04 29 2009

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Where the poor and homeless April 29 to May 12, 2009

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G S U N AT I DO

Volume 6 Issue 13

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

Mental Illness on the Big Screen A New Online Tool for Homeless Rights Page 4

Writers’ Group Celebrates May Day Page 11

The Soloist writer goes to Capitol Hill to raise awareness about the link between mental illness and homelessness, page 5.

Soloist review, Page 13.

Local Bands Rock for Street Sense Page 14

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristal DeKleer Lisa Estrada Ted Henson Mary Lynn Jones Sommer Mathis Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Martin Walker David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Mary Otto VENDOR MANAGER Gregory Martin ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS

Sherry Antoine, Laura Arico, Robert Basler, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Carol Cummings, Rebecca Curry, Katie Edson, Andy Freeze, Lisa Gillespie, Cassandra Good, Joanne Goodwin, Roberta Haber, Erica Hall, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Kayne Karnbach, Michael Kelly, Maurice King, Geof Koss, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Starlett McNeill, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Robert Orifici, Michael O’Neill, Jon Pattee, Katinka Podmankzy, Sarah Pope, Diane Rusignola, Cara Schmidt, Jamie Schuman, Jesse Smith, Christna Studivant, Matthew Taylor, Robert Trautman, Eugene Versluysen, Linda Wang, Denise Wilkins, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu

VENDORS

Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Glenn Baldwin, Daniel Ball, Carlie Banks, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Corey Bridges, Michael Brown, Bobby Buggs, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Conner, Pamela Cooper, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Chino Dean, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Jerome Douglas, Charles Eatmon, Eric Ellis, Randy Evans, Tanya Franklin, Samuel Fullwood, Roger Garner, Robert Gregory, Barron Hall, David Harris, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shawn Herring, Michael Higgs, Philip Howard, Lester Irby, Joanna Jackson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, DeRutter Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Virginia Moore, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Larry Olds, Moyo Onibuje, Gregory Phillips, Thomas Queen, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Michael Reardon, Jeanette Richardson, Tyrone Rogers, Ed Ross, Chris Shaw, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gerald Smith, Yvette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Sybil Taylor, Steve Thomas, Eric Thompson, Francine Triplett, Carl Turner, Patsy Uzzell, Martin Walker, Joseph Walker, Lawless Watson, Gregory Wells, Michael J. Welsh, Darrell Whitmyer, Edna Williams, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods

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Our Mission

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.

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 Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 25 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world.

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

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a 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 a 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, and began partnering with several service providers.

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

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

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

Order a subscription today!

Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area. ___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Address: ______________________________ _____________________________________ City:__________________________________ State:__________________ Zip: __________ Phone: _______________________________ E-mail: _______________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense.

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

We are proud members of: North American Street Newspaper Association

International Network of Street Papers

Vendor Code of Conduct 1.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors.

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

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.

To Our Wonderful Thank You! **A full page ad of recognition and thanks will be coming in the next issue!**

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

IN OTHER NEWS

By Jon Pattee Homeless Afghans Forced to Live in Caves Former residents of Afghanistan’s town of Mulayan, their homes destroyed by the Taliban, are living in centuries-old caves hollowed out by Buddhist monks long before most Afghans converted to Islam. According to an April 20 Reuters article by Emma GrahamHarrison, these residents of the fertile Bamiyan Valley were left destitute when the Taliban swept through, razing houses and the local bazaar. “Life is much more difficult than when we were young,” a 27-yearold father of six told the reporter. “I would prefer to live in a house, but we don’t have any money.”

Federal Gov’t Targets Housing Aid to Detroit America’s recession has hit Detroit especially hard, with tens of thousands of people left homeless. But according to news channel WJBK Fox 2, the federal government is providing Detroit with millions to prevent homelessness and help those already on the streets. An April 21 article by Amy Lange notes that the government assistance is coming in the form of $15.2 million to establish the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program. “This is an attempt to keep people in their homes, to keep renters in their homes and to prevent persons from being put on the street,” Detroit director of planning and development Robert Davis told WJBK.

Demolitions in Philippines Leave 400 Homeless Some 400 Filipinos are homeless after the demolition of over 60 houses in Cebu City. Unrest followed authorities’ efforts to serve an eviction order for a plot of land owned by the Bank of Cebu and occupied by almost 400 urban poor settlers, according to an April 21 article in the Cebu Daily News

by Chito O. Aragon and Fe Marie D. Dumbac. At least eight people, including two policemen, were hurt in clashes. Women from a militant group used their bodies and bamboo to protect the homes. Juliet Abing, 35, a resident since 1978, said this was the third time their houses had been demolished.

Sacramento Tent City Residents Shun Relocation Sacramento municipal workers and police have begun dismantling a tent community of some 150 people that has been in existence for more than a decade, according to a report by Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee. The April 14 article recounts that Mayor Kevin Johnson’s $1 million plan to unite homeless agencies, churches, and others to move the campers to “safer, more sanitary” quarters had encountered resistance. The majority of the tent city’s residents, who make up only a fraction of the overall Sacramento County homeless population, have so far simply moved their belongings from public to private property nearby.

Homeless World Cup to Gather International Talent Over 500 players from 48 countries will meet in Milan September 6-13 for the seventh Homeless World Cup. The 48 teams will include talents from Argentina to Brazil, England to Germany, Australia to Cambodia, and Ghana to Malawi, according to an April 21 article in the New York Times by Jack Bell.

“The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is set in one of the most football-passionate cities and nations in the world,” said Mel Young, the tournament’s founder. The most recent tournament, played in Melbourne, was won by the team from Afghanistan.

Street Papers Showing Grit, Gains During Crisis Despite the recession, the circulation and sales forces of many newspapers produced and sold by homeless people across the US are growing, according to an April 12 article in The New York Times. Managers and vendors told reporter Janie Lorber that the papers provided them with freedom, a sense of personal responsibility, and the confidence needed to rejoin the mainstream work force. While the recession has hit the revenues of some street papers, it has also heightened interest in their “offbeat coverage” and boosted vendor recruitment. According to Lorber, the papers “offer a survival strategy for those who, for the first time, are checking into shelters, relying on friends’ couches or struggling to pay rent.”

Support the Street Sense BailOut Since Street Sense will not be getting a bailout from the government anytime soon, we need support from donors like you more than ever to get through these tough economic times. So please donate today! Any small amount you can give will be greatly appreciated and you can be assured your dollars will be put right to work, enpowering the homeless and educating the public.

My Information Name:_______________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_______________________________________________ Phone:_______________________E-mail:_________________________ Please make checks payable to Street Sense.

Street Sense is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization.

All donations are tax deductible.

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

You can also donate online at www.streetsense.org

I WIll Donate ___ $50 for two vendor awards each month ___ $70 for food for vendor meetings ___ $100 for postage each month ___ $200 for the vests of 15 new vendors ___ $500 for rent for vendor office ___ $1,200 for the printing of one issue ___ Another amount of $____________

To learn more about Doubling your donation through corporate Matching Gifts, see page 14.

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Interative Website Helps Homeless Advocates

By Maria Stoyadinova A new online resource, launched by the National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), aims to promote coordination and collaboration among advocates and law organizations working in the field of homelessness.

Called “Street Lawyer: Legal Tools for Economic Justice,” is a forum for like-minded groups and professionals nationwide to share information, documents and experience related to working with homelessness, as well as to obtain additional resources for their activities and to connect with others to discuss issues online.

The Homelessness Wiki is organized in six segments - a News section, an Events Calendar, a Discussion Forum, a Take Action section providing links to ongoing national campaigns and projects related to homelessness issues, a Partners list, linking users to NLCHP partner organizations, and advocacy Manual containing information on current legislation, fact sheets and guidelines for advocates in a variety of areas related to homelessness.

According to Tulin Ozdeger, Civil Rights Director at NLCHP and Lana Tilley, an executive and program assistant at the organization, the idea for the Homelessness Wiki came from an NLCHP board member. Ozdeger and Tilley say they were inspired to follow through with the idea, since they knew from experience how many resources and materials

Screenshot of the Homelessness Wiki.

on homelessness are “out there” but are not being used in a coherent fashion.

In that sense, the Homelessness Wiki seemed to be the ideal way to pool and organize resources in one central place where users could access them, while at the same time obtaining news and updates on recent developments and allowing us-

ers to share their opinions and experiences.

Ozdeger emphasizes that this interactive component is an important aspect of the new project.

The new website also serves, even if indirectly, as a vehicle for publicizing the work and publications of the National Law Center’s and its partner organizations’ work and publications.

Homeless File Civil Rights Claims Against Mayor Fenty

By Street Sense Staff A group of homeless men, displaced from downtown due to the closing of Franklin Shelter last September have filed federal claims in U.S. District Court against Mayor Adrian Fenty, charging that he has violated the Fair Housing Act, the American with Disabilities Act, and the D.C. Human Rights Act. In their lawsuit, the former shelter residents say that by closing the 300-bed shelter, the mayor has systematically displaced largely African American homeless people from the downtown area to the poorest and most violent parts of the city, where health care facilities, sources of proper nutrition, and job and counseling opportunities are virtually absent.

The lawsuit asserts that since Franklin Shelter

Mayor Fenty’s main reason for closing Franklin School Shelter is that he was being pressured by the business community to get the homeless out of Downtown - because, they are perceived to be an eyesore.

-Eric Sheptock

closed, homeless residents have had to travel far greater distances to remote areas of the city, exposing them to violent situations, and leaving many without much needed services.

The mayor has not commented on the lawsuit, according to spokeswoman Monique Waters.

In April, 2008 Fenty and D.C. Department of Human Services Director Clarence Carter announced plans aimed at ending chronic homelessness in the city by providing the indigent with stable housing and services to address their needs, thereby decreasing the need for emergency shelter beds.

Currently 412 individuals are living in supportive housing, according to city officials. Funds for placeoments for the coming year have been frozen due to the city’s budget gap. Not all of the 300 former Franklin residents received places in the program, and homeless people routinely arrive at the remaining shelters only to find no beds available, according to the plaintiffs.

“Instead of trying to sweep these people out of sight of the high powered law firms and upscale condominiums that occupy downtown and away from the much needed services, the city is obligated to take steps to assist those least able to obtain the services needed to bring some stability to their lives,”said George Rickman, one of the attorneys working on the lawsuit. ”That’s what the federal law requires, and that is why this lawsuit has been filed.”

The plaintiffs and their advocates say they continue to collect evidence of growing harm to former residents of the shelter, as well as to other homeless persons in the downtown area, since the shelter’s closing.

They say photographers and videographers have

documented men waiting in long lines in the evenings in alleys behind the shelters, in the poorest parts of town, exposing them to even greater potential harm.

“Mayor Fenty’s main reason for closing Franklin School Shelter is that he was being pressured by the business community to get the homeless out of Downtown - because, they are perceived to be an eyesore,” remarked Eric Sheptock, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

“Add to this the fact that most of the $3.8 million that he has raised toward his 2010 mayoral run has come from developers, law firms, and millionaires, and you’ll begin to see that his housing plan is not at all the result of him caring for the homeless?

Last fall, in an expression of concern about the closing, and inadequate capacity for shelter in the downtown area, the city Council passed the Franklin Shelter Closing Requirements Emergency Act, which required the mayor to provide an accurate assessment of the city’s ability to meet homeless capacity needs prior to the shelter’s closing, and to also provide coterminous services to those in need.

Fenty closed the shelter on September 26, 2008.

The homeless men say the closing forced many of the shelter residents to abandon and lose what few possessions they had to their name.

They say they are still awaiting compensation from the city for their losses from the closing that September morning. So far, the city has refused any claims for compensation for the homeless men?s losses.

Franklin Shelter plaintiffs are awaiting a ruling from Superior Court ontheir request to waive their court fees.

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

From L.A.’s Skid Row to Capitol Hill The connection between mental illness and homelessness does not come as a surprise to those who spend their days working with psychologically-scarred veterans and deinstitutionalized hospital patients living on the streets or in emergency shelters.

But for a Los Angeles Times columnist, the link between a talented musician’s schizophrenia and his place on the sidewalk of the city’s Skid Row came as a devastating wakeup call.

“I was shocked and ashamed,” said Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times columnist and author of The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music. “Ashamed that we’d never done anything about this.”

Speaking to a gathering of about 90 Congressional staffers Lopez described how the world of the homeless and mentally ill opened up to him when he began writing about, and then befriended, Nathaniel Ayers a Juilliard-trained musician living with schizophrenia -and performing Beethoven -- on the streets of L.A. The story of Lopez’s friendship with Ayers, and Ayers’ journey from the streets to supportive housing, is chronicled in Lopez’s memoir. The book, in turn, inspired the feature film starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. that was released in theaters nationwide on April 24.

The homeless men and women of Skid Row also opened the eyes of film director Joe Wright. In preparing for the making of the film version of The Soloist he took a tour of Skid Row with Lopez and visited a homeless shelter for people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. Wright decided he needed to get the homeless involved in the making of the film, he said in an interview with National Public Radio.

The director went back to the studio and told executives he wanted to include about 500 Skid Row residents in the production.

“Isn’t that what film is about – showing someone’s point of view that you might not have experienced before?” Wright asked.

An estimated 25 % of the nation’s homeless people live with severe mental illness, including such diagnoses as chronic depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders and severe personality disorders, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

At the Capitol Hill briefing Lopez stressed what he called a double tragedy: the fact that the mentally ill homeless were on the streets at all, and that society was not doing all that could be done to effectively reduce it.

“We know what works,” he declared, “permanent supportive housing.”

Such an approach has been undertaken in many cities in recent years, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Los Angeles. It is geared toward placing chronically homeless people, including those with mental illness in safe and stable homes, and providing them with the supportive services they need to remain housed.

Yet efforts have been hampered in some cases by neighborhood resistance to placements, funding and leadership gaps, and difficulties with providing long term supportive services, according to other panelists who joined Lopez at the briefing. In the District, 412

Photo courtesy of Paramount pictures

By Robert Blair

The story of Lopez’s friendship with Ayers, and Ayers’ journey off the streets is chronicled in Lopez’s memoir.

The book, in turn, inspired the feature film hat was released in theaters nationwide on April 24. people are currently living in permanent supportive housing, but funding for placements for the coming fiscal year has been frozen due to the city’s budget deficit.

In Los Angeles, the permanent supportive housing approach has worked for the hero of The Soloist. Ayers has been at the same apartment every night for the last 3 years, Lopez said. Although not yet willing to take medication, Ayers is no longer without a place to call home.

Lopez was brought to Capitol Hill through an effort led by Participant Media, a production company associated with the film that partnered with a group of organizations that advocate for permanent supportive housing as the best way to reduce chronic homelessness. The organizations involved included The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Project H.O.M.E., and HELP U.S.A. Their objective is to persuade Congress to act on three specific measures this year: • Pass the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act to reauthorize HUD’s McKinney-Vento assistance grants and make improvements in the original program that raise the priority for permanent housing and increase homelessness prevention resources.

• Increase FY 2010 funding for McKinney-Vento homeless assistance grants to $2.2 billion – a level that would allow communities to provide a better mix of preventive activities, transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services and fund 15,000 new units of supportive housing.

• Increase funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)

homeless program services to provide for critical services related to health care, substance abuse, and mental health services.

While promoting common legislative and funding goals, panelists appearing with Lopez offered their own particular emphases.

Thomas Hameline, of New York-based HELP USA, a national non-profit organization that provides housing and a comprehensive menu of services to people in need, spoke about the progress his city had made in the last few years in reducing chronic homelessness via supportive housing initiatives. Hameline also highlighted the struggles of homeless veterans, and called for including veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan fighting in homeless prevention efforts.

“We do not want to reproduce the problems we experienced with Vietnam vets,” he cautioned. Hyacinth King, a resident at Philadelphia’s Project H.O.M.E. (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education), a community that focuses on permanent supportive housing and education, spoke about her struggle with schizophrenia.

“I was in college when I first heard voices and lost touch with reality,” she recounted. She finished her business administration degree at Temple University, but things got worse.

Eventually she ended up, as she put it, “living in my car or in a cardboard condo, and self-medicating with pills and alcohol because of the stress of homelessness and mental illness.”

Bob Carolla, the director of media relations for NAMI, recounted his own bouts with bipolar disorder.

As a former congressional staffer himself, Carolla advised the audience that “Mental illness can strike anyone. I wasn’t immune to it and neither are you.”

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Breaking the Jail/Homeless Cycle

By Robert Blair A proposed pilot project to help D.C.'s ex-offenders with major disabilities – those with serious mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS – gain access to affordable housing, medical assistance, and other supportive services was the focus of a recent policy forum at the Urban Institute.

Convened to discuss housing options that could help to reduce recidivism and social service costs while successfully re-integrating the most vulnerable ex-offenders into their communities, approximately 25 local leaders in the fields of corrections, homelessness prevention, public housing, and community-based services for ex-offenders and their families participated, as did roughly 80 additional observers, including foundation representatives, advocacy groups, and faith-based social service organizations.

The forum was sponsored by the William S. Abell Foundation, a group based in Chevy Chase, Md., that awards grants to assist the homeless, mentally challenged, and abused women and children, and co-sponsored by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), the D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), and the Urban Institute.

The first half of the all-day event was devoted to information sharing. Participants heard a detailed presentation by Sam Hall of the Urban Institute on the connections between the District's jail population, homeless population, and users of the city's emergency medical services.

Then Richard Cho from CSH presented an overview of the “Returning Home Initiative” that his organization had developed around a model that integrated permanent supportive housing (including case management and medical services) with prerelease “in reach” assistance in the months before prisoners complete their sentences.

To create a program that successfully breaks the cycle of incarceration and homelessness, Cho advised, it is important to be able to share data across correctional and social service systems, establish ongoing interagency collaboration and service integration, and develop broad support between service providers and local community organizations.

“We need to have a shared solution,” he explained.

During the second half of the day, participants broke into subgroups – housing providers, homeless services, correctional agencies, and legal advocacy organizations – and discussed how the city is currently addressing community re-entry for ex-offenders with mental illness, what obstacles to progress exist, and what concrete actions would help remove those obstacles and improve the system.

Rada Moss, a program manager in CSH's D.C. office, announced her organization would like to implement a re-entry model like the one Cho described, but adapted to the District's individual circumstances. The next step, she explained, would be to establish a group of key stakeholders to design a strategy for a District pilot project. Moss encouraged any organizations interested in working on the pilot project to contact her.

Chapman Todd, director of housing programs for Catholic Charities in D.C. and chairman of the ICH

operations committee, commented that in addition to the specific D.C. re-entry project there was another “huge upside to this meeting: the larger issue of relationships, of getting folks interested in discharge planning, and brainstorming on possible collaborative actions.”

Revolving Door Clients Hall's presentation was based on the study “Overlapping Jail and Shelter Use in the District: Implications for Reducing the Revolving Door,” in which Hall and Urban Institute scholar Dr. Martha Burt collected and analyzed data on users of city homeless shelters, the D.C. jail, and the District's Fire and Emergency Medical Service to determine usage system levels and associated costs. “This was the first time there has been this ability to look across systems,” Burt said.

The cross-agency matching identified a group of approximately 206 people who had two or more jail stays, two or more periods in homeless shelters, and had one or more seriously disabling conditions.

The implications of the research, according to the study authors, included: • A small proportion of the D.C. jail population is often homeless when not in jail. This uses an inordinate amount of the District's resources; • Many of these people have significant levels of disability; • Programs targeting these frequent users, by providing re-entry permanent supportive housing for example, could save the District money by reducing the use of District court, jail, and emergency services; and • Public safety could be enhanced by keeping potentially unstable people off the street and freeing police and emergency medical services resources for other uses.

Based on their findings, the authors recommend the development of a pilot project, supported by a collaborative effort among DC government agencies, non-profit housing and service providers, advocacy groups, and members of the target population, to provide permanent supportive housing to a reasonable number of frequent users of jail and shelter who also have severe and persistent mental illness or other serious disability.

Asked about the proposed CSH pilot project, Moss said that while no definite number has been decided, she thought that “50 clients would be the ideal size for the first year. We'll need to be able to closely monitor what works and what doesn't, and then establish benchmarks.”

Identifying Obstacles The four subgroups that discussed the existing process for re-integrating D.C. ex-offenders into the community developed an extensive list of potential improvements to the existing system and suggested actions that could advance those improvements.

Based on the brief presentations made at the forum, the following suggestions were generated by the participants: • Expanded and more professional case management services – including additional training for

“Overlapping Jail and Shelter Use” Findings • A small proportion of the DC jail population is often homeless when not in jail and this uses an inordinate amount of the District’s resources; • Many of these people have significant levels of disability; • Programs targeting these frequent users, by providing re-entry permanent supportive housing for example, could save the District money by reducing the use of District court, jail, and emergency services; and • Public safety could be enhanced by keeping potentially unstable people off the street and freeing police and emergency medical services resources for other uses.

dealing with clients with mental illness, mentoring, and better pay and reimbursement.

• Adequate and appropriate services and staffing ratios for the re-entry program.

• More current and accurate information on available services – including an up-to-date, online resource guide to help volunteers make referrals.

• Better access to correction facilities so that service providers can meet with clients well in advance of release to begin preparation for community reintegration.

• Education programs that will help the community understand the ex-offender population using the proposed permanent supportive housing program.

• Measurable benchmarks for the project so that successes can be identified and evaluated.

• Tracking and documentation of any savings that are generated by the program so that some funds can be reallocated to support additional permanent supportive housing.

The Corporation for Supportive Housing D.C. office is hoping to begin work with key stakeholders soon to identify housing, design a prerelease strategy, and line up partner organizations to share in the postrelease service provision. According to Moss, “we really are anxious to get this going.”

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Not Counted

Playing the name game with homeless families

By Paul Boden

A

s we have all seen on our streets and in the media, family homelessness over the past three years is skyrocketing. The recent mortgage crisis has escalated the numbers even more.

In the face of these growing numbers of families losing their homes, having to split up for survival’s sake and even some children ending up in the hellhole of the foster care system, what is our federal government doing? Unbelievably, what officials seem intent on doing is imposing Draconian obstacles before families trying desperately to find a roof over their heads.

On April 2, 2009 the House (HR 1877) and the Senate (S 808) both reintroduced the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 . If this bill becomes law, as many people fear, thousands of destitute and poor families will fail to “qualify” for services funded with federal homeless assistance dollars because they will be deemed not homeless enough.

Families who have had to double and triple up with other people, or who are living in hotels or motels, will be forced to show “credible” evidence to authorities to prove that they are indeed completely, unequivocally, technically, totally homeless.

If asked to leave a doubled or tripled household, their “host” will need to verify that they cannot return.

New York City sends inspectors. If they are staying in a motel or single-room occupancy hotel room, they are not considered homeless enough until their total household savings amount to less than 14 days’ worth of hotel or motel fees. It is only at this point that a family can qualify to get onto the often month-long waiting list for emergency homeless assistance.

Particularly significant for families and children is that both these bills prohibit U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homeless counts from requiring communities to include these families. in their annual enumerations Every two years HUD mandates that local communities count their number of homeless people. If a family has not managed to secure a shelter bed and therefore is living in tenuous doubled-up and motel situations, the family quite literally does not count.

The consequences for homeless children and youth in these situations are particularly ominous. In 2006, the Department of Education reported 688,174 homeless children in our schools, and this year that number is expected to rise 15 to 20%. The educational and social barriers they face are great. It is a “story” getting lots of air time but little serious consideration by policymakers.

Evidence: These same bills passed the House and

the Senate last year with strong Bush White House support, but failed to come out of conference committee. Now they have been reintroduced. If they pass as written and communities are prohibited from including many of these school children in the HUD definition of homelessness, they will also create additional barriers to referrals for services and other critical interagency collaboration. So where is the change we all voted for? New president. New Congress. Same old bill.

These bills promote a cruel and vicious cycle. Once families lose their homes, they scramble for any place to stay. If they stay in the streets, left with only tents to call home, they risk being categorized as “unfit parents” and losing their children to public agencies.

But families will do everything humanly possible not to have that happen. And so they will stay with other people in unstable situations, or in motels. Ironically, that decision to keep and protect their children can then render them ineligible for homeless assistance.

Family homelessness, as with the mortgage crisis today, is deeply rooted in federal government decisions. From 1978 to 2006, HUD’s budget authority fell from $83 billion to $29 billion in 2004 dollars.

Meanwhile, federal expenditures on mortgage interest deductions grew from $40 billion to $122 billion.

Direct entitlement programs aimed at housing poor people were replaced with a mortgage interest tax deduction program aimed at promoting homeownership. But now that mortgages are collapsing and

homes are being foreclosed, famil i e s t h a t w e re homeowners are becoming poor people.

It should have been clear all along that Reaganomics and deregulation would have a negative effect for others down the road. Homelessness is the end of that road.

The Bush approach still rules in Washington D.C. Given the narrow and arbitrary definition of homelessness, the bills just introduced in the House and Senate are again designed to exclude many homeless families with children from homeless assistance services. If they pass, many will be forced into the desperate situation of actually sleeping in our streets before our government will “allow” us to assist them.

The federal government, along with unregulated banks, created the crisis. The banks are being bailed out, but families end up living in crisis as they get counted out of emergency assistance.

Paul Boden is director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project, made up of homeless services organizations in California, Oregon and Washington: wraphome.org.

Now Providing Quality Dental Services for D.C. Medically underserved and homeless persons

….We treat you well

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

Foundry United Methodist Church

For one of Unity Health Care’s Medical Homeless Service Sites Call (202) 255-3469 For an appointment at any of our Community Health Centers Call 1(866) 388388-6489

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

www.foundryumc.org

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

The Cherry Blossom Festival

By Kenneth Belkosky The Cherry Blossom Festival was great. My friend Wendy Farrell and I had a ball, and we took lots and lots of pictures. Then we ate at the Spy Museum Cafe. Wendy had a salad and I had chicken fingers with a diet Coke.

We even took a Flat Stanley (paper doll) we had renamed Flat Caryn. For people who do not know about Flat Stanley, he is a fictional person who is in children’s story books.

Schoolchildren around the world mail each other Flat Stanley figures and write about his visit with them. Wendy’s friend’s child is doing a homework assignment about Flat Stanley’s travels around the country so Wendy and I took lots and lots of pictures of Flat Caryn as if she were real.

Cherry Blossom Photos Photo by Natalie Yu

Flat Caryn Photo by Kenneth Belkosky

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Cherry Blossoms - and Memories - on Parade

By Reginald Black On a Saturday in early April I woke up at the La Casa Shelter in Northwest, looking for something to do. I suddenly remembered the Cherry Blossom Festival was opening, so I purchased a camera and walked down 14th Street.

When I reached Pennsylvania Avenue the sight was one to see. Japanese merchants of all kinds were set up in the middle of the avenue, and the streets were filled with pedestrians - and no cars.

This was the kickoff to a month-long celebration of when the cherry blossoms reach their peak. I got to Ninth and Constitution just in time for the parade to begin. As the lead motorcade rolled by people cheered and snapped photos. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing steadily. It would have been perfect if the temperature had cooperated (it was chilly!) but undeterred we counted down to the start of the parade.

I was impressed by some of the Mustang Club’s classic cars - Mustangs like the Shelby catch my eye all the time. When I was younger I dreamed of owning one.

I was treated to the musical stylings of the Ballou Knights high school marching

band. I played bass drum for Anacostia Senior High School and it took me back seeing their performance. As the band marched away I thought about exactly how many people in this crowd are like me. I couldn’t tell; it was as if homelessness died, and out came this huge gathering where any and everybody could attend.

One by one the floats, bands, and dance teams displayed why they were chosen to be there.

Even the cast of “Chicago” put on a great performance. We danced and clapped our hands as Thelma Huston blessed us with her beautiful voice.

But again I still felt kind of out of place. I was sociable and it seemed we were having a great time. I snapped photos and took in each display.

I was impressed - a lot of hard work went into the parade. It was so much fun that I couldn’t help but write about it. For two hours I didn’t have to worry about homelessness or even being homeless. It was all about the next drum roll or the next balloon.

I hope some of you got to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival. It is a beautiful event that every person on this planet should be blessed to be a part of.

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gREGORY’S gREAT gAME Vendor Gregory Martin loves to create seek-and-find puzzles and drive the Street Sense staff crazy trying to find their answers. Below is his latest puzzle. Good Luck!

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Who’s Your Vendor?

Willie Veda Francine Reginald Eric Randy Mayo Brenda Conrad August

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

The Scope

By Carlton Johnson

The month of April flowers has shown us the face of the new month of May showers. New possibilities now arise and bloom before us.

The times are changing. What we now see could be the comings of the new day, although with unemployment on the rise, all of us are looking for better days to come.

So we look for those April flowers and the sun-filled days of May, despite its showers.

And may the month be full of love, because May is for lovers, like Virginia. The tide is about to rise; it’s time to get out and go boating, break out the sunshade, sun hats, shorts and flip-flops. Don’t forget the bug dope, and the sunscreen too.

To my Marylanders on the Eastern Shore, and dwellers in the city of Washington, March Madness is over, April with its showers has moved on, and now is the time to take in the sights of the city. So with your family beside you, why not take a good old-fashioned walk in the park and get some fresh air?

And above all keep your Street Sense of humor! Today is your day of all days, and spoiling yourself is a must. But most of all remember to “stay on top of your game, or the game will be on top of you.”

Tanya Alvin Mark Carl David Jennifer Franklin Thomas Wendell Lee

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

Will write for food: Writer’s Group

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Writer’s Group meets Wednesdays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Street Sense office. A poetry after party is 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Reggie’s Reflections: USED May Day Exercise Does your family have any traditions associated with May Day, spring cleaning, flowers, gardening, or the coming of spring weather? Is there anything you like to do personally now that spring is here?

Spring Cleaning

By Muriel Dixon Take down the blinds, the curtains, the drapes, Roll up the rugs, give them a shake.

Wash down the walls, pick out the paint, Remember Aunt Lillie doesn’t like pink.

Clean up the yard, put in the plants, Make sure there’s nothing left to chance.

When all is done it was worth the wear May Day means that spring is really here!

Muriel is a veteran vendor, contact: Murieldixon2008@yahoo.com

Burned Out? Keep Swimming!

By Wallace Boyd Now that spring is here I want to go swimming! It is a fun activity that builds physical strength and helps me free the mind. This is a win-win activity: “ If I should soar so high that my wings do burn, I will say thanks for the lesson learned. And if I should crash into white crested waves I’ll swim in love to paradise, a precious life to save.”

An excerpt from my new self-published poetic memoir Persistent Light: A hand made Alabama Blessing. Available in print and electronic copies Wallace Boyd preforms musical poetry contact: curvingblessings@gmail.com

May Days Of Youth

By Reginald Black My family didn’t celebrate any holidays. But on the other hand, when I was attending Randall Highlands Elementary School in Southeast, I had a physical education teacher who got the whole school involved in a May Day celebration.

Each class had to act or dance or perform and we practiced in class for weeks before the actual event. The most memorable of my May Days took place around my eighteenth birthday. My friends decided we would do something special for the children. We decided to perform some of our hip-hop productions for them.

Our act was very well received. As for spring I would love to once again perform in front of a younger crowd. It would give me the opportunity to spring clean their minds and make my days worth while. I can only pray to gain such a great honor.

Reggie helps with layout : see Reggie’s Reflections.

By Reginald Black Hangouts gone wrong and my world in shambles, I desperately searched for her. She came, we spoke, but I still could not gauge our status. Sometimes we talked on the phone and other people got mad. I knew that I felt a spark, a mix of chemicals I had never felt previously before. But, what her twin told me. was it true? Did she think I was a bum? How could I overcome the harsh reality, that at the end of the day I was still homeless. It was late and I was in my favorite place to sleep. I had a successful day.

I didn’t have to beg. Checking into the chat room I saw many people were not there. I stuck to mail and eye-hustled, ( that’s what we called being in the room’s list but not posting.) I made contact with a girl who had posted a comment on the public board. I found that I knew her and had met her before. The previous time we had done obscene things. I assumed this was the case this time. She told me she was alone, I didn’t hesitate I quickly departed. Walked a short distance, but my battery died I forgot to charge it.

I stopped at a Safeway and hovered power. It took an hour but soon I was inside the house. Can’t really say any more about that, but this was the second time we hooked up.

Walking back to the boiler room I felt used. I questioned myself why did I do it? Was that all I’m good for? I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

Reggie helps with layout Contact: roninworrior@yahoo.com

MAY IS MAY - Carlton”Inkflow” Johnson May is May, something that will always be, May’s the month of new beginningsMay days are filled with new beginnings, The untimely just about to be, the newly begotten, The begotten beginners, newly coming to its end.

Within time and space when the earth unfolds, The unseen and seen alignments Of planets far and be-on mysteries, Its wonders here and there, moreover far and be-on.

The never-ending beginnings, Life renewed, Renewals beginning to come to its end, The old.

The forever-so-endless cycles Of evolution at its best, The untimeliness of never-ending time, The never-ending cycle of May flowers, Non-stop sun-filled days with hot hot heat, Smothered with May showers, The balance, New beginnings within the cycle.

The endless cycles within the month of May, will always be May.

May Day and the Day of May

By Robert Warren May Day and the Day of May When the homeless don’t have to worry about the cold at night, and the days get longer as we wait on the first Day of May for the summer to begin, and our only worry is to beat the heat.

Oh but those Days of May when life is all abloom and the nights under the stars are like cool breezes in your living room with trees shading the moonlightBeing homeless doesn’t feel so bad in those Days of May. If only every day could be a May Day. Robert advocates in his spare time. Contact: robertwarrens47@yahoo.com

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Cara Schmidt, Carlton Johnson, David Hammond, Patty Smith, Reginald Black

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April 29 - May 12, 2009

MAURICE SPEAKS

The End of Homelessness: Yes We Can?

By Maurice King

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fter years of having virtually no allies in the U.S. government, the homeless may now have a real reason to hope.

Included in the economic stimulus bill that President Obama recently signed into law is $1.5 billion devoted to homelessness prevention and rehousing funding. The funds will be used for, among other things, short- or medium-term rental assistance, housing search assistance, and mediation or outreach to property owners.

Grantees, who must be registered through a Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) database, are required to use 60% of the monies granted to them within a two-year period and 100% of the funds within three years. In the event that grantees fail to utilize the funds within the two-year period, the funds can then be reassigned to other persons in need.

All this is very exciting news for the homeless who are seeking to end their homeless status – provided that the system that administers the funds works in an efficient manner, which remains to be seen. It is going to take quite a bit of positive thinking to maintain hope as authorities develop the programs needed to render assistance to the people in need.

But there is certainly a lot to look forward to if all this comes true. It would be the first significant ray of hope that the homeless have had in years. Programs have been cut back time and time again, and I, for one, remain somewhat skeptical. It’s a conditioned reflex: years of repeated disappointment have that effect. I’ve heard one broken promise after the next with regards to housing, so I no longer take any good news very seriously. This bit of news, however, does appear to be more substantial. If it can bring hope to any of my readers, it is definitely worth mentioning.

The ultimate goal, of course, is to end homelessness in the United States. That is indeed a lofty goal, and it would be nice if that were possible to achieve. The program listed above may not be comprehensive enough to suit everybody’s needs, but it is at least a good start. We can only hope that the project's implementation will be successful, because that will be the key. Understandably, many eyes are watching for this project considering how much money is being invested in it.

Of course, there are people who are dead set against this endeavor, those who have an interest in maintaining a poverty class in the United States because it serves their needs. They would like to see this program and many other new social programs fail, no matter how many people would be hurt in the process. I need not mention any names -- these individuals make themselves known easily enough.

It's about time that the underprivileged had something to feel optimistic about. I would like to believe that the time has arrived. We can only wait and see, but this time, I will be waiting much more anxiously than I have before.

Maurice has been writing for Street Sense since 2004 and has been working on his own book since then.

People Helping People

By Jeffery McNeil

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ecently I visited the Georgetown University Law Center, thanks to a new friend, Emily who is a customer I have gotten to know selling Street Sense in Cleveland Park. Emily is also a law student at Georgetown, and she asked me to speak at her school. I felt honored for the privilege to speak at such a prestigious place. I saw Emily’s sincerity and concern for the homeless. But I never expected that the rest of her class would have the same concern.

That afternoon I met Emily and she took me to her campus. I was in awe with the magnificence and ambience of the law school. We went to the cafeteria and Emily bought me a salad. We briefly sat and chatted till it was time to go to her class. She then took me to her classroom where I met her fellow students and her instructor, Patricia Mullahy Fugere, who is also executive director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Once the class began, Patricia asked me a few questions about some of the problems about the homeless. We had a beautiful dialogue. We were joined by one of her honor students who also took part in the conversation. Patricia showed the class a chart that laid out the basic costs of living in the D.C. area. The chart clearly showed the difficulties faced by families and single people trying to get by on low-wage jobs.

It was very informative and I took notes because the facts startled me.

Then we had a discussion. The students and Patricia asked me tough questions about homelessness. I told them there are differences between homeless people, and that there are different causes for homelessness. Some have made bad decisions, others are mentally ill, or have addictions.

I also explained that homelessness in Washington isn't the same as homelessness in Buffalo.

I warned them that you have got to be careful when you allocate resources to help the homeless to make sure your money goes to the truly needy.

I realized the students were engaging and very interested. I told them about Street Sense and why we need a paper like ours. Some bought the paper which made me happy. The best part of the class involved a discussion about developing a resource center to help the working poor and the larger community. We engaged in how to make such a resource center work, creating jobs and offering training in life skills. It was a spirited and exciting discussion.

I got a ride home from a lady named Elizabeth. We chatted and I was so honored to be a part of the class and share a part of my life. Thank you, students, for being involved. I hope as a group we can bring change.

Jeffery has been a vendor for Street Sense for 19 months and is originally from New Jersey and loves to fish.

Swine Flu Preparedness Jermale A. McKnight

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he swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by an influenza virus. Just to let you know, researchers say you can’t catch this flu by preparing or eating pork products. In terms of contagiousness, this virus of pigs works like the common flu. So yes, it’s contagious. But the thing that worries me about this and other diseases is that the swine flu is developing, even evolving, beyond researchers’ previous experiences. So what do we do next? Well, I suggest we increase our good luck and get on our good foot.

Jermale has been a vendor for Street Sense for 18 months and wants to become a doctor or police or go into military.

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MOVIE REVIEW

“Soloist” Critique from the Street

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t was April 2, 2009 and some of us in the Street Sense family were invited to a private screening of a new Dream Works Film. The screening took place at the Regal Theater on 7th Street NW. I arrived early and took my seat. It wasn’t long before our feature began. The movie is called The Soloist. In the first few minutes I was clueless. What could this motion picture be about, I wondered, as the opening credits rolled by. The crowd was attentive and ready. Little did any of us know that we were about to watch a story played out over and over again through our cities across the world.

The story follows a newspaper columnist named Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey, Jr. as he writes about a very interesting person and subject. Steve is brainstorming a new piece for his column and has a bike accident that severely scars his face. He then hears a very curious but beautiful sound: a violin played by a homeless man named Nathaniel J. Ayers, portrayed by Jamie Foxx. Steve and Nathaniel’s first meeting is odd, but Steve seems to know that this man’s music would be a good piece for his column.

I was intrigued to watch as the reporter was able to reach out to those that Nathaniel couldn’t find: his former school and the sister who Nathaniel left behind. Steve discovers that Nathaniel is mentally ill and seems content with life on the streets. As Steve writes his column about Nathaniel, public support grows and so does their friendship, as Nathaniel touches Steve’s heart. Steve goes through great lengths to try and help Nathaniel. It confuses Steve. and I could feel his anguish when it looked like he had given up after a spat with Nathaniel. He often visited places Nathaniel lived and even spent entire nights with him. Steve even tries sleeping on the street.

I was moved by the beautiful scenes of Nathaniel playing his instrument of choice, the cello; and just watching the ups and downs of homelessness on the big screen touched me in a profound way. I almost cried several times. The picture was filmed well and edited nearly perfectly. Robert and Jamie played their roles perfectly, but the overall depiction of homelessness was overdrawn as there were many parts of the movie that just are not a part of homelessness.

I believe all should see this movie. It’s just another way someone in the public eye will be able to advocate homelessness and poverty, much like I do by selling Street Sense. The movie gets a whopping five street blocks from this excited vendor. I hope our readers will look for this movie and check it out.

- Reginald Black, Vendor #227

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he movie The Soloist, which starts Jamie Foxx, was a good depiction of the homeless community. I appreciated attending the preview of the movie along with the Street Sense gang. The movie depicted homeless men and women who were just hanging around in their own setting. Some scenes remind me of the parks here in the District of Columbia, where the homeless community congregates throughout the day. The movie was colorful and bold, yet sad.

The movie also revealed that homeless people are talented individuals, and need recognition. I particularly like the scene where Jamie played his instrument so intensely, as though he were playing at Carnegie Hall.

- Patricia Jefferson, Vendor #77

Homeless on the Big Screen City Lights, 1931 Harvest of Shame, 1960 Bound for Glory, 1976 Vagabond, 1985 It Was a Wonderful Life, 1993 An Angel at My Table, 1990 Jupiter’s Wife, 1996 Fisher King, 1998 Slums of Berverly Hills, 1998 Dark Days, 2000 Caveman’s Valentine, 2001 Tokyo Godfathers, 2003 Life in a Basket, 2005 Waging a Living, 2006 The Pursuit of Happyness, 2007 Steal Me, 2007 Skid Row, 2008

THEATER REVIEW

“Address Unknown” in the Know

By Jesse Smith

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n mid-April, I had the distinct honor of attending the play titled, “ Address Unknown” at the Nomadic theatre located on the campus of the Georgetown University.

I must say that this was one of those rare occasions when an event touched my soul in such a way I will never forget. To express the profound effect the play had on me , I found myself wiping tears from my cheek only to perform this function time and time again. It had a lot to do with the fact that all of the subjects portrayed by the actors were past and present friends of mine who were members of the homeless community and I can attest to the accuracy of the cast interpretation.

The gist of the play was to give the stories of some

of these individuals as to how they became homeless, how they had to learn to cope or survive in this society that have many sterotypes about the homeless community and most importantly, what having a home means to someone who has lost everything.

When we talk about loosing something , many times we think in terms of materialism. As a person who has been affected by the lost of a home, I can tell you that this is the least of the obsticles one confronts when faced with the trauma of becoming homeless. There emerge issues of denial, mental illness both real and imagined , depression, lonliness and many other factors that exist in the homeless community.

The play “Address Unknown” challenged a host of these factors as displayed through the acting talents of the cast as well as through the stories of the individuals they portrayed. The director , Kevyn Bowles

has earned my highest praise and admiration for his interpretation of the phenomenon of homelessness.

The state of the present economy the issue of homelessness may very well become the norm as opposed to the exception.

Things such as this play, organizations like the National Coalition for the Homeless and the non-profit street papers will emerge to the forefront of the quest to eliminate homelessness in this country.

In the directors notes in the program, there is a reference to the movie , the Wizard of Oz., Mr. Bowles wrote, “ I think Dorthy said it best when she clicked those red heels of hers , “ There’s no place like home.

Whatever that is to you.”

Jesse is the former vendor manager of Street Sense and hopes to go to law school soon.

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Rockin’ for Street Sense

Street Sense held its first RFD “Sounds of Street Sense” on Monday April 27 and a good time was had by all. Politicks opened with acoustic versions of their rock songs and White Ford Bronco closed out the night with jammin’ covers of hits from the 90s, which made most everyone want to get up and dance. Not only did the 100 or so guests enjoy themselves but they also helped raise more than $1200 for Street Sense.

Street Sense would like to thank board member Kristal DeKleer for organizing the event; the great volunteers who worked the door; and to RFD, a restaurant located at 810 7th St NW for providing its back room free of charge. We would also like to thank the bands Politicks and White Ford Bronco for performing out of the kindness of their hearts, and to Seth Rubin for taking the wonderful pictures below

Board member Kristal DeKleer and vendor Jeffery McNeil get their groove on to White Ford Bronco’s rendition of “Two Princes.”

Vendor Kenneth Belkosky accompanied the bands with his air guitar.

Street Sense

Announces the Second Annual David Pike Excellence in Journalism Awards In June Street Sense, DC’s nonprofit newspaper that empowers the homeless, will give out the second annual Excellence in Journalism Awards. The awards are in memory of late Street Sense board member and journalist David Pike. The awards honor print journalism that changes perceptions about homelessness, draws attention to the factors affecting homelessness, and influences social responses to homelessness.

Criteria

Submissions must: x address homelessness or the causes of homelessness (affordable housing, mental illness, domestic violence, health care, for example) x focus on the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area x be published in a local or regional print media outlet in 2008.

Categories x

x x x

Investigative Reporting. Entries may be a single article or a series of articles and may include additional materials such as sidebars or illustrations.

Breaking News. Entries must showcase deadline reporting of a single event.

Feature Stories. Entries may be personality profiles, trend stories, human interest stories, or any feature that is not a breaking news story. They can be a single story or a series.

Photography. Entries may be a single photo or a series of no more than three.

Submission Guidelines x x x x

Anyone can submit a story, whether you are a reader or the writer(s).

Please submit the article electronically as a text, PDF or HTML attachment.

Please include the name of the category you are submitting to, your contact e-mail, phone number and address.

If you are the writer of the article, please include a brief bio about yourself.

The deadline for the receipt of all submissions is May 8, 2009.

Please send submissions and questions to awards@streetsense.org.

Several of the 100 guests danced the night away for Street Sense.

Double Your Donation to Street Sense with Corporate Matching Gifts The following list contains the names of companies that match gifts in the Washington D.C. metro area. Please note, This list is not all-inclusive.

We recommend you check with YOUR employer to see if they will match gifts to Street Sense. If so, your gift to Street Sense could be at least doubled and in some cases tripled!

AT&T Foundation GMAC Booz-Allen Hamilton International Boeing Monetary Fund Black & Decker Lockheed Martin ExxonMobil Northrop Grumman Fannie Mae Verizon Freddie Mac Washington Post GEICO

$ $

$ $

For more information on matched gifts or other ways you can support Street Sense, contact Executive Director Laura Osuri at laura@streetsense.org.

S treetS ense.org 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 Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep 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 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-529-5991 shelter and other services for domestic violence victims N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men) 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

April 29 - May 12, 2009 www.churchofthepilgrims.org

mental health services

Dinner Program for Homeless Women AND the “9:30 Club” Breakfast 309 E Street, NW (202) 737–9311 www.dphw.org

Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing

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

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

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

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

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse 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 Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive

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 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org 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 DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511

15

www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

SHELTER

SHELTER

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

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

Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239

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. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training 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 National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/ dc.html emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

The Samaritan Group P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564 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, ilver 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 Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600–B East Gude Dri Rockville (301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportiveservices

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 Alive, Inc. 2723 King Street, Alexandria (703) 836–2723; www.alive–inc. org Our Daily Bread 10777 Main Street, Ste. 320, Fairfax (703) 273–8829 www.our–daily–bread.org

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

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

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

THe Last Word

Carl Turner S treetS ense.org

Vendor Profile

April 29 - May 12, 2009

By Alecia Peterson

Street Sense: The Real Deal I grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma so moving to Washington, D.C. was a big change for me. As a journalist I was looking forward to working for a bigtime newspaper, so when I was assigned to Street Sense I had no idea what to expect. As an intern for Street Sense, I have come to see the world in a whole new light. There are no frills or balloons, rainbows or elegant parties.

This is the real deal. Lives of those who are losing hope; they are holding onto their sanity while gripping the Street Sense newspaper, hoping someone walking by their bench or corner will want to read it. They crave that one dollar that may never come. I must admit to those of you who do not know these vendors and volunteers, they are some of the most amazing people you will ever come across. I have learned so much not only about becoming a better writer but becoming a more humble, giving person.

The stories I have heard and people I have come across have opened my eyes to the real world and how things truly are. They are not as whimsical as most think. I feel as though I have been confined to an air-tight bubble my whole life and after spending four months with the people here at Street Sense, I know I will never be the same. My heart goes out to them and all of their circumstances as they are now my friends and I am sad to leave, knowing I may never see some of them again.

The homeless are sometimes viewed as lazy people who suck the money out of the pockets of hard workers—in my experience here at Street Sense I have learned the exact opposite. With many of my new friends here, their circumstances have brought them to Street Sense and given them an opportunity for a new life.

I have seen the transformation of a man who had nothing but the shirt on his back into a man of gumption who hopped in a car heading west to take a job offer. He was one of the happiest men I have ever met. Every morning I came to work he brought me something to eat and it made me want to cry because he is so giving while having so little himself.

I have also witnessed a dear friend looking for his family for years, only to find them with the help of one of his customers who buys Street Sense. You never know whose life you might change forever with a small gesture.

Laura Osuri and Mary Otto, the director and the editor of the paper, have dedicated their time and efforts into making a difference in this city and it is changing one person and a time. I know I have changed because of these two amazing women.

Being a part of the Street Sense staff has been a true honor and I respect these vendors not only as friends but as fellow employees who work so hard to make their living. I want to extend my appreciation to those of you who donate to Street Sense and to these wonderful vendors. You truly are a “Street Sense angel” and you are making a difference. Don’t give up on them, they have so much more to give you than you might be able to give them.

Carl Turner was born in Philadelphia and is 57 years old. He graduated from Joel Elias Spingarn High School, in Northeast, Washington in 1970. After graduation he moved to New York simply because he “just loved the city and the people there”. He worked as an ambulance driver in New York where he got married and started a family. Carl had to leave NY and move back to DC in 2007 to take care of his mother who was ill.

Carl is not exactly homeless but he does not have any employment apart from Street Sense.

He hopes he might someday become a truck driver. He joined the Street Sense clan in 2008 and believes it is a great way to make a living while supporting a good cause.

What is your favorite kind of music?

Soul music from the 60’s and 80’s. And I love dancing.

What is your favorite food?

Steak, potatoes, green vegetables and cabbage What is your favorite movie?

Malcolm X Why do you sell Street Sense?

It’s a good cause. It helps people who are homeless.

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