04 15 2007

Scientist and writer Camille Minichino on justice and equality, page 6

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April 15-30, 2007

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Volume 4, Issue 9

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VENDOR VOICES

Landlords Say No to Housing Vouchers

Our Society Still Rings of Racism

By Martin Walker

H

See

By Timothy Taylor

Perry Frank

ave you ever wondered what life would be like if you belonged to a different race or national origin? As proud as I am to be who I am, I sometimes wonder if life would be better if I weren’t a black male.

As a black man, I occasionally run into situations that make me feel like a second-class citizen or just someone at the lowest levels of human society because of racist comments or actions. Racism is something that I don’t spend too much time thinking about.

But just recently, I experienced such a blatant case of discrimination that it makes me wonder what makes some people treat others according to skin tone or national origin. I’m not a naive idealist who thinks our society has made so much progress over the years that these sort of actions are just something from the past, but in most cases, it’s something that often happens in a much more subtle manner.

But what happened to me on Wednesday, April 11, certainly looked like discrimination.

I entered the McDonald’s restaurant at 13 th and F streets and ordered a deluxe breakfast, which cost about $4.80. Shortly after I sat

The Kenyon Square complex construction has moved forward nearly on top of La Casa on Irving Street.

La Casa Shelter to Stay

Will Move to Temporary Site During Construction

By Perry Frank After five years of uncertainty, the La Casa shelter in Columbia Heights now has a definite future in this gentrifying neighborhood.

The plan is to move into a temporary shelter for up to two years, then return to a state-ofthe-art facility on its current Irving Street site. Council member Jim Graham confirmed this plan at a recent meting convened to discuss the future of La Casa.

Construction of the new shelter, a part of the Kenyon Square development at the Columbia Heights Metro Center, is projected to take 18 months to two years from the time La Casa moves.

The La Casa Multicultural Center’s 40-bed transitional housing program for men will relocate to 1131 Spring Road, N.W. But plans for relocating its 90-bed, low-barrier men’s nightly shelter, currently based in trailers at the Irving Street site, remain uncertain.

Renovations for the temporary transitional housing facility are under way and scheduled for completion by summer of 2008.

La Casa’s future first became a topic of community dialogue in 2002, when the city designated land around the Columbia Heights Metro station and adjacent to the center as a choice development site.

The development contract was

awarded to Donatelli Development, Inc. for construction of a $60 million mixed-use complex consisting of 153 condominiums, a 75-unit senior housing facility, and 19,000 square feet of ground floor entertainment and retail space.

Although initial discussions at the municipal level had included ideas for La Casa to remain on the site, when the plans were unveiled La Casa was not there.

Dismayed by the apparent washout of the successful program, former and current La Casa residents formed the La Casa Resident Leadership Committee to see what could be done.

See

La Casa page 4

Racism, page 13 NATIONAL

BOOK REVIEW

Nonprofit signs deal to provide permanent housing in California, page 7

Off the Books examines the Underground Economy of Chicago’s Southside, page 11

Multicultural Services

FEATURES

EDITOR’S NOTES

Hermano Pedro Day Center opened in 2003 in response to lack of day services, including bilingual social assistance, page 3

Good food, great service and affordable prices at the New Big Wong, page 10

Serving the poor and keeping powerbrokers accountable, page 14

Inside This Issue PROFILE

Vets Get Housing

Real Deals in Chinatown

Keep the ‘Hood Ticking

Continuing a Mission

Although District law prohibits housing discrimination based on income, activists say that many landlords are refusing to accept Section 8 housing vouchers, which allow low-income residents to access housing all across the city.

Sczerina Perot, staff attorney at Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said that many housing management companies turn away city residents who hold a housing choice voucher because of stereotypes about low-income people.

She added that the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), the agency that administers the voucher program, has largely contributed to the stereotypes held by many landlords.

Despite the benefits of guaranteed rental payments from the government, Perot said the process that both landlords and tenants have to go through makes the situation unappealing to housing companies.

She described how tenants must receive a deed of the property, be present at an inspection, and have a “special” signing of a three-way lease among the tenant, landlord, and housing agency.

“There is over a month of bureaucratic process,” Perot said.

“Many landlords would rather take the fast cash from a person without a housing voucher.”

However, Isabelle Thabault, director of the Fair Housing Project at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, said that landlords must look at people with housing vouchers as individuals and assess them solely as potential tenants.

Thabault pointed out that D.C. law requires that housing companies not discriminate against residents based on race, gender, sexual orientation or income.

In 2005, the Washington Lawyers

See Voucher, page 5

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

ALL ABOUT US

Our Mission

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347-2006 Fax: (202) 347-2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Egger Ted Henson Barbara Kagan David Pike John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Francine Triplett David Walker Kathy Whelpley

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri VENDOR MANAGER Jesse Smith Jr. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Charles D. Jackson ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) INTERN Rae Borsetti

VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Robert Basler, Karen Brooks, Leonard Cannady, Cliff Carle, Allen Carter, Rick Dahnke, Carolyn Dailey, Yllama Davenport, Dave Denton, Harvey Droke, Perry Frank, Jake Geissinger, Genevive Gill, Cassie Good, David Harris, Carol Hannaford, Michael Higgs, JoAnn Jackson, Jennifer Jett, Mary Lynn Jones, Maurice King, Jo Knight, Karin Lee, Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson, August Mallory, Claire Markgraf, Mandy McAnally, Mike O’Neill, Amy Orndorff, Swinitha Osuri, Susan Pearce, Jen Pearl, David Pike, Jennifer Singleton, Patty Smith, Tim Taylor, Robert Trautman, Linda Wang, Martin Walker, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu

VENDORS Willie Alexander, Michael Anderson, Jake Ashford, Robin Blount, Corey Bridges, Bobby Buggs, Cliff Carle, Alice Carter, Conrad Cheek Jr., Anthony Crawford, Ricardo Dickerson, Louise Davenport, Yllama Davenport, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Michael Douglas, Don Gardner, David Harris, John Harrison, Donald Henry, Patricia Henry, Michael Higgs, Phillip Howard, Patricia Jefferson, Allen Jones, Devon Jones, Mark Jones, Karin Lee, Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson, Lee Mayse, Jennifer McLaughlin, Rodney Morris, Charles Nelson, Kevin Robinson, Chris Sellman, Katie Smith, Patty Smith, Novene Thomas, Matesha Thompson, Francine Triplett, Amia Walker, Martin Walker, Lawless Watson, Wendell Williams, Ivory Wilson

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

We are proud members of:

Our Editorial Policy

Editorials and features in Street Sense reflect the perspectives of the authors. We invite the submission of journalism, opinion, fiction and poetry, hoping to create a means in which a multitude of perspectives on poverty and homelessness can find expression.

North American Street Newspaper Association

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

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

panded its circulation and vendor network.

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming an independent nonprofit organization.

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

A year later in November 2006 , the organization hired its first vendor coordinator.

In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month as the network of vendors expanded to more than 50 homeless men and women.

April 1-15 Donors Anonymous Geneva Carney Michael Mavretic Sharyn Meister Jennifer and Anthony Park Moira Sucharov The Church of the Redeemer And a special thanks to Aileen and Sam Morse

Thank You!

International Network of Street Papers

Street Sense Vendor Code of Conduct 1.

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

2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer.

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I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge when selling papers.

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

WANNA HELP?

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Charles D. Jackson at 202347-2006 or charles@streetsense.org.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact Jesse Smith Jr. at the same number or come to a vendor training session on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. at our office.

(1317 G Street, NW - near Metro Center.)

OUR NEXT EDITORIAL MEETING:

Wednesday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. at our office (1317 G Street, NW - near Metro Center.)

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

PROFILE

Provider Profile

Hermano Pedro Meets Needs of Diverse Neighborhood

By Jen Pearl

Jen Pearl!

Carlos Cordoba, a client of Hermano Pedro D. C . Mu l t i c u l tural Day Center, described his life three years ago, b e f o re h e m e t Hermano Pedro D.C. founder Luis Vasquez. Cordoba had problems with drugs, alcohol and housing. But when he came to Hermano Pedro, he was given food and clothes and Portrait of Hermano Pedro, a 17th century decided to give Franciscan, dons the center’s wall. up drugs and alcohol. Surveying a room full of fellow clients one morning at Hermano Pedro, Cordoba reflects on how he has been helped by the services.

“It’s a very beautiful thing,” he said.

The Hermano Pedro D.C. Multicultural Day Center was founded in late 2003 in response to the lack of day services, including bilingual social services, meals, clothing and showers, for homeless individuals in the Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods. At the time there were no “drop-in centers’’ for homeless people in this area.

Within days of petitioning the deputy mayor’s office in 2005, the Hermano Pedro Women’s Shelter opened to house up to 20 women overnight. This was in response to the inhumane and abusive living environments experienced by many of the center’s homeless female clients. The only other existing emergency, or low-barrier, women’s shelters were located in downtown Washington, D.C. Vasquez was inspired by the work of Santo Hermano Pe-

dro (Brother Peter) in opening these shelters. After earning his master’s degree in social work, Vasquez volunteered at a hospital in Guatemala named after Hermano Pedro, a 17th century Franciscan who opened his door to all who needed assistance in Antigua, Guatemala.

“When I was there, I learned about Hermano Pedro, his work with the homeless, and his spirit of acceptance towards all people, which is what I want to emulate here in Washington,” said Vasquez in a 2006 interview in Impact, a newsletter from Catholic Community Services.

Vasquez was working with a Catholic Community Services’ hypothermia shelter in Columbia Heights when he saw a need for a day shelter, and he worked with Catholic Community Services to get Hermano Pedro D.C. off the ground.

A majority of Hermano Pedro’s clients have some type of addiction, mental illness or physical disability, and a majority is chronically homeless. As a result, the center focuses on helping clients to enter into transitional housing, substance abuse rehabilitation, and mental and physical health care programs.

Hermano Pedro also faces the challenge that the majority of its day program clients are undocumented Latinos. It is difficult to adequately serve this population as their options are severely limited due to their immigration status, Vasquez said. Hermano Pedro works closely with legal programs that specialize in immigration.

Hermano Pedro is compelled to be a true multicultural program because of its location in the extremely diverse neighborhood of Columbia Heights, Vasquez said.

“Most social service programs serve very homogenous client populations,” he said. “We do our best to serve anyone in need without restrictions. People do not need to jump through hoops to get help at Hermano Pedro. Everyone is welcome.”

The Hermano Pedro Day center currently serves an average of 150 clients per day, and 15 to 20 women daily at the Hermano Pedro Women’s Shelter. Services at the day program include bilingual social services (including crisis intervention, referrals, interim case management, group and individual counseling, and emergency rental and utility assistance), a psychiatry resident who meets regularly with clients at the center, and mental health and substance abuse outreach that

is available on site from D.C. Department of Mental Health and Neighbors’ Consejo workers.

The program provides breakfast, lunch, clean clothing and laundry services, access to its computer lab, hygiene items, and bus tokens. On average each month, Hermano Pedro serves 1,500 homemade meals, gives out 600 sets of clothing, provides 400 showers, and washes and dries 200 loads of laundry.

Due to an electrical fire in 2006, Hermano Pedro D.C. has relocated its programs to the basement of the Sacred Heart Church in Columbia Heights. The men from their housing program were relocated into different housing programs, and finally, after contacting 30 local churches, the Hermano Pedro Women’s Shelter found a home at the Meridian Hill Baptist Church in Columbia Heights.

For more information on Hermano Pedro call 202-332-2874 or visit www.ccs-dc.org.

Donate to Street Sense My Information

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

Additional items that Street Sense needs: * Messenger and tote bags and backpacks for vendors * Office chairs * Bottled water to hand out to vendors

* Laptop computers with at least Windows 2000

Please call 202-347-2006 or send an e-mail to info@streetsense.org if you have any of these items to donate.

LOCAL NEWS

La Casa, from p.1

people hanging out on the street and drinking. One man wondered if the public drinking in the neighborhood might pose too much of a challenge for those in recovery.

Kate Jesberg, acting director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, expressed concern about the purported problems at the family center and invited attendees to get in touch with her directly to discuss them.

Rother said the La Casa transitional housing program is individualized for each man.

Many have substance abuse problems, and La Casa’s services are based on the abstinence model; it does not dispense methadone or provide other medical interventions.

“This is a program for people who have made the commitment to change,” Rother said. “We have a screening process and accept only about half our applicants. We are not set up to do detox here, and we have no medical staff. One requirement is that a Renovations are already under way at the temporary facility for La Casa’s transitional housing program. man cannot have any outstanding warrants grounds of the D.C. Mental Health facility in center also contains a kitchen, bathrooms, against him.” that block, was available to accept the transi- and several offices.

Rother estimated after the meeting that tion program on a temporary basis. It would Glen Rother, who supervises the 19-mem- about one-third of the men complete the not be possible for the site to also accom- ber clinical team, seemed unfazed by the program through gaining employment, savmodate the 90-bed low-barrier part of the La commotion. “We had a little flooding in the ing, and moving to their own place. Another Casa program. kitchen, but we’ve solved that problem,” he third leave the program before six months be“We are still looking for a suitable site for said. “The construction is loud, but it hasn’t cause they have moved back home or found the overnight shelter component of La Casa’s affected our core operations.” another place. A final third are asked to leave services,” said Michael Ferrell, executive diThe mid-April meeting was a mix of the program because of infractions. rector of the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless. about 20 people, some from ANC 1A in Ward One attendee asked Graham if the tempo“Whether it will be a relocation of the trailers 1, where the current La Casa is located and rary relocation was a done deal, or if it could or another solution is uncertain.” which also borders on Spring Road, where the be reconsidered. Graham replied that the city While the availability of the large building temporary site is located, and others appar- was always open to other options, although that was once a Jewish synagogue and most ently from ANC 4C, which includes the site of it seemed unclear how these plans could be recently a vaccination center as a home for the temporary shelter. Ward 4 currently lacks changed at this point. He also noted that a the transition treatment program is good a council member, pending the special elec- location for the 90-bed low-barrier shelter news, the structure needs extensive renova- tion to replace Adrian Fenty, now mayor. had not been found, and suggested that the tions. That process began a few months ago, In contrast to the gatherings of a few years shelter might be broken up into smaller units and will not be completed until summer ago, a number of citizens expressed anxi- for church sponsorship. The two La Casa 2008. ety and displeasure that La Casa would be program participants at the meeting spoke Meanwhile, the Kenyon Square complex coming to their neighborhood. Among the eloquently about what they had gained in construction has moved forward around, and complaints was the assertion that there were the program, and about their plans as they now nearly on top of, La Casa. already too many group facilities of one kind prepare for independent living.

Despite the difficulties of continuing op- or another in the vicinity. Others felt that it For the most part, meeting attendees erations amid a major construction site, a was inappropriate to have a community of re- seemed reassured by the discussion. Many recent visit to La Casa found the interior of covering alcoholics and addicts located near challenges remain for La Casa staff, program building looking much the same as previous- an elementary school, and some mentioned participants, and for the community. Howevly — a huge, bright public space lined with ongoing problems with a family shelter cur- er, the success and resiliency of this homeless neatly made-up single beds and lockers on rently operating in the neighborhood. program, as well as the community solidarity one side, with large tables on the other. The Several people complained about homeless supporting it, are hopeful and inspiring.

Perry Frank

With assistance from the outreach staff of Neighbors’ Consejo, a nonprofit organization focusing on the needs of the Latino community, committee members drafted informational materials, spoke with church groups, and made a series of presentations at Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and D.C. Council meetings.

“When a group of people are trying to change a multimillion-dollar development plan, they need a common goal,” said Robert Pressley, one of the original members of the Leadership Committee.

The advocates said that the center’s demise would increase the number of homeless people on the streets as well as deaths from hypothermia, and that the city could not afford to lose the long-term residential transition program which they said saves nearly $20 in health- and crime-related costs for every dollar spent.

Committee members also contended that closing the center, with no alternative in place, would send a terrible message to Washingtonians about the purposes and results of “urban renewal.”

The men secured the support of the two ANCs most affected by the development, (Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant, along with strong backing from Graham and the cooperation of at least 20 churches and other community groups.

In 2004, the city added $6.25 million to the capital budget for reconstruction of the facility. Chris Donatelli, president of the lead developer for the project, enthusiastically endorsed the concept, and the next draft of the site showed a multi-story, state-of-the-art La Casa that would be a local and national model for the continuum of care approach that is successful in returning many homeless people to independent, productive lives.

The planned facility is particularly significant in including the SRO component – inexpensive single-room units with common public areas that will be available to men who successfully complete the six-month residential program.

While the transitional program stresses personal responsibility and includes job counseling and 12-step meetings, the addition of the SROs addresses the other side of the equation — the extreme scarcity of affordable housing and the difficulty that people in transition have in securing a lease.

The agreement also recognized that the plan required La Casa to relocate temporarily during the construction phase of the project, and La Casa’s Leadership Committee turned its attention to the next step, finding a suitable temporary location. Much discussion ensued about the advisability of separating the transitional housing program from the 90-bed overnight shelter, which operates in trailers adjoining the building.

Residents and planners all recognized that finding an appropriate temporary spot and moving would be expensive and difficult.

Two years passed without a clear solution while the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless, the nonprofit that administers La Casa and 14 other homeless programs throughout the city, investigated different possibilities.

Finally, in March of last year, with construction of the Kenyon Square project about to begin, the Coalition announced that a vacant building at 1131 Spring Road, on the

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

The Homeless USA Cup is Coming to DC in August...

And We Need Soccer Players & Coaches for the D.C. Team!

PLAYERS: If you you are currently homeless (or were homeless in the last two years) and are atheltic and a team player, then join us for practices as we start up the D.C. Homeless Soccer Team.

COACHES: If you are an avid soccer player and/or coach and are willing to donate your time one evening a week, then consider being one of the co-coaches for the D.C. Homeless Soccer Team.

If you are interested in either opportunity, contact Laura Thompson Osuri at laura@streetsense.org or (202) 347-2006.

Foundry

United Methodist Church

A Reconciling Congregation

Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Sign Interpretation at 11:00 Homeless Outreach Hospitality Fridays 9 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church

1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

LOCAL NEWS

Voucher, from p.1

Vendor Conrad Cheek Jr., directs a scene at the DC-TV studio.

StreetSense TV to Hit the Airwaves Since its beginning, Street Sense newspaper has been in the forefront of news and information regarding the District’s homeless population, the agencies serving them and the politics and policies surrounding these individuals.

Street Sense will soon have a monthly 30-minute show on DC-TV. The program is the brainchild of Gregory Wragg, executive producer of Street Sense Television and CEO of Ragidy Entertainment.

Six individuals who have been homeless within the last year or are currently homeless have been chosen to participate in a class, free of charge. that DC-TV offers to the general public for a cost. This class will teach them how to run cameras, operate lighting and sound for television shows that are produced and aired by television station.

Dave Denton, director of media services at DC-TV, said he is thrilled that Wragg has afforded this opportunity to help the underserved population that DC-TV would not normally have access to. A special training package has been allocated to accommodate the six as some of them who reside in shelters have a bed check at curfew that would conflict with the normal evening training time.

The marketable skills the six will learn in the eight weeks course provides each with a certification upon completion and the possibilities of becoming the next Steven Spielberg.

While in training, the six meet weekly with Wragg to formulate the issues and subjects to be covered, reflecting the same quality material that Street Sense newspaper has produced.

Gregory Wragg is to be commended for his willingness to help individuals rise above obstacles that prevent advancement. Wragg is a man on a mission – a mission from God ,I would say.

I believe Wragg’s creativity, concern and commitment will add further change to the way the “homed” public look at homeless and homelessness. So congratulations, Street Sense newspaper, for inspiring the formation of the future.

This will be a continuing column on the progress of StreetSense TV.

- Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson Brenda has been a vendor with Street Sense for two years and also volunteers in the office. She loves animals, especially doggies.

Committee filed lawsuits against Gelman Management Company, E&G Group, and Sawyer Realty Holdings, Inc. for discrimination against prospective tenants on the basis of race and source of income.

Since then, Thabault said that there have been 15 lawsuits against housing property management firms, real estate businesses, and housing companies and all but “a couple” have been settled.

The lawsuits were filed based on results from an effort brought by the Equal Rights Center (ERC), which investigated many area management companies and landlords. According to the investigation results, a third of the companies surveyed rejected the tenants’ application or said their company did not accept vouchers.

Section 8 housing vouchers allow low-income resident to pay about a third of their income to rent in the privately owned market, while the government covers the remainder.

Julie Becker, senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, attributed the landlord’s hesitation and the difficulty for many tenants to rent to the “hassle” of the bureaucratic process. She said that many landlords refuse to participate in the housing voucher program.

Andrew Silver, a law clerk with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said the most housing vouchers (53%) are used in District neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.

The area west of Rock Creek Park only has eight vouchers.

Silver conducted a study in 2003, which showed that in the upper Northwest neighborhood Friendship Heights the average family income is above $100,000 while it has a the lowest poverty rate throughout the city at 3.5%. Out of the 8,439 voucher recipients in the city, 4,500 are in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.

Perot said DCHA is not a “finely tuned” agency and that the department needs to change the voucher process so that ten-

DC Housing Voucher Distribution ants with vouchers can compete in the tight market.

DCHA gives voucher recipients 180 days to find an apartment that meets the agency requirements. If the time has lapsed and the voucher recipient did not obtain a lease, the voucher is then given to the next person on the waiting list.

Perot said DCHA, a federally funded agency and independent of the D.C. government, needs to do more to assist its voucher tenants in finding places to live and attracting landlords to participate in the voucher program. She said the goal of the program, which is to integrate low-income tenants into mixed-income communities, is not being met.

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

6 INTERVIEW

MY Two Cents

Women in Science, Justice and Equality

Camille Minichino

‘‘

Real Change: You’ve had a fascinating life. You are a doctor of physics, a lifelong and passionate teacher who has had thousands of students. And now you’re a successful crime novelist. You’ve championed women’s involvement in scientific and technical fields that have long been dominated by men. Concerning that subject, have things changed?

ized there were not a lot of women in mathematics. Even today, many young women are deterred from pursuing math.

In 1958, I went to Connecticut with three women friends and worked at United Aircraft, what is now United Technologies. That was considered very unusual then. For 18 months, I worked on a computer and on calculators which were large monsters that did basically four functions. I became interested in physics and in 1968 I got my doctorate at Fordham where I was one of three women in that program. There were maybe 75 men in the department. There were no women teachers. Ironically, the situation in my working class high school was more progressive! .

RC: So you in many ways were forging the road less taken.

Minichino: Yes, but I was then not some sort of free-thinking woman. It had much to do with my high school math teacher and another teacher, my Italian teacher.

RC: What are you doing these days?

Minichino: I am retired only from physics. I still teach, do technical editing, and I write.

RC: What about the current status of women in the sciences and technical fields?

Minichino: The numbers are still low. When I was a student, 3 to 5% of the Ph. D candidates in physics were women. Now it’s 4 to 6 percent. It’s a little higher in the life sciences; in medicine the numbers are high. There are now more women in college than men. But women are still not in positions of power where they can really influence what goes on in many fields. Women still have the lower-rung jobs; they still don’t get paid what men get.

When I was a college teacher I had female students who wanted to go into veterinary medicine and were prevented from doing so. Because a woman wasn’t strong enough to pick up a horse – as if a man could! Supposedly women couldn’t physically handle the task.

In high school many girls want to be popular; it’s not easy to be known as a smart girl during those years. If you drop out of history or English during your adolescence or teens, you can probably pick it up later. If you drop out of math and science at that age, you can’t so easily resume the study of the subject.

But women are still not in positions of power where they can really influence what goes on in many fields. Women still have the lower-rung jobs; they still don’t get paid what men get.

Camille Minichino: I went to public high school in Revere, Mass., which was mostly Italian and Jewish. My father was a laborer. It’s still a mystery to me how in the 1950’s I happened to have such incredible teachers. Some were amazing women – one in particular, in math. She told me I was smart. At that age, you believe what teachers tell you. Back then the major influences on my life were my parents and teachers. If someone tells you you’re good at something, then you are good.

RC: Teachers can make or break a young person’s opinion of themselves.

Minichino: By a look or a little comment in the margin, you can make a kid’s day, you can influence a life. My teacher led me to believe that I was a mathematician, and then I was on my way to becoming one. It wasn’t until college that I real-

‘‘

G oing strong at 70 years of age, scientist and writer Camille Minichino has been pumping out successful crime novels for 10 years.

Her titles are taken from the Periodic Table – starting with The Hydrogen Murder in 1997. Minichino’s most recent offering, The Oxygen Murder (St. Martin’s Press, 2006), continues the fictional saga of retired physicist Gloria Lamerino, Minichino’s scientific sleuth and alter ego.

Long before she penned a mystery tale, Minichino had already enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a college professor and research scientist. She has performed experimental physics research at both Fordham University and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. An indefatigable and erudite teacher who truly loves the classroom, Minichino has inspired thousands of students — especially young women — to immerse themselves in the study of science, mathematics, and philosophy. Minichino’s entertaining tales of crime — all of which have a scientific component to them — are yet one more vehicle in her ongoing and enthusiastic discussion of scientific concepts and the myriad technologies that result from them.

Seattle’s street paper, Real Change, caught up with Camille Minichino in early February in Seattle where she was in town for a West Coast crime writers’ convention.

RC: You’re saying that if our culture distracts young women from pursuing math and science, many are effectively locked out of those fields and related professions?

Minichino: Yes. I give a class at the Lawrence Livermore Lab entitled “Science Literacy for the Lay Person.” There are a lot of women in that class.

As many as 2,000 employees at Lawrence Livermore are not scientists or technicians: secretaries, librarians, finance and personnel people. One of my favorite things in this class – and this applies to my mystery writing as well – is when someone

says to me: “You made that easy to understand.” I explain the principles behind radiation and lasers.

You don’t need to know the mathematical equations in order to understand these things, to know what the dangers are and are not. After an hourlong lecture, my students are able to tell me how alpha, beta, and gamma radiation come out of a nucleus. And they are amazed that they can. That is my favorite moment. If someone says to me, “I can’t do science,” I say, “Blame a teacher.”

RC: In terms of the injustices and inequities that exist in our society, where is the role of science in creating a better world?

Minichino: Marie Curie believed that science could do anything and that science is our only hope. She gave her life to that. By the end of the First World War, she and her 18-year-old daughter Irene (who would also eventually win a Noble Prize) were driving a portable X-ray unit on the battlefield. She created the unit; it was a refitted jeep-like vehicle. They treated soldiers on the field.

RC: Curie is almost a mythic figure in science, and she obviously had compassion.

Minichino: That mythic scientist is in any field.

That is what we are aiming for. There are heroes in front of you. Whether you work as an individual scientist or in a more corporate or institutional arrangement, the goal should always be to make others well, to contribute to the commonwealth.

In a more immediate way, the study of science teaches you critical thinking, a methodology that you can apply, and should apply to every aspect of your life, social and personal. This is the mission of the American Association for the Advancement of Science of which I’m a member.

You can check out the AAAS “Project 2061” online — 2061 is the year Haley’s Comet returns. They have an outline for what citizens should know in order to be scientifically literate. The last goal of the AAAS encourages scientific methods and ways of thinking as a way for any citizen to avoid becoming a victim, or being swayed or persuaded by whoever might be “in charge.” Any individual who can think critically and who is able to engage questions analytically is less apt to be easily influenced by any cult, persuasion, religion or political perspective. I think that science can do that, so that we have voters who apply reason to voting and making decisions. The heart makes us who we are, but we must use our heads, too. Science does not exclude compassion or the heart, but we are also a reasonable species. And we are worth saving along with all the other species.

RC: The goals of economic justice and gender equality must incorporate both the elements of compassion and intellectual discernment?

Minichino: Yes. I also think that those people who are in charge of the economy and of our system of justice, if those people were more reasonable — scientifically grounded — we would have what we are looking for in terms of equity. People with a sense of justice and compassion have a duty to remain connected to science and technology in order to ensure that unscrupulous persons don’t become the only ones who have influence on how science and the fruits of science are applied.

Reprinted from Real Change News © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

INATIONAL NEWS

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

in other news By Mandy McAnally California: VA Approves Plan for Permanent Housing Department of Veterans Affairs officials plan to sign a long-term lease this month with the nonprofit group New Directions to transform two buildings on the department’s San Fernando Valley campus to permanent housing for disabled homeless veterans. The proposed $40 million plan will convert the buildings into 147 subsidized apartments. Residents would pay rent on a sliding scale and receive mental and substance abuse counseling and other services. (Archibold, The New York Times, 4/4)

for homeless people and families. The remaining $1.8 million will help fund emergency shelters and housing for the homeless in cities across the state. (Adams, Waterbury Republican American, 4/7)

Florida: State Leads in Attacks on the Homeless

The Fresno City Council is considering a proposal to install restrooms and a trash bin near an area homeless encampment. Council member Jerry Duncan says the lack of restroom facilities at the encampment is a public health issue, but critics say the proposal could perpetuate the city’s homeless problem. (ABC30, 4/9)

Florida has seen the sharpest increase nationwide in reported attacks on the homeless over the last six years, according to a February report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. Last year, 48 attacks on the homeless were reported in Florida, where 60,867 of the state’s 17.8 million residents are homeless, according to federal figures. The report showed a nationwide rise in acts of violence against the homeless since 1999. The attacks have occurred in 44 states and Puerto Rico, and in 200 communities nationwide.

The Florida Legislature is considering a measure that would classify attacks on the homeless as hate crimes. (Lewan, AP/Fort Mill Times, 4/8)

California: Police Probes ‘Homeless Dumping’

Florida: Homeward Bound Program Unites Families

A 70-year-old man who had just been discharged from a hospital was sent by taxi to Skid Row, and police and prosecutors were investigating whether it was the latest case of hospitals dumping patients on the street. “The man could barely walk and he told me that he was still very sick and needed medical attention,” Officer Deon Joseph said.

The man, identified as Moses Davis, had paperwork indicating he had been discharged from Downey Regional Medical Center. Hospital. spokesman Rob Fuller said Davis had insisted on leaving. and was not ‘dumped.’ (AP, 4/11)

Some homeless advocates in Gainesville have launched a program that aims to reunite homeless people with estranged families or friends by giving them a one-way bus ticket back home. Homeward Bound, which has been running for four years in West Palm Beach, has reconnected about 500 homeless people with friends and family across the country. Homeward Bound contacts family members of the homeless to make sure the service recipient will be returning to a healthy home life.

The group then checks to see if the recipient has no warrants or other restrictions to traveling out of the area.

If everything checks out, program volunteers purchase a non-refundable, non-exchangeable ticket and accompany the recipient to the bus station. On particularly long trips, volunteers provide recipients with donated snack foods and beverages. Gainesville provided the program with $10,000.

(Cheathem, All Headline News, 4/2)

California: Restrooms Proposed Near Encampment

Connecticut: Grants To Provide Homeless Services Connecticut has been awarded $24.2 million in federal grants to provide homeless services in the state, up $700,000 from this year. The state’s Continuum of Care agencies will receive $22.4 million for programs, from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing

Illinois: “Safe Haven’’ Proposed for Daily Gatherings Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin has said authorities plan to increase security at the city’s downtown library this spring to respond to an increasing homeless presence, panhandling, and reported harassment of patrons. Davlin said the city is working to open a “safe haven” or day center where the homeless could go instead of the library. The facility would be a place for them to store belongings, bathe, and make phone calls.

He added that once the facilities are open, officials might consider banning the homeless from camping outside the library. (Wetterich, Springfield Journal-Register, 4/6)

Oklahoma: Families Without Homes on the Rise Oklahoma City’s homeless population increased by nearly 25% in 2006 with a significant rise in homeless families with children, according to a recent study. The annual count of the homeless in January showed 1,930 homeless people in Oklahoma City, up from the 1,555 people in January 2006. But it’s estimated the actual number of homeless is four to five times higher than the one-night census. About 35% of those surveyed said they were staying in emergency shelters and 34% were staying on the streets, in vehicles or other areas.

(AP/KOTV6, 4/3)

Oregon: Affordable Housing Units in Great Demand The number of people without permanent housing in central Oregon increased 50% in the past year, homeless advocates say. There were 2,010 people staying in shelters, on the street, in their cars or camping out in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties in a one-day count in January, compared with last year’s count of 1,344 homeless people.

People cite the high cost of rent, eviction, unemployment, and poor credit as the most common reasons for homelessness in the area. Housing Works estimates central Oregon needs to add nearly 9,500 affordable housing units by next year to meet demand. (Salem Statesman Journal, 4/2)

NEWS LOCAL PHOTOS & POETRY

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

On the Edge of Freedom Man I do crazy things I am a good girl But Allen’s bad Has gone crazy Society messed him up So he always gets locked up Some think he’s selfish Thinks about himself But that’s not it at all He just loves his daughter And his messed up fling Love my boyfriend I’m good as Alice Allen’s the bad one I wonder if that bike’s still there One Allen stole to see his kid I must be absolutely insane To think I’m actually two people But I am you fool You just cannot see See the mind change It’s not real I am just an experiment And I all ready live in hell Right here is my resting spot I pray to live out my life I pray about life Weed eases the pain The pain going to my brain Pain from my rotted out teeth Baby Alice is going to hell I pray her soul goes to heaven though

Cliff’s Pics: Night Lights

As the days are getting longer and th summer solstice approaches, Stree Sense vendor Cliff Carle is holding onto the night and capturing uniqu scenes in the darkness along the District’s highways and byways.

— Allen Carter

The Beginning Detoxing after years of drinking and drugging I’m in my first program I see a lot of people I got high with, tricked with, Committed crimes with and some who I was enemies with They greeted me with open arms They told me about a new way of life A road of recovery that I would travel on It’s going to be bumpy Just hold on And no matter how you feel or What negativity you think Focus, stay for the miracle And don’t pick up or drink

- Leonard E. Cannady Jr. (L.C.) (After living in Hawaii and being clean for nearly three years, L.C. is returning to D.C. and Street Sense in May.)

This is looking into the courtyard at the AARP building downtown, but to me it looks like Chinese lanterns floating in space.

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

PHOTOS & POETRY

he et g ue

Mystery 13 The people where I live mumble incantations over meals, while in dark French caves, buffalo and antelopes stampede along the walls, drawn by hungry hunters.

On 7th Street, this funny-looking character resembling a cross of a fish and a dragon caught my eye.

The people where I live stare raptly at bloody effigies of a crucifixion, hoping the victim will smile on them, while shamans stir gory guts of murdered goats to bring the sacrament of rain.

Some scream and dance for rain; others drop their final coins in gilded plates because a shaman in silk robes declares their paltry gifts will be redeemed a thousandfold.

The people where I live make desperate pleas to empty air before they drift to sleep.

I look at the Capitol from Federal City Park, which is a stone’s throw from the city’s largest shelter, where I stay.

What a magnificent view from such a dismal place.

Their ancestors chanted the names of Aphrodite, Anubis or of sprinting beasts etched on cavern walls in France.

At the Reagan Building, I like the way the lights line up, seemingly into infinity. I particularly like the depth of field in this photograph.

— David Harris

10 FEATURES

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

My Turn At the Table By Michael Higgs

The Real Deal in Chinatown

Rita Marjandaro

iittle money you get a great deal of food.

We didn’t have to wait for a table, and the service was very good. Everyone, including our waiter, was very polite. And we didn’t have to wait very long for our order.

I timed it and it was only 16 minutes to get our food.

I ordered the chicken and rice with gravy and hot tea. It was very good but could have had a little more preparation time, because the gravy settled pretty quickly.

Rita had pork with broccoli over linguine, and she loved it, and said it was quite Michael savors the authentic Chinese food at New Big Wong. filling.

My lunch was $5. 95, I recently went to lunch at a Chinese resplus tip. That’s not bad for taurant in Chinatown near the Gallery Place lunch — even I could afford it.

Metro station. I went with Street Sense volunWe also got fortune cookies at the end, but teer Rita Marjandaro.

I gave mine to Rita.

It was a warm day and the restaurant, New I had not eaten at a real restaurant in three Big Wong, 610 H Street, NW, was full of people years, and the experience at New Big Wong out on the town for lunch. was very nice.

It is a fairly small restaurant, seating only Thank you, Street Sense, and thank you, about 50 people, and the prices are shock- readers. ingly low. The restaurant offers about a dozen lunch specials that cost from $5.95 to $7.00, Michael Higgs has been a vendor for three which is really cheap these days. And for such months and his favorite movie is “Platoon.”

Cook’s Corner

Pepperoni and Asiago Pinwheels

Ingredients • • • • • • •

·1/2 c. grated Asiago cheese 3/4 tsp. dried thyme 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed 2 Tbls. honey Dijon mustard 2 oz. packaged, sliced pepperoni 1 large egg, beaten

Preparation • Mix first four ingredients in a bowl.

• Spread puff pastry with Dijon, leaving a one–inch border on one long edge.

• Place pepperoni slices in single layer atop mustard.

• Top with cheese mixture.

• Brush plain border with egg.

• Starting at side opposite plain border, roll up pastry, sealing at egg–coated edge.

• Transfer pastry roll, seam side down, to baking sheet and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

• Lightly coat a baking sheet with pan spray.

• Cut pastry into 1/4 inch thick rounds.

• Transfer to baking sheet and bake until golden, about 15 minutes.

This recipe is often prepared by Fresh Start Catering for the many events they cater.

Many of the employees of Fresh Start Catering come from the culinary arts training program of Community Family Life Services.· New Course caters all events from corporate lunches to weddings to 500-person galas. For more info visit www.newcoursecatering.com or call (202) 347-7035.

N Street Village achieves success yet again as the #1 Beneficiary Agency of the Fannie Mae Foundation 2006 Help the Homeless Walkathon!

N Street Village, winner of The Washington Post 2006 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, is proud to announce its place as the #1 beneficiary agency of the Help the Homeless Walkathon! We were able to raise over $330,000 and have over 1,250 people walk for us. This could not have been done without the dedication and commitment of all of our volunteers and donors.

N Street Village recognizes all of the universities, religious groups, organizations and individuals that came out in force to support the women we serve! We thank all of our friends and supporters for helping to make the 2006 Walkathon the best on record for N Street Village!

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

FEATURES & GAMES 11

bOOK rEVIEW By David S. Hammond

Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor

Solve the message below to discover a famous, meaningful quote on poverty and homelessness.

APRWVDX ZI DJW TPVID EPVC PE RZPQWNHW.

- CPJUNBUI KUNBJZ

Hint: E = F

March Solution: It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man--the struggle between a proud mind and an empty purse--the keeping up of a hollow show that must soon come to an end. - Washington Irving

Street Su–Do–Ku This Su–Do–Ku puzzle was put together by vendor Chris Sellman who says he is obsessed with this game.

He promises that the puzzle below is easy to solve, but warns it may get beginners hooked!

Off the Books

By Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh (Harvard University Press 2006)

ing community, it is still isolated from the resources and political clout that could help realize its considerable human capital. And the old lessons of insecurity and mistrust still limit many residents’ ability to see how they could work their way to lasting accomplishment and security.

Many residents and businesses reject life and work “off the books.”

But exchanges of goods and services that are otherwise legal but are neither reported to, nor regulated by the government are often seen in the area Venkatesh studied. And while that area may see a higher proportion of its economic activity “off the books” than in other ghetto neighborhoods, they share a common history and a common plight.

Venkatesh originally set out to look at public housing and marginalized youth. One of his interests, also covered in the book, is how juvenile street gangs have grown to sophisticated criminal syndicates. Those topics led him to discover other deeply entrenched patterns of historical deprivation and ongoing improvisation, disappointment and renewed faith in the future — or at least a determination to survive. These provide important lessons for anyone who wants to understand the American ghetto. The endnotes alone give an overview of the creation of the contemporary ghetto, along with recent research, and public policies aimed at improving conditions there.

Venkatesh himself doesn’t lay out a program for doing so. And by the end of the book, he really doesn’t need to. In just over 400 very readable pages describing a community’s hard work and adaptability, it becomes quite clear what people need to move forward and upward.

Venkatesh shows, with respect and sympathy, how these Americans make do.

And that shows the rest of us what — and who — is at stake.

Just fill in the numbers 1 through 9 without repeating a number in any column, row or box.

4 2 7

6 5 6 1

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March Solution

A restaurant that sometimes offers haircuts. Low–cost security guards in the form of homeless people sleeping in stores and vacant apartments. Preachers who broker hope with a lead on a city job, and, maybe, a view beyond the near horizon of vacant lots, liquor stores, and occasional part–time work.

Sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh spent years observing these people, who make a world and a living — sometimes “off the books” — on Chicago’s Southside.

The African-American ghetto neighborhood where they live, and others like it, show up in everything from politicians’ walk–throughs to rap videos and radio shock jock routines. But that leaves out almost everything worth knowing. And much of the contemporary research has focused more on what is missing — steady jobs, good schools, banks and credit — than what is still there.

Off the Books sets out to change that, by mapping the human and economic relationships that keep a neighborhood ticking. And there’s much more than meets the eye of the casual visitor. The man sitting on a box on the sidewalk is paid (in groceries) to watch for shoplifters. The van pulling up at the curb is cruising for day laborers, or transporting street vendors. The woman pushing a stroller anchors a household made up of family, friends, and lodgers who pay their rent with cash, babysitting services, or use of a car.

These enterprises show as much creativity and complexity as anywhere. One local woman has sold home–cooked hot lunches for years, growing or shrinking her business with the local economy. Another man performs auto repairs in alleys and church parking lots, or on a quiet stretch of street. His few dollars in overhead are hardly a “fixed” expense — they are constantly renegotiated with the property owners or gangs who control the places he works.

Still, not everyone operates so close to the line. There are traditional pursuits like grocery stores and funeral homes, and local empires in retail, real estate, and government contracts to provide human services and affordable housing. These, along with operations on a smaller scale, provide a stability not so different from that of small businesses anywhere.

What is different in the ghetto is the limits within which people must work. On top of universal concerns of supply and demand, materials, overhead, and advertising, there are unique problems of physical security, government neglect of public infrastructure like roads, and the instability in personal lives and finances.

African-American communities were traditionally starved of investment, credit, education, and well–paying jobs. Resources weren’t allowed in, and people weren’t allowed out. They still produced many success stories, but when legal segregation was dismantled, many of those who could leave their inner–city neighborhoods, did so.

For all the verve and talent of the remain-

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PLACE YOUR AD HERE! With Street Sense now coming out twice a month and reaching nearly 10,000 people each issue, now is the perfect time to promote your business with us.

DEMOGRAPHICS And who your business will be reaching can’t be beat.

Our typical reader is a 35year old woman who lives in D.C. and works for the government or a nonprofit earning $70,000 a year.

RATES Rates are about half the cost of the neighborhood monthlies and are as low as $57 for a 1/16 page ad that runs multiple times.

DISCOUNTS Discounts offered to nonprofits and to those that prepay for multiple ads.

Call Laura or Jesse at 202-347-2006 or email info@streetsense.org for more information and to get a copy of our new advertising brochure. Or ask your local vendor, who can earn 20% commission from ads sales.

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

12 EDITORIALS

Letters From SEattle By August Mallory

D

ear Street Sense Readers, Again, I greet you from the city of Seattle, home of the world famous Supersonics basketball team for you basketball fans, and the Seattle Seahawks for you football fans.

I know a lot of you may be saying to yourselves, “This guy is crazy, going up to the Pacific Northwest in all of that severe cold.�

Well, it does rain and rain and rain here, but it doesn’t get as cold as many people may think. The weather can be pretty fair at times.

As a matter of fact, today it is 58 degrees. That is pretty warm for us.

As I sit inside the public library in downtown Seattle, I still cannot believe that I could just walk right in and not be searched. When I arrived, I asked the desk person, “Would you like to search my bags?� and she laughed at me. I was serious, but she actually laughed at me! She then asked me why she would want to search me. I explained that I came from Washington, D.C., and that’s what they do there at the library. The employee told me that in Washington state there is no such requirement. So I continued on my way into the building.

I find many things about this city interest-

Comic relief By Harvey Droke

ing. Seattle is built upon a big hill, and when I walk from one street to another, I am constantly walking up a hill. Another thing that I found interesting is that the public transportation system is very different here. Once you board a city bus downtown, you don’t pay until you get off at a stop that is outside of the downtown area. I found that to be very unusual when compared to a lot of the cities I have visited.

Seattle also has a lot of organizations that are willing to help the homeless, but they are not sure how. There are also those people who think they are experts on homelessness, but could not tell you how people become homeless or how homeless people live.

Often times, these are the people who serve meals to the homeless, but have no real experience dealing with the issues of homelessness. Of course, when they run into me they are blown away by my knowledge of these issues. So, I am educating many people in Seattle on the issues of homelessness.

Many have even asked me about the National Coalition for the Homeless and how to reach its website. This way they will actually know how they can help the homeless.

Well everybody, my time is up, but I do thank you for yours. Until next time, take care.

I will talk to you soon.

August was the first vendor for Street Sense and was with the organization for three years.

He now lives in Seattle and is on the editorial board of the street paper there. You can reach August at: carriergroup2009@yahoo.com.

What our REaders are Saying...

Dear Street Sense: This past January, I started a new job with AARP on E Street off of the Gallery Place Metro stop. It wasn’t the optimal time to start a new job with the bitter cold just setting in, but I was happy for the opportunity and eager to get started. On many days, as I rounded the corner onto E Street, a Street Sense vendor stood selling the newspaper.

I was embarrassed to admit that I don’t know his name, but I have since learned his vendor number. Vendor 102 [Ivory Wilson] stood there in the worst circumstances — in the pouring cold rain, in the bitterest of cold days, sometimes very early in the morning or later in the evening. In most cases, it was dark and miserable. Many days, it was cold and windy with the temperatures dipping well below freezing with the wind chill.

There stood Vendor 102.

I feel compelled to write because I was, and continue to be, so impressed with his work ethic. With a sense of dedication that is rarely seen any more, and in times when many of us rushed quickly by to escape the cold, Vendor 102 stood patiently and professionally selling his papers to whose who would stop.

In all those days I have passed his station, Vendor 102 has always been professional, courteous, and friendly. He is a welcomed sight in a sea of people who walk by barely acknowledging those around them. He serves as a small reminder of consistency in an ever and rapidly changing world. I welcome and look forward to his presence as it serves as a reminder to us all of how we all should act toward one another: with respect, with dignity, and with a smile.

Now that it’s getting nice outside, Vendor 102 and I often exchange hellos and a sense of relief that the warmer weather has finally arrived. I wonder who he is and how he got where he is. It really doesn’t matter, though. What matters is that he continues on that corner selling his papers.

Many thanks to Vendor 102 for being there on that corner and to Street Sense for giving him the means to do so.

Sincerely, Aileen Morse

Dear Jesse, On behalf of our group, thank you for the amazing Street Sense experience. It was an honor to work with you and the crew. We enjoyed it immensely and are very encouraged by the lives you are changing.

Thanks, Vanderbilt Students

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Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

EDITORIALS 13

MAURICE SPEAKS

A Meeting with a Friend

N

o t l o n g a g o, I met with a friend whom I had known from years ago, long before I became homeless. The meeting became a measuring stick that showed me just how much things have changed in my life in the interim.

The two of us have quite a lot in common. We are both middle–aged men who have lived in Israel for an extended period of time. We are both fathers of five children. We both have worked as technical writers for a number of years. Both of us are out of work at present, and both of us are writing novels that we are trying to have published so there was no problem finding topics of conversation.

Because we had not seen each other in years, I had forwarded him the photograph that appears with my column so that he could recognize me when we met. As he readily told me, I look exactly as I do in the photograph. He also said to me, “You don’t look happy.”

Some things I could not hide, namely the melancholy that goes with being homeless and wondering if my situation will ever improve. It was very hard for me to sound upbeat in the conversation when there is so little for me to sound upbeat about in my life. It was very much like trying to make an ugly bride pretty for the photographs; a very difficult and frustrating task indeed.

Thanks to the Wildtech computer project currently under way at the Community for Creative Non–Violence, in which I am very much involved as a writer of curriculum and an instructor, I could honestly say that I am working on a project that is keeping me quite busy. I also have an opportunity to keep my skills as a technical writer sharp as I put together documentation for people taking the Mi-

Racism, from p.1 down to eat and read the morning newspaper, I had to use the restroom. So I laid a napkin over my food and kindly asked a gentleman sitting near me to keep an eye on my food just in case one of the employees came by to discard trash and assumed I had finished.

As I approached the restroom for men, I noticed that a token was needed to enter, so I went to the counter and asked the cashier for a token. Her response was, “I’m sorry, I don’t have any tokens.’’

As nature intensified in its effort to be released, I asked if she could get a token from the manager. She notified the manager that I was in need of a token.

He looked at me then asked her if she had any tokens in her drawer. Her reply was no.

The manager then told me that I would have to put a quarter in the slot if I wanted to use the restroom.

After paying for a meal, I was not expecting to hear that I would have to pay for bathroom privileges.

So I said, if you expect me to pay to use your restroom, you can just give me my money back and I’ll take my business elsewhere.

As I waited for my refund another customer, a nice white man, said to me, “Just hold tight for a minute when I order my coffee, I’ll get you a token.’’

So I waited curiously to see if his luck would be better.

He requested a token from the same young Hispanic cashier whom I had asked for a token. She appeared a little

crosoft Word course that I teach.

At the same time, I had the opportunity to express my frustrations regarding working with Word 2007 and its web–dependent features. I realized that I had not totally lost touch with the outside world, largely thanks to Wildtech and the work that I do at Arts and Education, for which I felt very grateful.

We then got onto the topic of writing novels, and here I actually found myself taking the lead, as I have approached more publishers and agents than my friend has. He asked me how a person makes a submission to an agent or publisher, and I was able to share with him my experience, which has taught me that while each company has its own way of doing things, in general, most companies will want to see no more than a first chapter in an initial correspondence.

Then the subject drifted to more personal matters, and that was when my friend discovered the reason that I do not look happy. It’s not easy to be happy when the future looks questionable and the present is so unpleasant. I had also received disturbing news from my son not long ago regarding his own living situation, and that was weighing on me as well. The fear that he, too, could become homeless was worse than depressing to me.

When we parted company, my friend said, “If I don’t find a job, we’ll be meeting again soon.” I left with an odd feeling. On the one hand, I had held my own in the meeting, but on the other hand, I realized that he and I were in totally different worlds now. That disturbed me more than anything.

I once belonged to the middle class quite comfortably; I am now alienated from it by almost four years of being homeless. That’s sufficient reason to be sad.

Maurice King has been writing editorials for Street Sense since January 2004;If you have any comments, e–mail him at benadam@cyberdude.com.

reluctant to answer his request, but she did and what happened next filled me with such rage I thought I might have an aneurysm.

She handed him two tokens. He turned and handed me one of the tokens.

I expressed my disgust and hastily left feeling like the character in the movie A Brother From Another Planet.

What’s wrong with me? I thought. Am I from another planet? Do I look homeless?

No. I have no bags. No blankets. I’m casually dressed and clean.

Even if I were an alien from another planet like the character from A Brother From Another Planet, I wouldn’t have expected to be treated with such indignity.

This brings me back to my opening point: Sometimes I wonder how much better life would be for me if I belonged to another race. Would I get more respect?

As proud as I am of who I am, it is truly depressing to know that in our society all human beings will never be seen as equals.

Sometimes I wonder how much better life would be for me if I belonged to another race.

Would I get more respect?

If you have had similar experiences, or witnessed this incident at McDonald’s on the morning of April 11, especially the man who ordered the coffee and gave me the token, please contact me at 202-904-5795 or at Street Sense, 202-347-2006.

Martin has been a vendor for for two years and can often be found at Farragut North. He loves to eat seafood.

On the Road:

Snow and Nail Fail to Stall Speakers’ Success

By JoAnn Jackson

W

e left Washington, D.C., early on Monday, March 5, for Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Our entourage included National Coalition for the Homeless Coordinator Megan Hustings and speakers John Harrison, Moses Scott and myself. We were ready to take New York by storm with our stories.

The crew was very happy, full of conversations and jokes. The trip was going very well. On our first stop for food and gas, Megan noticed that our right rear tire was losing air. It was nothing to worry about. All we needed was a little air.

As we drove for what seemed like hours, we ran into some snow on and off. What’s a little snow, though? As we got closer to our destination, it appeared the snow was here to stay.

One minute, it was just a few flurries followed by sunshine. But then the sky opened up and the snow came down so hard that at one point it was difficult to see the road. Still, we were determined to complete our mission.

I thought that when we reached Clinton, the weather would be better and the snow might let up.

I was wrong. The snow made it seem like we were in Alaska.

Even though the roads were clear and safe to drive on, you could tell by the piles of snow that it had been snowing for some time.

It looked like some of the people hadn’t even been able to leave their homes.

I always think ahead, and I just knew that staying on campus in the guesthouse would be miserable. But lo and behold, the guesthouse was better than some of the hotels I’ve stayed in. I can’t begin to explain how comfortable and beautiful the rooms were.

Once we settled in, it was time to get to our gig. Even though it was snowing and only 13 degrees, I think we had a very good turnout. The coordinator and speakers did a dynamite job as usual.

The students asked a lot of important and interesting questions and were very impressed with our presentation.

Then we went back to the guesthouse. The bed was so comfortable. I remember looking at a program on television, reading and talking to Megan. The next thing I knew, Megan was waking me up so that we could get some breakfast. We ate on campus, and the breakfast was delicious.

When it was time to start back to D.C., Megan was very observant and noticed that the tire needed some air. Instead of just putting air in the tire, she decided to go to a tire shop, which was excellent thinking on her part. I guess you’d say, “What’s the big deal?” Well, we found out that the tire had a nail in it and the rim was bent.

Megan, thanks a million for being so concerned and making sure that our drive home would be safe.

I was glad when we arrived in Washington. There was no snow!

Unfortunately, that didn’t last long, but at least we were home and safe.

Megan, Moses and John, I really enjoyed spending time with such a joyful and pleasant group. I hope we can get together again because we are the awesome FOUR! The Speakers’ Bureau has been a part of my life for almost 11 years. I’ve been a speaker, a panel coordinator and have met a lot of important people. I’ve been around to see many of our young women and men who helped make a difference.

They also have helped me by listening to my problems, letting me cry on their shoulders and giving me assistance.

The young women and men have been so full of ideas and have worked very hard.

I would like to say, to the ones who have left the National Coalition for the Homeless and the ones who are here now, thanks with all my heart for being there and for working so hard to fulfill my dreams and yours.

JoAnn graduated from Roosevelt High School and worked her way up to be a successful owner of two businesses in Connecticut She experienced homelessness from 1996–1999. .

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

14 STREET SENSE NEWS

VendorNotes Welcome back, Jake A well–known and personable vendor, Jake Ashford, was missing for quite a while; he was in North Carolina enjoying life and taking care of personal business. We missed his off–beat humor and presence in the office.

Well, I am happy to say that he is back, at least for a while. Jake has a tendency, as many of us do, to go when an urge hits him.

We lost vendor No. 1, August Mallory to Real Change, a street newspaper in Seattle. We need Jake and hope his urge to travel has been satisfied for a while. Again, welcome back, Jake.

By Jesse Smith

Sense was distributed quite extensively that day. We hope that the students have introduced new readers to our paper.

Northwestern University High School Students as “Vendors for a Day’’

Brenda, Anthony and Martin celebrate after a good day of sales with students.

In a project through Northwestern University in Chicago, Street Sense recently played host to 16 high school students and four adult chaperones in our “Vendor for a Day’’ program to understand issues of poverty and experience what a Street Sense vendor does in the course of his or her day.

This was one of the most successful distributions of our newspaper by temporary vendors. Veteran Street Sense vendors Brenda Wilson, Martin Walker and Anthony Crawford acted as mentors and guides. The students were very attentive, asking many questions and showing much enthusiasm. All of that energy was well spent with one of the most successful financial receipts ever. Each student vendor was given 10 papers to sell; they returned with only 12 papers for the entire group.

Our vendors were very happy. Street

On a more sober note, one of the student vendors was dismayed by an encounter she had. A customer said to her, “You’re not homeless; I’m not going to buy a paper from you and you should be ashamed taking money from homeless persons.’’

I explained to her that she should not take the comment personally; many people, as well as our customers, are sensitive to the plight of poor and homeless persons and take offense to impersonators, especially when it comes to Street Sense.

Thanks to the students, their chaperones, and Northwestern University and all the students who came from across the United States.

If you are interested in having a student group learn about Street Sense and become a “Vendor for a Day,’’ contact me at jesse@streetsense.org or (202) 347–2006.

eDItor’S Note Silver Spring Blitz We just had another mini–blitz March 28 in Silver Spring and did much better this time. The weather was more pleasant even though it was a bit cool. I think we made significant success. There were only three of us: Martin Walker, Corey Bridges, and me.

Given that we were there for only two hours and after lunch, I think we did quite well.

A number of people who bought papers from me indicated that they were aware of Street Sense but never knew where to get it in Maryland. This indicates to me that we must establish a presence there. I think it will be beneficial to the vendor, the customer, and to Street Sense.

Top Vendors for March

Anonymous Conrad Cheek

1,227 1,151

Phillip, who can often be found in Dupont Circle, came in a strong third.

Phillip Howard Martin Walker Alvin Dixon El Allen Jones Bobby Buggs Cliff Carle

671 621 603 566 554 502

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___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 24 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ____________ Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________ State:_______________ Zip: ______________ Phone: ___________________________________ Email: ________________________________ Please make checks payable to Street Sense.

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

Thanks for your support!

My Mission of Serving the Poor

W

hen Street Sense executive director Laura Thompson Osuri called in February, she asked why would I leave a public relations position to return to journalism, especially to edit a street newspaper written and sold by homeless people. I told her that no other newspaper in the country could lure me back to journalism except one like Street Sense.

Serving the homeless community has been a ministry for me since 2002, after ending up homeless while attending graduate school at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. That experience taught me a valuable lesson about life, about serving others and about the plight of homeless people.

For 15 years, I served as a mid–level editor of daily newspapers in Florida and Louisiana. I’ve done practically every job in the newsroom, from sports to features to news and business reporting. I left journalism in 1997 to become sports information director at Bethune–Cookman College, a small historically black college in Daytona Beach, Fla. In my fifth year at the college, I decided to seek God’s purpose in life. I knew I wanted to serve others, so I figured seminary would give me some direction. And it did. A few weeks after starting seminary, paying my own tuition, I ran out of funds.

I found shelter for a week at the Salvation Army. I was a little fearful at first, but quickly met people a lot like me. Some had worked at professional jobs; others had earned college degrees. I was moved by their stories.

I took out my pen and paper and began interviewing them. I figured their stories would make a great book.

The next semester, I enrolled in a community service course focusing on homeless issues. I convinced my church, New Hope United Methodist, to start a homeless ministry called Driving the Homeless. Three days a week, I drove the church van around town on a scheduled route, picking up homeless people at feeding sites, taking them to various social agencies to get assistance.

The ministry got the attention of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who was seeking ways to improve services for homeless people.

After Hurricane Katrina hit, I decided to head to New Orleans to lend my skills with recovery efforts.

I landed a position as national press coordinator for ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the nation’s largest grassroots organization representing low–income families.

Coming to Street Sense is a continuation of my mission to serve the poor. Since arriving in Washington, D.C., on April 1, I’ve discovered many positive stories about the homeless people and homeless providers.

Street Sense does an excellent job of putting a face on homelessness. I plan to continue that tradition, in addition to digging deeper into the problems of homeless people, offering solutions and keeping the powerbrokers accountable.

With the help of extraordinary volunteers and supporters, I’m hoping to help make Street Sense a must– read for concerned Washingtonians.

— Charles D. Jackson

FEATURES 15 SERVICE PROVIDERS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

Community Service Index WASHINGTON, D.C. SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 928 5th Street, NW (202) 783–6651 www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org DC Village (Family) 2–A DC Village Lane, SW (202) 561–8090 www.dccfh.org/DCVillage.html Franklin School (Men) 13th and K streets, NW (202) 638–7424 Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731 www.grm.org John Young Center (Women) 117 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ La Casa Bilingual Shelter (Men) 1436 Irving Street, NW (202) 673–3592 N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeth Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Dinner Program for Homeless Women AND the “9:30 Club” Breakfast 309 E Street, NW (202) 737–9311 www.dphw.org Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112

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

Shelter Hotline: 1–800–535–7252

http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social activities

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8926 www.miriamskitchen.org

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

The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ministry/ welcometbl.htm

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

MEDICAL RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100 www.christhouse.org

Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services

Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300 www.unityhealthcare.org Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500 www.wwc.org

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Comm. Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419 www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling and mentoring, education, youth services, clothing Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org laundry, counseling, psych care Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005

Catholic Community Services of D.C. 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870 www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. (Jobs and Housing) 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org classes and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau available Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/alcohol addiction, healthcare

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html national emergency travel assistance Virginia Williams Resource Center 25 M Street, SW (202) 724–3932 www.dccfh.org/VirginiaHse.html family housing Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org legal services

Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares

VIRGINIA SHELTER Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 Ninth Road North, Arlington (703) 525–7177 www.aachhomeless.org

FOOD

SHELTER

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

Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.communityministrymc.org

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

The Samaritan Group P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564

MEDICAL RESOURCES

MARYLAND

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

FOOD Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Church, Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda (301) 493–8553 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823–4100 www.anchor–of–hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter Legal Services of Northern Virginia 6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 500 (703) 778–6800 www.lsnv.org civil legal services Samaritan Ministry 2924 Columbia Pike, Arlington (703) 271–0938 www.samaritanministry.com social services, employment services, HIV/AIDS services

If you are an area nonprofit serving the homeless and wish to be included in this index please e–mail all the relevant info to info@streetsense.org.

Street Sense . April 15-30, 2007

VENDOR PROFILE

PHOTO FINISH

Tune In: StreetSense TV

Yllama Davenport

Yllama Davenport, 28, was born in Washington, D.C. She attended elementary school in D.C. and moved to Arlington, Va., where she attended Williamsburg Junior High School. She earned her high school diploma from North View High School, and later moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where she also received a certificate in early childhood education from Florida Community College.

She secured a position as a teacher’s aide with the New Life in Christ Church Day Care Ministry. She held that position for two years, and then she decided to return to D.C., where she served as a teacher’s aide with the New Macedonia Baptist Church.

She works as a Hospitality Ambassador with the Downtown Business Improvement District. She supplements this income as a vendor selling Street Sense. Yllama is also skilled in operating Microsoft programs.

Her hobbies include swimming and solving crossword puzzles.

How did you become homeless?

I shared an apartment with a friend and the relationship did not work out, so rather than be at odds with a person by living in the same space, I decided to leave. Given that the cost of housing is so high in the District, I had to seek other means of securing shelter.

During production for the inagural segment of StreetSense TV, Vendor Conrad Cheek Jr. video tapes vendors Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson and Anthony Crawford, along with Gregory Wragg, executive producer of StreetSense TV, and Dave Denton, director of media services at DC-TV. (Fpr more information on StreetSense TV, see page 5.)

StreetFact

Why do you sell Street Sense?

It is an easy and no pressure way of making money to supplement my income, and what’s most important is this is an opportunity to spread the word about issues of homelessness, poverty and affordable housing in the Washington, D.C. area.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope to save enough money to buy a condominium and to continue to be an advocate for the disenfranchised, speaking about poverty and homeless issues.

Favorite book?

I like mystery novels and books about American history.

In 2005, there were 4,500 Section 8 housing voucher recipients east of the Anacostia River and only eight west of Rock Creek park.

(For more info, see the story on page 1.)

Source: Fannie Mae Foundation

April 15-30, 2007 • Volume 4 • Issue 9

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Mail To:

Interested in a subscription? Go to page 14 for more information.

Favorite music?

R&B and gospel music Favorite food?

I love seafood and pasta, especially lasagna.

Favorite movie?

Malcolm X

Yllama reminds customers to only buy from badged vendors and not to give to those panhandling with one paper.

Street Sense T-Shirt Special: Buy One, Get One Half-Off In a Spring close out special, buy one stylish long sleeve, 100% cotton, chocolate brown Street Sense T-shirt for $20 or TWO FOR JUST $30 (both including shipping).

To purchase, fill out this form and mail a check made out to Street Sense to: 1317 G Street NW, Wash, DC 20005.

Or just visit: www.streetsense.org.

(You can also see vendors modeling the shirt on the website.)

(Check one) One T-shirt for $20 ____ OR Two T-shirts for $30 ____ Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_____________________________________________ E-mail:_______________________: Size(s): (XL, L, or S) ___________