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Bowser releases new budget priortizing economic growth over social safety nets
DONTE KIRBY Deputy Editor
The next year could be a hard one for D.C. residents who rely on city funding for support with housing, health care, and other services.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released her $21.8 billion proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year on May 27 after months of delays. The Bowser administration said the budget’s focus is “growing our economy; rightsizing spending, and investing in our shared priorities.” But housing advocates from organizations like the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless say they worry the proposed budget, which cuts welfare, Medicaid, and housing programs, seeks economic growth at the expense of the city’s most vulnerable.
The District faces a difficult financial future, elected officials say, not only due to a $1.1 billion hole Congress created in the current fiscal budget but because of an expected future $1 billion shortfall in 2029 resulting from the loss of 40,000 federal jobs, according to February projections by the city’s chief financial officer. Bowser’s budget bets on stirring much-needed economic growth through providing tax cuts to businesses, changing laws she believes hinder development, and investing millions of public dollars to return the Washington Commanders to RFK Stadium, with hopes the resulting growth allows D.C. to keep funding social programs. For Bowser, the proposed budget is an effort to cut what she sees as unsustainable programs, keep taxes low, and spur growth now, so the city isn’t stuck in a cycle of asking taxpayers for more money every year to balance the budget.
“You won’t find anywhere in this region the types of homeless services that we offer in the District of Columbia,” Bowser said at a press conference for the budget’s release. “And if we are to maintain those, we have to have more businesses, more people, more people paying taxes.”
The budget now goes to the D.C. Council, several members of which have expressed concern about it. Councilmembers like Ward 3’s Matthew Frumin and Ward 7’s Wendell Felder, for instance, recognized
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that with the budget challenges, some programs must be prioritized over others. But they say the budget should be viewed through its impact on low-income residents.
“We know when our wealthy and middle-class families catch a cold, our most low-income and vulnerable residents catch the flu,” Felder said at the budget oversight hearing for D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS) in late May. “And it is in that context that we must evaluate how the proposed cuts will impact our most vulnerable residents.”
So what programs could lose funding, and which D.C. residents could lose services as a result of the cuts? Bowser’s budget proposes changes to eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), commonly referred to as welfare, and Medicaid, removing people from both programs. It would also cut the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and a legal fund for low-income residents who need representation due to crises such as eviction or domestic violence, services the city’s poorest residents benefit from. Bowser, however, didn’t frame these changes as cuts, but “rightsizing” these programs and services.
In Bowser’s budget, TANF recipients in D.C would see stricter job search requirements and sanctions for not meeting them, and would not receive a cash assistance increase to account for inflation. The program would also no longer support adults who’ve been in the program for longer than 60 months starting in fiscal year 2027. The work requirements will impact the 14,623 households receiving TANF benefits, according to the most recent data on TANF beneficiaries presented by DHS at a March public oversight hearing. There are approximately 6,500 households that have received TANF for greater than 60 months, according to DHS in a statement to Street Sense.
“DHS will work with the community to develop a hardship policy, which would allow eligible households to continue to receive benefits and services beyond the 60-month time limit,” a DHS spokesperson wrote in a statement.
Continued on the next page.
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Budget, continued
The proposed changes to Medicaid eligibility would make childless adults and adult caregivers whose income is $21,597 or above — 138% of the federal poverty level — ineligible for Medicaid. The mayor’s office expects the change to impact over 25,000 people. Bowser said these residents would be eligible for a new, less expensive basic health plan, but it’s not yet clear what the premiums or copays would be under the program.
The Health Care Alliance Program, a program that offers health insurance to D.C. residents regardless of immigration status, would also be phased out over the next four years under Bowser’s proposal. That would result in 27,000 people losing health care coverage, in an effort to save the city $48.1 million in fiscal year 2026 and $457.4 million throughout the financial plan, according to the city’s fiscal impact statement. In another blow to the local immigrant community, the budget would also defund the Office of Migrant Services, a $39.8 million cut.
In housing, Bowser’s proposal cuts ERAP, a heavily sought-after rental assistance program for people facing emergencies, by $21.9 million. Bowser has repeatedly proposed cutting the program, which she argues some people take advantage of, though the D.C. Council often has worked to restore funding. The program was in such high demand that applications for assistance closed after just one day last year.
Bowser defended her proposed cuts by pointing to other spending on homelessness prevention, including one-time allocations of $18.9 million to support D.C.’s Continuum of Care, which offers a range of services through various agencies to meet the needs of families and individuals who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness; $3.5 million to support homeless shelter operations; $13 million to support Short Term Family Housing program; and $9.8 million to support the Family Re-housing Stabilization Program division at DHS.
Despite the infusion, the budget would reduce yearly operating revenue by $16.8 million from Rapid Rehousing for families, $3.3 million from Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals, and $7.1 million from the D.C. Housing Authority’s affordable housing program. The 2026 fiscal budget includes a $56.9 million cut from the D.C. Department of Human Services overall.
“We’re looking at an incredibly regressive budget,” said Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Executive Director Amber Harding. “Regressive to the point of erasing the progress these same decision makers, including Mayor Bowser, have made over the years.”
According to the fiscal impact statement, the vision for the Rapid Rehousing program is to “reduce net agency spending in fiscal year 2027 by $19.7 million and $56.9 million over the four-year budget and financial plan, by either reducing the number of clients served overall, or by directing them to less expensive programs.”
While Rapid Rehousing has faced criticism for its failure to lead to sustainable housing, it’s also a program thousands of D.C. residents have used to move out of shelters.
The less expensive program would be DC Flex, which offers families $8,400 to spend per year on rent for four years. The other cost-saving measure mentioned in the budget is Bowser’s proposal to reinstate the city’s ability to place families in congregate shelters, a change from a policy to place families in apartment-style or private shelters.
Harding points to the reductions around paying for housing during Rapid Rehousing appeals and reversing policy preventing families from being put in congregate shelters as examples of how the mayor is backsliding on her promises.
“Mayor Bowser is the one who closed D.C. General, and now she’s proposing to create a new D.C. General in the law,” said Harding. “The problem with D.C. General was that it allowed for congregate placements of families, and it was really dangerous and unsafe.”
The council will hold budget hearings over the next month and is scheduled to vote on the budget at the end of July.
The long road home through D.C.’s housing voucher system
Getting a housing voucher is just the first hurdle to exit homelessness in D.C. For many, moving into housing can take months as they face limited resources, inaccessible apartments, and delays.
EMILY SOHL Volunteer Freelance Reporter
Nearly a decade ago, just out of prison and on probation, Phillip Duckett collapsed on the pavement outside Union Station. Duckett struggled to breathe and was rushed to the hospital. There, he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — a condition he said was worsened by decades of smoking during years of living on the streets, in shelters, and in prison.
For the next several years, as Duckett hauled oxygen tanks through shelters and hospital rooms, he remained without stable housing.
“I spent most of my time, when I was on the streets, before I got into the program, just wandering around,” he said.
It wasn’t until May 2024 that Duckett finally got a key to his own apartment through D.C.’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program. While Duckett’s is a success story, that’s not guaranteed in a
process that can be overwhelmed by demand, slowed down by red tape, and complicated by a lack of communication and stigma. It’s gotten faster for people to move into housing with PSH vouchers in the last two years, but people who work with voucher holders say there are still problems.
“There’s a lot that doesn’t work about the housing process,” said Arjenaye Quick, Duckett’s case manager at Pathways to Housing DC, a local nonprofit that administers some of the city’s PSH vouchers.
The PSH program provides housing vouchers to people experiencing homelessness who also have chronic physical or mental health conditions that make it hard for them to work, like Duckett’s COPD. It’s one of the main ways unsheltered people move into housing in the city. But while PSH and other voucher programs can be life-changing, it can be difficult to escape homelessness, especially for those already navigating instability, illness, or the lasting impacts of incarceration.
Phillip Duckett secured an apartment after decades of housing instability in Anacostia. Photo by Emily Sohl
Getting a voucher
Ebony Scott became homeless shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. She lost her job at a hotel, and soon after, her home. For three years, she lived at Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter, where she said she endured violence and instability. Getting connected to housing felt like a long shot.
“A couple times, it seemed like a group of women were able to go — they found housing for them — but then it was like, ‘but not y’all,’” Scott said, referring to case workers at the shelter. “You’d have to wait and try to get in at the right time to be the next group.”
But Scott said she kept showing up at drop-in centers to speak with case managers until someone took notice. “Finally, they saw my persistence and they started to take me seriously,” she said.
Scott is one of many unhoused D.C. residents who secured a PSH voucher, which provides long-term subsidized rent and case management for those who are chronically homeless. To qualify, a person must be verifiably homeless for at least a year.
In D.C., thousands of people meet that definition, according to Andrew Wassenich, director of policy at Miriam’s Kitchen. According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, a one-night census of people experiencing homelessness in the city, at least 1,430 adults in D.C. were experiencing chronic homelessness in January, and it’s likely hundreds more will experience it throughout the year. Yet the number of new vouchers the city funds each year has declined since a record increase in 2022.
The District’s fiscal 2025 budget included vouchers for just 148 individuals — a steep drop from 2,400 vouchers in 2022 and 500 in 2023. While the city initially slowed investments after 2022 due to a backlog of unused vouchers, now few are available.
“When you have so few interventions in a given year, it’s really hard to prioritize,” said Wassenich.
People experiencing homelessness in D.C. are tracked through the Homeless Management Information System, which logs when someone accesses services, whether through a drop-in center, an outreach worker, or a shelter stay. People are assessed using a vulnerability index that takes into account the length of time they’ve been homeless, as well as their health and other risk factors, with those determined to be most vulnerable or having experienced homelessness the longest prioritized for vouchers.
Even for those selected, the application process can be long, sometimes leaving both case managers and unhoused individuals in the dark. Once someone is matched with a voucher, a housing organization — such as Miriam’s Kitchen or Pathways to Housing DC — helps them complete the application. The process involves gathering paperwork and submitting materials to D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and then the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA). Participants are now matched to case managers much faster than they were in 2022, waiting just 16 days on average as opposed to 163, due to the system’s increase capacity through hiring, according to DHS’s voucher dashboard. DHS and DCHA did not respond to requests for additional comment in time for publication.
While DHS’s public voucher dashboard says the government has worked over the past few years to speed up the process, including revising the application itself so it takes less time to complete and reducing additional documentation requirements, it can still take time — on average, just over 300 days between getting a voucher and moving into housing, though this is a marked improvement from the 447 days it took in fiscal year 2022, according to the dashboard.
“The communication between DHS and DCHA is not great,” said Wassenich. “Things get lost, things don’t get communicated, and voucher applications sometimes sit for 60, 90, 120 days or more.”
Quick said those communication gaps trickle down to clients, too, who often feel left in the dark and discouraged.
“This is a very, very stressful point in their life — after dealing with stress after stress, after being on the streets for however long, or being in shelters for however long,” she said. “It’s really important that they can visualize themselves in a home and that they have goals and motivations for doing so.”
Moving into housing
Securing a PSH voucher is just the beginning. The next step — finding an apartment — presents a new set of barriers. And if a voucher holder doesn’t secure housing within 180 days of receiving the voucher, they must reapply, according to federal rules.
“In theory, you can go to any apartment in the city and you can apply for it just like anybody else, and if you get approved, you can move in,” said Wassenich. “But that is not a slam dunk.”
While D.C. law requires landlords to include a certain number of subsidized units and prohibits outright denial based on voucher status, that doesn’t stop landlords from rejecting individual applications, Wassenich explained.
“There are plenty of buildings in the city that still discriminate and will find reasons to not accept you,” said Wassenich. “Or they’ve set up rules that make it impossible for you to be able to use your voucher there.”
DCHA has worked to ensure participants can find apartments, according to public statements, including
hosting landlord town halls and providing housing locator services to people with vouchers looking to lease up. A New Lease on Life program works with landlords interested in renting to voucher holders to identify available units for voucher holders and make sure landlords have a point of contact within the government. The Coalition, a nonprofit supporting economic development in the city, also offers a landlord partnership fund, with the goal of incentivizing more landlords to rent to people with vouchers.
Finding a place to live can be even more difficult for people with prior convictions or accessibility needs. Case managers at the 801 East Men’s Shelter struggled to place Duckett due to his criminal record and mobility challenges.
Duckett, who was incarcerated for firearm possession, drug charges, and parole violations, said he began selling drugs at age 17 while living on the streets. Now in his early 80s, his COPD causes him to struggle with shortness of breath — making stairs and certain buildings inaccessible.
These factors made it significantly harder for Duckett to find a unit that both met his needs and would accept him. With so few accessible apartments available, the process dragged on so long that he had to reapply for his voucher twice before finally securing housing, Duckett said.
The next step was submitting a Request for Tenancy Approval Packet to DCHA. This includes a rent reasonableness assessment to ensure the landlord’s asking price aligns with market rates to prevent the government from overpaying landlords. If the rent is too high, DCHA is required by federal guidance to negotiate the rent or deny the lease if the landlord refuses to lower it. Additional costs, such as amenity fees, can also become dealbreakers for potential residents.
“If it’s outside of rent, that means it’s always going to be the responsibility of the resident to take care of that,” Quick said — an obstacle for many voucher holders living on limited incomes.
The city is working to shorten the process from voucher match to move-in. Since 2022, the average time to lease up has dropped from 475 days to 303 days in 2024, according to the DHS dashboard, which also says the agency hopes to reduce the timeline to 120 days. Miriam’s Kitchen and other housing organizations hope to bring that down further to 90 days — a goal Wassenich calls “an impossible feat,” but one worth pursuing. “It will relieve a lot of tension in the system,” he said.
‘I’m not on the street anymore’
For those who make it through the process, the results can be profound. Scott said she was blown away by the support she received through the PSH program.
“My mind was like — ‘huh?’” said Scott.
Now, Scott’s living in her own apartment and working in maintenance at the Advanced Technical Center, a technical school for young people. For the first time in years, she has hope. But she’s still wary of the future, especially with the cuts threatened under the Trump presidency.
“It’s kind of sad because now, with everything being cut, it’s like, again, we’re like, ‘what?’” she said, expressing concern over job security and federal budget cuts.
Duckett, too, is rebuilding. Like Scott, he’s hopeful — but cautious.
“I’m still trying to adapt my mind to, ‘I’m not on the street anymore,’” said Duckett. “I don’t have to worry about being in the snow, being in the cold, or any of those things like that.”
He hasn’t used his oven yet — he said he’s just not used to having one — but he’s determined not to take his new home for granted.
“I’m not gonna do nothing to lose this place,” said Duckett.
En
los albergues del Distrito de Columbia, las personas que no hablan inglés sufren las consecuencias de la falta de traducción
Las consecuencias son potencialmente muy graves, ya que puede llevar a que las rechacen, se aprovechen de ellas o tengan que sufrir situaciones de abuso.
FRANZISKA WILD
Periodista
Aviso: este artículo incluye descripciones de agresiones sexuales
Kiara Meza, madre de dos y embarazada, se retorcía de dolor en el suelo tras haber intentado convencer al personal de su programa de vivienda juvenil (financiado por el ayuntamiento) de que llamasen a una ambulancia. Pero asegura que no podían entenderla y que no encontraron ninguna manera de poder traducir lo que decía.
El idioma principal de Meza, originaria de Perú, es el español. Es aficionada a la música, aspira a ser esteticista y es una madre abnegada. Desde que llegó al Distrito de Columbia hace un año, ha ido dando tumbos de albergue en albergue. Nos cuenta que, en la mayoría de los centros, nadie del personal hablaba español. La barrera del idioma no solo resultaba frustrante, sino que llegó a ser peligrosa cuando sufrió una grave infección renal en enero.
Ella afirma sobre una de las trabajadoras del programa de vivienda juvenil en el que se alojaba (gestionado por Covenant House), que «nunca llamó a la ambulancia. Yo me estaba muriendo ahí de los riñones».
Asegura que durante este episodio el personal de Covenant House no intentó en ningún momento utilizar la línea de idiomas (Language Line) de la ciudad para tener acceso a servicios de traducción; a pesar de que todos los servicios financiados por fondos públicos de la ciudad (incluidos los albergues y los programas de viviendas de transición) están obligados a disponer de acceso lingüístico en virtud de la ley de Acceso Lingüístico de 2004, y a pesar de que la ciudad proporciona acceso gratuito a servicios de traducción a través de la línea de idiomas. En palabras de Angela Jones Hackley, consejera delegada de Covenant House, el personal recibe formación y protocolos de actuación que indican que utilizar la línea de idiomas debe ser el «primer y único recurso». No obstante, esa no fue la experiencia de Meza. Finalmente, se puso en contacto con su asistente social bilingüe de SMYAL, un servicio para jóvenes sin hogar, que llamó a una ambulancia. El relato de Meza no es un caso aislado. A pesar de que existen recursos como la línea de idiomas, las barreras lingüísticas en el sistema de albergues del Distrito de Columbia han ocasionado reiterados perjuicios a personas sin hogar, según afirman aquellas personas que han experimentado esta situación, así como sus defensores y defensoras. Las consecuencias de las barreras lingüísticas sobre las personas que buscan refugio pueden llegar a ser graves: puede llevar a que las rechacen de los refugios, a que se aprovechen de ellas o a que tengan que sufrir situaciones de abuso.
«El acceso lingüístico constituye un problema en todos los eslabones del sistema de atención a las personas sin hogar», afirma Carmen Thorpe, orientadora comunitaria de District Bridges, un servicio destinado a esta población. «La primera vez que nos reunimos con quienes acuden a nosotras, se emocionan mucho al ver que alguien habla español. Para muchas personas, el idioma es una barrera infranqueable», afirma.
A finales de abril, Ruth Nivar, una exempleada del Departamento de Servicios Humanos (DHS por sus siglas en inglé) del Distrito de Columbia, fue condenada a dos años de prisión federal por extorsionar a personas que no hablan inglés y que solicitaron asistencia gubernamental entre 2018 y 2023, según informa el Washington Post.
Pero a pesar de las señales de alarma que puedan haber suscitado las acciones de Nivar, los problemas de acceso lingüístico persisten en todo el sistema de servicios para personas sin hogar, especialmente en los albergues financiados por el DHS, según el personal de intervención comunitaria que presta servicios principalmente a personas que no hablan inglés.
Thorpe, así como Andrés Meza (no guarda parentesco con Kiara) y Sierra Barnedo, quienes son asistentes sociales en SMYAL y trabajan principalmente con jóvenes hispanohablantes, señalaron que la mayor parte del personal de los albergues y programas no es bilingüe y con frecuencia, a pesar de los requisitos del gobierno, no se pueden comunicar con aquellas personas que no hablan inglés.
Un equipo de periodistas de Street Sense realizó una inspección lingüística de los albergues con pocos requisitos de acceso que están financiados por el DHS y que, por tanto deben, ser accesibles en otros idiomas. El equipo llamó a los ocho albergues de este tipo que figuran en la lista del DHS, así como a la línea de ayuda de dichos albergues. Se identificaron como periodistas en español antes de hacer preguntas sobre el acceso lingüístico.
Cuando llamaron a la línea de ayuda de los albergues, que es la forma en que la mayoría de las personas que buscan refugio se ponen en contacto para preguntar si hay camas disponibles o solicitar transporte, el personal utilizó la línea de idiomas, un servicio de interpretación telefónica, para comunicarse. Pero cuando los y las periodistas llamaron a albergues concretos para saber cómo podía responder el personal de recepción de estos centros a las personas que no hablaban inglés después de haber sido derivadas a través de la línea de ayuda o de haber entrado en el centro, comprobaron que apenas se recurría a la línea de idiomas y que el personal bilingüe era escaso.
Davyd Abreu. Foto por Madi Koesler
El equipo de periodistas solo encontró un albergue (New York Avenue) con una persona del personal que hablara español, y un albergue (Pat Handy) con una opción de menú en español.
En otros albergues con pocos requisitos, como Adams Place, Harriet Tubman, Emery y 801 East, el personal colgó el teléfono a los y las periodistas inmediatamente o tras decir en pocas palabras que no hablaban español. Al solicitar servicios de traducción, el personal no intentó llamar a la línea de idiomas ni ponerse en contacto con un/a intérprete. En uno de los centros, el personal indicó que volverían a llamar con un/a intérprete, pero nunca lo hicieron. El equipo periodístico realizó varias rondas de llamadas a distintas horas del día, con el mismo resultado.
Según un portavoz del DHS, el organismo encargado de supervisar los albergues, todas las organizaciones que los gestionan deben cumplir con las leyes de acceso lingüístico del Distrito de Columbia, lo que incluye formar a su personal en este ámbito. El portavoz no respondió a una serie de preguntas detalladas sobre la accesibilidad lingüística ni sobre el uso de la línea de idiomas en los albergues, pero sí afirmó que «el DHS seguirá supervisando el cumplimiento de estas normas y trabajará para apoyar a las organizaciones en la atención a nuestros usuarios y usuarias».
Los resultados de la inspección de Street Sense coinciden con la experiencia de Thorpe a la hora de ayudar a las personas a las que acompaña a acceder a refugios con pocos requisitos de acceso y a los servicios de gestión de viviendas. De las 40 personas bajo su seguimiento, solo tres cuentan con un o una asistente social que hable español.
«Siempre tengo que encargarme de traducir para las personas con las que trabajo en el DHS. Aunque cuentan con una línea de idiomas, muchas veces esa línea no funciona bien», explicó Thorpe. «Con frecuencia, las y los coordinadores de casos con quienes colaboro no hablan español, así que la responsabilidad recae sobre mí. Sin mi ayuda, muchas de estas personas habrían quedado desatendidas».
Las barreras lingüísticas no solo retrasan el acceso de las personas que no hablan inglés a una vivienda o a un albergue, sino que también pueden hacer que desenvolverse dentro de los albergues o en las viviendas de emergencia sea inseguro.
Entre enero y abril, Davyd Abreu estuvo viviendo en SHINE, un programa de vivienda transitoria financiado por el DHS y gestionado por Covenant House, que ofrece acompañamiento social y servicios con enfoque sensible al trauma para jóvenes LGBTQ+. Abreu, originario de Venezuela, está aprendiendo inglés, pero su dominio del idioma sigue siendo bastante limitado.
Abreu utilizó otro nombre durante su estancia en el programa SHINE, pero prefirió no hacerlo público por motivos de privacidad. Street Sense ha verificado su identidad mediante documentación exhaustiva, incluidos mensajes de texto, informes policiales y de incidentes, así como fotografías.
En SHINE, Abreu cuenta que el personal lo trataba de forma distinta por no saber inglés, y sentía que no podía defenderse ni presentar quejas debido a la barrera lingüística. Incluso solicitudes sencillas, como pedir otras opciones de comida, eran difíciles de comunicar, ya que el personal de SHINE dependía del traductor de Google, según él. Desde su perspectiva, era «como si no tuvieran acceso» a la línea de idiomas. «Nunca pude hacer una demanda de comida porque la verdad no sabe hablar en inglés, y les molestaba».
Según Jones Hackley, consejera delegada de Covenant House, el personal recibe formación para tratar a los y las usuarias con respeto y se les indica que utilicen los servicios de interpretación aprobados, incluida la línea de idiomas.
«Nuestro objetivo es que todos y todas las jóvenes puedan acceder a los servicios que ofrecemos», dijo ella. «Reentrenamos al personal recientemente, y podemos seguir haciéndolo. Nuestra postura está clara: la línea de idiomas es
la herramienta adecuada. El traductor de Google no lo es, y no lo usamos para comunicarnos con los y las jóvenes».
Pero J, identificada solo por su inicial debido a razones de privacidad, tuvo experiencias similares a las de Abreu durante su estancia en SHINE. Contó que el personal dependía del traductor de Google para comunicarse con ella, lo que dificultaba que pudiera explicar sus necesidades concretas como mujer trans.
Abreu todavía estaba en SHINE en febrero. Ese mes, tuvo un accidente y se fracturó la pierna. La noche en la que le dieron el alta hospitalaria y regresó a SHINE, otro miembro del programa intentó violarlo. Abreu explicó que trató de comunicar lo que estaba pasando al personal del albergue, pero tanto él como Andrés Meza aseguraron que el personal se negó a llamar a la Policía Metropolitana (MPD) y no intentaron usar la línea de idiomas.
En cambio, como muestran unas fotos que Abreu tomó del teléfono de un trabajador y compartió con Street Sense, el personal usó el traductor de Google para traducir las instrucciones y le dijeron a Abreu: «Acabamos de cambiarlo de habitación, puedes regresar», refiriéndose al presunto agresor.
«Llamé a Andrés, entonces, él nunca me responde en las noches porque no es horario laborable», dijo Abreu. «Pero, él, por gracia de Dios, me contesto, y le dije que me llamara a la policía, que me llamara a la ambulancia».
Street Sense obtuvo una copia del informe de incidente inusual presentado por SHINE al DHS, que coincide con el relato de Abreu sobre el intento de violación. En el informe se indica que «debido a barreras lingüísticas, [DA] llamó por teléfono a un asistente social de SMYLE, y ese asistente social, sin que Covenant House DC lo supiera, llamó a la Policía Metropolitana y denunció que se había producido una agresión sexual en las instalaciones de SHINE».
Aunque Jones Hackley no pudo hablar del incidente en concreto, aseguró que Covenant House está colaborando con la policía. Andrés Meza declaró que Covenant House no ofreció ningún «servicio de apoyo», como ayuda jurídica o terapia, tras el incidente.
De ahora en adelante, dijo Jones Hackley, Covenant House se asegurará de «volver a capacitar y reforzar la comunicación con nuestro personal, así como nuestros valores al atender a los y las jóvenes».
«Queremos que todas las personas jóvenes se sientan bien acogidas al cruzar nuestras puertas, y para ello seguimos todas las leyes del Distrito», añadió.
Después del incidente, Abreu empezó a tomar medidas para salir del programa SHINE. Actualmente vive en una vivienda proporcionada por SMYAL, que también conlleva sus propios desafíos ya que no se lleva bien con algunos de los otros jóvenes con los que comparte el espacio, pero, en sus palabras, al menos ahora puede expresarse libremente.
A día de hoy está centrado en recuperarse del incidente para sentirse más estable y más en control de su vida. No obstante, recalca su convicción de que la ciudad necesita mejorar el acceso lingüístico en los servicios de atención a personas sin hogar, a fin de que todas las personas puedan ser comprendidas.
«Habemos muchas personas como yo que a veces andamos por la vía y queremos buscar en una fundación en algo y resulta y acontece que no hablan inglés, hablan español y cuesta », afirmó.
Del editor: Este articulo fue publicado primero en inglés el 7 de mayo. Graham Krewinghaus y Cody Slutzky colaboraron en la redacción y traducción. La traducción al español fue realizada por Sofía Martínez Úbeda gracias al INSP (International Network of Street Papers).
This article was originally published in English on May 7, but is republished here in Spanish for language accessibility. To read the English version, go to streetsensemedia. org or scan the QR code.
Nonprofit spreads the word about lack of city resources allocated to D.C. youth experiencing homelessness
SARAH ECCLESTON Volunteer Freelance Reporter
new report on the state of youth homelessness in the District of Columbia was released in late April by DC Action, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocating for the well-being of children, youth, and families in the District. It studied those experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 to 24, aiming to help lawmakers understand the importance of services for youth experiencing homelessness and to encourage a plan that works to end youth homelessness.
A“The primary question was ‘what can the District do to make youth homelessness rare?’” DC Action Deputy Director of Youth Advocacy Rachel White told Street Sense. “In order to do that, we have to determine what are the root causes and contributing factors of youth homelessness, what currently exists in the District to support youth homelessness, what are the gaps in the services… and then, like, based on all that information, what are the recommendations to bring it closer to ending.”
The report, primarily authored by White, was a collaborative effort. With help from other staff members from DC Action, youth homelessness service providers, youth with lived experience, partner organizations, and DC Action’s youth advisory team, the report took about two years from start to finish.
The report asserts in its first section that there are three root causes of homelessness: racism, poverty, and unaffordable housing. DC Action also included identity, economic status, and lived experience as contributing factors to District youth experiencing homelessness. Youth who are Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, or young parents — especially those already facing financial instability — are more likely to experience homelessness in the District.
According to the report, each year about 10,000 District youth experience housing insecurity, and more than 2,000 experience literal homelessness. Of the 12,000, 70% are Black, 18% identify as Latino or Hispanic, and 1% identify as Afro-Latino, according to the report. When looking further into the disparities, DC Action discovered 40% identify as LGBTQ+, according to the 2024 Youth Count and 90% of District youth who are parents experiencing homelessness are women.
DC Action’s report stated there has been an increase in young people experiencing homelessness since 2020. However, a few weeks after the report was released, the 2025 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Point-in-Time Count came out, showing a drop in youth homelessness. Although from 2023 to 2024 the number of youth experiencing homelessness increased, in 2025, there was a 42-person or 13% decrease from 2024. Despite the decrease in the last year, since 2021, the number of District youth experiencing homelessness has increased by 13%.
Meanwhile, the city funded 592 beds in the youth homelessness system in 2024. That is a 16% decrease from the 704 beds funded about a decade ago.
Despite inflation, the city funds allocated for the community-based nonprofit organizations that provide services to District youth experiencing homelessness have remained the same over the last 10 years when adjusted for inflation. The city currently allocates around $22 million per year. Although the amount of money contributed is increasing when adjusted for inflation, White said it is a “de facto cut.”
“This is a direct result of chronic underinvestment in the system and the system continues to be flat funded, allocating up to the same dollar amount year after year,” White said.
D.C. councilmembers will cast their first vote on the city’s fiscal 2026 budget on July 14, deciding which priorities — including funding for youth homelessness services — will shape the District’s spending. The mayors’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal suggests a $1.6 million cut in funding for youth homelessness services. This includes cuts of $931K to permanent supportive housing/extended transitional housing, $445K to transitional housing, and $236K to the youth homelessness continuum.
White pointed to the report’s conclusion, which offers solutions to youth homelessness, as the most important part. Right now, there is no mandate for the District to create an evaluation process or a recurring strategic plan to review the state of youth homelessness.
In 2017, D.C. came out with Solid Foundations, which was a plan dedicated to ending homelessness. However, with the passing of eight years and the COVID-19 pandemic, White said a lot has changed since then, so she believes there should be a mandate to “review where we are now.”
“Without a strategic plan, we’re throwing, like, noodles at the wall and hoping they’ll stick without knowing what are the actual target resources and things that are needed for the specialized population within the larger experiencing home experience,” White said.
On May 8, DC Action held a public briefing sharing the results of the report. During the briefing, two D.C. youth who have experienced homelessness were given a platform to share their experiences with youth homelessness. One of them, Flo White, no relation to Rachel White, is now a youth advocate working with Sasha Bruce Youthwork, and first experienced homelessness at 19 years old.
A lack of financial support, limited financial literacy, and the “overwhelming pressure of balancing two jobs while attending school” led to her losing her apartment.
“I was doing everything I could to stay afloat … My housing journey has been nothing short of a challenge,” she said.
She found out she was pregnant while living in youth transitional housing, and she was unable to remain there due to their policies.
“While the relationship [with her baby’s father] was unstable, I convinced myself that moving in with him would be better than being on the streets or back in the shelter system while waiting for a replacement [for her housing],” she said. “I thought I was choosing the lesser of two evils, but it quickly became clear that … it was the wrong decision. The relationship became quickly, emotionally, and initially abusive, and after a few months, I realized it was not a healthy environment to bring a child into.”
She added, “I know I’m not the only one in this situation. That’s why we need a youthcentered homelessness system that recognizes the unique needs of young parents and youth who are experiencing homelessness.”
Rachel White said the release of the report has triggered involvement from individuals involved in the causes that affect those experiencing homelessness.
“Since the release of the report, we have been contacted by folks from different sectors, such as the domestic violence education sector,” she said. “So, hopefully this report can also serve as a tool … to provide more supportive services and, you know, enhance the safety net for youth experiencing homelessness.”
Mikey, a young person experincing homelessness in the city, poses with a copy of a Street Sense issue he was featured in. Photo by Madi Koesler
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Eastern Europe in five days: D.O.A. in Linz, Austria, on Christmas and thankful for it
WENDELL WILLIAMS Vendor/Artist
This is the final installment in Wendell Williams’ series about his Eastern European cruise. You can read the earlier stories at streetsensemedia.org. When we last left him, he was escaping “The Sound of Music” in Salzburg on Christmas Eve
How did I make it to the pickup spot in Salzburg and fall into my friend’s arms? You can chalk it up to only having to walk all downhill throughout the journey, all while battling myself to keep out of my mind the thought, “Wendell, this time may be the time you cut it too close and get left.” But as the saying goes, it’s better to be lucky than talented, or, more fitting in this case, God takes care of fools and babies. Unlike the times when I’m trying to be clever and keep you guessing as to what I mean, you’ll only need one guess as to which category I’d fall in if you’ve read any of our misadventures. As a team, we usually make plans. Then I go off script, and she is the anchor with a steady presence. At times, we flip-flop. But for the most part, she’s the compass, and I follow the bat signal back to her.
As we began the ride back through Bavaria, the excitement of seeing so much gave way to falling asleep, staring out the windows, and watching the Alps fade away as we moved back through the valley towards the Danube and our home on the water.
When we arrived, there was hardly a sound from the group as we made our way down the gangway, swiped our cards, and staggered to our rooms to change for the Christmas Eve dinner program, beginning with a cocktail party with merriment and song before the meal. We were so beat and there were still two days to go before heading back home. With this in mind, we took the time to nap, with the strategy of resting up all we could for the final push through the finish line. That was a great plan, except we forgot to factor in one all-important thing: while we were looking ahead and thinking of Father Christmas’ arrival that night, we had forgotten about Father Time.
When we came to, we rushed to get into Christmas Eve outfits and sped to the dining room. We were way past the halfway point of the meal. But our bodies needed the rest, and we decided to skip the cocktail party later to get even more rest for the early call in the morning.
I remember lying there, looking out, as we started moving again towards Linz, a city in Upper Austria. It’s the country’s third-largest, straddling the Danube River midway between Salzburg and Vienna with baroque buildings, including an old town hall (Altes Rathaus) and the old cathedral or Alter Dom, that ring Hauptplatz, the old town’s main square. We were due to arrive the next morning. I was wondering if I had enough left in the tank for one, a long bus ride into the Czech Republic and over the mountains to Prague, two, all the walking we’d be doing around that old city, and three, keeping up with the pace of much younger guides with all my health issues. I was hoping for the best, like all ex-jocks who believe they could will themselves into doing what they used to do for one more game if the coaches called.
The crew had already announced that, due to the early departure for those heading to Prague for Christmas, there’d be an early breakfast. Although we asked for a wake-up, evidently, one of two things happened: either we both overslept, which I doubt, or she was up at the call, saw my condition, and took a dive for my sake. I woke up with this manic energy. Hopped out of bed with my mind racing and thinking oh shit let’s go, go, go, but she simply calmly said, “We’ve missed the bus, let’s just lay back down and hit the brunch.” There was nothing we could do, as the ship believed in being and leaving on time. I was thinking the fix was in. But we had such nice plans for Christmas Day, so now what?
In my experience of being unhoused, I’d mastered how, when life gives you lemons, you learn to make various kinds of lemonade, kind of like how Forrest could run off tens, if not hundreds, of shrimp dishes. It was Christmas Day in Christmas Land, so surely we could turn it into something memorable. After brunch, we heard an announcement go out to those interested in taking a walking tour of Linz. As with all the cities on the Danube we visited, there were open green spaces on both sides of the riverbanks with moderndesigned museums, walking trails, modern artworks scattered about, and parks. But I’m thinking you’ve got to be kidding? Walking all afternoon again, seriously? But one look at her face and “we” volunteered for this patchwork group.
Off we went down the ramp. Luckily, we docked right in downtown, which, without the Christmas markets, turned out to be a rather pleasant walk. But the best part about the nondecision decision was that the whole place was deserted, as they still do Christmas the way we used to here, with nothing open, period. We started by moving through a closed, clear glass modern art museum building. No joke, you can walk through and see through it. It’s hard to explain how amazing that encounter was, and again, it was closed.
A main street with trolley tracks separated the core of downtown from the waterfront. It had almost no traffic on it as we trekked to the pedestrian bridge to cross over to buildings and businesses. Because there were no crowds out, to use a nautical term, it was smooth sailing in comparison, using the many breezeways and bridges connecting all the buildings. And later on, after exploring, we found all paths led to the town square that had the look and feel of an old deserted ghost town, only old European. The Christmas market was still up, but locked and shut up as tight as Langley, disappointing us Americans who figured we would get a Christmas Day discount on merchandise. You know, like Easter candy, the day after, in CVS. We did get some false hope, seeing a few vendors closing down, but they steadfastly refused to sell anything at any price. After I tried to start a bidding process to no avail, I found out that in their world, there are absolutely no sales after midnight Christmas Day. So all I brought home were a few refrigerator magnets because, for the most part, every single person selling something spoke German or the signage was in German.
As the group stood in the center of that square, it was like being on a movie set in the 30s, at least until a modern car came by. I did a slow 360 and took it all in, knowing it was the end of the road. A wonderful journey back in time without having to time travel. People along the way seemed to be less geared up, less hyped, not as rushed, and just chilled out. Maybe it was because I couldn’t understand a word of what was being said, but I watched them closely, reading their body language, and I believe that they were generally more content in their interactions with each other. Now, after I learn German, I may revise that assessment.
After a lot of photos, we started our way back on our own by different routes, taking other breezeways and pedestrian bridges through the arts university, and to my surprise, Sigmund Freud University, which I’d never heard of, and assumed would be in Vienna. I even found a pharmacy open and got a few snacks. We hung out looking at shop windows and taking photos of the many Christmas trees displayed as we made our way back to the park on what turned out to be the best walk of the trip. Just me and my sweet friend at our own pace, not racing to catch up or wondering where the others were or losing sight of one another, causing panic. Just two special friends out for a sunny Christmas Day walk through a city unknown to us both, not being rushed to do anything or get anywhere but only to enjoy the moment with each other, and collectively reflect on our past eight-day adventure that I initially intended to say no to.
Back on the boat, the Prague group still hadn’t returned when we started Christmas dinner, which was just great. The atmosphere was electric and very special, with people from all over the world bringing their holiday energy to the experience as carols were sung or played. We were seated with sisters who were native Hawaiians. They were older than us, as many were, but troopers. Lots were in wheelchairs and walkers but no one complained about the schedule and we got to interact with so many different people from many walks of life far away from my lived experience from all over the world which made me extremely grateful for all the support I’ve gotten from my street paper families here and in Cincinnati, where it all started for me with StreetVibes.
We hung around for a while for carols from the crew before retiring early, knowing we still had a monster day ahead after traveling upriver during the night to Passau, Germany, and the long foggy bus ride to the Munich Airport, which like Frankfurt, is an ordeal in itself, for the long flight home.
I know by now it’s summer, but Merry Christmas!
The ship’s tree Christmas night. Photo by Wendell Williams
If you weren’t around for the harvest, you won’t be invited to my
JEFFERY MCNEIL
Sfeast
ince publishing The Grind, more people ask me about my next chapter than my politics. The truth? I’ve evolved. Life humbles you. When you’re out on the battlefield, sometimes the only people who have your back are the same ones you once overlooked. That kind of grace will change a man. Am I endorsing AOC? Jasmine Crockett? No. And no, I haven’t become a card-carrying commie either. I just stopped seeing people as enemies because they wave a different flag. America doesn’t need more adolescents in suits. It needs adults in the room. People who understand you won’t get everything your way, and that’s not weakness. That’s realism
At the markets, I hear all the debates — Medicaid, Social Security, the debt. The truth is, Social Security’s been around since 1935. Medicaid since 1965. Boomers got theirs. My generation might not. People are tired of recycled outrage. The resentment is boiling.
But I don’t blame Trump or Biden for my missteps. I made bad moves. Took shortcuts. Paid the price. But failure? That’s just tuition. I learned. I grew. I regrouped. And I’m grateful to those who supported me. No bitterness toward those who didn’t. Street Sense isn’t just a newspaper — it’s a bet. When someone hands me $3, they’re not just buying a paper. They’re saying: “I believe in you.” That’s more than charity. That’s trust.
I never gave a sob story. I treated every sale like an investment. People betting I wouldn’t blow it. And while I’ve stumbled (who hasn’t?), I try to live with purpose. Because I believe God has a calling for me.
They said, “You can’t make a living writing for a homeless paper.”
But that didn’t stop me. Money doesn’t move me. Passion does. I’m not writing this book for a million-dollar advance. I’m writing it because it’s mine. My story. My grind.
Success isn’t viral. It’s daily. It’s getting laughed at, ignored, and rejected — until the tide turns.
They laughed at Noah, too — until the rain came.
So don’t show up for the feast if you skipped the harvest.
People ask, “Why don’t you get a job?” Nobody asks, “Why not start a business?”
I’m not chasing a paycheck. I’m chasing freedom. And freedom costs. Sometimes it costs comfort. Safety. Even pride. Some people think I’m crazy for turning down job offers. But nobody ever asks what your soul costs. Prostitutes make good money, too, but do they love what they do?
I might fail. But I like my odds. And I’m not left or right anymore. I’m in service to whoever needs me. If your tire’s flat, I’ll help. I don’t care how you vote. I never forget who helped me. And I help those I can.
I sleep well. No pills. No guilt. I’m not aiming for average. I don’t want a seat at the table. I want to own the bar. Sit in the king’s chair. Call it crazy. I call it vision. I didn’t do it alone. Street Sense gave me a platform. Nobody is self-made. Someone taught you how to walk. Someone tied your boots. Enough with the bootstrap myth, someone tied the damn laces first. This journey? It started with newspapers. Now I’ve written for The Washingtonian, The Examiner, and The Big Issue. Been on TV. Met celebrities. Sold papers to politicians. And not everyone claps when you rise. Some want to drag you back down. That’s why I grind.
To the new vendors: Don’t just sell. Build. Write. Invest. Diversify. Don’t wait for permission. Use what you’ve got.
I never begged. I built. And now, I’m finishing my book. Some say it could be a movie. I believe that — not from ego, but because I know: This isn’t just a survival story. It’s divine.
Jeffery McNeil is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
Social housing in Montgomery County is a model for D.C.
REGINALD BLACK
On Friday, May 2, I joined a group of fellow housing advocates for a tour of a complex that is introducing the concept of social housing to the Montgomery County area. The Laureate is a beautiful building, and its amenities and concept are seeking to help many Maryland residents find affordable housing through the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC).
The Laureate boasts a social housing concept, through which the county funds future projects with a revolving fund, according to Ken Silverman, Esq from the HOC. The county initiated a leasing developer fee, and the project manager faces stipulations to ensure residents are able to occupy the space affordably, Silverman said. The Laureate offers a 90% and 10% cash flow with resident services, and the community owns the building. The Laureate keeps the units interchangeable and does not differentiate between market rate and subsidized units.
Social housing is a housing concept aiming to create subsidized or affordable housing, often publicly owned and managed. It aims to address housing affordability issues for low-income individuals and families.
I took part in the D.C. grassroots planning coalition that explored the concept of social housing as part of the effort to influence the District of Columbia's comprehensive plan. The grassroots planning coalition sought to make sure the District of Columbia took a serious look at this housing concept. Many in the community have expressed concern with the city's inclusionary zoning program.
“The Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program requires that most new (and some renovated) residential developments include some affordable homes,” according to D.C.’s Department of Housing and Community Development website.
IZ homes are apartments for rent or condos/townhomes for sale. Households that make 50%, 60%, or 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI) may be eligible for IZ units. Those who are eligible for affordable housing through this program are selected through a lottery process as opposed to housing voucher services. Some of the D.C. grassroots planning coalition priorities included concepts like commitments to public housing, ending housing instability and supporting the unhoused, and communityled equitable development, and the social housing concept is a concept that keeps assets public.
The housing crisis in Washington, D.C. has to be addressed in various ways, and social housing could be one of those ways to produce more affordability. District of Columbia residents can greatly benefit from it.
Reginald Black is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
Above: The Laureate from the street. Right: The kitchen of a furnished two-bedroom apartment at the Laureate. Photos by Reginald Black
Best kept secret in the city
ROBERT VAUGHN Artist/Vendor
I was born in D.C. about 70 years ago and have experienced so many changes and evolutions in the city. One place, in particular, stands out in my mind. A place that became a haven for me in chaotic times and a place of solitude and serenity when life became too hectic and crowded. I’m talking about the National Arboretum in northeast D.C.
Situated in a secluded little neighborhood off Bladensburg and New York Avenues, it stretches southward to the golf course on Benning Road and northward to New York Avenue. Even many long-time D.C. natives aren’t familiar with this park. It’s a national research park under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in town.
I grew up in Ivy City, the northeast. A major part of my days, when not in school, was spent exploring my immediate neighborhood by bicycle and finding new places to get away from the adult world. My buddies and I decided to investigate a large cemetery a few minutes from our home, and, much to our surprise, we found we could enter the gates on West Virginia Avenue and end up on the other side of the cemetery on Bladensburg Road. From that side of the cemetery, we could look across the street and see this beautiful landscape, which we would later find out was the National Arboretum.
We searched around to find an entrance to this enticing bit of nature and found that if we went down R Street, off of Bladensburg Road, it would lead us directly into the main entrance to the park. R Street was lined with so many perfectly manicured lawns and houses that looked like they were taken right out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. There was one house in particular that resembled a large Swiss chalet. I would always tell the guys, “That’s gonna be my house when I grow up.”
Upon entering the gate, we first encountered the administration building. Surrounding the entire building was a koi pond filled with the most beautifully colored fish, also known as Japanese carp. We always made sure we brought plenty of bread to feed the fish. Next door to the administration building was the bonsai exhibit, an amazing collection of miniature bonsai trees, some of which were hundreds of years old and no more than a foot or two tall. I remember trying to think about what was happening in the world during the time some of these trees were planted. Just across the road was the herb garden. I can almost smell the gentle fragrances in the summer breezes.
Moving deeper into the park, we encountered Heart Lake. A small lake shaped like a heart. Adjacent to that was Fern Lake. Fern Lake was my favorite place. I would spend hours hanging out on the banks watching the ducks, geese, turtles, and fish. On one of the shores of the lake was a beautiful white columned little gazebo where I knew that someday I’d be married. Not far from the gazebo was a big, sprawling weeping willow tree. I would lie under its branches for hours, enjoying a brief respite from the summer heat.
We’d ride down a little path through Fern Valley, a perfect place to catch frogs in the little creeks. As we continued our journey, we discovered a small pond in a grove of oak and evergreen trees. During the winter months, the pond would freeze over, and we’d use it as our little ice skating rink, pretending to have ice skates but just sliding around the ice in our shoes. Years later, I thought back to how dangerous that really was. Thank God the ice never broke.
Up through the years, I’d share this beautiful piece of nature with all my loved ones. Children, grandchildren, and even a couple of great grands. Sadly, though, the last time I was there, I could see the toll governmental cuts and neglect had taken on this special place. There were some new additions, like the columns of the original U.S. Capitol building, but the old favorites were still there, including the bonsai pavilion. The weeping willow tree was still there, so that’s where I chose to spend a couple of hours eating my lunch, napping, and reminiscing on days long passed. If ever you’d like to take a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of D.C. city life, go down and visit The National Arboretum, the best-kept secret in the city.
Free Mr. Clark
JAY B. WILLIAMS
Artist/Vendor
‘Cuz my papa is dead
Free Mr. Clark
‘cuz daddy couldn’t be here
Free Mr. Clark because in the ninth grade I met Mr. Clark, and he said I couldn’t read
Free Mr. Clark because in the ninth grade
I met Mr Clark, and he said you could be anything you want but until you are ready
You can lean on me
A mother’s love
L.Q. PETERSON
Artist/Vendor
Soft and gentle, delicate and as beautiful as a dove. Nothing in this world compares to the strength of a mother’s love.
Real and unconditional, never negatively critical. There to lift you to your peaks, never there to belittle you.
Always there for support, always giving you more, you can tell from her scent how love seeps from her pores.
There when things get rough, whenever the road gets tough. Nothing in this world compares, to the grace of a mother’s love.
Cancion/song
GRACIAS GRACIAS Artist/Vendor
Cancion para escucharse mientras se lee el periodico:
Song to listen to while reading the newspaper: Podrias moverte? Muevete, moverte, mueve.. Could you move? Move, move, moves...
Our land of opportunity, sorting out existence
Under or above.
Whirling motion; motions.
Como si fuese, se mueve...
This unknown language of love.
I found this letter above my eyes
This colossal universe, seen through this fragile life. It's an invitation!
El baile es en la azotea.
In this field of studies, It rains over dryland.
Cambio en los bosillos and Street Sense.
Conifer
Artist/Vendor
May he vouchsafe us prosperity
Forgiveness, love, and clarity
This world is all ours
It’s pretty plain to see
That vouchsafe describes the keys to longevity
We all were vouchsafed in this priceless life
Through the sacrifice of Christ
So, please remember that every second of every day
Those two seconds mean twice
We have to simply be nice
One second at a time for many is easier to do
Let’s vouchsafe ourselves to give thanks to our Maker
Simply for me, but especially for you
My life
MELVEON HARP
Artist/Vendor
I like my new name. My whole life, I was named Melvin Harp. I didn’t know my real name until 1999. I did not know my father, or his name, or my mom's real name. I did not know the rest of my family’s names, so I felt LOST in the world. But my life is much better since I found God. I try every day to make it. Sometimes it’s hard and good. Sometimes I walk down the street, thinking she or he is my family. I wish all people could get along and stop killing each other. I’m trying to control my anger and feeling depressed. I have been shot for $20. Now, I walk with a limp and screws in my leg. But God is good. It is me and my dog, and my pastor. I love Street Sense. It helped me to open up about myself. Now I have my own apartment, thank God. I was molested at the age of 16 years old, and today it still hurts me. I’m looking for love. I love myself now, but still feel alone. Sometimes I have tried to hurt myself, but no more. May God bless me and all the people. Thank you.
RONNELL WILSON
Living a balanced life
BRIANNA
BUTLER Artist/Vendor
In the morning, I get up, count my blessings, and do breathing exercises to start my day of happiness. I intend to eat more vegetables this week than I did last week. I choose to substitute some of my delicious sweet treats for a cup of fruit to support my inner organs, which crave healthy food rather than tons of cakes and ice cream.
However we balance our health, it’s important we enjoy the healthy foods we choose, and the habit will last a lifetime. It’s equally essential to enjoy exercise, which we know plays a crucial role in staying healthy. I get a nice, sweet session of motivation while power walking with fast music. Then I cool down with yoga practice, which eases the muscles and enables my body’s blood to flow from the refreshing experience of releasing my body’s tightness. Some people take eating and exercising too far and harm themselves instead of helping themselves. Some people give up real food and eat bits of food that are not nourishing. They think that will give them a slimmer body, but they’re really starving themselves and killing their organs. Others try to break their body with explosive exercises in which they have no experience. That’s too much for them to handle at the beginning of their health journey.
Balance eating and exercising the way it works best for you, and it’ll have positive, powerful effects on your mental, physical, and emotional health because your body will love it! Your body also will comply with everything you do physically, without your muscles and joints screaming at you.
A most important man!
JACQUELINE TURNER
Artist/Vendor
Pope Francis died recently. You don’t have to be Catholic or even Christian to realize a great humanitarian has passed away. He was passionate about issues that really matter: Hunger. Human rights. Protecting the planet. Speaking loudly for those millions who are voiceless.
People listened to his words and believed what he said. People all over the world respected him. Francis made them think in ways they had never done and had never expected. That’s why he was so important to the world.
Cherry blossoms
ANTHONY CARNEY
Artist/Vendor
I love the cherry blossoms! Japan gave them to the USA in 1912. What a wonderful, beautiful present. The Cherry Blossom Parade is awesome, so please go to it next year and enjoy those blossoms. What a treasure in the world’s best city, Washington, D.C.!
Fund D.C.
SASHA WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
The nation’s capital should be leading in the nation's capital funding.
There’s so much focus on the wrong things, and ignorant people are still comfortable being hypocritical and foolish instead of supporting and helping. The egos of many are not helpful as leaders, so.... What do we do to stop cutting funds and keep progress? Like in Washington, D.C., it's a domino effect. How are we not leading the next generation by ignoring the present recurring issues? This is a serious problem that is unconstitutional, but also a violation of human rights. Who do we sue? Like, come on, Congress, what do you really know about poverty, violence, and housing instability/insecurity?
This is my story
DANIEL BALL
Artist/Vendor
Daniel said, “I will always love you, Sybil Taylor.”
Yes, love makes the world go round, but Thomas always told me, “I love you, brother Daniel Ball.” But Sybil said, Daniel Ball is my boyfriend and someday will be my future husband.”
We both go to the same church called The Church of Epiphany at 1317 G St. NW. Reverand Donald Ball is my brother and my mother’s son, too. Rev. Donald asked Sybil and me, “Do you both always pray together?”
Donald said, “Do you both have a good bible to study with, even on Sunday?” We both do. Daniel and Sybil said, “Get your sleep every night.” We both love where we work, here at Street Sense Media.
Grandma’s kitchen
ELIZABETH BOWES
Artist/Vendor
Grandmothers are great! Everyone has tons of stories about their grandmas. My grandmother was a real sweet woman. She would take me and my little sister shopping for clothes and shoes when my mum was busy. She passed away in 1953, but I still miss her daily. I wish she were still living.
Mama’s house
JACQUELINE GALE
Artist/Vendor
Trump's second term
JOSIE BROWN Artist/Vendor
The only thing I feel passionate about is more stimulus packages like Obama did. There should be an increase in food stamps, an increase in social security disability for low-income seniors, an increase in affordable housing, and vouchers to cover the rent, security deposit, and first month's rent. Rent should not exceed 30% of a person's income. If rent keeps going up, then jobs should pay at least $17 an hour so families can take care of their needs.
People, please support our paper so we can try to maintain our independence and buy things we need to be successful and productive!
Summertime
GRETA CHRISTIAN
Artist/Vendor
Summertime is here.
What do you do in the summertime?
You play ball!
You go to games.
You sell your Street Sense papers.
You have parties at your house.
You go to clubs and enjoy yourself.
You go to movies.
You go to the zoo and have fun.
You go help people when they’re outside without shelter
You help them help themselves.
You go to the fair to ride the horses, the Ferris wheel, and play the games.
You walk your dog at the park.
You have fun, fun, and more fun.
Summertime is here, and love is in the air.
Sum-sum-sum-summertime!
Mama’s kitchen was a happening place on Sundays. But the best part was preparing the meal on Saturday. We would spend the day shopping for our Sunday dinner. I would help my grandma prep the food: wash the meat, peel potatoes, rinse the rice, and snap the beans. When she started cooking, the smells made me want to eat right away. But I had to wait until Sunday! So Saturday night dinner was mostly sandwiches. Fortunately, Mama always surprised us with a fantastic dessert or even corn bread. I don’t know how she made those awesome desserts. She must have done it while we were sleeping!
Hapless
APOLLOS ROBINSON
Artist/Vendor
If you don't know, they won't let you know. When you were less informed, it was better. Get to know you? Nope. They just would like to control you. "Hapless" is what they are about to go through. Their maps are memos. Yes, they have been briefed on the old you. Now they're stuck with it. Good luck with that.
God’s love
KYM PARKER
Artist/Vendor
The love She makes us feel when we are hurt or empty, when we feel a hole in our chest
Her children know Her, and we know She never leaves us Her love is unconditional; it fills us with hope and courage
Her wish is for us to love each other unconditionally
She teaches us our values, She created us with so many gifts
We are Her children, and there is no purer love
She doesn’t care if our color is pink, green, or blue
She always loves us
Even if we suffer or are angry, She is there
When She created us, She left her angels to protect and love us I thank Her because, thanks to that, I feel her love
Metro buses
JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN
Artist/Vendor
If you were born in D.C., you are used to the current Metro bus station routes. Starting in June, the Metro will be rolling out a new bus network, which means riders will experience different buses and different bus routes. The Metro also promises to be more reliable, efficient, and cleaner. But be warned, all these new features come with change.
Don’t give up
TONYA WILLAMS
Artist/Vendor
Don’t give up because the road is tough. God’s strength will help you push through every obstacle. God, thank you for a new day. God is about to bless you back-to-back. Today, I pray you surrender your timeline and grab hold of God’s peace. Trust that what is meant to be yours will be yours when you love the man who died on the cross.
To save your soul, say “thank you.” Forget the things that make you sad; remember the moments that make you glad. Forget the troubles that have passed away; accept the blessings that come your way. Don’t worry: God is never blind to your tears, never deaf to your prayers, and never silent to your pain. He sees, he hears, and he will deliver you at the proper time. Amen.
Hit the street, beat the heat
ROCHELLE WALKER
Artist/Vendor
Beat the street, hit the heat. Then you might meet some homeless people. They need to eat food; the hungry need help. Beat the street, give a little hug. Let’s learn to love one another.
Hot, hot, hot, it’s summertime. It’s a nice time to drink lots of water, eat lots of vegetables, and even go to the pool.
Hit the street, beat the heat. Did you hear what was going down? In your town, we are not going down, down.
So you see, summertime is coming and going so fast, a swift splash. I was getting wet, trying to enjoy the beach water. Summertime, summer fun. Taste and enjoy the hot dog and ice cream, and cooler pop, going pop, pop, pop, so we can beat the heat!
Dear Momma
ANDRE BRINSON Artist/Vendor
It’s been a year now since you've been away, but never far from my heart. This past year has been challenging for me, but at the same time, it’s making me stronger. Thank you for the dreams you bring to me. You comfort me and keep me focused, staying on the wagon. I know that it's going to get better as time goes on, just missing you, my love.
Thy name!
Where I come from
LATICIA BROCK
Artist/Vendor
I come from a city that’s Known for being the Chocolate city
Where every day is a gritty fight for survival and feeding
Your family but the museums
Make this city look
Pretty
Grew up off welfare
Cheese in a box and
If you have a fever
Put onions in your
Sock
Oh, and our card party Was off the chain
Fried chicken being Cooked neighbors and kids Are all playing
Jamaica needs your King Took over in the 8th
A lot of women are pregnant With babies, but can Neighbors correct your kids, Mama was there but daddy Was a maybe
Parties
Windows down
At night, kids prepare to eat
A big pot of chicken and rice
You could sleep on the porch and leave a door open And nothing come up missing, such fun
And that’s just a little About where I am from
A touch of perfume
God glistens in the night
Open thy door
Precious delight
Righteous and free
Articulate me
Heavenly love
Descends the dove
Count all joy
In times of toil
How great thou art
Yes, how great thou art!
Memories so everlasting
Treasures the deep
Ringing hope is here
Oh, where is thy fear
Emulating every moment
Straight through to you
Prayerfully changes
Life is just a test
RACHELLE ELLISON Artist/Vendor
Life has a way of taking twists and turns
Giving us all lessons to learn
Some uplifting and others painful
Overcoming can make us so empowered and grateful
These things become a part of your story
And another reason to give God the glory
Life is nothing but a test
That decides where we end up when we enter eternal rest
I pray that all I’m doing to serve and empower
Pushes me through at the very last hour
My goal is to make it to the gates of heaven by being obedient to my calling
I pray you know whenever it feels like you’re falling,
That’s just a test, and everything you need
Is already inside you to succeed
As I am called by Thy Name!
WMATA buses.
Photo by Jennifer McLaughlin
DON GARDNER
Artist/Vendor
FUN & GAMES
Across
1. Noel
6. Kind of moss
10. Potentially offensive (2-2) (incls. abbr./ initialism)
14. At the right time (2 wds.) (2,3) (OUNCE anagram)
15. Plant in a bloom
16. One and only
17. Former kids’ TV show title character named for his large coat pockets (2 wds.) (7,8)
20. PC keyboard key found on either side of the space bar
21. Mom and Pop school grps. (abbr./ initialism)
22. Lowly workers, slangily (or weight lifter sounds)
23. One was first split in a 1932 experiment conducted at Cambridge University
24. Some bygone 1990 subcompacts that sound like two alphabet letters
25. Common generic term for a large and relatively expensive household item like a washer, dryer, freezer, oven, etc. (2 wds.) (5,9)
31. EGOT winner Moreno
32. Crazy as a ___
33. Shapiro of NPR or Melber of MSNBC
34. Sharif of “Doctor Zhivago”
35. Orchestra section...or a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 41- and 55-Across
37. Tennis score after deuce (2 wds.) (2,2) (incls. abbr.)
38. Abbr. before a number
39. Tesla CEO Musk
40. Nerd
41. Legendary Kentucky-bred fast-food entrepreneur and branding icon (7,7)
46. “A-one and ___ and...” (part of bandleader Lawrence Welk’s into) (1-3)
47. “Simpsons” bar
48. Foot part in one word or, said in two words, marching together
51. Insect stage
52. Expose, in verse (POE anagram)
55. “Imagination at work” company of which Thomas Edison was once a director ((7,8)
58. Growl like an angry dog (RANG anagram)
59. Ticked off (at)
60. Word with space or limits
61. Slangy assents
62. Threaded metal fastener with a letter in its name (1-3)
63. India’s first P.M.
Down
1. ___-Cola
2. Nitpicky to the point of annoyance
3. Proof of purchase (abbr.)
4. Ump’s call
5. An iffy way to get to a conclusion (2 wds.) (4,2) (POLE AT anagram)
6. Canal site
7. The “E” of B.P.O.E.
8. ___ Khan
9. Hybrid citrus fruits (GONE LAST anagram)
10. Repetitive patriotic Olympic chant (3,3)
11. Norse goddess of fate
12. Book part that sometimes thickens?
13. Boardroom V.I.P.’s
18. Ripley’s Believe ____ Not (2 wds.) (2,2) (RIOT anagram)
19. Area where a boxer’s low blow might hit
23. “When it’s ___” (old riddle answer) (RAJA anagram)
24. Mail ctrs. (abbr./initialism)
25. ____ graph machine (early document copying device)
26. To any extent whatever (2 wds.) (2,3)
27. A and B, at times
28. “Unsafe at Any Speed” author Ralph
29. One shedding crocodile tears does this insincerely
30. Kindle technology (1-3)
31. Campus military org. (abbr./Initialism)
35. Flew by (2 wds.) (4,4) (BELT SWAP anagram)
36. Candy with caramel from Hershey’s
37. Mellows
39. “Come in!”
42. Horse operas, in old slang
43. Trinket worn for luck
44. “Forget it!”
45. Church official
48. Rock singer ___ Pop
49. Hawaiian wild goose
50. Totally lose it, emotionally
51. Lima’s locale
52. Like many churches (abbr.) (THOR anagram)
53. Chicago’s Navy ____ (major lakefront tourist attraction)
54. Beige shade
56. Actor Chaney of old horror films
57. Calendar abbr. between Mon. and Wed.
ILLUSTRATION OF
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.
Salute You! Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre
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
Steward - Dishwasher
Embassy Suites // 1250 22nd St. NW
Full-time
Perform routine cleaning tasks using standard hotel cleaning products as assigned to adhere to health standards. This includes washing dishes, restocking dishware, and emptying trash containers.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/dishwasherEmbassySuites
Store Support Associate
Home Depot // 901 Rhode Island Ave. NE
Full-time
Associates in store support positions are responsible for a variety of non-sales functions. This may include ensuring an outstanding customer order fulfillment experience, assisting customers in the lot or providing administrative services. Direct customer or vendor interaction is sometimes required for these positions.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/StoreSupportHomeDepot
Concrete Repair Laborer
Structural Technologies // Washington, D.C.
Full-time
General concrete repair (demolition, rebar installation, carpentry, concrete pours, finishing). Prior experience in post tensioning is ideal but not required. An ideal candidate is hardworking, reliable, and ready to learn at a fast pace. Bilingual canidates may be given preference.
REQUIRED: Ability to travel independently, operate power tools, and lift material up to 50 lbs.
APPLY: tinyurl.com/ConcreteRepairJobDC
