie Whitehurst, a Street Sense vendor who recently attended a public information meeting about volunteering for the initiative. “I have a mother that is a senior citizen.

She is 86. I’m a senior citizen and I’m 62, and I have a sister who is 55. I know a lot of people who can benefit from this program,” Whitehurst said.

Between March and September of last year, a Block-by-Block Age-Friendly Walk canvassed many areas of the city for walkability, access to services and transportation, and various other concerns.

Age-Friendly DC Coordinator Gail Kohn is optimistic about the initiative’s future.

She said that after last year’s successful Block-by-Block walk-through, they will “follow up this year with a livability index as well as documenting services that have been done so far.”

Whitehurst sees a real need for this program: “If you age in place, you have everyday living problems and you can become very isolated. You might not want to ask for help or know that there are services available to keep you alive, and living well and happy.”

A factor of Age-Friendly DC that will impact the elderly community is a wider range of affordable housing options for older residents aging in place, and other home modification programs.

“Overall, that goal would mean streamlining the port for affordable housing. You can’t say housing without support services,” said Kohn.

Teressa Dorsey has lived at Kuehner House, a residence for single, low income senior citizens, for four years.

“I found the housing from an organization called SOME [So Others Might Eat]. I was homeless and I was looking for food and shelter. I had a history of substance abuse and once I completed a program for them, they had housing for us to go to,” said Dorsey.

According to projections conducted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the current elderly population (people over the age of 65) is projected to more than double. Over 95,000 elderly persons are expected to be living without stable housing by 2050.

“The housing inventory for seniors is limited, what they do have is too expensive for us to move into, we really need more affordable housing for seniors,” Dorsey said.

“Homeless elders, although increasing in numbers, continue to be a forgotten population,” the National Coalition for the

Homeless reports. The Age-Friendly DC initiative hopes to combat this by bringing attention to elderly needs in DC. Age-Friendly DC will offer senior citizens and disabled persons property owner tax relief. The Handicapped Accessibility Improvement Program and the Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program will also offer loans and grants for home improvement and repair.

“A lot of odds are against people who start getting older,” Dorsey states from personal experience.

Councilmember Anita Bonds has pushed for Senior Citizen Tax Relief legislation in the budget process. Bonds proposed the “Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2013,” which was significantly altered for the FY15 Budget Support Act of 2014. This legislation requires every senior homeowner over 70 to pay their property taxes and then file for a Schedule H form to obtain their property tax reduction through an income tax refund.

In a statement released by her office, Bonds stated that, “Unfortunately, the will was not there to see this through; however, I will continue to fight for what’s right and represent the District’s most vulnerable residents, including senior citizens to the best of my ability.”

The Fiscal Year 2015 budget addresses affordable housing and homelessness but does not allocate funding to any senior citizen initiatives. “[Age-Friendly DC] can help to better secure your own future, and that is important to people who are aging in place because it is about self-respect, dignity, self-sufficiency, and maintaining your legal and spiritual independence,” Whitehurst said.

Valuable

By Angie Whitehurst, Vendor

I recently attended an Age-Friendly D.C. meeting at the Wilson Building. Age-Friendly DC is the District’s plan for ensuring our city is a good place to live for people in every age group, starting with a focus on adults over 50.

At the meeting, I learned that the D.C. City Council unanimously passed a proclamation to support the Age D.C. Initiative. There will be Webinars on history, travel, sports and politics. This is important to the elderly, the disabled, and caregivers who cannot or do not get out of the house or assisted living facilities a lot. The Business Initiative is a program for businesses to register and show their support for agefriendly environments. We need awareness in a fast-moving society.

Age-Friendly D.C. is especially wonderful because it’s not called “golden seniors” or “ole old peoples” or the “over-the hill initiative club.” The majority of us are women. We are viable and valuable to maintaining an intelligent, humane, and strong city. A lot of us are the supporting columns in our families and communities. There is a lot to do and there are many volunteer opportunities. So, if you want to be hands-on, contact Age-Friendly DC staff at agefriendly@dc.gov or 202-727-7973.

Together, we will make this happen.

Read “Old Age Not Nonsense” by Angie exclusively @ StreetSense.org

When a Birthday Presents Unstable Housing

By Jennifer Ortiz Editorial Intern Officially “aged-out” of the foster care system that had offered her a safety net of support for nine years, Shannon Mack packed her bags on the morning of her 21st birthday. Her social worker picked her up and helped her take her belongings to a shelter for LGBTQ youth, where they said their goodbyes.

“That was it,” Mack said. “It felt like I was re-entering foster care, into a strange family.”

An average of 160 youth aged out of the foster care system in the District each year between 2010 and 2014, according to reports from the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). According to a 2014 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report, Housing for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, between 11 percent and 37 percent of youth who age out of foster care experience homelessness; in addition, about 25-50 percent of youth are “precariously housed” when they leave the system.

Mack stayed at the Wanda Alston House for only five months. After a late-night hospital visit for her now 7-month-old son, staff members would not let Mack reenter the shelter past the established curfew. Mack was asked to pack up her things the next morning. She was homeless.

The CFSA connects aged-out youth with after-care services that function as an extension of aid, according to Mindy Good, CFSA’s director of communications.

Some of these services are provided by the Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative, which consists of five non-profit entities in the District that help youth find housing, connect with vocational training, look for jobs, manage their finances and attain counseling. Until the age of 24, aged-out youth may take advantage of these services.

Mack receives support from the Columbia Heights Collaborative, but she has not had the same case manager through her time there. She told Street Sense that she felt she couldn’t get to know her case managers and was unable build trust with them. Mack said that after she testified at the CFSA performance oversight hearing in February, her current case worker—the third she has had since aging out in June— has helped her more.

After couch surfing at her ex-girlfriend’s house and staying with friends from time to time, Mack was able to find temporary, 90 day housing at Covenant House in early February. Her time there has already expired. She said Covenant House has allowed her to stay longer as she prepares for entering Job Corps, but she is unsure how long the process to

ing her time in foster care. She applied to its Foster Care Campaign, where she has been working part time since January 2013. Through the Foster Care Campaign she advocates for foster care, youth who are in the process of aging out and homeless youth.

“Our main focus is to work on a youth transition center. It would be like a dropi n c e n t e r. I t w i l l basically have entertainment, GED classes and counselors.

It will help you find a job and will have organizations that hire and come out and speak with some of the youth there,” Shannon Mack moved to a shelter when she aged out of foster explained Mack. She feels that she undercare at 21-years-old.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER ORTIZ stands the needs and emotions of youth reach that goal will take. aging out of foster care and hopes to help “I feel like I’m constantly being rethose who are in similar situations. minded that my 90 days have been up.

Mack said that Covenant House is the I feel like I’m being pushed away, but I only transitional housing that she knows really don’t have a plan b,” Mack said. of that caters to the needs of aged-out “If I leave the Covenant House, I really youth. In 2014, Covenant House served 53 have nowhere.” youths who had reported aging out of the Good told Street Sense that CFSA starts system, according to Tamara Johnson, the preparing foster youth to transition out director of marketing and communications of care “by the time they’re 18,” but she of Covenant House Washington. Johnson feels they should start even earlier. The stated that many youth who use the Covtransition plans include connecting youth enant House’s housing options also use with a Collaborative as well as making their GED programs and career services. sure each youth has “one meaningful Despite the help she received while adult connection outside of the system being in the foster care system, Mack dethat they can turn to.” For Mack, the scribed her years in the system as unstatransitional planning has not been enough. ble. When the agency needed to switch When she aged-out, Mack did not have her placement, Mack said they asked her a connection with any adult outside of the “to sleep at a bus station overnight and system. She said that though CFSA provided call them the next day.” She recalled her with transitional planning, she feels as running away from her foster home when if they could have been more supportive in she was placed there because she didn’t providing more guidance for her. feel comfortable with a new guardian.

“I needed help on things like saving Mack hopes that as she works at the money and real job readiness,” Mack Foster Care Campaign and continues to said, explaining that she has never had share her story, others will learn about a real job before coming to the Young the realities that those who are aging out Women’s Project. “Some people who age of the foster system face. She said serout of foster care still look back on their vice providers need to understand that past. Counselors, when we age out, will those who have aged out are “trying to be helpful.” build on our future, but it can be hard Mack connected with the Young Women’s when we have a past.”

Project during her stay at a group home dur-

STREET SENSE April 8 - 21, 2015

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COVER STORY

A Future for the Federal City Shelter

By Julie Gallagher Editorial Intern An act was passively approved by Congress on March 11 that requires Mayor Muriel Bowser to develop a plan for reconstruction of the Federal City Shelter.

The act’s “Statement of Principles” was developed by a task force that assembled in 2013 and binds the mayor’s plan to certain guidelines. The task force met regularly for a year and was led by former councilmember and chairman for the Committee on Human Services Jim Graham.

Graham said the objective of the task force was to improve “the quality of services for homeless people,” specifically at the facility’s 2nd and D Streets NW location. The task force started to work towards that objective by gathering facts and assessing client and community needs, according to Graham.

“I think we’ve done everything we could to make the right decision and the right decision is to maintain homeless services and housing at that downtown location,” Graham said.

The Statement of Principles outlines that the mayor should follow a “build first” strategy, so that clients are not displaced by construction. The guidelines also say that the replacement facility should have affordable housing, follow a Housing First model of permanent supportive housing and provide a 24-hour low barrier shelter and hypothermia shelter.

The act also stipulates that the replacement facility should be “state-ofthe-art.”

“I’m very proud of what goes on there, but no one is proud of the quality of housing there,” Graham said. “It’s not what we want for the people.”

The Statement of Principles requires the replacement or reconstructed facility to continue to host the organizations currently located at the Federal City Shelter: CCNV, Unity Health Care, DC Central Kitchen, Clean and Sober Streets, The John L. Young Center for Women and New Hope Ministries.

Although the act has been approved

by Congress, there is no timeline yet for when the mayor’s plan will be developed, according to Kenneth Diggs, public information officer for Department of General Services (DGS). The city is now discussing the next steps and DGS will be a part of the conversation.

“We are always involved in the facilities part of the portfolio, meaning that we construct whatever the mayor decides,” Diggs said.

Poverty Conference Receives Mixed Reviews

By Jacquie Lee Editorial Intern of government officials who attended the event, he said.

Advocacy organizations in the region need to place greater emphasis on working with politicians to alleviate poverty throughout the country, according to Scull.

Fighting Poverty Through Empowerment

Panelists, volunteers and other members of Empowered Women International.

PHOTO BY JACQUIE LEE

More than 800 people from across the nation gathered at the Washington Convention Center on March 28 for the fourth annual National Conference on Ending Poverty. Speeches, demonstrations and testimonies were shared in an effort to inspire change and raise public awareness about homelessness and poverty.

“Justice! Not charity! Is that too much to ask?” shouted keynote speaker Peter Edelman, a professor at Georgetown University and author of “So Rich, So Poor: Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in America.”

District nonprofit A Wider Circle organized and hosted the conference. According to Founder and Executive Director Mike Bergel, this year’s attendance was double that of 2014.

“There was a lot of experience when you add the people in the room together,” Bergel said. “This is what we think needs to happen to get people out of poverty.”

Bergel stressed the importance of connecting people living in poverty to those who want to help end it. He could not give a specific percentage of attendees at the conference who were living in poverty, but said the number was larger than last year.

“It’s important to acknowledge those experiencing poverty and food insecurity; they’re the experts,” said Jenna Umbriac, Director of Nutrition Programs for Manna Food Center.

Based in Montgomery County, Maryland, Manna provides donated and “rescued” food to area residents. Some of the center’s staff attended the conference to learn more community-building strategies and to be inspired.

“Sometimes it feels like we’re doing it alone,” Umbriac said. “If we could harness the power of those people [who are living in poverty], something can change.”

Manna occupied one of many booths lining the conference hall walls and pre-

sented a workshop about food insecurity and community building.

For some, the conference fell short.

Nancy Scull, who recently retired as coordinator of the Family Self-Sufficiency program at the Montgomery Housing Public Agency, said the range of policymakers that spoke at the event was too narrow. Of the eight government officials who spoke at the event, seven were from Montgomery County. The eighth executive was D.C. At-Large City Councilmember Vincent Orange.

“I don’t feel negatively that elected officials didn’t come,” Bergel said. “I completely understand their schedules, and it’s my jobs to make it more appealing for them to come.”

Bergel wants to focus on getting more people, elected officials included, to attend the conference next year.

“I believe that all of us have to engage,” he said. “I want to have more of everybody there.”

Scull said she felt those who organized the conference should have been more concerned with elected officials’ attendance at the event.

“There should have been a mix of senators as far and wide as they could go on those panels so that people know what is going on across the country,” Scull said.

Scull met with employees at A Wider Circle several weeks before the conference to consult on organizing. At that point A Wider Circle had not reached out to many government officials. Scull hurried to invite over 150 members of congress, and requested legislative aids be sent in their stead if necessary.

A Wider Circle received the emails, but staff are unsure if any congresspersons or legislative aides attended the conference, Bergel said. The conference was very hectic and Bergel could not give the number

Many of the conference workshops focused on self-empowerment and ending the cycle of poverty through employment opportunities. Four Empowered Women International (EWI) members sat on a panel during their workshop and discussed the misconceptions of poverty.

EWI works with women that are overcoming difficult life circumstances. Over 50 percent of their clients are foreignborn. EWI also provides a year-long Entrepreneur Fellowship that trains business-savvy women and helps them get their businesses off the ground.

“Most people assume that poor people are just waiting for handouts,” Pauline Muchina, an EWI Entrepreneur Fellowship student said. “That’s the worst way to deal with poverty…You need to train people and invest in them so they can do if for themselves.”

Karamchandani immigrated from India to the U.S after 9/11, and racial tensions made it difficult for her to find a job. She was recently married and did not feel equipped to handle her new life in a new country.

“People need to know that poverty isn’t about money, it’s about lack of control,” Karamchandani said. “Each person needs to recognize where the lack comes from, [and then] we need to teach them how to fend for themselves.”

One attendee recalled creating a strict budget that left her only $12 for groceries per month. She cut back on her expenses in order to avoid going into debt and is now an art and entrepreneurship educator.

The conference also included “reverse panels,” where audience members spoke to experts. One reverse panel was titled “Where do we go from here?”

A microphone was set up at the front of the room and audience members shared their personal goals to help end poverty, such as reaching out to diverse communities for their input on poverty and raising money through car washes.

“You’ve got to create relationships between income levels,” said reverse panel leader Scott Miller, Founder and CEO of CirclesUSA. Miller focused on “right-sized strategies” for each individual and asked each audience member to reflect on whether their goal was an appropriate response to poverty. Bergel wants to do even more next year to leave participants excited and able to take action, including a march to end poverty along with the conference.

“This was not as big as I wanted it to be,” Bergel said. “I want to pump more urgency into it.”

DMV Area Assesses Itself

By Reginald Black, Vendor, “Da Street Reportin’ Artist” A breakout session at the National Conference of Ending Poverty focused on ending homelessness in the Washington metropolitan area and featured speakers from service providers that serve the D.C. community.

Among them was George A. Jones, executive director of Bread for the City.

Jones said that when building a cathedral or working to end poverty you should work towards it like you will see it in your lifetime. Jones said that people need to stay engaged and policy makers need to start taking responsibility for people who are on the low end of the spectrum.

Susie Sinclair-Smith is a board member of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) and was also the founding director for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. She cited Montgomery County’s 11% reduction in homelessness and told a compelling story of how MCCH helped a client who was living in the woods to live inside. Sinclair-

Smith said that MCCH’s mission is to end homelessness by creating communities that serve the needs of those without shelter. Sinclair-Smith said MCCH believes that the system needs to be changed, and that the goal is for people to become stable and remain stable.

She pointed out that helping people who have experienced homelessness teaches you that it could be you.

Marian Peele is the senior director of innovation for the Capital Area Food Bank and has served the community for 25 years. Peele pointed out that 50 percent of children in Washington, D.C. live east of the river. Peele said that people want to work, and that often medical conditions play a big part in a household’s ability to maintain or lose housing. Peele said that Capital Area Food Bank is focused on providing the kind of food that supports good health.

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Celebrate National Volunteer Week! April 12 - 18, 2015

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Stephen, Paper Sales Extraordinaire

By Samia El Khodary Ediotrial Intern *ding-dong* “Hello! Street Sense, how may I help you?”

Stephen Dockery answers the intercom.

“I am… I need papers please.”

“I’ll be right down, just give me a moment.”

Stephen grabs the keys and the pink cash bag on his way down to the lobby to sell newspapers at a wholesale price to the waiting Street Sense vendor. They chat as he counts out the necessary papers and accepts the vendor’s payment and signature.

“At first it was hectic... overwhelming.

There are lots of people coming in the lobby and your job is to organize everything,” Stephen said.

He and his easy-going personality are a crucial part of Street Sense’s front door. A 27-year old journalist for Agence France-Presse (AFP), Stephen values the fusion of career and volunteerism he

finds at Street Sense.

“I love what they are about… running a community program while reporting the news,” Stephen said.

Growing up in Virginia and commuting to the District for most of his life, Stephen is accustomed to grabbing a newspaper along the way. Luckily, one day, Street Sense was that paper. He hasn’t stopped reading it since.

But Stephen wasn’t satisfied to remain

a reader. He seized the chance to volunteer when some free time opened up in his schedule. For him it is both rewarding to be part of a community organization and a bit of an escape to be in a newsroom environment, without all of the duties of his day job.

“It runs like a newspaper,” Stephen said. “Just the way the vendors & staff interact is lovely - I haven’t seen it anywhere else.”

Spending time in the office and greeting vendors as they stop by, Stephen hears many stories, ranging from everyday struggles, to dealing with family members, to news developments. Each one makes him feel like part of the community.

“The best thing about sales is to speak with people,” Stephen said.

The interaction of selling the paper updates him on what’s happening. He is looking forward to engaging in the writing process, too, at some point. Stephen feels that Street Sense is a good place for journalists to volunteer as it adds to their knowledge of homelessness in the community. This is why he stops by every week to help Street Sense with paper sales.

VOLUNTEER WITH OUR NEW DROP-IN CENTER!

The Street Sense Drop in Center will be a rejuvenating safe place out of the elements for our vendors and creators. REPONSIBILITIES: 1) Make sure the center is a safe place where people treat each other fairly; Make sure vendors follow the rules of the center, help them solve problems and stop any harmful behavior. 2) Manage the center day to day and make sure all tasks are done to keep the center running smoothly. 3) Monitor and evaluate the center’s programs. VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE: 1) Able to commit to one (or more) weekly shift Monday-Friday 1:30pm-5pm 2) Mature & compassionate individuals who are able to verbally deescalate situations that may arise as they oversee the Drop in Center Room. 3) A great team player who would like to take part in our mission to end homelessness CONTACT: New Initiatives & Volunteers Coordinator Rachael Buck | (202) 347-2006 x 10 | rachael@streetsense.org

THE STREET SENSE MEDIA CENTER NEEDS DIGITAL CAMERAS FOR A NEW PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP! Similar to our Writer’s Group, Film Cooperative, and others program m in g — t hi s new program will be teaching skills and producing original work.

Have a point-and-shoot digital camera to spare? Please consider donating to Street Sense.

Contact Eric Falquero (202) 347 - 2006 x 13 ericf@streetsense.org

StreetSense.org

CINEMA FROM THE STREET see our city – for real

D.C.’s First Homeless Film Co-op April 29 @ 6:30 pm | E Street Cinema RSVP @ STREETSENSE.ORG/FILM #STREETCINEMA /streetsense

@streetsensedc

/streetsensedc

1640 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020 breadforthecity.org (202) 561-8587 volunteer@breadforthecity.org 202-594-7865.

Mission Statement: The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. We recognize that all people share a common humanity, and that all are responsible to themselves and to society as a whole. Therefore, we promote the mutual collaboration of clients, volunteers, donors, staff, and other community partners to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty and to rectify the conditions that perpetuate it.

Volunteer Opportunities: Distributing fresh produce to the community through our Free Farmers Markets, getting your hands dirty at City Orchard by assisting with plant maintenance and harvesting fresh produce for our food pantries, packing fresh “rescued” produce from local farmers markets through our Gleaning Program, or helping in our Clothing Program to sort, process and organize clothing donations.

Carlin Anderson

canderson@bridges2.org

703-525-7177, ext. 23 Mission Statement: Bridges to Independence, formerly Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, is a private non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and support services to homeless families and women in Arlington County and Alexandria. Our mission is to move people into a permanently self-sufficient, independent life.

Volunteer Opportunities: Work with children: Help children with homework or provide tutoring in a specific subject, babysit children while their parents attend classes, and organize crafts and activities for kids. Work with adults: Teach basic computer and job search skills, help move clients into new homes, or mentor an aspiring entrepreneur in our microbusiness training program.Work in our office: Help us with administrative projects or special events. Fundraise: Organize a food or toiletries drive or a fundraiser to benefit our clients.

Melissia Gould 202-610-9637 mgould@chdc.org Mission statement: The mission of Covenant House Washington is to protect young people from the streets and dangerous living situations, to enhance the lives of young people through beneficial services designed to ease the transition into adulthood and to continuously advocate on behalf of youth in crisis.

Volunteer Opportunities: Covenant House Washington offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities from tutoring students in our GED Prep classes, organizing and helping to beautify our spaces, and general office support to creating specific events and activities for our residents.

515 N Street SE #215 Washington, DC 20003 www.bestkids.org Danny Silbert, Mentor Recruiter daniel@bestkids.org (202) 397-3272

Mission Statement: BEST Kids seeks to promote better futures for youth in the District of Columbia’s child welfare system by developing and supporting one-on-one mentoring relationships between the youth and caring, consistent adults.

Volunteer Opportunities: Become a Volunteer Mentor! BEST Kids Mentors and mentees participate in a variety of activities together to further develop their mentoring relationship. Mentors and mentees spend their time in the community participating in sporting activities and events, visiting museums and attending cultural activities, reading and working on schoolwork together, and developing independent living skills by learning how to shop for groceries, manage a bank account, and cook healthy meals, among other activities. Community-based mentoring allows for the match to explore the community and new activities in order to broaden the child’s world-view and exposure to new opportunities for growth.

Arielle Baker abaker@calvaryservices.org 202-678-2341 ext 233 Mission Statement: Calvary Women’s Services offers housing, health, employment and education programs that empower homeless women in Washington, DC to change their lives. Our programs carry out our mission to offer “a safe, caring place for tonight; support, hope and change for tomorrow.”

Volunteer Opportunities: LEAP Facilitator: LEAP is the Life Skills, Education and Arts Program of Calvary. This program empowers women with the basic education and skills they need to successfully move out of homelessness. All one-hour afternoon classes are facilitated by volunteers. Calvary is seeking passionate and enthusiastic instructors who can lead these classes and commit to facilitate one class, once a week (either at 1:30 or 3:30 pm), for eight weeks. Overnight Volunteer: Overnight Volunteers supervise Calvary’s programs from 9 pm – 7 am, making the residents feel safe and secure. Volunteers pair up with a Calvary staff member to ensure a smooth, quiet shift by setting out breakfast, greeting residents, and doing regular checks of the facility. This volunteer position is ideal for an individual looking to serve in an essential role while still keeping business hours. www.KEENGreaterDC.org volunteer@keengreaterdc.org Mission Statement: KEEN’s mission is to provide a range of one-to-one recreational activities for children and young adults with disabilities in a non-competitive environment, which encourages the fulfillment of individual goals. KEEN seeks to develop each athlete’s self-esteem and confidence, as well as recreational skills and talents, and to increase each athlete’s ability to participate in a broader range of recreational activities and environments.

Volunteer Opportunities: In addition to working with some great kids “athletes” with disabilities, KEEN volunteers, “coaches,” meet a variety of interesting communityminded people. Volunteering for KEEN is fun and offers opportunities for occasional/ weekend participation, and leadership on our coached committee. Volunteers don’t need any prior experience – KEEN provides training prior to each session. Coaches don’t need to be athletic, either. Our athletes will love you just as you are!

Susan Gallucci 202-483-2857 susan@northwestcenter.org Mission Statement: The Northwest Center seeks to promote the dignity of women and a respect for all human life. We seek to accomplish this goal by offering the loving support and comprehensive aid necessary to enable all women to continue their pregnancies, deliver healthy babies, and adequately care for themselves and their children.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to work with pregnant women and families with children in the Pregnancy Center’s Step Up Program. Volunteers who speak Spanish or Amharic are needed. Volunteers also needed for small repair projects in the townhouse.

3684 Centerview Drive, Suite 110B, Chantilly, Virginia 20151 homeaidnova.org (571) 283-6300 BikesfortheWorld www.bikesfortheworld.org YvetteHess 703.740.7856 office@bikesfortheworld.org

Mission Statement: Bikes for the World makes quality used bicycles affordable and available to lower income people and select institutions in developing countries to enhance their lives through better transport. We also generate skilled employment in bicycle repair and maintenance overseas, and provide satisfying community service opportunities for volunteers in the U.S. Volunteer Opportunity:Bikes for the World relies on a huge network of volunteers to help impact a great number of beneficiaries worldwide. Whether you need hours for school, work, or just want to volunteer check out the ways you can help: Donate your old bikes, tubes, and bike parts and change a life overseas. Organize a bike drive in your neighborhood and help change an entire village. You can also volunteer at our warehouse to help load a container of bikes and prep bikes for shipping. Great for small groups and team-building exercises.

LUCK OF THE DICE: The Ward 8 Special Election

By Reggie Black Vendor, “Da Street Reportin’ Artist”

On March 25, 2015 Thurgood Marshall Academy in Southeast, Washington D.C. held a candidates forum for the 13 candidates currently campaigning for the vacant Ward 8 seat held by the late, great Marion S. Barry Jr. This means a changing of the tide in a ward that has been one of the lowest income hubs in Washington.

With a large candidate pool it will be tough to decide who is right to lead Ward 8.

Here lies the breakdown of candidates running to replace the late Marion Barry.

The special election to fill the Ward 8 seat will take place on April 28, 2015, which is also the date of the Ward 4 vote to fill the council seat vacated by Mayor Muriel Bowser.

JAHAR ABRAHAM • Cofounder of Peaceoholics.

• “We have to have someone who will speak truth to power about racism and classism that exists,” he said. “I don’t agree with a lot of things downtown.

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

• Feels we need more in-patient treatment programs to deter crime in Washington.

STEWART ANDERSON • a founding director of Family and Friends of Incarcerated People.

• advocated for statehood, he believes it would “solve a lot of problems.”

• “I am the only candidate that is really connected in this ward. Change can be good if it happens with us in mind.”

• “I want to represent you as your servant,” he said.

MARION CHRISTOPHER BARRY • Son of the late Marion Barry.

• “I’ve created hundreds of jobs for the homeless.”

• Suggests Ward 8 “get back to the days when police come from the community.”

SHEILA BUNN • Served as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Vincent T. Gray.

• More affordable housing in Ward 8.

• “I have experience in all three executive branches. I believe the police department needs to go into schools.

This would help the kids see them in a non-aggressive situation,” she said.

GRETA FULLER • Served eight years as an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) commissioner.

• Feels that the Metropolitan Police Department needs sensitivity training.

• Seeks more affordable housing for the area.

EUGENE KINLOW • Served 10 years on the University of the District of Columbia board of trustees.

• “We need the whole room fighting for statehood.”

• “We have not taken care of our assets,” he said. “I’m a fighter; we’ll keep Ward 8 strong.”

LARUBY MAY • Currently serves as the executive director of the Vision of Victory Child Development Center.

• Police force must be held accountable and be more culturally competent.

• Characterizes herself as an advocate for low-income seniors in Ward 8.

ANTHONY MUHAMMAD • Currently a DC Democratic Committee’s Ward 8 Committeeman.

• “We wanna keep it straight in Ward 8.

I’m the only candidate to negotiate a community service agreement.”

• “I’ve been in Ward 8 all my life.”

SANDRA SEEGARS • Served as Captain of the Mayor’s Ward 8 Community Summit.

• Believes the District should offer programs to financially help residents.

• “We need to mature,” she said. “We need to govern ourselves before we become a state. I get things done.”

LEONARD WATSON SR. • Seeks to recruit D.C. residents to improve the police force, as well as improve the training practices.

• Neighborhoods east of the river have been left out. “The last should be first.”

• Believes in territorial rights regarding statehood.

TREVON WHITE • Served as the Ward 8 representative to the State School Board of Education.

• Advocates for training in Ward 8 to help get residents jobs.

• “One of the things we need to do is be honest,” he said. “We need to empower our community, police our own community. I know what it is like to be poor.”

NATALIE WILLIAMS • Currently represents Ward 8 residents as the Chairwoman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8A. • Believes the District should address the area median income amid issues in the region.

• “We need to make sure we hold our police department accountable,” she said.”I’ve been faithful to Ward 8.”

KEITA VANTERPOOL • Practicing chiropractor, she believes “Ward 8 needs to take a holistic approach.”

• Advocates for Washington to gain statehood through budget lobby and pressing their shadow senator.

• “Education is the key to unlock the door on life,” she said.

OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO HOUSING: Secured Credit Cards

By Arthur Johnson, Volunteer

Most landlords run credit checks. If your credit is bad or you have none, you will have a very difficult time trying to obtain housing. Therefore, it is extremely important that you take advantage of the opportunity to build your credit. One of the safest ways to do that is with a secured credit card.

Secured credit cards operate like a regular credit card. The big difference is that normally the bank that issues a credit card lends you their money when you charge an expense to it. With a secured credit card, you give the bank a security deposit--it can be as little as $250--and they give you a card that has a limit equal to the amount of your deposit. In essence, you are borrowing from yourself. The deposit eliminates the risk to the bank of someone failing to pay, and the low borrowing limit based on your deposit also will help you avoid getting back into serious debt.

It is important to note that you can still be denied for a secured credit card. While most banks will work with you, it will depend on your circumstances. A recent

bankruptcy filing will cause some banks to wait for 6-twelve months after you have received your discharge to approve you.

There are many banks that issue secured credit cards, and it would be wise to ask questions if you fall into the category of applicants with a recent bankruptcy. If you are in a Chapter 13 repayment plan, it is unlikely that any financial institution will allow you to receive a secured credit card since you are not allowed to incur new debt during the repayment period.

Once you obtain a card, the payment history is reported to the credit bureaus and a positive history will help improve your credit score and thus your chances when applying for housing. Prepaid credit cards like those offered at stores do not report to the credit bureaus. Debit cards don’t either.

If the deposit will be a challenge, remember that you can borrow the money back with your new card and pay it back.

Many banks offer secured credit cards, and most also accept applications by phone, online or mail. Three banks in the

District that might be worth talking to are Bank of America (5 locations in the District), US Bank and Wells Fargo. It would be best to visit a branch of one of those banks and sit down with a banker. They can take the application there (have your money with you). You will need to have a driver’s license or Identification card and to provide an address and phone number.

If you are presently residing in a shelter or outside, you will need to use a physical address. If you don’t have a family or friend that will allow you to receive mail at their address, try renting a mailbox at a location like the UPS Store or Mailboxes Etc. Most banks will not allow you to use a P.O. Box. Some service providers also allow you to use their address to receive mail. Be sure to use your cell phone number instead of the shelter’s. You will also need to provide information about your income. If you are working in an independent contractor, for example as a Street Sense vendor, the company can verify your status and provide basic information on

your earnings. While it is true that the most important thing to the bank is the deposit, the Patriot Act requires all the information I have described to be provided to the banks when you open an account.

When you have had a secured credit card for a certain period of time--often one year--and have made consistent on-time payments, the banks usually return your money (along with interest earned) and the card becomes a standard, unsecured card.

This may seem like a lot of hassle to go through, but building your credit so you can get housing is very important. The District’s housing market is very competitive, and plenty of the competition already has good credit. By getting a secured credit card and making consistent, timely payments to build your credit score, you will be putting yourself on a path to look like a very desirable tenant on housing applications.

In the next issue, I will focus on another issue that may prevent people from getting housing: rental application background checks.

STREET SENSE April 8 - 21, 2015

The Real Adam’s Place

Uplift My Story

OPINION

Michael Hartridge, mehartridge@gmail.com

By Jeffrey Mcneil, Vendor

There are two kinds of poverty: material and spiritual poverty.

Material poverty is what’s argued about inside the Beltway, such as the poor are defined as poor because they don’t have iPads or own a PlayStation. I’ve heard activists grumble because their communities have no Starbucks or Harris Teeters.

Material poverty can be solved not by federal programs or higher taxes, but by making personal sacrifices and prudent investment decisions.

Spiritual poverty is much more difficult to overcome. It is a mentality that’s born or develops inside you. I equate spiritual poverty to a pot of boiling crabs. As the water boils, the crabs try to crawl out by grabbing the legs of the other crabs until they all eventually fall in the boiling pot of hot water.

Whenever I hear others blame poverty on structural forces, I just want to unload -- it’s utter nonsense. I’ve stayed at a shelter. What drove me out was not injustice, but the crab mentality. Too many people were relying on others to do things for them instead of taking the initiative to do things themselves. Some would degrade you for selling newspapers but then have the audacity to ask you for a couple of dollars. Others stay well-dressed but couldn’t rub two quarters together.

I grew up with a family that had no money, but they exposed me to a strong spiritual foundation. They taught me the little things, such as if you don’t borrow money, you won’t be in debt. Another lesson they taught me was that paying for something is more rewarding than having it handed down to you.

These principles got me through tough times. I had holes in my shoes but never felt compelled to rob someone over a pair of Air Jordans. My parents whipped my butt, but this didn’t drive me to join gangs or drop out of school.

There was a time when a drug dealer saw me digging through the trash for an apple, showed me three crisp hundred dollar bills and said if I ran a package for him it was mine. I told him, “Go to hell.”

I’d rather turn my back on a drug dealer than turn my back on my creator.

Tough times never last, but tough people do. I’ve been broke but I’ve never been broken. I grew up in a small town where a man survived on his wits. There were no great factories or job opportunities. My parents struggled but they would not allow us to blame external forces for their misery.

My parents never protested or joined mass movements. They were resourceful.

11

The word “can’t” was never in our vocabulary. When hard times hit, my family didn’t sit around praying for sunshine. We would go out fishing and sell our catch to fish markets. During the winter, we would shovel snow or jump-start someone’s car.

What I learned from my parents was that when no opportunities exist, you create one. However, the mentality of my grandfather and the greatest generation doesn’t exist in today’s great land of ours.

Today, activists believe everything is a right, such as housing and healthcare.

These arguments need to be debunked.

If my father could commute hours to fix cars, why can’t an unemployed person from Ward 8 go across the bridge to fill out job applications or sell newspapers?

Once upon a time, when opportunities vanished, people didn’t sit on their musty dusties demanding entitlements. They went to where the opportunities were.

Today, activists believe everything is a right.

My family was part of the great black migration. My grandfather grabbed his family and moved from Georgia to Ohio, while my father traveled from Ohio to New York, eventually settling in New Jersey. I know many immigrant children whose parents did the same thing when the going got rough. They kept moving until opportunities were opened for them.

In Washington there is an entitlement mentality. People are like babies with a rattle, demanding everything under the sun: jobs, housing, paid vacations...

It seems like nobody wants to exercise self-discipline, save their money and purchase something through hard work, sweat and toil.

Many of these activists blame everyone else for their failures. It is corporate greed, Republicans or the white man.

However, I wonder what capitalist tells someone to purchase a home that they can’t afford, or what racist is so ingenious as to tell a woman to have multiple children with different fathers..

I’ve been homeless but I’ve never been helpless. I don’t speak from an ivory tower. I’ve been there.

Our city is changing, and I don’t care for gentrification anymore than the activists. However, the poor shoot themselves in the foot when they engage in behaviors that reinforce common stereotypes of them.

No one will be compelled to provide more services or better living conditions to someone selling drugs on the corner or drunk in the park.

years. But I’ve also invested this time in The photos taken during Street Sense's creating change for District shelter resivisit to Adams Place Shelter for the article dents. It’s important. Other people made "Single Adults' Voices Finally Heard?" in the sacrifices so that this city would guarantee previous edition painted an untrue image me a bed when the temperature reached of the real Adams Place Shelter. This is below 32 degrees fahrenheit. Having benwhat the management and staff didn't efited from these services, I owe it to the want you to see. next guy to pay it forward.

I stayed at Adam’s Place Emergency Days after I testified at the Wilson Shelter often from late November 2012 Building hearing, Adam’s Place residents until last month. In the homeless comlabeled me a “snitch” and the staff looked munity, Adam’s Place is labeled as the for excuses to kick me out. Luckily, it has best shelter by many. I have experienced been warm enough so I no longer have to the overcrowding, violence and smell of stay there. We did have a 21 degree night other city shelters - and can understand since then, but thankfully I was able to this viewpoint, by comparison. Regardless, find shelter with St. Luke’s for a night. I Adam’s Place does not grant residents the am receiving two new truck driving cersecurity or dignity it should. tifications this month, and hope to be On Wednesday, March 3 I testified at a employed and no longer need the shelter hearing at the Wilson Building about shelsystem next winter. ter conditions for single adults. I presented Mr. Hartridge submitted more photos these photos and more, which documented than could fit in our newspaper, they will sleeping shelter staff, filthy facilities and my accompany the online article. Michael own written correspondence with Catholic Hartridge documents the treatment of Charities’ administration. The room of adhomeless persons in the District on a vocates, which included the Department of channel that can be found by searching Human Services’ staff and city council mem“ihomeless.com” on YouTube. bers, grew silent. No one approached me to help solve these concerns. I’ve also documented footage of shelter staff cursing at groups of residents. They treat us like cattle.

The Department of General Services has an office dedicated to managing shelter complaints, but all too many are “solved internally” and complaints don’t make it that far. This city is taking strides to end homelessness, but there will always be some people in need of emergency shelter at some time. I used to wear suits every day for work. I never Adam’s Place on a hypothermia day. In the backthought I’d be in this position. ground the security guard manning our front door I’ve been set back by health is asleep and clients who do not have access to the issues while continuing my dormitories during the day choose to sleep on the job search over the past three floor or leave. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL HARTRIDGE

The Planet Fitness Incident in Michigan

By Leonard C. Hyater, Jr., Vendor

On March 29, I was listening to “The Frank Ski Show” on Howard University Radio WHUR-FM 96.3, hosted by Mo Ivory.

The topic was about an incident concerning two women at Planet Fitness in Midland, Michigan. One woman was working out and went to the women’s locker room afterwards. Upon entering, she thought she saw a man within. Feeling uncomfortable, she reported it to the manager.

The manager said that the “man” happened to be transgender and that the gym has a no-judgment policy. Upset with this response, the woman began complaining to other female patrons in the women’s locker for several days until the corporate office called to revoke her membership.

I understand that Planet Fitness is a judgment-free zone, and I also support the transgender community and their rights. But what about the young woman’s rights when she felt uncomfortable?

In my opinion, Planet Fitness should have handled this in a different way. The reason I say this is because she was within her right to complain about a man, who happened to be transgender, being in a women’s locker room.

This would be a very interesting case if it ends up in court. We live in a society where each person is unique.We must learn to live together, to be respectful of one another and to live in peace.

The Street Sense Writers’ Group is led by writing professionals and meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The group’s goal is to develop ideas and collaborate on the next great issue of Street Sense.

A Day in the Life of Our Vendors A Day in the Life!

A Day Selling Street Sense

By Rachel Higdon, Vendor

Wake up call is at 6 a.m in the shelter, House of Ruth. At 7:30 a.m, the dorm area is locked and off limits for the day. Me, being the last minute person that I am, awake at 7:15 a.m every morning. I take 15 minutes to make my bed, get dressed, brush my teeth, and put on deodorant. I go to the office to take my medication, and then I’m out the door. Every morning I go to the 7-11 right around the corner to get some coffee, and then I head to the bus stop. Putting fare on my Smartrip card is always a hassle because it is very expensive. I prefer to walk, but the walk from H Street to Eastern Market is too long. I head to Eastern Market every morning because that’s where I sell my papers. At least five days out of the week,

By Jackie Turner, Vendor I spend my days selling papers.

Not only do I need the money, but I also actually enjoy selling the papers and meeting people. I really appreciate the people who buy papers from me and support me! They really help me to get by. I usually sell papers from 8-2 p.m or 3:00 pm, and then I usually go to the library or

out; I generally keep to myself. I usually just lay in bed and read a good book or do some writing.

I just dream about better days. I’m very optimistic and hopeful about my life. I don’t dwell on the negatives. Lights go out at 10:30 pm and I peacefully fall asleep, eager to get back out in the morn-

I just dream about better days...

Selling papers is my escape from my rough life. take a walk. I go back in the shelter by 4:30 pm to eat the dinner that they serve; that’s usually my only meal of the day. It’s depressing to sit in the shelter, but I make the best of it. They open the dorm area at 5:30 pm. I get my shower supplies ready and take a shower. It’s pretty boring once I get in the shelter, but I don’t like to hang

ing. Selling papers is my escape from my rough life. As I said, I don’t dwell on the negatives. I do love my life. In the past ten months, my days have changed drastically from sleeping outside and using drugs. Now I’m more civilized, living in a shelter, and I’m clean and sober. Go me!

An Atypical Day

By Anti-Apathetic

My typical day should be: I rise I groom I read I eat I call my kids I sell and earn But not this day. This day I attended meeting after meeting, sacrificing my earnings to contribute to the strengthening of my “community”: the District, the United States, Earth. After which I visit three spots and make $2 for two papers sold to tourists from Los Angeles, California. All the while I’m feeling chest pains and hoping it’s only indigestion from the dietetic blunder earlier. I really shouldn’t have corned beef hash. But it is St. Patrick’s Day, after all. I digress. Throwing

in the towel, I “decide” to eat away my troubles. Had the “fried” fish fillet -- fish -- that’s healthier than meat.

I ride to Pentagon City to purchase a tool for another task that will recoup some of my losses. I take the escalator instead of the usual elevator ride because it’s nearer my destination. Of course, Metro being Metro, it’s not running! So now, I climb. Half way up I feel a clutching, seizing pain that radiates down my left arm.

I have difficulty breathing. Unable to turn back, I continue to climb, hoping that this is not my fourth heart attack. Making it to the top by God’s grace, I start through CVS, heading to the benches to rest. The pain intensified and I turned back. Much to my chagrin, consternation, and aggravation, I find the #%@/$!! escalator now

works! Heading to the hospital, I call my 17-year-old telling him that I love him and since he is my next of kin (and this could be number four), I give him final directions. Atypically, he disobeys. I send a message to my 12-year old who never calls. Of course atypically, she calls!

I’m in the emergency room and get an EKG, then wait for three hours. My phone has now died, and no one has checked on me. Now I’m supposed to wait longer and risk another discharge, or leave while the train still operates, and I get my phone charged and reach the “safety” level. I opt to leave without seeing a doctor. I am still in pain and quite frustrated. Unable to call my kids to let them know I’m safe.

I have pain, empty pockets, and a feeling of counterproductivity. An atypical day.

got really cold, but I stayed selling the paper until about noon and made 12 dol-

Someone screams that it is here and we rush out to it for a ham and cheese sandwich, potato chips, mint cookies and juice. Later that night, two fights broke out. The women were screaming at each other in the bathroom and came out fighting.

The security guard had to break them up. We turned lights off at 10:00 pm and I woke up on Monday morning as soon as they turned on the lights at 5:00 am.

My Typical Day

By Patty Smith, Vendor

It was a Sunday and I woke up at 5:00 am. I got dressed and smoked a cigarette outside the shelter. I crossed the street and walked a block to the bus stop. I caught the bus to downtown and went to Epiphany Church for breakfast. My case manager was there.

She gave me tokens and bought two newspapers. Snow was coming down so fast. I

Later that night, two fights broke out... lars. I caught the bus and went back to the shelter. When I got there, they keep the lights off so that we can watch TV. The food truck comes at around 4:00 pm.

I start selling at around 9 in the morning. Most of the time, it only takes about 10 or 20 minutes for my first sale.

From the hours of 9 a.m to noon, I make maybe two to eight dollars, and then I sell about eight to 10 papers from noon to 1 p.m, making 20 to 24 dollars--sometimes more if I get tips. After 1 p.m, it slows down again until 4 - 7 p.m.

During the day, I get a chance to think a lot because I’m out there alone. I set my goals and plan how to attain them.

I get a chance to talk to people about life situations and get all types of suggestions: where you can go to get work and where you can go to get help -- such as medical, housing, etc. I also find helpful information located in the back of the Street Sense paper.

Just a question-- “How are you today?”-- can make you feel good.

In between the peak selling hours, I daydream and observe people coming and going, how they look, dress, walk, etc. It’s like a guessing game of who they are and where they’re going.

Lots of times, people ask if I need food-breakfast, lunch, or maybe dinner. Most of the time they buy it or take me to get it.

People are kind. If they can’t give money, they try to help in different ways: food, clothing, information, or sometimes just a smile. Just a question--“How are you today?”--can make you feel good.

My day starts at 8 a.m. I get up and take my medications. I am on five different meds. Then I get dressed and grab something to eat, and then I’m out the door. I ride a bus to the metro and then get downtown. I decide where I am going to sell. I start my pitch and pace back and forth until I get a sale. I stop and talk and sell, and I always say, “Have a nice day.”

Then I start the pitch again. This goes on until around 7 p.m. Most of the time, I work between five to 10 hours a day.

I enjoy selling and making money without a lot of hassle, but it’s long, hard work. I look at it as a stepping-stone, not permanent employment. It works and it gives you something to do to feel good about yourself.

STREET SENSE April 8 - 21, 2015

13

VENDOR WRITING My Katrina, Part 31

By Gerald Anderson, Vendor

By Chris Shaw “Cowboy Poet” Episode 30

On the Go and In the Flow Annie was bound and determined to hook back up with Billy Luck. She talked her way into a red GTO driven by Clyde Frothwick, a student from Potomac, Maryland, while he was waiting to pay the D.C.-bound toll in the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Plaza. Snapping gum, Ann leaned in. Clyde was more than curious about the ‘mermaid’ tattoo just behind Ann’s left ear. “Goin’ to D.C.,” she burbled.

“Sure, don’t mind if I do...” Annie pantomimed, “No cash,” to which Clyde (“Call me CF,”) answered good naturedly, “Heck! My folks are LOADED! Think I paid fer this jalopy?? Sheesh-- no way, Jose!!”

Annie and Clyde slapped five, and glided down through the Harbor Tunnel slow lane. “Wow,” she thought silently. “What a relief-- he’s not a Psycho case!”

Back on the New York Avenue front, Jed Harris stumbled upon the rear of the Mission of Last Resort, and the all-out fracas going on. The pandemonium was now spilling out onto the loading dock, and dozens of free lunch packages toppled down into the gutter. Billy Luck, clutching his new silver-banded sombrero for dear life, stepped backwards over several sandwich boxes, but managed to stay vertical. He and Harris ended up in a weird two-step, linking arms, waiting for the dreaded ‘Apache,’ who all know is FERRET, to emerge.

Billy gritted, but was genuinely glad to find his one-time antagonist on the scene.

“So, Harris-- this has to be more than ‘coInkydink?’

“Yeah, Billy, le’s just call it God!!” Then Harris swallowed hard, pausing to clutch his throat, at the site of his tracheotomy incision. “Oooh, baby- that smarts!” He pulled Billy back to the corner of M and Fourth Streets, as the mad Ferret burst

forth through a window, to the tinkling of much old glass. “Look out, friend!”

In Billy’s eyes, everything froze for a very long split second. Ferret seemed suspended in mid-air, as that freaking fake ‘katana’ sword suspended itself just millimeters from his face.

Now was that Billy’s imagination, or did old crazy Jed Harris, the reformed Street ‘Mack,’ manage a full tuck and roll to break Kid Apache’s wiry stride? In an instant, tables were turned, as Billy and Macedonia, and at least two dozen worthy clients of Reverend Rand’s Mission lunged in full pursuit of the obsessed knife- wielder.

Down at the corner of Sixth and K, Carlille and Skipper monitored the quickly unraveling action as the fervid ‘parade’ of pursuit, led by a streaking Ferret, long knife upraised, passed Sergeant Phil’s dented “Blue-and-White” Chevy cruiser. “Wait, Phil,” Skipper Marsh cooed confidently.

“Billy knows what time it is- he’s got this handled!” At that moment, the running throng kicked up gravel against the driver’s side of the squad car, cracking the window.

“Aw SH--,” Carlille complained loudly.

“They’re headed over to F and Seventh, maybe further- to Ninth. Just cover ‘em, Phil. Do nothing more,” Skipper added.

“This is against my better judgement, lady, but this time, I’ll play it YOUR way...”

As the chase went west past the gargoyles of the Hecht Company clock, Billy felt like he was gaining on the killer.

There was a stretch run yet to go. And where the heck was Harris?”

PREVIOUSLY: After we landed in D.C., there was more buses taking us to the armory than there are people at the Mardi Gras Zulu parade.

Mardi Gras was my best part of the year.

You could see everybody you wanna see.

Old school friends, old teachers, kids. I could tell whether my buddies be locked up or dead if I don’t see them for Mardi Gras. You get fake undercover police at Mardi Gras, acting like they drunk. One Mardi Gras me and my friends met this guy on the street. He say he from out of town and he trying to cop some weed.

With me bein’ a city slicker and bein’ so high, I was just thinkin’ about the money. So I went around the corner and pick up a leaf off the ground and tear it up like weed, and I put it in a bag.

I tell him, “You can’t pull the money out here, man, the cops will see us.” So he say let’s step in the thrift shop. We standin’ inside this shop surrounded by silverware, costumes, beads, all kind of stuff. While we’re in there, I see a lady outside the door shakin’ her head at the guy. I say to my buddy, “This guy about to be a police. We goin’ to jail.

I set the fake weed on a shelf.

When I reach for the money, he show me his badge. At the same time he talkin’ into his shirt. It gotta be a microphone in there.

When my buddy and I tried to go out the door, the lady from across the street as well as other police box us in, and now they walk us around to the police station near Bourbon Street.

I told my buddy that at first I had an instinct, but then I seen all that money—and I thought we hit the goldpot.

They handcuff us to a chair and escort us to jail in a transport truck. After that we got booked for possession of marijuana. They arrest a lot of people at Mardi Gras, so the cell was full.

There ain’t really no room for us, but they squeeze us in.

We spent four days there, until they come in the cell and tell us the District Attorney did not accept the charge. He tell us they sent the fake weed to the lab and it wasn’t nothing but leaves. So I and my buddy roll out the next day.

With me bein’ a hustler, Bourbon Street is where I would go every day, because you always have people slippin’.

They be drunk and you can talk them out of something. Scam artists from everywhere know about Bourbon Street.

You got hustlers from up North go to Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street to hustle. You even got advertising by fake lawyers. They’ll give you a card with they phone number but they ain’t gonna be there. They tell you they get you out in 30 minutes. They hustle the hustlers.

I used to like jumpin’ up on a float to snatch beads or other things. We would give beads to the girls and tell them, “Pretty pearls for pretty girls.”

Now that I’m older and more focused, I see things different. I wish I could turn back the hands of time, but it’s a done deal. I have no problem today sharing with anyone or helping anyone or mentor with anyone, because I like to give back. I wouldn’t want to get paid for it. I just love leading others to a better life.

Coming soon on Amazon: My Katrina story for Kindle. Look for my new Street Sense series: After Katrina.

(To Be Continued)

METRO MATTERS, METRO MANNERS: Part 3

By The Anti-Apathetic, Vendor

It’s Monday morning after an already rough and rash commute. I was violated by an individual who alleged to be a WMATA Board member. Envision being crowded into a car, then fighting that crowd to get back off the car after one stop. I then fought the crowd again to get to the first escalator, and left the exit gates without incident as I usually do. I showed my badge to the station manager, adding my cheerful greeting. And as I rode up the final escalator, this little fellow in a $1000 suit approached me and announced at the top of his voice, “We pay to ride Metrorail. I saw you walk through that gate

without paying!!!! It’s not fair that you try to ride for free.”

Like a dummy or (Fill in) slave-minded child of the sixties, I showed him my badge. As if he had a right to approve or validate my exit. He proclaimed his Board membership, like that was his license to demonstrate me. Pause - Wait a minute.

He said what? To whom? At that point, I didn’t care if he was the ghost or (fill in…). I gave him both barrels!!!!

I told him it was “contempt” without investigation: “If you had observed my actions before you shot off your big mouth, insulting and ridiculing me, you

would have known that I had asked the station manager how she was as I flashed my ID.” I told this man that I’m disabled and mobility-impaired, not having a happy day, and didn’t need his racism first thing Monday morning! Because if I was white, he wouldn’t have done that.

Then he said, “I’m sorry”.

He didn’t apologize. I called him on it.

I told off this self-appointed authority on fair ridership and WMATA policy. I don’t need you to tell me you’re sorry. I can see that you are sorry. Your mouth shows that you are sorry. I want you to admit that you are wrong! However, by now the damage

was done. The people that heard his disrespectful words were gone. As a vendor, my credibility is paramount to my family’s survival. What I need from this guy is contrition and a means of reparation.

D e a r P r e s i d e n t O b a m a , S e n a t o r s , PERCEPTION OR REALITY: Blessings What about that veteran who, whether a Representatives, Americans, and Leadership By Robert Williams volunteer or someone who was drafted, Vendor, USMC sacrificed for you, and now unexpectedly of the Human Rights Community: The United States has violated the rights of Uzbekistan refugees since 2006.

They are being arrested and held without trial. They have been victims of violence and discrimination. The FBI and the police have violated the 9th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 26th clauses of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

For example, Olimjon Sobirov (born in 1973, Uzbek, Muslim, refugee) and Zohid Makhmedov (born in 1977, Uzbek, Muslim, refugee) were killed by unknown poison in 2006 in Idaho. Jamshid Muhtorov (born in 1976, Uzbek, Muslim, refugee) has lived with his wife and two children in Denver, Colorado since 2007. He was arrested on January 21, 2012 at the Chicago Airport and accused of providing material to an Uzbek terrorist organization. He has been in prison for more than three years and still has not had a trial. I grew up in the same city as him: Djizzakh, Uzbekistan.

Jamshid is the same as me: Uzbek, Muslim, and a refugee.

Fazliddin Kurbanov (born in 1983, Uzbek, Muslim, refugee) has lived with his wife and daughter, parents, and sisters in Boise, Idaho, since 2009. I know him.

I lived in his building from 2010-2012.

His parents converted to Christianity. He remained a Muslim, but didn’t go to the Mosque. He was arrested on May 16, 2013, in a house in Boise and charged with providing information and money to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which the United States has designated as a “foreign terrorist organization.” He is constrained in a prison and still has not had a trial.

Regarding my own situation, in April and May of 2010, I re-published the article about the mysterious 2006 poison deaths online in English, Uzbek and Russian. Shortly afterwards I was wrongfully fired from three jobs in Idaho between July 2010 and January 2012 because of my human rights activities. My belongings were stolen nine times in Washington, D.C., between November 2012 and May 2014. I was beaten, robbed, and had all my personal documents along with my wallet stolen on November 21, 2013.

I was robbed at gunpoint and had my bag and backpack stolen on May 26, 2014.

All my journalism equipment is gone. I have called the police seven times, they never called an Uzbek translator and did not even open a criminal case to investigate these nine thefts and two robberies. An October, 2013, police report about theft of my bag in the 801 East Men’s Shelter is also mysteriously missing.

It is no secret that employees of the Uzbek National Security Service cooperate with some of the U.S. law enforcement officers. I think these acts performed by the FBI and and police are wrong. Please, stop the persecution of Uzbek refugees in the U.S. and bring the perpetrators to justice.

I plan to meet Fazliddin’s and Jamshid’s wives and children as well as their lawyers, and to visit Fazliddin in prison, after accumulating money for a Washington, D.C.-Boise-Denver-Washington, D.C. ticket. I plan to write an article about them and to report to you about the results of my visit.

When you and your family celebrate the different holidays, please remember that in Idaho and Colorado there are small children with tears in their eyes, remembering their father, who was slandered and has been held in prison without trial.

Some may say, “They are Uzbeks, I am not Uzbek. They are Muslims, I am not a Muslim. They are refugees, I am not a refugee.” It is important to remember the words of Martin Niemoller, a German antiNazi theologian and Lutheran pastor: When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.”

Sincerely, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov Human Rights Activist Freelance Journalist Refugee Street Sense Vendor

It's time to allow our minds the latitude and longitude to journey into the realm of perception or reality. What one perceives is their reality, but things are not always what they appear to be, so therefore, is your perception actually reality, or are they both in fact diverse? I would venture to say perception can be both.

It can be perception, or your perception can actually be reality. Reality, however, is always reality. It is what it is. Life. It is what it is.

What do you see? For instance, when you see a homeless person, which unfortunately describes a great number of the United States military forces, what do you see? Perception or reality? Let me help you. It is reality, babe!!!

What do you do? Do you run, walk fast, look the other way, pretend you don't see or hear them? How do you approach and/ or speak to them, or if you don't, why not?

has found himself entrenched among a forgotten and often ignored society of people? Imagine that. Perception or reality? The operative word here is "people."

You asked us veterans for help and we answered your call. No excuses for the freedom and security you are now afforded.

Yet you walk by on a rainy day or cold night and do you have the common courtesy, the decency, to acknowledge another human being? It saddens my heart to see such a vast number of homeless veterans ignored and rejected--not helpless, but getting less help. How can this be, especially in our nation's capital, and how long must or will it continue?

You know, it is OK to help someone.

We veterans stopped our lives to help.

Why won't someone stop to help us? I believe what we receive is directly proportionate to what we give: we are blessed to be a blessing.

Prevention is the best Thanks YSOP!

By Levester Green, Vendor Measurement for all Yay! Got another YSOP dinner in toMishaps night to my delight! So much so it made

By Cynthia Mewborn Vendor Reports show that over the last month we've had three oil train derailments in North America. And as far as I can tell, we lack critical, proper standards and requirements to ensure these materials reach their destination without accidents or recourse. This will require newer guidelines and standards for both transport and storage of these materials.

Please understand, I am not against economic development, nor am I against America becoming its own energy supplier.

On the contrary, I’m all for it!

We don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel, but rather develop newer technology to ensure these resources reach their destination without negatively affecting our environment or planet (for example, oil spills).

The only way our environment can recover from preventable accidents that have already occurred is by introducing safer measurements, standards, and adapting technology such as "flexible transport containers” for this purpose.

We are our planet’s voice, so let's all stand up in making these newer regulations and standards possible. Our planet deserves every ounce of aid in which humanity can assist. Let’s start today so both our dear, beloved, life-giving planet and humanity can continue to live for billions of years to come.

me want to write or atleast type! #Hype!

Metro part 4

By Philip Black, Vendor “The Cat in the Hat” Next month, Metro will be bringing in 520 new rail cars and placing more Transit Police officers on rail cars and around platforms. It's been a long time coming, but it's good to see some positive change on Metro. I've also noticed more police presence around Metro parking lots more light in many dark areas. Going to and from work feels better. Like many people, I want to feel safe on Metrorail and Metrobus. There is still more to be done, but slowly and surely, Metro is starting to earn our trust.

The Romantic Vision

By “The Amazing...” Chon Gotti, Vendor Since day one, I wanted to believe that there was a way to make everybody happy, especially the ones who are closest to me.

But in truth, if we could make all people happy, would we? Or is it just a thought of someone’s imagination? Whatever the case, the people of today dream of being happy or finding that someone who can truly bring happiness. So, my questions for you are: What makes the search for happiness the ultimate goal behind most people’s wishes?

And if happiness is found, can all people be truly happy?

15

STREET SENSE April 8 - 21, 2015

COMMUNITY SERVICES Housing/Shelter

Food

Clothing

Showers

Outreach

Medical/Healthcare

Transportation

Laundry

Education

Employment Assistance

Legal Assistance

Academy of Hope: 269-6623 601 Edgewood St, NE aohdc.org

Covenant House Washington: 610-9600 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE covenanthousedc.org

Bread for the City: 265-2400 (NW) | 561-8587 (SE) 1525 7th St, NW | 1640 Good Hope Rd, SE breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services: 678-2341 1217 Good Hope Road, SE calvaryservices.org Catholic Charities: 772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

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

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

Church of the Pilgrims: 387-6612 2201 P St, NW churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach food (1 - 1:30 on Sundays only) Friendship Place: 364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave, NW friendshipplace.org

Community Family Life Services: 347-0511 | 305 E St, NW cflsdc.org Community of Hope: 232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

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

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

Food and Friends: 269-2277 219 Riggs Rd, NE foodandfriends.org (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) Foundry Methodist Church: 332-4010 1500 16th St, NW foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities ID (FRIDAY 9-12 ONLY)

John Young Center: 639-8569 119 D Street, NW

Martha’s Table: 328-6608 2114 14th St, NW marthastable.org Miriam’s Kitchen: 452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave, NW miriamskitchen.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center: 333-4949 3655 Calvert St. NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

My Sister’s Place: 529-5991 (24-hour hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

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

N Street Village: 939-2060 1333 N Street, NW nstreetvillage.org New York Ave Shelter: 832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave, NE

Open Door Shelter: 639-8093 425 2nd St, NW newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html

Gospel Rescue Ministries: 842-1731 810 5th St, NW grm.org

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

Unity Health Care: 745-4300 3020 14th St, NW unityhealthcare.org

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

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

Samaritan Ministries: 1516 Hamilton Street NW | 722-2280 1345 U Street SE | 889-7702 samaritanministry.org

CELEBRATING SUCCESS! New Job: Fruitcycle!

I finally got a part-time job for 12 hours a week.

Something is better than nothing, but I still have to sell my Street Sense newspapers because I got rent and other pending bills to pay off every month.

I work for a lady named Elizabeth Warren, an entrepreneur, founder of "Fruitcycle."Ms. Warren came up with an idea of apple chips by using apples that normally would be thrown away because they are unsellable on the market. Americans are probably the only ones on the planet that waste food we can eat. I’m one of those Americans that throws out food because of the expiration date, or I just don't want it anymore- in the trash it goes.

Elizabeth Warren buys apples and recycles them, which I think is a great idea. I work inside a Sanitize Kitchen that Ms. Warren has membership to for four hours, three days a week, setting up our work area to have knives, cutting boards, large bowls and a slicer machine. I cut the apples, check them for bruises and if

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

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

Jobs Have Priority: 544-9128 425 Snd St, NW jobshavepriority.org

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

By Aida Basnight, Vendor

there are any, I remove them. If the apple looks discolored inside, I sample it and taste it for flavor. If I am not sure I will give it to Ms. Warren to sample it. If she says to keep it, it will be turned into cinnamon apple chips.

I cut the apples then I use the slicer on the apples and place them into another bowl. I sprinkle some cinnamon and mix. Then I place the slices onto a tray to dry out, which takes almost four hours. Once we finish putting the trays of apple slices inside the dehydration machine, it's time to clean up for about 15 to 20 minutes. I have to rinse all the apple bowls, knives, cutting boards and the apple slicers and then sanitize all the tools.

Elizabeth Warren uses whatever apples are available and then labels the types of apples in the package. Ms. Warren’s cinnamon apple chips taste like candy to me, and they’re very healthy too. She doesn't use preservatives, just plain old apples from a tree and cinnamon. I hope my customers try this wonderful product, in hopes of me get-

ting more hours during the week. Ms. Warren does have a website, TheFruitCycle.com. The website goes in-depth on the history of Fruitcycle and who she hires. She has an Amazon account and you can order her products on her website. Some local stores started carrying her cinnamon apples chips too, like Glen’s Garden Market in Dupont Circle and Radici Market in Eastern Market. There might be a store near you to buy from. So far the work is steady, Ms. Warren has gotten a lot of huge orders to fill. Last March, 500 small bags for an N Street Village event and for another event, 1200 small bags. We have an order of 300 large bags that we are now working on. If more people buy her product, maybe I can go from part-time to fulltime and quit selling Street Sense newspapers altogether.

I want to give a "Thank You" to all of my customers for supporting me generously at Street Sense since I was laid off from my last job for 6 months in 2014 to presently in 2015.

Survivor

Why?

By Roberta Bear, Vendor

By Lawrence Rogers, Vendor

After a while, I looked in the mirror and realized that after all those years of hurt, scars and bruises, after all of those trials, I really made it through. I did it. I survived. I was able to walk away and straighten my crown like a queen.

We are told to love people unconditionally, but sometimes we must get rid of people. Some toxic people still just keep coming through the cracks of my life, and

they refuse to respect my boundaries. No more mixed messages. I must learn how to close a door permanently.

My life is worth more. I have to block, ban, delete, and disconnect. I need it for myself. I have to do what it takes to care of myself and not feel guilty.

Life has taught me that I cannot control someone’s loyalty. No matter how good I am to them, it does not mean that they will treat me the same. No matter how much someone means to me, it does not mean they value me the same.

Sometimes the people you love the most turn out to be the people you can trust the least.

The Plan

The Days Ahead

So the great lady says she’ll do what no man has done to date. With another plan at hand, the thought is to help families, women, and men. I have been around long enough to see you can wish all you want, but when it comes to public money, there are some who believe there are more important things than helping people in need. The business will never end, you see, of warehousing people.

There is too much greed.

Just between you and me, I will root for the underdog, that they too will have mortar and logs. For life is a slog. I have been what they call “chronically homeless,” that’s all. Oh, but you ask, how could that be? I’m from Washington, D.C., where things are never quite how they seem, but people live and they dream of ending homelessness. How can you end what many believe will always be? Tell the truth and you’ll see. D.C. is my home, I’ve just been houseless, you see.

From a technological perspective in today’s society we shouldn’t worry. There are many brilliant scientists with a lot of ingenious ideas about long lasting engines.. .which are fantastic. They are the future of our planet.

By Robert Warren, Vendor

A lot of people, including myself, have or continue to disobey God and then blame Him for the consequences of our sin/disrespect for him!!! Words will stand!!! Unfortunately, many take this for a joke.

All of the biblical prophecies are being manifested, but people make excuses not to believe God’s word--especially those people who are arrogant about their educational accomplishments (too smart for their own good).

I’m now reminding myself, and everyone who reads this sermon, to fear, re-

vere, and love God with all of our heart!!!

If you choose to refuse to take heed of this admonishment and laugh about it, just know that God is laughing back at you, because he knows your day is coming (Psalm 37:7-13). Anyone who insists on insulting/disrespecting God is (mentally ill) for real!!!

So, when you begin to experience the wrath of God, the following scriptures will tell you why. I’m doing what I’m required to do, and sincerely with love for you!!! (Ezekiel 3:17-21). Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 19:3; Proverbs 29:1; Jeremiah 5:7-9; Jeremiah 5:22-31; Jeremiah 9:1-9; Jeremiah 12:1-2; Jeremiah 13:15-27; Jeremiah 25:4-7; Jeremiah 40:1-3; Jeremiah 44:7-29; Lamentations 3:39-40; and Hebrews 4:12-13.

By Viktor Blokhine, Vendor

Asa Jackson’s perpetual motion machine from the Civil War era, on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Tennessee.

Homeless Man Stops Rape

By Gary Minter, Vendor

It’s so easy for us to demonize the homeless. We assume that they are lazy, dirty, addicted to some type of substance, or just ultimately responsible for landing in their current situation. Rarely, do we consider the fact that sometimes life is just hard. And homeless doesn’t necessarily equate to a deficiency in character.

For example, take Ketrell Ferguson, a recently homeless man in Washington, D.C. The local NBC affiliate reports that around 3:30 a.m., Ferguson was looking for a place to sleep when he heard screams and noticed a struggle between a man and woman, behind a bus stop.

Initially, he thought it was a robbery, but when he continued looking, he realized the man on top of this woman was trying to rape her. Acting quickly, Ferguson grabbed a stick that was laying nearby and half of a brick. Ferguson, who said he’s had family members who’ve been raped,

said he had to do something.

“As soon as he lifted his head up, I smacked him with the stick, hard as I could in his head,” said Ferguson. And he fell off the lady, stumbled, and I smacked him again. And I just kept smacking him with the stick, I mean, as hard as I could.”

Then Ferguson went to a nearby building and told them to call the police, that there had just been a rape. Ferguson’s actions helped police find 23-year-old Alemen Gonzalo about an hour later. He was bleeding from the head. Police say that Gonzalo tried to pay the woman for sex and she refused.He was charged with assault with the intent to commit firstdegree sexual abuse.

Ferguson said, “Even though I’m going through hard times, God put me in a place where I could help. I was at the right place at the right time.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN REDMOND/FLICKR

Wow, What a Day

By Ken Martin, Vendor

April 8 - 21, 2015 • Volume 12 • Issue 11

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW

Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Washington, DC

Washington, DC 20005

Mail To:

Permit #568

Remember, buy only from badged vendors and do not give to those panhandling with one paper.

Interested in a subscription? Go to page 15 for more information.

Wo w, w h a t a day!! Talk about dreams come true.

My girlfriend (more lady than girl) called to tell me that her cousin, Sonny, landed a job in Delaware, which means his mom has a vacant twobedroom basement apartment to rent.

Since Sonny wasn’t paying any rent, she’s willing to rent it to me at a family discount. Of course, I have to do the groundskeeping and gardening. She is just delighted to have a non-smoking, nondrinking Christian for a tenant.

Just think: I have a new place to live, a garden to tend, a room for my daughter

(which increases my parental custody rights) and rent receipts to increase my Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits! Plus, there are brownie points for my lady for making Auntie happy!

I’m going to call Public Storage and have a move out scheduled, so I’ll have $300 more to work with. Wow! I have a place!! No more dragging junk. No more hunting for bathrooms. No more “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here!” No more having to buy only what I can eat now because there’s no place to store leftovers. I’ll be breaking out my music, pressing my stored wrinkled clothes, shining up my shoes and prepping a housewarming blast! Then, sleep for days! At last, the nightmare is over!

April fools!