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Shelter staff don’t always offer translation. It’s hurting non-English speakers.
FRANZISKA WILD Editorial Intern
Content warning: This article includes descriptions of sexual assault.
Kiara Meza, a pregnant 24-year-old mother of two, crawled around on the floor in pain. She had tried to convince the staff at her city-funded youth housing program to call an ambulance, but they couldn’t understand her Spanish, and didn’t find a way to translate, she said.
Meza, a Peruvian native, primarily speaks Spanish. She enjoys music, dreams of being an esthetician, and is a devoted mother. Since she arrived in D.C. a year ago, she’s bounced from shelter to shelter. At most of them, she said, none of the staff spoke Spanish. The language barrier was often frustrating, but when she developed a severe kidney infection in January, it became dangerous.
“She never called the ambulance,” Meza said of a staff member at the youth housing program she was staying at, run by Covenant House, which is partially funded by the city. “I couldn’t even stand up myself.”
During the event, Meza says staff at Covenant House did not attempt to use the city’s Language Line to get a translator, even though city-funded services, including shelter and transitional housing programs, are mandated to be language accessible per the 2004 Language Access Act, and the city provides free access to translation through the Language Line. According to Angela Jones Hackley, Covenant House’s CEO, staff are trained on and instructed to use the Language Line as the “first and only mechanism.” But that wasn’t Meza’s experience.
Eventually, Meza reached her bilingual caseworker at SMYAL, a youth homelessness service provider, who called an ambulance for her.
But Meza’s story is not an isolated one. Language barriers in the D.C. shelter system have repeatedly caused harm to people experiencing homelessness, advocates and people experiencing homelessness say, despite the existence of resources like Language Line. The consequences of language barriers can be grave: shelter seekers can be turned away, taken advantage of, or experience abuse.
“Language access is a problem within every facet of the homelessness system,” Carmen Thorpe, a community navigator with District Bridges, a homelessness service provider, told Street Sense. Thorpe, who’s bilingual, works primarily with Latino and Spanish-speaking men who are experiencing homelessness in Mount Pleasant. “Even just meeting clients for the first time, they’re so excited that someone can speak Spanish, it’s an insurmountable barrier for a lot of them,” Thorpe said. Continued on next page.
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Kiara Meza at SMYAL. Photo by Madi Koesler
D.C. begins comprehensive planning with hopes to combat displacement and bolster affordable housing
TREVOR SKEEN Volunteer Freelance Reporter
The D.C. Office of Planning (OP) is returning to the drawing board to rewrite its comprehensive plan for the first time in almost 20 years. The plan, which focuses on community development, has significant implications for the future of affordable housing in the city.
Creating a new comprehensive plan is a multi-year process involving periods of survey collection, public input, and time to draft the document itself. The District’s last plan was completed in 2006 and revised in 2021, but multiple outlets, including Street Sense and DCist, reported it was insufficient in addressing housing conditions or racial inequality.
According to volume one of the 2021 Comprehensive Plan, the “overarching goal for housing is to provide a safe, decent, healthy, and affordable housing supply for current and future residents in all of Washington, D.C.’s neighborhoods.” From there, the plan lists various priorities, including producing market-rate and affordable housing in high-cost areas, providing rental subsidies to extremely low-income populations, and reducing homelessness to “rare, brief, and nonrecurring events.”
According to The Washington Post, D.C. achieved its goal of adding 36,000 housing units between 2019 and 2025, accumulating nearly as many as it had over the previous 18 years. However, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development dashboard shows it hasn’t reached another threshold — creating 12,000 affordable units as part of the 36,000.
And homelessness has remained a pervasive issue in the District. According to The Community Partnership and Point-in-Time Count data, rates of homelessness have fluctuated over the last decade, including a 7.6% decrease from 2017-18 and a 14.1% increase between 2023-24. While the total number of people experiencing homelessness is lower than pre-pandemic levels, Black residents and other marginalized demographics are still disproportionately affected.
Ryan Hand, associate director for citywide planning at OP, said the city is working to remedy disparities through the new planning process.
“Something that I’m really excited about in our work is centering the needs of people who have been harmed by racism and other forms of discrimination,” Hand said. “We need the city to grow in a way that benefits everybody. It needs to be a shared prosperity.”
OP is inviting community members to contribute throughout this process. Staff members hosted three information sessions in late March, and launched a public survey with questions like “What three words do you hope will describe D.C. in 2050?”
For additional information on the comprehensive plan, visit dc2050.dc.gov, where more opportunities for public engagement are posted.
Dreaming bigger (and de-commodifying housing)
On March 22, D.C. opened the planning process with its first information session at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Attendees moved among rooms in a come-and-go, walkthrough order, exploring topics like housing, employment, mobility, and climate.
All of the rooms had staff who explained informational materials and answered questions. One poster had a map of dedicated affordable housing in the District, which was heavily concentrated in Wards 7 and 8, while another activity invited community members to grab sticky notes and respond to prompts like “What are your biggest concerns with housing today?”
Attendees Ama Ansah and Paul Osadebe said they appreciated the event, but were unsure whether workers shared their vision of transforming the housing market. For example, under the District’s Inclusionary Zoning program, projects like the Wardman Park hotel redevelopment are required to have at least 8% of residential floor space designated for affordable units. The Wardman project is set to have 10% — more than the minimum — but Ansah said the city can do much better.
Both of them emphasized the significance of language, particularly in reaching consensus on topics like affordable housing. For instance, affordable housing could mean residents contributing 30% of their income toward housing and having the remainder subsidized, as it does in many government programs.
However, it could also be more systemic, like creating housing that’s affordable to all people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
“If my mom said that we need affordable housing where we’re from in Houston, she’s not talking about some government program, or some set aside of units within a luxury building,
or a tax credit,” Osadebe said. “She’s talking about something that I, on the salary that most people where I live make, could actually get.”
Ansah and Osadebe used affordable housing as an example of the discussions community members, urban planners, and other groups should be having throughout the city. It’s early in the comprehensive planning process, and both attendees said residents have time to decide what priorities and which populations to advocate for.
For example, Ansah said one demographic must be included in the planning process: people experiencing homelessness.
“As we’re talking about community-building, housing is community,” Ansah said. “We also have to acknowledge and act on the fact that unhoused people are part of the community. So, bringing them into conversations. What do they want? What do they need? What will serve you best in this situation?”
Hand, the planner at OP, said workers are trying to include unhoused residents by looking into partnerships with Bread for the City and Miriam’s Kitchen.
“I like to start with citywide priorities and building consensus around what our priorities are together,” Hand said. “What I find is that when we talk together about what our values are, what our priorities are, having equitable access to housing, having good services, treating people with dignity and respect, is something that we pretty much all agree on.”
Housing, for whom?
According to the 2021 Comprehensive Plan, D.C.’s housing market changed significantly between 2006 and 2017. The overall supply of rental units rose, whereas the share of affordable ones decreased.
This disparity is fell in the number of affordable units based on percentages of median family income (MFI), which is $154,700 for a family of four. Over that 10-year timeframe, the quantity of units available for households making more than 60% of MFI expanded by nearly 45,000, but the share for those “earning less than 50% of the MFI declined by approximately 22,000.” In short, there was even less housing for people who needed more help.
Hand said this could have happened because a federal program called the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) aims to assist households earning more than 50% of the MFI. According to an article from Urban Institute, LIHTC helped add almost three million units nationwide between 1987 and 2015, but it also has shortcomings like “not serv[ing] the lowest-income households well on its own” or “not requir[ing] [units] to be permanently affordable.”
When federal programs aren’t providing enough support, Hand said they can be supplemented with local initiatives. However, programs like D.C.’s Permanent Supportive Housing and emergency housing vouchers are known for a time-consuming application process and limited resources.
“That’s where things like local rent supplement programs start to fill in the gaps to help people meet their needs,” Hand said. “Obviously, there’s not enough vouchers to meet the needs of every resident. It’s something we take very seriously.”
When new housing is added, it can also lead to the displacement of long-time residents. Hand said the new comprehensive plan will feature an anti-displacement strategy to address this problem, but he did not provide additional details about what it will include.
Overall, Ansah and Osadebe said District residents should advocate for themselves and each other throughout the comprehensive planning process. They hope the community can make racial and social justice into a working-class issue, and housing itself into a human right.
“We can just decide that the greatest ill is having people out on the street, period,” Osadebe said. “That needs to not be a thing anymore, regardless of profit, and we can proceed from there.”
Back at OP, Public Affairs Specialist Lauren Marcinkowski said there will be more topicfocused sessions in May and June, including discussions on housing, sustainability, and transportation. The office will launch another survey and host additional events this fall. From there, staff will draft the new plan, alongside coordinating more public engagement in late 2026 and into 2027.
“If anyone has ideas for partnering or wants to bring us into neighborhoods to talk to their communities, we’re open to it,” Marcinkowski said. “It’s going to rely on a lot of word of mouth as well, so we want to get the information in the hands of anyone who can share it.”
Opioid overdoses are a leading cause of death for D.C.’s homeless. The programs that prevent them are threatened.
KATHERINE WILKISON AND GABRIEL ZAKAIB Editorial Interns
In 2023, for the first time, more than half of those who died while experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., died of an opioid overdose.
The percentage of homeless residents dying of opioid overdoses had been climbing for over 10 years. Fifty-seven percent of homeless deaths were due to opioid overdoses in 2023, up from just 6% in 2014, D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) data shows. Throughout the last 10 years, at least 393 homeless people died from an opioid overdose. This death toll is as staggering as it is preventable, advocates and experts say.
The urgency of the opioid epidemic has largely dissipated from the national discourse years after states won billions of dollars in settlements against the pharmaceutical companies and their owners responsible for the rush of opioids into many communities.
But, D.C. continues to struggle. The District has the second-highest opioid overdose mortality rate in the country, second only to West Virginia.
While in 2024, opioid overdose deaths were down in the city, it’s not yet clear if the same is true for people experiencing homelessness. This demographic has borne the brunt of the opioid epidemic’s burden on the District, dying at much higher rates than the city’s general population.
Nationally, the Trump administration has proposed sweeping cuts to federal funding which would restrict the District’s already strained overdose prevention resources. For decades, small nonprofit organizations have been at the forefront of the fight against overdoses and the implementation of harm reduction services, but they say cuts to federal grant money and health care funding would greatly reduce their capacity to curb deaths.
A proposed budget obtained by The Washington Post revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is facing more than $40 billion in cuts, including the termination of a $56 million grant that distributes Narcan and trains first responders on how to use it. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a federal agency devoted to researching and expanding access to mental health and substance use disorders, is also facing cuts greater than half of its budget. Between 2014 and 2025, the District and its service providers received almost $500 million in grants from SAMHSA.
The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a self-described “former heroin addict,” to the role of HHS secretary has further rattled addiction services providers and the recovery community. During his failed presidential campaign, RFK Jr. released a documentary proposing his plan to solve the country’s “addiction crisis.” The film lays out several policy proposals, including “wellness farms,” where people with substance use disorders would be corralled on farms away from their communities as a form of recovery. This is not considered to be an evidence-based treatment for addiction.
During his appointment hearing before the Senate, RFK Jr. endorsed Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), a treatment method through which people receive medications like methadone or buprenorphine to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, before quickly pivoting to say that 12-step recovery programs are the “gold standard” for addiction treatment. This is not the case, according to leading experts.
According to a report released last month by a House Democratic Joint Economic Committee, more than one million people received MOUD through Medicaid in 2022. At least 60% of these people had coverage through Medicaid Expansion, a program that is now at risk of being cut or reduced by the Trump administration. In D.C., more than half of people receiving MOUD through Medicaid are eligible under Medicaid Expansion.
Part of the justification for these potential cuts is the nationwide decline in overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024. D.C.’s deaths declined by more than 35% in 2024, but the opioid-related mortality rate remains high. Overdoses increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continued rising after. Preliminary 2024 overdose deaths in D.C., which have yet to be finalized by the OCME, are higher than at any time before the pandemic. Three times more people died of an opioid overdose in 2024 than in 2014.
Fentanyl, a highly addictive and powerful synthetic opioid often found in street drugs, largely accounts for the rise in opioid deaths among the homeless, experts say. It entered the drug supply around 2013, and today, it is present in most drugs available on the street, according to Dr. Elizabeth Nesoff, who researches substance use at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2023, fentanyl was found in more than 97% of people who died from opioid overdoses in D.C., according to OCME data.
“I don’t think you can declare something fixed when it is still happening,” Nesoff said.“When you cut services, the most vulnerable people are always going to be the most affected, and who is more vulnerable than the homeless?”
Stemming the tide of deaths
Rachelle Ellison thought she knew how she was going to die: alone, on the street, like many of her friends.
In 2008, she was locked in a cycle of addiction and living on the streets. One miscalculated dose or a bad batch of the substances her body craved could have ended her life. Today, she is a peer mentor, activist, and member of several D.C. agencies providing support for people experiencing homelessness and addiction.
“I myself was homeless for 17 consecutive years with co-occurring disorders, and for a very long time, I thought I was going to die in the street. I didn’t think there was going to be any help for me,” Ellison, who is also currently a Street Sense vendor said.
Rachelle Ellison stands with mattresses used for sheltering people experiencing homelessness in the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C.. Photo by Gabriel Zakaib
With the help of community outreach organizations, including Friendship Place, she entered housing in 2008. But she kept using substances.
“I knew there had to be a different way to live,” Ellison said. In May 2014, she entered detox, joined a 12-step program, and began working through her trauma and relationship with God, Ellison said.
Ellison entered recovery before fentanyl became widespread in the drug supply. Even then, detox and withdrawal felt like “death,” she said. Being housed helped, though, giving her a place to retreat from the world while in the early stages of recovery.
Addiction recovery can be especially difficult for people experiencing homelessness. A lack of daily activity can increase the odds of an individual turning to drugs, said Johnny Bailey, who directs an outreach program at HIPS (Honoring Individual Power and Strength), a small nonprofit that offers harm-reduction services. This can be especially true if someone is dealing with the chronic stress of homelessness and living in an encampment or shelter where other people may be using, too. Homelessness is notoriously lonely and, in Bailey’s words, boring.
“It is almost always easier to get dope than it is to get help. And as long as it’s easier to get dope than help, as long as dope is available at 2 a.m. in the encampment, and suboxone is somewhere you have to go to or MAT [medication-assisted treatment] at a certain time on a certain day, it’s a struggle,” Bailey said.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Medical Association consider Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), including suboxone, methadone, and buprenorphine, as the gold standard for treating opioid addiction. These drugs prevent dangerous withdrawal and calm opioid cravings, lowering the risk of overdose among those who continue to use opioid substances. MOUD, low-intensity opioids themselves, do not produce feelings of euphoria like their illicit counterparts. Dispensed by medical professionals and heavily regulated by state governments, decades of research have deemed their use safe and effective.
“We assume that they’ve reduced their need for other opioids during the week,” Dr. Edwin Chapman said of the effects of medication-assisted treatment. Chapman has practiced medicine in the District for over 50 years and administered MOUD for 25. “So if they were using every day, maybe they are using every other day. If they’re using three or four times a day, maybe they’re using once a day.”
These treatments are free via Medicaid, but they can be difficult to access. Doses must be taken every day, and most MOUD clinics begin dispensing medication at 5 a.m. and stop around noon. Bailey’s favorite quip? “I have a joke about methadone, but you’ll have to be here at 6 a.m. Monday to hear it.”
Reliable dosing can be made harder by the pressures of experiencing homelessness, like not having reliable transportation or full control over access to shelter and meals.
MOUD “doesn’t totally eliminate [the risk of overdose], but it reduces the risk significantly,” Chapman said. Studies have estimated that buprenorphine, the drug Chapman largely prescribes, reduces the risk of overdose in users by up to 80%. It is now available as a once-daily pill and a weekly or monthly injection. Injections give patients more freedom to work, travel, and live functional lives without being shackled to the daily routine of going to a methadone or buprenorphine clinic, but due to cost and a lack of licensed providers they are not always available.
Despite decades of demonstrated effectiveness, MOUD and harm reduction remain controversial to some in the recovery community. Although Ellison benefited from some harm reduction services while she was homeless and experiencing addiction, she ultimately credits her
sobriety to detox, a 12-step program, and her Christian faith. Today, she remains a critic of some harm reduction programs.
Still, she recognizes not everyone is ready to enter recovery, or can dedicate time and resources to getting sober.
“There’s people that aren’t going to stop using and there’s people that are going to die,” Ellison said. “From a clinical perspective, I agree that [harm reduction services] are needed.”
Bailey is a champion of the harm-reduction approach. Formerly addicted to amphetamines, Bailey now directs an outreach program at HIPS, and he and his team say their approach saves lives.
“Wouldn’t you want people to stay alive one more day, one more minute, so they have the chance to make the right choice? Why not?” Diego Molina, a HIPS hotspot team member who works with Bailey, said.
Federal grants support direct service organizations like HIPS. Unlike 12-step programs, which tend to support an abstinence-only approach to substance use, harm reductionists believe that making substance use safer will save lives. Through street outreach, HIPS staff distribute supplies like fentanyl and xylazine test strips, clean syringes, and the overdose reversal drug Narcan. For HIPS, every interaction is a chance to keep someone alive and give them the opportunity to choose another path.
“I owe the universe a debt. I came from all the way down,” Bailey said. “I have two career goals: create the resources I wish I had when I was using, and try to extend the privilege I know I have.”
Bailey and his team spend significant time at hotspots in Southwest D.C. and Shaw distributing harm reduction supplies, snacks, and referrals to housing, medical, and recovery services — rain or shine. They also lead SMART recovery groups, an alternative to spiritually-based 12-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous.
“The only solution is to create a space for people to be,” Bailey said. Amidst the criminalization of drug use and the physical struggle of addiction, many experts agree facilitating the safe use of substances saves more lives than abstinence programs alone.
The first HIPS hotspot in the Shaw neighborhood helped create a 35% reduction of non-fatal overdoses in the area and a 54% reduction in the direct vicinity, according to Bailey. As part of their community outreach work, HIPS cleans up drug-related items, including used syringes, from the street.
“That doesn’t mean that there’s less people doing drugs, and it doesn’t mean that there’s less people overdosing. What it means is there’s less people calling 911, because we’ve empowered the community to take care of it themselves,” Bailey said.
Increased availability of Narcan, the overdose reversal drug HIPS distributes, was foundational to reducing opioid overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the District, first responders administered naloxone more than 243,000 times from April 2024 to April 2025, according to publicly available records; it’s life-saving progress, but federal funding for equipping first responders with the overdose-reversal tool could be cut.
As the Trump administration weighs slashing the federal health care funding that enables harm-reduction practices like Narcan and MOUD, Americans on the margins could suffer the most. Ellison and Bailey’s efforts to reduce the lethality of addiction in D.C. are largely supported by local and federal grants, but now their hard-won progress has now been thrust into jeopardy.
“Your solution can’t be, ‘well I hope these people die,’” Nesoff said.
People gather at 5 a.m. outside a BHG methadone clinic in Southeast D.C. Regulations mandate special clinics must distribute the drug, which must be taken daily. Photo by Gabriel Zakaib
Jonny Bailey sits in the newly opened HIPS office on 7th and T in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Photo by Gabriel Zakaib
One year after SCOTUS decision allowing cities to criminalize sleeping in public, advocates say homelessness is worsening
ATMIKA IYER Volunteer Freelance Reporter
Ayear after the Supreme Court allowed cities to criminalize sleeping outside, homeless advocates gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to call attention to what they see as a worsening crisis. The National Coalition for the Homeless organized the April 22 rally, drawing a crowd of 75 people. In bright orange shirts, participants turned homemade signs toward the onlookers, calling for “#HousingNow.”
The rally, held nationwide in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., called attention to the criminalization of homelessness following the court’s 2024 decision in the landmark case Grants Pass v. Johnson and the Trump administration’s budget and staff cuts for homeless and housing services.
“We say yes to housing and health care and no to funding cuts, fines, and jails,” Cori Bush, former Democratic U.S. representative from Missouri, told the crowd in D.C.
Bush was once homeless, she said, living in a car in St. Louis with her husband and two babies in 2001. She went on to fight for legislation to protect homeless populations as a two-term member of Congress. Bush attended the National Coalition for the Homeless protest one year ago after the ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, and felt it was important to come back a year later.
“My work on this issue started years ago. Started before I ever entered Congress, started in my hometown,” Bush said in an interview with Street Sense. “Once I overcame my issues, my homelessness and my housing instability, even after that, I began to do the work to push our legislators to do more in our community. So, it's important to be here again.”
Last year’s ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson was a huge disappointment for many homeless advocates, who worried the court’s decision to allow local jurisdictions to ban sleeping outside would lead to the displacement and arrest of people experiencing homelessness. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch penned the 6-3 majority decision, stating that while homelessness is a complex issue, local governments need the legal authority to dismantle encampments for safety reasons.
“These public-camping regulations are not usually deployed as a front-line response ‘to criminalize homelessness,’” Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion. “Instead, they are used to provide city employees with the legal authority to address ‘encampments that pose significant health and safety risks’ and to encourage their inhabitants to accept other alternatives like shelters, drug treatment programs, and mental-health facilities.”
At least 150 cities in America passed ordinances criminalizing homelessness following the SCOTUS ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, according to Stateline, including Peoria, Illinois, Riverside, California, and many more.
“There are communities around the country that have jumped on board quickly to be able to continue to punish people, to arrest, to detain people who just need shelter,” Bush told Street Sense after her speech. “It's a shame on this country, and it's a shame on this country without a label of a party or a particular group of legislators. This falls on everyone, because everyone had a hand in this.”
Since President Donald Trump took office, he has proposed banning encampments and forcing people experiencing homelessness into sanctioned “tent cities” under threat of arrest. He also signed an executive order on March 28 “requiring [the] prompt removal and cleanup of all homeless or vagrant encampments and graffiti on Federal land within the District of Columbia.”
Speakers at the rally criticized Trump’s policies, including his decision to place the entire U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the only federal agency addressing solutions to homelessness, on administrative leave. The president has also proposed cutting funding for housing vouchers, which are the primary way people experiencing homelessness move into housing.
Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness, spoke against Trump’s proposals to put people experiencing homelessness in camps and prioritize addiction and mental health provisions while cutting supportive housing programs, policies she believes will make it harder to end homelessness.
“I still have hope, but that hope is tempered by what's happening right now with this administration, who I don't think understand what is needed in the community. The things
Congresswoman Cori Bush from Missouri’s First Congressional District speaks to the crowd about her experience with homelessness. Photo by Madi Koesler
Amanda Andere stands in the crowd listening to speakers after addressing the crowd. Photo by Madi Koesler
that they are cutting, they don't realize how interconnected they are to being able to house everyone,” Andere said in an interview with Street Sense. “They say homelessness is a problem, but their solution is to put people in camps, not to think about a strategy around housing.”
Beyond encampments, Andere worried cuts to Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other programs will exacerbate the challenges people experiencing homelessness face. “We know that if you cut Medicaid, that means you cut health care and housing options for the most vulnerable in our community, and potentially put more people in a precarious housing situation,” Andere said. “There's a lot of threats coming. It's not just one thing.”
Ashaki Robinson, president of the AFGE Local 476 union representing HUD workers, also spoke to the crowd about the potential upcoming cuts to HUD, including Section 8 housing vouchers, which provide rental assistance to low-income households. Trump’s
smaller government, she said, will lead to an “erosion of the services and the institutional knowledge that you need to actually keep the government running.”
“When you cut the staff, you actually end up cutting the program,” Robinson said in an interview with Street Sense. “That's essentially what this administration is doing, scaring the staff to leaving and leaving prematurely. And there's a lot of institutional knowledge that's leaving.”
Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are anticipating cuts to programs and orders to close encampments are just the beginning.
Despite last year’s Supreme Court ruling, Andere said the rallies were meant to show people experiencing homelessness solidarity. “When you are unhoused, you feel very lonely, very isolated. And I hope these rallies and events around the country remind people they are not alone, that we are in the fight with them, and we are not going to stop fighting until every person is housed,” Andere said.
STREET SENSE VENDORS SHARE THEIR PHOTOS FROM THE RALLY
Representative Cori Bush and Donald Whitehead Jr. from the National Coalition for the Homeless hug at the podium before Bush addresses the crowd at the Capitol’s West Front Lawn. Photo by Madi Koesler
The crowd behind the podium held signs with the phrases “Housing Saves Lives” and “Housing Now!” Photo by Madi Koesler
Left to right: Street Sense vendors Sasha Williams, Anthony Carney, Nikila Smith, Robert Warren, and Queenie Featherstone (front) at the Housing Now rally. Photo courtesy of Nikila Smith
Views from the rally. Photos courtesy of Sasha Williams.
Use TikTok to fund basic income
WAYNE HALL
his business plan outlines a strategy to implement a universal income program of $500–$700 a month, funded by the repurposing of TikTok's economic engine. The objective is to foster economic stability while creating jobs in low-income housing communities. This initiative aims to enhance economic equity and community well-being by reallocating digital revenues to universal income and community development. The goal is to create a society where every individual has baseline financial security and where lowincome communities thrive through grassroots involvement.
TTikTok generates billions in advertising revenue and user data monetization. The platform has faced scrutiny for data privacy and influence concerns. The plan is to enforce government acquisition or taxation of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Then, levy a high-tier "social impact tax" on TikTok's ad revenue, amounting to 50%–75%, and redirect proceeds into a Universal Income Fund (UIF). TikTok made $10.1 billion in U.S. advertising revenue last year, according to Morningstar. After taxes and costs, $4–$5 billion could be funneled into UIF. The program would then allocate $500–$700 per eligible adult monthly. The program would target individuals and households in the bottom 40% of earners.
The program would stimulate local economies through increased spending power and provide a safety net for those in precarious jobs or unemployment. The funds would be managed by federal agencies. The program could leverage digital payment platforms like Cash App and Venmo for distribution.
Another goal is to establish "resident assistant" roles to enhance property management, community engagement, and support services in low-income housing. They would serve as a liaison between residents and property managers, facilitate community programs (e.g., educational workshops and training), and offer conflict mediation and support for vulnerable residents.
One billion should be allocated annually from UIF for wages, training, and program costs. Resident assistants should be paid between $18 to $22 an hour. These positions could strengthen community ties, reduce turnover in housing complexes, and provide dignified employment opportunities to local residents.
To implement the plan, legislation is needed to acquire or tax TikTok’s U.S. operations. Then comes piloting universal income in five states along with launching the resident assistant program in selected housing communities. Over the next four years, the program would be scaled nationwide and resident assistant roles would be expanded to 50% of federally subsidized housing.
The key benefits of the UIF and resident assistant programs are financial stability for low-income earners, job opportunities, and local empowerment. For communities, it provides improved living conditions in housing complexes, a strengthened social fabric, and lower crime rates. For the economy, it stimulates consumer spending and provides a funding model from digital revenues.
Potential challenges could be public backlash and concerns over government intervention in private companies. Transparency and communication are essential to mitigate discontent. The program needs strict oversight to ensure fair allocation. UIF funding sources can be diversified by extending taxes to other platforms.
This plan offers a transformative approach to leveraging modern digital revenues for societal benefit. By redirecting resources from platforms like TikTok, the initiative delivers universal income and supports grassroots empowerment through resident assistant roles. This dual-pronged strategy ensures economic security while fostering stronger, more resilient communities.
Respect the Jack: Chapter 5 of The Grind
JEFFERY MCNEIL Artist/Vendor
T ART
he sound of shuffling chips echoing in Jackson’s bed kept him up all night. He lay, replaying the hand when his dreams slipped away as his bankroll evaporated. Not long ago, he was hotter than a Texas heatwave — catching longshot draws, hitting oneouters, flopping monsters with junk hands. But even heat waves fade into winter. He’d tasted luxury: celebrity weddings, private jets, casino credit. Now? The people who once bankrolled him were getting nervous.
“Hey, this is Archie. My money’s missing,” said the gravelly voice in one voicemail of many making it not only hard to sleep, but to leave the house. “My rent is due. You know how I get when you miss a payment. Pay up, or we’ll collect another way. You don’t wanna end up in a Jersey swamp like the Hoffas.”
Jackson put down the phone. Some people drink to forget. Jackson played poker. He played to survive. But lately, the pond of fish had dried up — no soft spots in sight. None of the back alley rooms, low-rent casinos, or Joe Schmo living room poker nights he used to make a living off of would open their doors. Jackson was either too good, too famous for being good, or too broke to buy in.
But like the shad in spring along the Jersey Shore, the fish always come back. On Jackson’s way to Taboo’s Palace, a place where fortunes go to die, no one's immune to the volatile world of gambling, and the cards can be cruel, he saw a bus pull up.
Out stepped Henrietta Collette, sharp dresser, purse full of fresh hundreds, sweet as pie. Terrible at poker. But ready to gamble. Like a splashing fish attracting sharks, Jackson spotted her instantly. He wasn’t going to let her slip by. She wasn’t a bad person, just bad at poker. She wanted to drink, throw chips, and lose money, but not her soul. Jackson was in a pinch. Henrietta wasn’t. So he put on the charm offensive.
“Henrietta? Sweetie, don’t sit over there. Sit next to old Jack,” Jackson crooned in her ear. “Let’s reminisce, remember those nights? We made a great team, didn’t we?”
When you’ve got a cash machine, you don’t broadcast it. But someone alerted the floor a fish was at Jack’s table. The pit boss gave the nod, and Jackson’s table became the fish alert.
Enter Bridgeport Jimmy. Grinder. Tight. Predictable. The kind of shark Jackson didn’t want sniffing around. Jimmy got in a pot with Henrietta. Raised three times the pot, trying to muscle her out.
Flop: a four of hearts, two of spades, and king of diamonds. Dry board. Jackson barrelled the pot. Henrietta called. On the river, Jackson bluffed big. Henrietta tanked, then called. She flipped a weak four. Jimmy showed ace-high. She won.
Jimmy exploded, “You’re the worst poker player I’ve ever seen!” Henrietta stood to grab a drink. Jackson stopped her. “You’re not the one who needs to leave,” said Jackson with a hand on the small of Henrietta’s back. Jimmy snapped, flexing about how he once gave Jackson change when he was broke. Jackson stayed cool. When would Jimmy learn, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar?
“You wanna go low?” Jackson waved for security, and Bridgeport Jimmy got bounced. Jackson smiled at Henrietta. “Great call, Henrietta. Read him like a book. Want another drink? On me.” She grinned back, but chip by chip, she bled out.
“Oh, it’s not my night,” Henrietta sighed as she handed Jackson her last $100. “You’ll put it to better use than me.”
Cold? Maybe, thought Jackson. But in poker, if you don’t know who the sucker is at the table — it’s you. Jackson was on a hustler's high and thought just a few more honeypots like Henrietta and a few fishes who think they’re sharks like Jimmy, and he could settle his debts. Jackson was down, but never out. Even in a slump, poker rooms respected the grind. A TV producer spotted him.
“We’re shooting a poker pilot,” he said. “All In: High Stakes, No Mercy. You’d be perfect.”
Jackson hesitated. He was on a losing streak, and he wasn't a high-stakes player. He didn't win on skill, he just protected his jackpot winnings. He already owed an arm and a leg, and if he stepped into the wrong loan office with the right connections, they’d let him keep his legs, but they’d fit them with some cement shoes.
“Table’s upstairs. Lights, cameras, and cash.”
But the pay could double his buy-in. He took the invite and was led to a suite in the upstairs of the casino. Inside, familiar faces greeted him.
“Welcome back,” said Lady Poker.
“Glad you’re back in action,” said Bullet.
Then outside — screeching tires. Saturday Night Fever blaring from a red Ferrari. Out stepped Joey Columbo, slicked-back hair, cowboy hat, gator boots. On his arm, Suzie.
Jackson squinted. “Suzie Pass-Around?” She’d been passed around more than a bottle at a frat party. The trio had history from high school, when Jackson had gotten by slinging papers for a buck. Suzie smirked, “Oh, Joey, this must be the charity table. There’s a homeless guy sitting down.”
Joey chimed in, “Still pushing Street Sense, Jack? What was your line — ‘helps the homeless help themselves’?” Jackson fired back, “Suzie, you used to date top shelf. Now you’re on the clearance rack.”
Joey flashed bricks of hundreds. His last name carried weight. Rumors of mob ties. He wore it like a costume. But Jackson knew better. “Cut the act, Joey. Grease auditions are over, Travolta got the role. You’re doing a Frankie Valli impression with a touch of José Feliciano. Suzie, did you kiss him yet? You know his dad was a plumber. They called him Toilet Breath.”
The cameras rolled. This was poker theater. Jackson looked down. Pocket jacks. His signature hand. He raised $3K. Joey shoved $15K into a $2K pot, and Jackson folded. Joey flipped a bluff. “Street Sense, baby,” said Joey.
Joey played every flop. Raised every turn. All image, no substance. Jackson was done. “Speed it up,” said Jackson.
Joey claimed he had a soft spot for Jackson. “I once gave him a plate of food.”
Jackson grinned, “That explains the oil crisis — your hair’s holding all the reserves.” He winked at Suzie. “Hey Laverne — come by my suite when I bust the Big Ragu. We’ll sip wine, eat pasta, and I’ll show you what a man without Viagra can do.”
The table gasped, and Joey snarled, “Suzie don’t sleep in tents.” Jackson shrugged. “You’re right. She sleeps in losers’ cars.”
The next hand moved quickly, Joey with pocket kings and Jackson with aces. Joey shoved. Jackson snap-called. The flop is a king. Jackson slumped as the turn was blank. On the river, there was an ace. BOOM. The crowd roared. Jackson dragged the pot, and Joey sat stunned. Suzie screamed, “You lost to a homeless guy!” Joey barked, “Shut up, you dumb ditz!”
She snapped back, “You calling me dumb? The homeless guy just took your money!” The pair left the suite. The other players watched out the window as the Ferrari peeled out.
“Jackson, you suck,” Lady Poker cackled. “Why’d you break him like that? None of us got a piece.” Jackson shrugged, “He didn’t respect the Jack. I knew him. He was a nice kid once. Don’t know why he picked a fight.”
Later that night, Jackson stepped out into the Jersey wind. His phone buzzed. A sultry voice whispered, “Hey… saw you on TV.”
“Who’s this?” “It’s Camille. You home? Maybe you can teach me some poker moves.” Jackson smiled. The bookies were still circling. But Camille, that was temptation in heels.
Respect the Jack.
Eastern Europe in 5 days, Part 4: Christmas Eve in Salzburg
“And I never liked the Sound of Music anyways"
WENDELL WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
As our boat pulled out of Vienna, night fell quickly. The lighting afforded us a beautiful picture of the shore, a reward after getting through the long, bitter cold that was Vienna. It gave me new hope for what was coming next. Our next port was Krems, Austria. As we sailed in, we could see old structures high on the bluffs, like ancient sentries ready to sound the alarm to those below.
The roads took us through the rolling vineyards and historic towns of the Wachau Valley, followed by the lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut area, both United Nations World Heritage Sites, to our real destination: Salzburg.
We didn’t take the autobahn, which would have been a shorter drive; we traveled the roads the locals use, so we had the chance to view every bit of the beauty of small-town Bavarian life. To the untrained eye, each village looked the same, yet it wasn’t. I learned about the way houses were designed and built. There was always a church in the center of the town square. The color of one’s house represented their occupation. I wondered if there was a color for the unemployed, or homeless shelters?
Going from town to town added so much flavor to the experience that I never looked at my watch to see it took us two and a half hours to reach Salzburg. As the name would indicate, it was a place where salt was mined, and during the times of conquest, European armies marched across the continent in search of riches. Salt, that thing we keep on our tables, was the backbone of some mighty juggernauts like Caesar’s Roman Legions, who marched as far as Scotland with salt preserving their food.
As we moved through the Salzkammergut district at the foot of the Alps, the snow-capped mountains were in the distance. The obsessive conversations started. I began counting to 10. You see, in 1968, I didn’t go to Woodstock with a few of my “wanna be hippies” friends who hung out in Dupont Circle. I went a few times, but mainly for the free weed being passed around, and was never lucky enough to be there for the free love. I remember my friend Tony talking about that bus ride to Woodstock. It’s kind of what it was like on my bus with a load of seniors when everyone realized we were at the foot of the Alps. Wouldn’t you know, someone had to start talking about, then singing, that song. Even though it wasn’t loud, they might as well have been using a megaphone because I hate it. That’s right, I said it. I hate the “Sound of Music” and every song in it. And I was on a bus with S.O.M. groupies. We could see this city appear as we crossed a bridge. It was just like any of the other modern outskirts of the old European cities we had visited. Seeing Aldi and Lidl gave me a sense of home as we made our way to the older part. There was a castle, a cathedral, and a monastery or abbey, all perched high on the hills in a semicircle. At the time, I was clueless as to the importance of this being our first stop in “The Unofficial Sound of Music Tour.” Everywhere we visited was connected not to the city’s history but to this damn movie I disliked. I was about to be tested beyond the limits of my ability to grin and bear it. As we entered the gates of Mirabell Palace with its high walls, there was a panoramic view of this huge, amazing garden. Just looking at it, I understood what I was told about the competition in building palaces, churches, and castles by the Habsburgs.
I was wondering how many workers it took for upkeep. But what caught my ear was another song from that freakin’ movie. I learned from the crowd where scenes were filmed as they fought for photo ops around the garden. And wouldn’t you know it, many had to try their hands at reenacting the scenes. So I’m thinking as we struggle back to the bus, ok, now that IS over. Oh no, not so fast..... They did the head count, and we were off towards the old parts of the city nestled against the hills. Off we went towards a crowded bridge the guides had warned us about. I’m thinking, “It’s just a bridge, dude.” But, as short as it was, it was gridlocked. Where I grew up, we were programmed to walk to the right up against the walls, leaving the center open. Not here. This less than 50-meter walk was a free-for-all. The chaos reminded me of taking square dancing lessons and most students not being able to grasp what’s dozy do from alaman left or swing your partner round and round. It was a mess. The reason for the chaos was the world-famous “Love Locks,” a pedestrian bridge where lovers come to profess their love by placing a padlock in the fence below the bridge rails in hopes it will LOCK them together for eternity. The tens of thousands of locks make it impossible to walk in a straight line and not be pulled from one side of the bridge to the other by their bright, unique shapes and colors. Add trying to read the heart-warming inscriptions, and you will understand why the guides warn people. No one was looking ahead, making it feel like a demolition derby as I dodged collisions, not wanting to take my eyes off the lovers. At the same time, I was wishing I had a long-lost love there. We were warned of how long the wait was to get in our lunch venue, the historic St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, the oldest in Salzburg and possibly Europe, opening in 803. On the way there, it felt like we were going back in time, but actually it was only uphill. We moved through narrow lanes with quaint shops with one-of-a-kind merchandise and clothing. Because it was Christmas Eve, the foot traffic was heavy, and with the Christmas Markets, it was a foregone conclusion there would be dropouts, people lost, and stragglers. Then things opened, and we were on a bright, wide street. With a clear view, I looked up and saw the snow-capped Alps. Oh no, not me, I’m not singing, “The hills are alive with the …” Hell no. Pull yourself together. I was so busy noticing my surroundings — the
smells of unfamiliar foods and the noise of people’s conversations — I forgot about the cold. Almost right in front of us was the childhood home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which later would serve as my beacon to find my way back. It looked just like the rest of the houses, except for the striking gold color. And the small sign I just walked by because the paint grabbed my attention. It was then I overheard a rumor on why we were rushing. Two travelers said we didn’t want to miss the narrow window we had for a special opportunity to have lunch in one of the historic private dining rooms at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, where we would enjoy a “Sound of Music” themed meal. No way. We finally had a clear view of our destination. But it might as well have been as far away as the moon. My legs were done. I’m a four-time COVID-19 survivor with bouts before the vaccine and suffer from other respiratory ailments. To use a word any person who’s worked out knows, I was gassed. But somehow with moral support, I pushed myself through, and we caught up with the others waiting outside the doors of our restaurant to hear I could’ve rested, because we were a little early. I asked, “What do you expect us to do, take a walk?” “Yes, exactly,” the guide said. “Many have enjoyed walking around the famous graveyard grounds, you only need to kill about 20 minutes.” Oh boy, spending an additional 20 minutes in a medieval graveyard has always been at the top of my bucket list. So now I can check that off and maybe bring it up in my next conversation with vampires. When we could finally enter a door, it led up a narrow set of stairs with this gorgeous wood paneling, the likes of which I’d never seen. Then, almost on cue, the big double doors opened into this dining experience so large I’m thinking it sat at least 500 people. But what got me was it appeared like we were in the 17th century or earlier. It was as if they were about to film a Jane Austen movie scene, and we all were extras. Every detail of that period was spot on. The glassware, chandeliers, table cloths, you name it, it was either the original or recreated, and the staff were all dressed in clothes from that period. They were serving a menu from that time with no meatless or vegan options, so I’d just be happy with the rest. There must have been 100 people or more on the wait staff bringing out food. Someone in the back started to sing, moving to the front of the huge room, where she was joined by a male on a low stage. Others started to join them in a full-blown reenactment of the movie, and the rumors were indeed true. We were cursed. It was a S.O.M. singing luncheon. So what does a very mature grown Black man do at time like this? I whispered “Starbucks” in my friend’s ear and walked out, asking for the nearest exit. By now, she can translate my craziness without needing a special decoder ring. So I’m out and into the graveyard, only not the way we came in. And there lies the problem. Being an ex-Boy Scout was a help, but being formerly homeless was even more valuable this day. Because of the many cities I’d found myself lost in, I figured it out using a system of landmarks. The fortress was at my back, and the other was easy: walk downhill looking for the familiar. Except I was trying to beat the clock. I looked for landmarks, like arches and store names, but a lot of them were similar, so I was going in circles until I saw the one with a painting on it, which led me into the square. With the time of departure drawing near, my only hope was finding anyone who spoke English. I did and shared how I got separated from the group because of my feelings toward that damn S.O.M. film, and lo and behold, they told me most Austrians are fed up with it too. All these Americans coming here and going crazy over it, not realizing they have had many film treatments on the Von Trapps long before the Julie Andrews vehicle. They have grown tired of American tourists’ obsession with it, but it’s lined so many pockets. After finding this unexpected common ground, off again I went, happy to see Mozart’s gold house coming up on my left, which meant one of the covered passageways could lead me on a path straight down to the water and Starbucks I’d seen across from the lovers’ locks. I used to watch “Let’s Make A Deal” and would call contestants idiots for choosing the wrong doors. Well, I’m thinking, door 1, 2, or 3? Limping along, I hit 2, and thank God it was right. I could see the water, the trolleys. and the Starbucks, then, my dear friend standing there with a look of relief. She helped me to the buses that luckily were parked on our side of Lovers’ Locks for the long ride back to the boat and Christmas Eve dinner. We skipped the party and with one stop to go, we went straight to sleep.
The dreaded Sound of Music luncheon. Photo by Wendell Williams
A happy intersection of cream puffs and chicken tenders
FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor
Take your conveyance and park it
Outside Laurel’s jolly Dutch Country Market!
Doors swing wide, luring you to sample the goods inside. One-hoss-shay was once the way
Now the shuffle-buggy is a Volt or a Ram!
Streaming through Fort Meade camo and Beautiful grannies and tots alike
All to sample an egg sandwich and ham.
All names are displayed in joyful profusion: Lantz, Kreider, Stolzfus a-plenty, Cinnamon-whorl bread and tasty eclairs. It costs a pretty penny; it's worth it, too. The “DJ’s wings” aromas will draw you in From a heavenly canopy, skies of blue — Chicken done right with a crunchy crust Moist to the palate, and don’t forget The carrot salad.
Wash those delectables down With home-made coffee
Or butter-brickle shake; A bite of homemade fudge
And your thirst they will slake.
Dear friend, remember this — You may spend all day
At the Dutch Country Market
Never seeing or causing
A single solitary frown!
Egg cost
JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN Artist/Vendor
If you celebrated Easter this year, you may not have wanted to purchase a dozen eggs. Because of the avian flu, egg prices have gone from $2 to $6, depending on location.
Congratulations
DOMINIQUE ANTHONY
Artist/Vendor
I know
DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor
I’ve known Thomas for five years.
So, how much do I love Sybil and Thomas? Sybil is my only girlfriend for the rest of my life. And as long as I work here at Street Sense Media, Thomas will always be my best friend.
My girlfriend Sybil doesn’t care about football or sports that much. But me, I love to watch football games. Some days I watch over at my best friend's house. I’ve called him my best friend for a lifetime now.
Have peace for your brothers and sisters every year. My last words to you are thank you for this writing group.
Housing conditions
JOSIE BROWN Artist/Vendor
Dear elected officials, I live in a mice-infested apartment building, and the resident manager doesn’t want to do maintenance in the unit, which I think is so wrong. They don’t take care of the property, and since I pay my rent on time, I think I should get justice. Elected officials should take action and keep the building up. It will take the community and tenants to voice their opinions and meet the needs of the community.
Happy graduation to my oldest son, Micah. My son Micah was born in 2002. He was born at Washington Hospital Center. He was 9 ounces. He is the oldest son out of my children. He had some developmental delays in D.C. Public Schools, but he got his high school diploma, and he got accepted to the University of Maryland to get a college degree in business. He is graduating on May 22.
I never thought I would see him graduate from college or become a young man. I became HIV positive when I was a young mom, and I went through some things in my life. There were some bad times, but I got myself together and started taking my medicine, going to the doctor, and going to my mental health appointments. I became more stable and got my life together. I learned how to deal with things in a healthy way, that it’s okay to cry and talk to someone, and how to do self-care. I made some mistakes, but God has me and my children. I was not the best parent in the world, but I made sure that he was taken care of and was okay, and the rest of my children.
Mother’s Day is a blessing from God
WARREN STEVENS
Artist/Vendor
Blocks on Blocks
DRAKE BRENSUL Artist/Vendor
There really are only two types of programs. One of them classifies information, providing its expectation. The other simply takes the input and forms a continuation of information. After, the signal leaves the computer to see what it could do. Then it is brought back into the computer to see if it can do that. Light was the tricky one because early computers did not have that.
My days
Today I cleaned up my apartment before leaving, and I gave my cat his cat food and toy. Then I left the apartment and I caught the bus. I was on my way to Street Sense for writing class.
Yesterday I cleaned the closet, made up my bed, went to the store, and got some free food. Then I came back home. I played with my cat, and he played with his toy, and I played with him. I looked at the TV and watched the news. It was interesting.
My cat looked out the window. He likes to eat, he’s getting fat, too. His name is Goldie.
The sun
It’s hot, like an oven. My body is baking like a piece of sweet cornbread. I feel it. Don’t you?
Hot-Hot-Hot-HOT!!
I’m praying and singing ‘cause we need rain. Right here. Right now. Let. It. RAIN! Let it pour into our steaming souls, dripdrip-drip. And bring some cool breeze to wrap me like a cover. SO comforting.
I’m in a moment of relief, thanking the Incredible One high above who heard my prayers. Now I rejoice and sing because, at long last, it is a cool day out here.
When we were young, my mother took us shopping for school supplies and clothes for the winter and summer. She was a very sweet lady. She took us swimming when we were kids. When I was a kid at an outdoor pool at Fork Bragg, North Carolina, I took swimming lessons. When I got older, my mom would send me away to camp. I swam in the deep water. My mother would throw picnics in our backyard. We would grill hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, and marshmallows. My family, friends, and I would have a good feast day picnic. We had so much fun. When our mom was living, she used to take us skating, bowling, and golfing. My mom enrolled me in guitar lessons. I enjoyed that very much, and my instructor's name was Pochamon. He taught me how to play and hold the guitar. And when I got older, I travelled back to Washington, D.C. and took some more lessons and advanced. I got my own guitar. Now I have six guitars. My cousin played bass guitar. He owned a guitar music store before he passed away.
Our mom enrolled us in driving school to take lessons. My sister took driving lessons at Woodrow Wilson, where she attends high school. Her first boyfriend took her for a spin, and she advanced. I also had an instructor pick me up at my house for lessons, and I enjoyed it very much. I drove my father’s car to the bowling alley to try it out. And I also passed the road test. And got my own car. And I have been riding since I was a child. Keeping in good shape. Our mother passed away Feb. 9, 2009. She's up in heaven, I miss her very much. She is up in heaven, smiling and also proud of us for the good job we have done. She is in a better place.
GRETA CHRISTIAN Artist/Vendor
Photo by Frederic John
BRIANNA BUTLER Artist/Vendor
FUN & GAMES
Across
1. Repeated jazz phrase, typically instrumental
5. “What’ve you been ___?” (2 wds.) (2,2) (POUT (anagram)
9. Does a household chore
14. Something hummus has more of than fondue?
15. Indian bread
16. Block house for an Inuit?
17. Scandinavian war god
18. ChapStick logo (and target)
19. Science suffix
20. Like twosomes in a really close relationship (2 wds.) (7,7)
23. Cannabis ___ (marijuana)
24. In-flight info, for short
25. Like twosomes in a really close relationship (2 wds.) (7,5)
32. 007, for one
35. Genetic messengers
36. New York City MLBer, or the Doodle who “...went to town a-ridin’ on a pony...”
37. Checked item that may also be plaid or leather
39. Summer clock setting (abbr./initialism)
41. Exhausted, with “in”
42. Petting zoo animal
45. Goes back out, in a way
48. Basic version or model (abbr./initialism)
49. Like twosomes in a really close relationship (2 wds.) (5,7)
52. Superannuated
53. Building material
57. Like twosomes in a really close relationship (4 wds.) (6,2,3,3)
62. ___ President
63. Mideast ruler
64. Hawk’s opposite
65. Alpha’s opposite
66. ___-Rooter
67. Barely managed, with “out”
68. Range rover
69. Goes downhill fast
70. Hardens
Down
1. Movable castles
2. Calcutta’s home
3. Boxer’s deceptive move
4. Classic candy consisting of a bag of flavored powders and an edible tool called a Lik-a-Stix, that sounds like a recreational swim (2 wds.) (3,3)
5. Break, as a habit
6. Discharged a debt
7. A little night music
8. How freelance work is often done (2 wds.) (2,4)
9. Grade schooler’s shoebox project 10. Wrinkly fruit 11. Coin opening
___ sauce
21. KOA visitor, briefly (incls. abbr.) 22. ___-bitty 26. Beanie Babies, e.g.
27. Ancient chariot (SEEDS anagram)
28. “Go on ...”
29. Bout enders, in brief
30. Small price to pay
31. Take in seriously, as advice or warnings
32. Healing sign
33. Game on horseback
34. Blabs
38. Chinese “way”
40. “Details to come” (abbr./initialism)
43. Jeez, bro - cut me some slack here, okay?!” (2 wds.) (4,3)
44. ___-bodied
46. Cafes
47. Meyers of late-night TV
50. Milk sources
51. Soft leathers
54. Come up short in a crisis
55. Cat of Africa (EVICT anagram)
56. Newspaper sections with punditry (2-3) (POSED anagram)
57. “Twister” actress Gertz
58. Poetic tributes
59. “Othello” villain
60. Run ___ (go crazy)
61. South American monkey
62. Word that can go before ____ rule, ____ scene or ____ boss
ILLUSTRATION
This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre. It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento Case Management Coordinación de Servicios
Academy of Hope Public Charter School
202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Pl. NE
202-373-0246 // 421 Alabama Ave. SE aohdc.org
Bread for the City 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 1700 Marion Barry Ave., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org
Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Marion Barry Ave., SE calvaryservices.org
Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org
Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org
Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org
Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach
Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org
Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 4 Atlantic St., NW communityofhopedc.org
Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org
D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org
Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 North Capitol St., NW fathermckennacenter.org
Food and Friends // 202-269-2277
(home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org
Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry
Identification services
Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org
Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org
Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9096 1526 Pennslyvania Ave., SE jobshavepriority.org
Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org
Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Rd, SE
2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE
Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org
My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org
New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE
Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW
Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org
Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org
Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org
So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org
St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-363-4900 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org
Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org
Unity Health Care unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699
1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 850 Delaware Ave., SW, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 1151 Bladensburg Rd., NE, 4515 Edson Pl., NE
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org
The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable
Whitman-Walker Health 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 1201 Sycamore Dr., SE whitman-walker.org
Woodley House // 202-830-3508 2711 Connecticut Ave., NW
For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide
Barista
Capital One Cafe // Washington, D.C.
Full-time/ Part-time
Makes and serves coffee/espresso drinks and related food and beverage items. Interacts with customers and other employees in a friendly, courteous manner.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/CapitalOneBarista Clerk
Giant // Washington, D.C.
Part-time
Duties include restocking and organizing the shelves throughout the day. When an area needs tidying up, clerks are on it right away.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/giantClerkDC Porter
F1 Arcade // Union Market
Part-time
As a porter, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and enjoyable operation of the restaurant. Your primary responsibility will be maintaining a clean and pleasant restroom and venue environment for our guests.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/PorterF1Arcade
A Mother like you
DON GARDNER
Artist/Vendor
Full of Love, Originality, Determination, Honor, Kindness, Creativity, Strength, Courage, and a will to say
“I'll do what I can.”
Persevering through life’s trials and tribulations
As she contemplates her next move
A Mother who never quits when the going gets tough
And the storms get rough
Who you seldom hear say, “I've had enough.”
Feeds the hungry
Clothes the naked
Educates and nurtures those in her surroundings
And never ever hesitates to help one in need
A Mother like you
Who prays to "Almighty God"
Knowing He alone will listen to every word
She has to say, and not leave her
Or forsake her, without a way
Holding me close to her when I was sick
Made a mess of myself, bad choices, mistakes
And through all the wrong I have done
She still loved me, and said, “Do better, my son...”
Contrary to popular belief and what statistics say
A woman can raise boys to men
She not only raised one or two
But also three and a girl, to survive in this world
And she did not contend what "God" did intend
Mother’s Day
MELVEON HARP
Artist/Vendor
Mother’s Day is a sad one for me.
My aunt raised me because I never knew my father, and never really knew my family. That was very hard. I walked the streets and got in trouble. I went to prison for arson. I was also set up in a robbery. I was furious at the trial, and the judge said he understood. But he said I had taken the law into my own hands and sentenced me to six years in prison.
When I got out, I met my grandmother for the first time. I asked her who was in my family because I still didn’t know. I got my first job cleaning apartments. I did so well that the management gave me my first apartment. But I started smoking weed and drinking alcohol. Then a woman turned me onto crack cocaine. I was shot in 2001 and have 16 screws in my left thigh from that. But God is good. Now I’m a deacon in training.
I still don’t know whether my mother is dead or alive. Now my grandmother is my mother. I call her that, and she treats me like her son. I treat her and every woman with whom I come in touch with respect. I’m stronger with God on my side and Street Sense in my life. Street Sense allows me to open up and talk about my feelings. We all need someone to talk to. God bless everyone. If your mother is alive, honor her.
Happy Mother’s Day
ANTHONY CARNEY
Artist/Vendor
This goes out to all the mothers around the world. Without mothers, we wouldn’t have life. Jesus loved his mother so much he turned a barrel of water into wine even though it wasn’t the time to perform his miracle. But he did it anyway… for Mom. And sometimes we learn from our mothers that we can perform miracles.
So, to all the moms in the world, you are the best. And my mother, Barbara Carney Scarbow, is the extra special best!
Mother’s Day
ELIZABETH BOWES
Artist/Vendor
With Mother’s Day coming up, everyone will spend time with their mothers. Lots of places will be busy selling flowers, candy, and gifts. Everyone will be smiling. I love seeing all that.
I wish I could see my son. He lives in London, which I consider my home, and I am trying to return there. I remember when I was there, my mother would take my little sister and me to homeless shelters where we helped the residents. Mother also took us to places that served meals to the needy. Sometimes we would cook and do other activities to help those living there.
Mother’s Day
JAMES LYLES III
Artist/Vendor
My mother was the most wonderful person in the world. She would help you no matter what was happening in your life. She was incredibly gracious; she’d take the clothes off her back and give them to people who needed them more than she did. And she was so into the Bible she would spread God’s word to people in Giant and Safeway stores on the way to her job in the D.C. public school system. She also would donate her old clothing to the community service part of the Dupont Park Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Even among her friends, my mother was the best cook! She baked 7-Up, chocolate, and coconut cakes to die for. But, luscious as those were, my favorite was Mom’s sweet potato pie. Mom also had an excellent sense of humor. She was always joking around with relatives and friends. I particularly remember the time when she, my cousin, and I were in our car. A car stopped next to us at the light. Mom took out her false teeth and smiled at the driver. He got really scared. My cousin and I loved it!
Loss of an angel
SYBIL TAYLOR
Artist/Vendor
I miss you, Mom. You were the best mom, a rose petal, a violet tulip, a jewel, a pearl, a diamond rhinestone.
This was my first Easter and Good Friday without you. You are enjoying your first Easter in heaven. It’s the biggest Easter gathering with a lot of our family members and my father spending a great, peaceful time together with heavenly angels, gospel music, great food, silver and gold, sparkling birds, and fresh scents. You and dad are missed. But you are in a new home at peace and joy. Playlist: Listen to Marvin Gaye.
Mothers
TONYA WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
Mother’s Day is such a wonderful day. I love Mother’s Day. And I love my mother soooo much. I miss her soooo much, but I know she is in paradise with Jesus.
Mothers are soooo special. Mothers are soooo beautiful. Always love your mother, no matter what. Always respect your parents.
Always give your mother hugs, kisses, and love. You only get one mother, so love her always.
Always honor your mother and father. It’s in the Bible.
Happy Mother’s Day
EVELYN NNAM
Artist/Vendor
A mother is kind, her heart a place of warmth
A mother is caring, always putting others first
A mother is nurturing, shaping dreams with gentle hands
A mother is sweet, her love a melody of comfort
A mother is daring, standing strong in every storm
A mother is loving, her embrace a shield of protection
A mother’s love is like no other
A love purer than gold, a treasure untold
A love that holds you tight, lifting you high
Because she sees in you the light of tomorrow
A mother is breathtaking, a force beyond compare
She will move mountains just to keep her child safe and sound
She is a woman who changes the world
Giving birth to generations, shaping history with her hands
A mother is a creator of life
Raising souls who will change the world each day
She does whatever it takes, sacrificing without a second thought
To ensure her little one is loved, fed, and safe
No matter how old her child may be
A mother’s heart never stops watching, guiding, and caring
She may not be perfect, but she gives her all
Trying each day to be the best mother she can be
A mother is amazing, filling her child’s world with love
Helping them explore life before they set off on their own
One day, they will become mothers and fathers themselves
Carrying forward the love she so freely gave
A mother is strong, a pillar of unwavering grace
Her strength wraps around you like an unbreakable shield
Keeping you safe, reminding you that no matter what
Her love will never fade, never weaken, never cease
A mother is wonderful
Because no matter how old you are
She will always be there, loving you just the same
So today, let’s celebrate all mothers —
The birth mothers, foster mothers, and mother figures in our lives
The ones who love, who nurture, who give their all
The ones who sacrifice, who inspire, who shape the world
To every mother, thank you
For your love, your strength, your unwavering heart
Today, we honor you
Happy Mother’s Day!
