06 15 2007

Rep. Jim McGovern Struggles on $3 a Day During the Food Stamp Challenge, page 6

$1.00

Suggested Donation

June 15-July 1, 2007 - Volume 4, Issue 13

www.streetsense.org

Free Summer Meals for DC’s Low-Income Kids Increase

By Jennifer Jett

in feeding children from free and reduced-meal households, said John Stokes, spokesman for the D.C. State Education Office, which runs the D.C. Free Summer Meals Program.

“Just because kids are out for the summer, it’s important to remember that hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation,” Stokes said. “Even though

The District will further expand its summer meals program this year, continuing to outperform all 50 states when it comes to feeding low-income children while school is out.

D.C. has been number one in the country for the last three years

they’re able to eat at school during the school year, they still have to eat when they’re out.”

According to a report last year by the D.C.-based Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), 27,575 lowincome children in D.C. received meals daily in July 2005.

The District fed 77 children for every 100 who received free or re-

duced-price lunches during the school year, compared to a national average of 18 – by far the best ratio in the nation. Hawaii came in second, feeding 54 children daily for every 100 in the school-year lunch program.

Stokes said this year he expects the D.C. Free Summer Meals Program, which begins June 18, to

Panhandlers: To Give or Not to Give

By Daniel Johnson

Panhandling, page 4

H

Phillip Stone quietly stands on the sidewalk asking passers by for money.

Inside This Issue PROFILE

FEATURES

EDITORIAL

The 17-year-old clinic continues its service to HIV/AIDs patients in DC, page 3

An organization in Madison, Wis., is giving welfare mothers a voice, page 10

Maurice King reflects on the meaning of home in the wake of his father’s death, page 13

LOCAL

BOOK REVEIW

INTERN INSIGHT

Recommendations by the affordable housing task force are being met, page 5

A critical look at the new compilation of essays published by John Edwards, page 11

Street Sense’s new intern gives his perspective on working with the homeless, page 14

Whitman-Walker Clinic

Housing Task Force Success

Meals, page 5

Justice or Just Them?

property in certain areas of the city or in an “aggressive manner. ” The District defines an “aggressive manner” as: “Approaching, speaking to, or following a person in a manner as would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon the person, or upon property in the person’s immediate possession; touching another person without that person’s consent in the course of asking for alms; continuously asking, begging, or soliciting alms from a person after the person made a negative response or intentionally blocking or interfering with the safe or free passage of a person by any means, including unreasonably causing a person to take evasive action to avoid physical contact.”

Any form of panhandling, regardless of whether it is aggressive, is banned from all federal park lands. This includes many of the District’s monuments, memorials and other areas.

See

See

VENDOR VOICES

Daniel Johnson

Phillip Stone spends most of his afternoons in front of a CVS store in downtown D.C. Equipped with a cane and empty McDonald’s cup, the 63-year old quietly asks people passing by for money; he is a panhandler.

“I don’t approach people,” Stone said. “I just stand here with a cup and ask for money.”

With the summer influx of tourists and visitors to the Washington D.C. area, panhandling is expected to increase. Whatever the motive — alcohol, illegal drugs, food or transportation costs — panhandling remains an action strongly tied to living on the streets.

“I think there is a myth that people who are panhandling secretly live in the suburbs,” said Ann Marie Staudenmaier, staff attorney at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. “That is a myth I have heard, and frankly I think it’s ludicrous.”

Under the District Code, panhandling is legal as long as it is not on private and residential

grow between 5% and 10% in terms of both the number of children and the number of sites.

While the number of children the District serves has increased from less than 15,000 in 2002, national participation in the federal summer nutrition programs has declined for

Welfare Warriors

Ending Poverty in America

Fathers and Home

The New Kid In Town

By Leo Gnawa

ere we go again, another rich blonde celebrity being talked about 24/7 on the cable news networks as if nothing else is happening around the world.

American soldiers are being killed every day in Iraq, but their sacrifice in a war, which the majority of the American public finds unpopular, seems less newsworthy than the troubles of rich blondes, like Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears (she shaved her head — Big Deal!), and now, Paris Hilton.

The incident with Paris Hilton is to me a cause for concern because it is symptomatic of an endangered American democracy in this post– 9/11 era.

Who is Paris Hilton? She is a 26–year old socialite (as the press call her, whatever that means). But the young lady belongs to the rich and the famous. She is heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune and to the real estate fortune of her father Richard Hilton.

In September 2006, she was arrested for drunk driving. She was sentenced to 36 months probation and had her license suspended.

But she kept getting arrested while

See

Justice, page 12

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

ALL ABOUT US

Our Mission

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

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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri VENDOR MANAGER Jesse Smith Jr. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lawless C. Watson Jr. ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) INTERN Daniel Johnson

VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Mia Boyd, Karen Brooks, Cliff Carle, Diana Cosgrove, Mary Cunningham, Rick Dahnke, Darcy Gallucio, Geneieve Gill, Jake Geissinger, Casie Good, Joanne Goodwin, Leo Gnawa, Carol Hannaford, Annie Hill, Daniel Horner, Rafaelle Ieva, Jennifer Jett, Mary Lynn Jones, Jessica LeGarde, August Mallory, Rita Marjandaro, Mandy McAnally, , Moria McLaughlin, Sean O’Conner Mike O’Neill, Swinitha Osuri, Jen Pearl, David Pike, Diane Rusignola, Sarah Schoolcraft, Jennifer Singleton, Katie Smith, Eric Sheptock, Francine Triplett, Linda Wang,, Katie Wells, Michelle Williams, Dan Winegarten, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu, James Davis

VENDORS Willie Alexander, Jake Ashford, Tommy Bennett, James Berthay, Corey Bridges, Bobby Buggs, Cliff Carle, Alice Carter, Conrad Cheek Jr., Elena Cirpaci, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, Yllama Davenport, Richardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Michael Douglas, Leo Gnawa, David Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Michael Higgs, Phillip Howard, Patricia Jefferson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson, Charlie Mayfield, Lee Mayse, Jennifer McLaughlin, Rodney Morris, Charles Nelson, Moyo Onibuje, Therese Onyemenon, Kevin Robinson, Dennis Rutledge, Gerald Smith, Patty Smith, Matesha Thompson, Francine Triplett, Amia Walker, Martin Walker, Lawless Watson, Wendell Williams, Ivory Wilson

We are proud members of:

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

Our Editorial Policy

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

Street Sense reserves the right to edit any material.

North American Street Newspaper Association

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

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

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

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

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

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

And to support the increased productin, Street Sense brought on its first fulltime editor-in-chief in April.

June 1 - 15 Donors Kelly Emminger Adrienne Fields David Jacques Katharine Kravetz Michael Mavretic Sharyn Meister

Jennifer and Anthony Park Jennifer Reynolds And a special thanks to:

Deborah Cowal

Thank You!

International Network of Street Papers

Street Sense Vendor Code of Conduct 1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

There are no territories among vendors.

I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer.

9.

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

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

WANNA HELP? If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please come to our next volunteer orientation on July 12 at 6 p.m. at our office.

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

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

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

PROFILE

Provider Profile

Whitman-Walker: Positive Care for HIV/AIDS Patients

By Jen Pearl

Located on 14th Street NW, Whitman-Walker has been providng individualized care for 17 years.

ing if they’re not clean [from drugs], but how can they get clean if they don’t have a place to live?”

Lerch argues that a different approach to homelessness is needed.

“We’ve really gotta change how we look at it,” he said. “A number of homeless people are dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues. Most people don’t know they’re a couple of paychecks away from homelessness. We need more support housing but no one wants that in their neighborhood.”

The Whitman-Walker clinic is no stranger to financial problems itself. In May 2005, it declared itself unable to meet payroll. But since that time, Whitman-Walker has been on an upswing. Supporters, donors and local government raised funds to help the clinic

get out of crisis and the clinic has expanded services to include primary care for the entire community, increased its intake of private insurance plans to increase revenue, become more aggressive in fundraising and more.

“We are becoming a true community health care provider for our entire community with a special expertise in HIV/AIDS care and LGBT health care,” Lewis said.

Burns has also noted the change in Whitman-Walker since his return.

“I think there has been new blood, new vision and new creativity,” he said. “In a perfect world we would not have AIDS, but nothing is perfect and in this world we have WhitmanWalker.”

Visit www.wwc.org for more information.

Donate to Street Sense My Information

I will donate:

Name:_______________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_______________________________________________ Phone:_______________________E-mail:_________________________ Please make checks payable to Street Sense Street Sense is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

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

You can also donate online at www.streetsense.org

Jen pearl

Tony Burns calls the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, D.C. his saving grace.

“I think they’re angels in disguise,” he said.

“They have a special place in my heart and in my life.”

Burns first came to the Whitman-Walker Clinic for free HIV/AIDS testing in 1990.

“I have to take my hat off to them at that time because I think they really saved my life,” reminisced Burns, who after being diagnosed as HIV-positive, entered Whitman Walker’s early intervention program. He described his “phenomenal doctor” at the clinic who taught him that HIV is not a death sentence. “He said if I followed his instructions – and I was 30 at the time – he thought I could live to be 50.”

That was 17 years ago this July. After a hiatus of several years from the clinic, Burns recently returned to participate in one of their day treatment programs, which provides HIV/ AIDS clients with meals, case management, and a range of medical and other services.

The Whitman-Walker Clinic began in 1973 as the District’s Free Clinic’s Gay Men’s VD Clinic, which operated out of Georgetown Lutheran Church’s basement. It expanded to provide health care services to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, launched HIV/AIDS services in the early 1980s as the disease rocked America’s cities, and has now grown into a multisite regional community service provider.

Today, the nonprofit Whitman-Walker Clinic serves more than 8,000 clients, with

reportedly 79% of its clients in 2006 at federal poverty level.

While it specializes in health care for the GLBT communities and those living with HIV/AIDS, it also provides accessible cradleto-grave health care and community services for the greater community of the District.

Named after the gay poet Walt Whitman, who was dedicated to the health care of Civil War soldiers, and the pioneer female surgeon Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the clinic’s main facility is in Northwest D.C. It has two regional centers in Northern Virginia and east of the Anacostia River in D.C. According to Chip Lewis, a spokesman for Whitman-Walker, homelessness, poverty and the GLBT and HIV/AIDS client communities often intertwine.

“No one is turned away from WhitmanWalker Clinic because they are unable to pay for services,” Lewis said.

Lewis said that services are available on a sliding fee scale based on annual income and household size. Below a certain point, clients pay nothing for services.

“HIV/AIDS has become a disease that thrives in poverty,” Lewis said. “Due to insufficient access to health care, the poor and homeless do not receive the kind of preventive health care or education that might prevent HIV infection. They also are often not diagnosed until they are very sick.”

“The biggest problem with clients is housing,” said Steve Lerch, associate director of Whitman-Walker’s Max Robinson Center in Anacostia. “You can’t get someone into hous-

___ $50 for two vendor awards each month ___ $70 for one restaurant review ___ $100 for postage each month ___ $200 for the vests of 15 new vendors ___ $500 for monthly rent and insurance ___ $1,200 for the printing of one issue ___ Another amount of $_______ ___ Another amount of $_______ for vendor: ________________

Additional items that Street Sense needs: * Flat screen monitors

* Office chairs

* Bottled water to hand out to vendors

* Laptop computers with at least Windows 2000

* Food for vendor meetings

and 10 GB of storage space

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

LOCAL NEWS

Panhandling, from p.1

places in 96 major cities, and a hundred have banned aggressive panhandling, according to research from the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Still, many modern laws in the U.S. banning public begging have been ruled uncon-

Handling Panhandlers These tips were gathered by our staff and vendors on how to deal with panhandlers in the D.C. area.

Acknowledge, acknowledge n Whether you are going to give money or not, acknowledge the person’s presence as you would anybody else’s. Do not pretend as if homeless people do not exist. If the person says something to you, respond. The majority of homeless people simply want recognition as fellow human beings.

stitutional on the grounds that they infringe on the First Amendment right to free speech.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless’ 2006 report on Homelessness in U.S. cities, there are 28 federal and state cases cited as precedent for anti-begging, anti-soliciting and anti-peddling laws, and a majority of those cases were overturned on the basis of the First Amendment.

Much like the District’s laws on panhandling, laws that regulate panhandling based on time, place and manner have been upheld by the courts.

“Generally panhandling is legal,” the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless’ Stauden-

maier said. “What I hear is that police will threaten people that are peacefully panhandling with arrest.”

The Metropolitan Police Departments press office did not return phone calls. However, one police officer who wished to remain anonymous said that while the police frequently cite people for aggressive panhandling, prosecution someone for aggressive panhandling is very difficult.

Stone said the police leave him alone and he has no intentions of quitting panhandling.

“There are good days and bad days,” Stone said. “It may seem easy but it ain’t easy. Standing out here all day for three to four hours; it ain’t nothing easy.”

Panhandling from East to West

Give from the heart n Street Sense vendors tell us: If you give, give from your heart and don’t question what the person is going to do with the money.

Food over money n Give food instead of money. One Street Sense volunteer suggests carrying cereal bars or fruit with you to give people on the street. If a fast food restaurant or convenience store is near by, offer to buy something for the person.

Hand them a Street Sense n Refer them to local social services. Tell them about one of the service providers listed in Street Sense.

Know the boundaries n If you feel uncomfortable with the way a panhandler approaches you let a local law enforcement official know. It is illegal for a pandhandler to approach you aggressively.

Daniel Johnson

Stone, who has been panhandling for more than a year, said he is aware of the law against aggressive panhandling and does not force anyone to give him money, but he has been forced to leave and has been verbally attacked by people passing by.

“They yell at me to get a job, but I don’t pay no mind to that negativity,” Stone said, ading that he has experienced positive and negative responses, but the most common response is apathy.

Stone, who is not homeless, said he started panhandling a year ago to try and meet rent after his wife died. He said he continued to panhandle because he felt he had no other options for work. He usually panhandles for three to six hours a day and spends his money on food; on a good day, Stone said he could make up to $80.

Vishal Joshi, a tourist in D.C. from Seattle, Wash., said that he usually does not give money to panhandlers because he assumed they will use the money on drugs, alcohol or smoking.

“I don’t mind alcohol or smoking, but I consider them luxuries, not necessities,” he said.

“I would be happy to provide for necessities over a luxury.”

When Ivan Thomas, a student at Howard University, sees someone panhandling on the streets of D.C., he is skeptical about giving money away.

“I guess it depends on how I feel,” Thomas said. “If they come off as if they generally need the money, and if they’re polite and if I have any money on me, I’ll probably throw them a dollar.”

Street Sense vendor Alvin Dixon-El, who panhandled for three months before becoming a vendor, agreed with Thomas about the importance of sincerity in the approach of a panhandler.

“It all depends on the approach,” Dixon-El said. “Whether they approach you in a threatening manner or are over aggressive. If they are offensive, people tend to be uncomfortable or frightened.”

While panhandling is allowed in Washington, D.C., it is illegal in 47 major cities in the United States. Begging is banned in particular

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

Cities with Prohibitive Panhandling Policies Panhandling is protected as free speech, and most laws outlawing panhandling have been overturned on the basis that they conflict with the First Amendment. n Atlanta: focuses its enforcement on “commercial solicitation” rules, banning panhandling in tourist areas, within 15 feet of entrances to public bathrooms, parking lot pay boxes and payphones. Atlanta also penalizes anyone who uses “any makeup or device to simulate a deformity.” n Indianapolis: in antipanhandling and antiloitering ordinances Indianapolis has had since the mid-1970s, the city bans panhandling during dark hours, at bus stops, on public transportation, in outdoor cafes, in lines of people waiting at businesses and within 20 feet of ATMs and bank entrances. n Minneapolis: proposes a ban on verbal panhandling within fixed distances of convenience and liquor stores, crosswalks, and entrances to parks and sports arenas. The city prohibits panhandling in groups of two or more and at night. n New York City: prohibits aggressive panhandling in public or near banks, ATMs and people in cars. In 1992, a Manhattan Federal Court Judge ruled that free speech protected peaceful begging, which overturned the city’s antipanhandling law. n Palo Alto, CA: proposes a “sit-lie” ordinance making it illegal to sit or lie on sidewalks within 50 feet of commercial property in a specific zone and encourages residents to donate directly to social services rather than panhandlers. n Pittsburgh: the city’s November 2005-enacted ordinance bans panhandling in “captive audiences” such as in outdoor cafes, and within 25 feet of a church or 10 feet of street vendors and bus stops. After first warnings to violators, they may be directed to social services programs. Fines up to $300 can go to repeat offenders. n Portland: a proposed measure makes it illegal to lie or sit down on public sidewalks in specific neighborhoods from 7 am to 9 pm, gives violators written warnings, and urges them toward day shelters.

-Jen Pearl

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

Meals, from p.1

“It makes a big difference because things are so expensive now.”

-Alma Coleman summertime and to help better themselves.”

Montana Terrace, a housing complex in Northeast, first became a site last summer under the supervision of Gretchen Helm, president of the residents’ council. Helm said she was responding to the need she saw among the children in her neighborhood.

“Not only that, they come back later and say, ‘Gretchen, are there any lunches left?’

And if I say there are no more sandwiches, they say, ‘Is there fruit, any other leftover food that came for lunch or breakfast?’” Helm said.

“Sometimes it seems like they didn’t have another meal that day.”

The Montana Terrace program fed up to 135 children at its peak last summer, Helm said, although she expects to start with fewer participants this year since a row of houses burned down in October.

“It makes a great big difference because things are so expensive now,” said Alma Coleman, a Montana Terrace resident with three grandchildren in the program. “And the way kids eat these days, they don’t play around.”

This year the meals at Montana Terrace will be paired with arts and crafts, water games, sports and other activities. Coleman said having the meals available on site has been much easier for her and her grandchildren.

“You don’t have to load them up in the car and go nowhere,” she said. “They can just go over there and eat. You can watch them. They can go and come.”

Ultimately, Stokes said, D.C. is striving to feed as many kids in the summer as it does during the school year, forming partnerships with housing facilities, churches and government so more families know that meals are available.

“The city has banded together,” Stokes said. “Community-based organizations, state-based organizations, government, even the media help us out a little bit here. So it’s the perfect example of everybody banding together for a cause.”

For more information on summer programming or to find a meal site, call Answers, Please! at 211 (inside the District) or 202-463-6211.

Jennifer JEtt

seven years in a row, according to the FRAC report. This increase runs parallel to an overall increase in poverty in the District.

However, Jennifer Adach, FRAC communications coordinator, said that this increase in meals is more likely due to increased outreach.

“I think what you see with D.C. is that they’ve just really made a concrete effort around outreach and making sure that people are aware of the program,” she said. “And that’s why they’re ranking number one.”

School districts, government agencies, private nonprofits, religious groups, camps and other organizations will sponsor more than 370 sites around the city, serving meals that must meet federal nutrition requirements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses sponsors for meal and administrative costs.

In recent years the District has focused on integrating meal services with summer school, day camps, sports programs and other recreational activities.

“It’s just better for the city and for the kids overall,” Stokes said. “Because they get a whole day’s worth of activities, nutrition, all the things that they need to sustain themselves during the

LOCAL NEWS

These boys are receiving free summer meals at Montana Terrace this summer.

After 18 Months, DC’s Affordable Housing Plan Is on Track

By Mia Boyd A year and a half ago, the District of Columbia’s Housing Task Force announced its recommendations to protect existing affordable housing, produce new housing for people of all incomes, increase home ownership and support low-income renters.

The first of its kind, the plan was well received by then-Mayor Anthony Williams and the D.C. City Council and according to a recent Brookings Institute report, some of the recommendations have been implemented.

“Some early decisions were made by former

Mayor Williams. Mayor Adrian Fenty has made commitments as well, so we remain hopeful, yet watchful,” said David Garrison, a senior fellow and deputy director of Brookings Institute Greater Washington Research Program.

The report shows the status of each of the recommendations and the name of the D.C. government agency responsible for carrying out each proposal.

In line with the Task Force’s recommendations, the Department of Housing and Community Development committed $10 million in 2007 to tenant purchases and increased staffing which included adding two staffers to provide technical assistance to tenants want-

ing to buy their units.

The report recommended that the city’s 2007 budget provide $10 million to support the “Homeless No More” initiative that was created by former Mayor Williams in 2004 to end homelessness in D.C. by 2014.

“The Task Force has taken some important steps but a good deal still needs to be done.”

Garrison said.

Dena Michaelson, the director of Public Affairs for the District of Columbia Housing Authority, said her main focus is to provide public housing and vouchers to help low-income people.

“We want to help as many people as pos-

sible to find safe and affordable housing,” Michaelson said.

DCHA also gives space to community organizations that would help the tenants.

“We accept organizations that provide some type of social or health-care service. We also have computer rooms that provide computer training.” Michaelson said.

Even with the various programs and services such as the District DCHA, affordable housing continues to be a challenge.

“Efforts by the city need to attract middleclass families. If not, (finances) continue to erode. The city is dependent on tax payers who live in the District,” Garrison said.

Veterans’ Briefing Room

Trends and Reports on Homeless Veterans

By David Hammond Welcome to The Veterans’ Briefing Room.

With this new feature, Street Sense joins the effort to spread the word about homeless and at-risk veterans, and the help available to them.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that nearly 200,000 veterans (about one-quarter of all homeless adults) are homeless on any given day, with about twice that number experiencing homelessness each year.

Today’s veterans: at greater risk Today’s veterans are facing homelessness faster, according to a report by Swords to Plowshares, a San Francisco organization helping veterans. “Risk and Protective Factors for Homelessness among OIF/OEF Veterans” says that soldiers who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq are at heightened risk of becoming homeless.

The reasons: extended deployments in urban combat and high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. The report adds that government and private agencies helping vets, already stretched thin, are facing a dramatic increased demand. The report is available at nchv.org, the website of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).

Calls for more supportive veterans’ housing – affordable housing with social services – were heard at this year’s annual NCHV conference. Experts say that some veterans cycle in and out of short-stay facilities without finding permanent arrangements, and the VA is being urged to refocus its current emphasis on transitional housing.

There is also discussion of streamlining how the VA channels federal funds to service providers.

Advocates have asked the VA’s Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans to consider these issues; it will release a set of formal recommendations July 1.

Help for Veterans U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

n 1-800-827-1000

n va.gov

D.C. Office of Veterans Affairs

n (202) 724-5454

n ova.dc.gov

Maryland Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Background info on homeless vets The Congressional Research Service has just produced a backgrounder, “Veterans and Homelessness” (May 31, 2007, report number RL34024). It summarizes recent data and describes federal aid programs. “Emerging issues” include supportive housing, female veterans, and Afghanistan and Iraq.

You can read the report online at: opencrs. cdt.org/document/RL4024; or your member of Congress may be able to provide you with a copy.

n 1-800-446-4926

n mdva.state.md.us

Virginia Dept. of Veterans Services

n (703) 803-1139

n virginiaforveterans.com

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

n 1-800-VET-HELP

n nchv.org

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

6 INTERVIEW

MY Two Cents

Rep. McGovern Struggles on $3 a Day in Food Stamps In an effort to better understand and raise awareness of issues of hunger and food insecurity in the United States, several members of Congress took the Food Stamp Challenge. Members such as Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson from Missouri; Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky from Illinois and Congressman Jim McG overn from Massachusetts participated in the challenge. Members pledged to keep their food expenditures to $21, the average weekly benefit for a food stamp recipient.

Rep. Jim McGovern (DMass.) spoke with Street Sense’s Jennifer Jett about his experience on a food stamp budget living in Washington, D.C., and his plans for change.

‘‘

Street Sense: Why did you take the Food Stamp Challenge?

Rep. Jim McGovern: I wanted to learn more about the reality that faces people who are on food stamps. I’m the co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus and I do a lot of work on hunger issues, and the more I’ve learned about the food stamp program, the more I’ve come to appreciate that the benefit is inadequate.

The minimum food stamp benefit is $10 a month. The average food stamp benefit is about $3 a day, or $1 per meal. So my wife and I took the Food Stamp Challenge, and I think we got a real understanding of what a lot of people have to deal with each and every day.

For us it was an exercise that lasted a week, but for millions and millions of Americans it’s their

healthy food, so the hamburger that I bought was the fattiest hamburger. I bought lentils. I bought beans and frozen peas.

I ended up losing five pounds during the week, but I could have easily gained five pounds if I had made different choices. It is hard to eat healthy when you’re on such a low budget.

Some people have said, “Well, the food stamp benefit is meant to be a supplement.” But the reality is that for a lot of families it’s becoming what they’re relying on for their food budget. The cost of gas is through the roof. The cost of child care is expensive. The cost of everything is going up.

I think we need to update the program and make it so that people can make healthier choices, and also provide the benefit in a way so that people can ultimately transition off of food stamps. The way it is right now, you can’t deduct the total cost of your child care to calculate your eligibility.

If you have just a tiny bit of money in the savings account for a rainy day or if you get sick, that counts against you as well. So we need to be more thoughtful about how we provide the benefit.

We’re the richest country in the world. We should be able to make sure that no one in this country is hungry or food insecure.

SS: What was the hardest aspect of the challenge or most difficult point during the week?

JM: The most difficult point for me was to not cheat. In my job I go to lots of receptions and I go to lots of banquets. That week was no exception, except under the challenge I had to live on the food that I bought.

And I got tired. I couldn’t afford coffee. So my whole routine was kind of shot that week. But, again, I feel guilty complaining because as I said before I only had to do it for a week. There are millions of people who have to do it every day of the week, month after month.

SS: What surprised you about your experience?

JM: I think what surprised me most is how long it took me to shop. Things that I normally buy w e re t o o e x p e n sive. I mean, if I go shopping on Monday and run out of food on Friday, I’ll go back to the supermarket on Friday and buy what I need for the weekend. But the exercise here was you couldn’t run out, this is all you have. So if you eat everything by Friday, well, you know what? You don’t have any food for the weekend.

That’s the reality that a lot of people have to face. So it took a long time to make choices that I thought would last me through the week.

The other thing is, I was fortunate that when I went shopping I had a food stamp recipient in D.C. who came with me and I had my staff there, so as I was picking things up someone was keeping tally.

But for a lot of citizens on food stamps, they

For us it was an exercise that lasted a week, but for millions and millions of Americans it’s their daily life and I think we can do better as a nation.

‘‘

daily life and I think we can do better as a nation.

Our hope was that through taking the challenge not only would we educate ourselves, but educate others in the Congress, raise awareness and force some of my colleagues — especially those who are on the Agriculture Committee — to address this issue of food stamp and other nutrition programs as they work on the farm bill.

SS: How did you spend the $21?

JM: Very carefully. It took me a long time to shop, because I had to make choices that would essentially last the entire week. I found that it was cheaper to buy unhealthy food than it was to buy

end up having to face the humiliation of going to the checkout counter and being over by a dollar and then having to make choices about bringing things back.

SS: What are some common misconceptions about the food-stamp program or the people who use it?

JM: A lot of people had no clue that the minimum benefit was $10 a month. I did some radio talk shows all across the country, and some people said, “Well, all you need to do is tell all these people to get a job.” A great number of people on food stamps are working. The fact is that they don’t earn a livable wage. They need help. So it’s not that people aren’t working, it’s that they don’t earn enough to meet all their financial obligations.

I had people say, “Oh, all these illegal aliens are using food stamps.” Well, there are no illegal aliens using food stamps, and in fact under the current law legal immigrants are prohibited from utilizing the food stamp program for at least five years, which I think is wrong.

[People also said] “You know, the program is filled with fraud, waste and abuse.” The reality is the Government Accountability Office did a study saying it’s one of the most efficiently run programs in our government. And to the extent that there’s errors, it’s that they underpay people, not that they overpay people.

SS: What should Congress do to address hunger, specifically with regard to the food-stamp program?

JM: Well, they should increase the minimum benefit. They should adjust the benefit so that it’s more adequate for families. They should index it for inflation. They should allow legal immigrants to be eligible for benefits. It will require some additional federal funds, but not so much more money that it’s going to break the bank. We can improve this program and other nutrition programs, quite frankly, and hopefully make a big step forward in eliminating food insecurity and hunger in America.

I’ve introduced legislation that does this and other things. My legislation would cost a total of about $20 billion over five years, but that’s if I got everything we wanted. But the fact of the matter is, for me to support a farm bill, we need to make at least some important positive steps in the right direction.

There’s a study out right now saying that the cost of hunger is about $90 billion per year. What they say is that the cost of hunger in terms of people who show up in emergency rooms with health problems is enormous, the cost in terms of kids who go to school hungry and don’t learn, the cost of workers who can’t produce at the level they could if they were eating properly, I mean, on and on and on.

The cost of ignoring this issue, the cost of tolerating hunger, is too high. And it’s a hell of a lot cheaper to end hunger than it is to tolerate the status quo.

People say we don’t have the money. Well, we’re paying through the nose. Because we’re not addressing this problem, it is manifesting itself in other problems, and it’s getting more and more expensive. So it’d be cheaper to do what I suggest and try to figure out a way to combat hunger.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

in other news By Mandy McAnally Alabama: Doctors Call for Mobile Treatment Units Doctors and advocates in Madison County are urging county health officials to establish a mobile treatment unit to deliver medical care to area homeless shelters. They say because of scheduling conflicts with local free clinics and homeless shelters, clients must often choose between seeking medical care and lining up for a bed at the shelter. A mobile unit would allow doctors to provide care at downtown missions and relieve the strain on the local free clinics and hospital emergency rooms (Kesner, Huntsville Times, 6/3).

California: City Council Buys Lot for Homeless Camp The Fresno City Council has approved the purchase of a vacant lot that will serve as a permanent camp for homeless people. The city paid $137,000 for the lot, which is located near downtown Fresno. City leaders say the new site will be drug- and alcohol-free (CBS47, 6/7).

Colorado: Deserted Cabins to House People in Aspen U.S. Forest Service officials have offered the Aspen Homeless Coalition three deserted cabins from public lands to use for homeless housing. Coalition members say they’re unsure about the poor conditions of the cabins and where they will put the cabins if they are relocated. Members have 60 days to decide whether to use the buildings, and after that the structures will go to a sealed-bid auction, a report from the U.S. General Services Administration said (Agar, Vail Daily News, 6/9).

Illinois: Board of Ed Enrolls Homeless Students The state Board of Education and homeless shelters statewide are working together to enroll more homeless students in public schools. The board is distributing about 2,000 question

booklets this summer to shelters so they can work with homeless families to enroll their children in public schools this fall.

The booklet has information on school eligibility, fee waivers, free lunch and breakfast programs, student transportation and other assistance. There are about 60,000 homeless students in Illinois, according to recent data (NWITIMES.com, 6/5).

Nebraska: Shelters Cut Services for Lack of Funds Several Omaha homeless shelters are closing day programs and scaling back services because of a lack of private funding.

The city has formed a network of advocates to study the funding shortage. One option under consideration is building a central site for the shelters’ day programs. The facility’s estimated cost would be at least $2 million (KETV.com, 6/4).

Ohio: Columbus to Create Homeless Advocacy Office The Columbus City Council is creating an Office of Homeless Advocacy to coordinate efforts for permanent housing for the city’s homeless population. The city is also working to develop an official protocol for cleaning up homeless camps and finding supportive housing for the residents. Of the 107 people who live in the camps, 66 have been relocated to permanent housing (Futty, Columbus Dispatch, 6/5).

USA: Senators Work to Reduce Homeless Veterans Sens. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) are focusing attention on hunger and homelessness among veterans. The senators recently donated about 2,000 food items and clothing collected by their offices. Smith has called for peer mentoring and outreach initiatives to help veterans with psychiatric disorders or substance abuse problems. He has introduced a bill that would authorize $13.5 million over three years to create

and expand peer-support programs for veterans (AP/Washington D.C. Examiner, 6/7).

North Dakota: Mayors seek to end homelessness Two North Dakota mayors joined forces to end homelessness in their respective cities. Bismarck Mayor John Warford and Mandan Mayor Ken LaMont formed a committee with the lofty goal of creating a plan that would end homelessness in the two cities in a 10-year span. The area has nearly 250 homeless people, one-third of which are children. The mayors both said they would be looking at other cities in North Dakota as examples on how to end chronic homelessness. (Associated Press, 6/12).

Seattle: Billionaire leads campaign to aid homeless Telecom billionaire John Stanton is leading a two-year, $25 million campaign to provide 1,000 housing units for the homeless of Seattle. The United Way of King County specifically designed the campaign to help the chronically homeless of Seattle by offering services that will get people off the streets, deliver drug treatment and job counseling services and transition the homeless eventually to their own homes.

Critics of the campaign are concerned that raising so much money for a small portion of the homeless population will take away money from the majority of the homeless community (King5News, 6/12).

Florida: Orlando health care service adds $1.1 million The Orlando Health Care Center for the Homeless received funds to expand its services after winning two federal grants worth more than $1.1 million. The money will primarily go towards purchasing a $625,000 recreational vehicle in to a mobile health clinic to reach patients on the streets of Orlando (Hunt, Orlando Sentinel, 6/12).

NEWS LOCAL PHOTOS & POETRY

My Friend Dew My little nephew Dew, Started to talk when he was two.

He looked at me and said, “Hey, don’t I know you?”

“You’re my Unkie!” as we both knew.

And so I said, “Who told you so?”

“My momma said you were.”

“Then it must be true” Dew then asked, “Won’t you sit down? I want to talk with you.”

“What about Dew?” He just laughed and said, “Let’s talk about you.

About where you’ve been, what’s what and who’s who.”

My niece laughing said, “I think, Unkie, that Dew likes you.”

Then Dew looked up, to his mother at the sink And said, “Mommy, do you think that it could be possible to go and play at the park across the way?”

She just smiles and says, “No, no not today?”

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

Cliff’s Pics: Motion In this month’s series, vendor Cliff Carle snaps pictures about town that catch action. Whether it is water, cars, skaters or tourists, Cliff shows how D.C. is constantly moving.

He looked so down-hearted that I had to say, “Well I have nothing big to do, so Dew, I will take you.”

Dew shines like the sun and he starts to run To his room.

When he came back, he had a big sack With his baseball bat, basketball, football, And other things that fell out of his pack As he ran down the hall.

After many attempts, this panning sho

Dew smiles and says, “We’re gonna have fun When we play in the park all day!”

I look at him and think, “All day? No way!”

His mom just laughs and walks away.

When we got to the park, Dew started to play.

But then he stopped and looked at me and said, “Remember…All day!”

I just laugh and say, “Ok.” At first I thought I would just sit and have nothing to do.

But Dew ran up and said, “Unkie, I’m waiting for you!”

Our first stop was the seesaw. I just laughed and thought, “Ha ha!

There’s no way to make me get on that thing.

Why it’s barely a string.”

But on we go.

Up and down…

Up and down…

Up and down…

And Dew asks, “Are you having fun?”

I could just barely smile with the heat of that sun.

This street performer was playing such beautiful music and it was kind of sad how so many people passed him by in a blur without even the slightest acknowledgment.

I noticed Dew rubbin’ the seesaw, trying to say yellow.

But all that was coming out was “Jello.”

I love

Wild, isn’t it? Its amazing what beauty comes out of a long exposure and headlights.

Street Sense . June 15-July 1, 2007

ot came out great. I love how it looks like the skater is still and the world is moving.

e how these water drops hang just before they fall from the rock; a mundane action that looks amazing in still life.

PHOTOS & POETRY

So I said, “That’s yellow Dew.” Dew laughs and says, “Yella Unkie, Yella.”

Close enough. This kid sure ain’t mellow.

Dew looks up at the sun.

I say, “Yes Dew, the sun is yellow and orange too.”

Dew smiles and says, “I got floors and color books at home, I got many pencils, all kinds of blue, And red, And green, And every color in between too.”

I just look at Dew and say, “Oh, do you?”

“Yeah!” he says, “I’ll get them for you…later.”

He runs to the swing, Dew jumps up and down saying, “Hurry Unkie, get in!”

I just think. “That’s smaller than a bread bin.”

I could not get in it.

But Dew was about to have a fit.

So I got in…as best I could.

Dew rubs the swing and says, “Look Unkie, green.”

Dew points to the ground and says, “Look Unkie, brown.”

He looks at the sky and says, “Look Unkie…blue!”

Just then a strong wind came through.

I thought, “Man I have him now.”

Then out loud I say, “What was that?” with a mock shroud of surprise.

He just looks in my eyes and says, “That’s an angel passin’ of course.”

He wears me down, so far I can’t speak.

And thinking with my mind a bit weak, He finally slows and it really shows.

His eyelids are purple and red in between And his eyes have lost their sparkly sheen.

I took him home and put him to bed.

And he looked up to me and he said, “I love you.”

I just smile and say, “I love you too, Dew.” Looking at Dew happy at play, I could remember the day When I was just as happy that way.

To everyone who reads this story, If you ever meet my friend Dew, I really think You’ll love him too.

-Ivory Wilson and Madeline Barry

10 FEATURES

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

Welfare Warriors Fight for Moms’ Rights

“B

By Raymond Avrutis

y the time moms call us, about half of them have been made homeless by illegal TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] denials.

Women are doubled up with family members, and some are facing eviction or have returned to their batterers, or they live in shelters,’’ said Pat Gowens, director of the Milwaukee-based Welfare Warriors.

Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, agreed. “A lot of homeless people are not even getting welfare and food stamps because they’ve made the paperwork and ID and workfare requirements so strict,” he said.

“That’s why they’re on the streets.”

Gowens’ organization, Welfare Warriors, operates a wide array of programs and activities for poor women, and she says she understands the mothers’ plight because she has lived it, although under the more generous Aid to Families with Dependent Children [AFDC] program, which was ended in 1996 by welfare reform. Gowens, 62, said she raised three children without child support “because the government didn’t care to get any money from the able-bodied dad.” She earned a bachelor’s degree while on welfare, but noted that under today’s laws, women with children cannot go to college and must perform 30 hours of “work activities” each week, including “unpaid workfare, in exchange for a measly welfare check.”

Gowens founded the Welfare Warriors in 1986 with a number of other Milwaukee mothers. The plan at first was to create a publication by, for and about women on welfare that would give women a voice. “Women wanted to make the truth known, to combat all the stereotypes about women who receive public benefits,” Gowens said. “A mom seeks public assistance because she’s lost her man, her job or her health; single moms are independent, responsible, hard-working women, not lazy, loose liars.”

The Welfare Warriors originally worked out of Gowens’ home.

She was, and still is, editor of the activist quarterly magazine, now called “Mother Warriors Voice.” All of the women were volunteers, but eventually a board of directors was created and it hired Gowens as executive director. Funds for the organization are generated through subscriptions and donations. The 60–page magazine allows any mother to submit an article or letter and gives them a

free subscription. It has inspired the creation of dozens of other poverty and welfare-rights groups throughout the United States, including three other Welfare Warriors organizations.

For the last 21 years, Gowens also has overseen the “Moms Line,” which teaches mothers how to protect their families against what she calls “welfare no-sayers.” The plan urges mothers to: write a one-sentence request for a hearing to contest a denial or reduction in benefits; contact the program’s director every workday; and contact the appropriate politicians who oversee the program every workday. Under Gowens’ direction, the Welfare Warriors also wrote a “Moms Survival Guide,” a 36–page booklet that follows up the training a parent or grandparent receives on the telephone. A typical caller to the Moms Line is facing an economic crisis and has been denied TANF on the grounds she is “job ready” or, conversely, that she is “too sick to work the mandatory 30 hours,” Gowens said.

“Welfare wasn’t ‘reformed’ in 1996, when AFDC was abolished, it was ‘deformed’,” Gowens said. “Welfare reform costs $2 billion more to support 3 million fewer families.” In 1996, the average family on welfare received $370 a month from AFDC, plus $244 in food stamps (a total of $614), while TANF in 2003 paid $354 a month, plus $266 in food stamps (a total of $620), despite a 16.9% jump in consumer prices, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Federal TANF eligibility runs for five years, and any state may extend that with its own funds. But Wisconsin reduced TANF eligibility for most moms to just two years under former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a current Republican presidential candidate.

Welfare Warriors also operates the MaGoD project — Mothers and Grandmothers of Disappeared children, which advocates for the return of children who have been wrongly removed from their homes by social services due to a mother’s homelessness, disability, housekeeping or mental health, and not because of any parental abuse or neglect. The group also instituted the M.A.Y. project, an after–school program teaching young people life skills and an understanding of their mothers’ struggles.

Welfare Warriors also organizes public education actions, like “showing why welfare costs so much more now than when it provided cash support to millions more moms with children,’’ Gowens said. “Our current campaign is exposing the violent war on the poor being carried out in New Orleans. We are urging people to go to New Orleans as a volunteer [to renovate houses].”

For more information, please visit, www.welfarewarriors.org.

Cook’s Corner

Francine’s Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients • • • • • •

6 medium potatoes cheese 3/4 c. margarine 1 onion, sliced thinly 3 Tbls. flour 1 to 2 c. milk

Preparation • • • • • • • • •

•

•

•

Peel potatoes.

Thinly slice potatoes.

Grease a 9x13 pan.

Layer bottom of pan with potatoes.

Sprinkle 1/3 of onions over potatoes.

Cover onions and potatoes with cheese.

Layer cheese with margarine slivers.

Sprinkle flour on margarine.

Repeat the previous five steps two more times, to make three layers.

Pour milk into the pan until the pan is filled up half-way.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until it’s golden brown on top.

Serve warm.·

Francine has been a vendor for Street Sense for three years and now serves on the board of directors. She loves to cook and often prepares her tasty tuna macaroni salad, chicken wings, and deviled eggs for Street Sense vendor meetings. She also is a regular cook for events at her church, Vermont Avenue Baptist Church.

She says when she was little, she used to sit and watch her mother cook, and one of her dishes that Francine loved was scalloped potatoes. Every time her mother cooked, Francine would sit right there and watch until she was allowed to try herself, and this was the first recipe she ever learned. It was so good, so every time there was a gathering, Francine would make this dish. It’s still one of her all–time favorite foods.

Helpful Hints from The Homeless By Brenda Karyl Lee–Wilson

“Home is Where the Heart is”

Brenda (center) with Street Sense and National Coalition for the Homeless staffs during the mayor’s inaugural ball.

For over four weeks, I have been out of touch with the offices that produce and publish this newspaper. I recently moved out of the District’s shelter system and into a home 15 miles south of the Branch Avenue rail line. I thought that I would be unable to continue to write and volunteer for Street Sense or be a part of Street Sense soccer games. I also thought I couldn’t finish the training I began at DC–TV for certification in camera, lighting, and sound for television, which I planned to use for Greg Wraggs’ production of the series “Street Sense TV.” As much as I have been physically displaced by four years, eight months, and two days of homelessness, I have been even more unsettled without a sense of direction and purpose, having not been a part of the aforementioned activities.

Since moving, I discovered that these activities have become vital to my existence, although I at first allowed the change in my environment to influence my commitments to the causes I believe God has put before me. On Thursday, June 7, I found my way back to what is and has become my family and friends and, even though I remain at the residential home, I hope never again to be separated from those that have loved and encouraged me in every endeavor that I have undertaken. My heart is everywhere the homeless are and with those trying to improve their lives. It is, along with God’s love and being blessed with what I prayed for, what keeps fulfilling me.

So this is a solo HELPFUL HINTS FROM THE HOMELESS and a question I will extend to others of similar circumstance for the next edition of this paper. It is with a light and happy heart that I am back in the saddle again.

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

FEATURES & GAMES 11

bOOK rEVIEW by Mary Cunningham

Ending Poverty in America

FPTDPW KOD OFZ ZQLJHHUWB KVQO GDMWLQT CPDKZ ODK WSQLWNWUT WSGWPZVMW VQ VZ QD AW GDDL.

- EFNWZ F. AFUBKVP

Hint: D = O

May’s Solution: Do not ask the name of the person who seeks a bed for the night. He who is reluctant to give his name is the one who most needs shelter.

- Victor Hugo

Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream

By John Edwards, Arne L. Kalleberg, and Marion Crain (New Press April 2, 2007)

it is important to remember the strong currents of generosity that run through America.” Shipler’s essay alone makes a trip to the library to check out this book well worth the effort.

The book concludes with an essay by Edwards, who writes, “Even the most brilliant policy ideas will not make a difference in anyone’s life without the determination and commitment to turn them into a reality.“ He calls on all of us to put poverty back onto the policy agenda and “demand action from our leaders.” What will it take to end poverty in America? This powerful book illustrates that we have the knowledge; all we need to do is marshal the political will.

PLACE YOUR AD HERE! With Street Sense now coming out twice a month and reaching nearly 11,000 people each issue, now is the perfect time to promote your business with us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Street Su-Do-Ku

2

This Su-Do-Ku puzzle was put together by the Street Sense staff, who are obessed with the game.

We promise that the puzzle below is easy to solve, but warn that it may get beginners hooked!

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

1

2 2

4 9 6

5 7

4 6

8 3

2 5

2

4 5

4

May’s Solution

Thirty–seven million Americans fall below the poverty line — $19,874 for a family of four. What would it take to end poverty by 2036? John Edwards and company seek answers to this question in a new book entitled, “Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream.” In 288 pages, this book bucks social science convention: instead of simply diagnosing the problem, it focuses on a prescription.

Through a series of essays, each with a unique voice and perspective, “policy wonks,” academia, neighborhood organizers, and business leaders map out a blueprint for ending poverty. Solutions cover approaches that make work pay, improve education, provide affordable housing, and more. While some may see the name John Edwards on the cover and immediately place the book in the partisan politics bin, this would be a mistake.

Each of the essays describes tested policies and programs, backed by rigorous research, scrupulously prepared, and meticulously footnoted.

In his opening essay, award–winning author and journalist David Shipler asks us to “connect the dots,” explaining how poverty and other social problems are inextricably linked. How a single mom’s inescapable low wage job can lead to malnourishment among her children; poor housing quality may lead to asthma; and fear and low self–esteem may hold some back in a highly competitive labor market. He goes beyond the obstacles, though, and points to the incredible resilience of the poor. Shipler has not lost faith in America either, writing, “In an age of wealth disparity and ostentatious greed, when our political leaders tell us that we should strive to keep as much money as possible in our own pockets,

Cryptogram

7

7 9

1

4

8

3

5

9

6

3

5

7

6

8

2

1

6

8

5

2

9

1

7

4

3

1

5

6

9

4

2

3

8

7

7

2

8

3

6

5

4

1

9

9

3

4

8

1

7

2

6

5

8

1

9

7

5

4

6

3

2

3

4

7

6

2

9

1

5

8

5

6

2

1

3

8

9

7

4

8 1

2 4

6

7

In Memory of our Dog JUPITER Q A noble Dalmation Nov. 30, 1972 to June 15 1987 Inci Boman

6 9

5

8

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

12 EDITORIALS

Letters From SEattle By August Mallory

H

ello Again, Street Sense Readers.

May I begin by saying to all of you Marvin Hammerm a n l ov e r s o u t there that I have good news, good news, and good news for you. Marvin Hammerman, the fictional series I authored that has been featured in Street Sense, stands a very good chance of becoming a novel.

I am conferring with the publishing company BookSurge to get the ball rolling on Marvin Hammerman. After that, I am hoping to bring the book to life by making it into a television or big–screen movie. I figure it this way — I started this project, so I guess I may as well finish it.

There has been a new addition to this series: a new Assistant District Attorney by the name of Edward J. Hoffman. Hoffman, a Harvard Law School graduate, is now taking on cases with Hammerman.

Private investigator Russell Jamison is still working with Hammerman. Later in this series, Jamison will have a new partner to work with on his cases. This character is Mitchell O’Bryan, a former Chicago police officer who leaves the force after he fingers crooked cops involved in murder and the theft of drug evidence during a drug raid. Fearing retaliation against him and his family, O’Bryan resigns from the police department and joins Jamison’s detective agency.

This year Marvin Hammerman is taking on a case right here in Seattle, Washington.

Hammerman and Hoffman investigate the murder of a homeless man who was once an accountant but has been murdered at the hands of another homeless man.

The suspense keeps on going, and I think you will find the entire Marvin Hammerman series a must–read novel. Thank you all for being such faithful readers of Street Sense. We could not have succeeded without your support.

It is a very beautiful day in Seattle — the weather is really fantastic here. Of course, what would our favorite city be if we didn’t have at least one day of rain? The summer months are not so rainy here, but the fall and winter seasons can be a real kick in the head with constant rain. I am happy that summer is here, as we do get a little bit of a break from all of that rain.

Well, everybody, I must be signing off now, but please continue to read Street Sense. And oh, by the way, I will be in town this summer to pay everyone a visit, and I will most likely be in town long enough to make an appearance on WOL — AM’s More Betterman Show, with host Mary Hall.

Please do tune in to the More Betterman Show, each and every month, with Mary Hall and her very interesting guests.

Take care; I hope to be in Washington, D.C., very soon.

August was the first vendor for Street Sense and was with the organization for three years. He now lives in Seattle and is on the editorial board of Real Change News, the street paper there. You can reach August at: carriergroup2009@yahoo.com.

Justice, from p.1 driving on a suspended license. So the judge decided to lock her ass up for 45 days (sorry for the language, I felt like saying it as we say it on the street). She turned herself in June 5 and was detained at an all–female jail, in a special section “reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high–profile inmates” within the Century Regional Detention Facility, in Lynwood, Calif. But inmate No. 9818783 found out that even a special jail was nothing like the luxury of home, so she told somebody she was ill. Yes — she was suffering from an illness called I–Don’t–Like–Jail–itis.

So Sherrif Lee Baca let her out of jail on the morning of June 7, and sent her home. But Judge Michael Sauer ordered Hilton to appear back in his court the following morning (June 8) and sent her back to jail.

It is one thing to cut taxes for the rich, but another to tell the judge that he cannot touch the rich and that democracy does not apply when it comes to the rich.

The Framers of the Constitution were fair–minded and thought of all human beings as equal regardless of their status. So when a sheriff goes against a judge’s order and releases a celebrity from jail, it is a serious concern, because such an act clearly challenges the whole ideal of American democracy. And although that incident may appear like an exceptional situation, it becomes very worrisome when we look at it in the context of America’s post–9/11 political atmosphere.

Those who govern America today have gone beyond the limits intended by nation’s founders. Since 9/11, they enacted laws and policies, and engaged in behavior, that clearly give the executive branch of government more powers than initially intended by the Framers of the Constitution. Freedoms inscribed in the Constitution, that were not to be tempered with, are now being infringed upon by laws

like the Patriot Act, and the government runs surveillance programs without the consent of the courts, for the sake of protecting the people from terrorism.

The current Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ resignation is being sought by Democratic and some Republican members of Congress, for what they see as a flagrant abuse of power by firing some U.S. Attorneys perceived as not being in line with the political interests of the White House. Individuals are being detained without charges and without legal representation; wars are being waged preemptively. International treaties and conventions are being violated in conformity with the neoconservative vision of power.

Those who wrote the Constitution and designed the institutions of American democracy were visionary, not idiots. They had good reasons not to vest too much power in the executive branch, they had good reasons to make the judiciary branch independent from the executive, and they had good reasons for giving Congress the authority to keep the executive in check.

So for a sheriff to say, to hell with the judge, I won’t keep no rich girl in jail, I do what I want because I got the power to do it, to hell with the Constitution, this Hilton walks — that is a dangerous path America should not allow herself on.

No man or woman in their own misguided wisdom should question the wisdom of the American democratic system, or do any action that in the future could turn America, the greatest democracy on earth, into a tyranny.

America must protect her Democracy for the good of the American people and for the good of mankind!

Leo Gnawa has been a Street Sense vendor since February 2005. He enjoys writing for Street Sense and sharing his thoughts.

Vendor Voices By James Davis

He’s Baaack ... And Ready to Sell

D

id you ever wonder why you all of a sudden cannot hear your cell phone conversation and hear no “sound of music” from your ipods? This phenomenon is starting to take place recently at the corners of 17th & L streets, Whole Foods at P street and coming soon to Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle.

For those of you who have been affected, you are probably already aware that the loudmouthed, ‘Street Sense!’ shouting vendor, James Davis, is back in town after a year’s unwanted sabbatical.

I would like to thank my “special” customers and my Street Sense family for helping me get through the ordeal of this past year. An ordeal that helped me develop new strength and resolve in enduring hardships.

I have also discovered that there are serious glitches in our legal system when it comes to child support enforcement. There were some unresolved legal issues from my past that I needed to take care of. When I cleared up the matter I found out that there had been a warrant issued for my arrest.

With a good lawyer, which I did not have, and the sentencing guidelines, I should have served only a six-month sentence. However,

I ended up serving an 11-month sentence for nonpayment of child support.

I have provided moral, spiritual and financial support to my children, including helping them purchase automobiles for their graduations. I have put two of my children through college with funds I saved when I was employed in the engineering field.

My daughter, 23, and my oldest son, 21, are both college graduates with degrees in Information Systems Management. Through my contacts in the defense contractor arena I was able to help them land good jobs.

Even though I did all these things for my children, the state considers automobiles as a gift. Suffice to say, the child support enforcement system needs some serious revamping.

I would have done all those things and more for my children just from out of love, not because of a court order. I just think that dads who stay in their kids lives’ and provide other than financially for their kids should get some credit for being a father.

Fathers who go out of their way to circumvent the system tend to be the worst offenders.

I have never even given a thought to weaseling my way out of my responsibilities. Some of these “deadbeat” dads will go as far as quitting a well paying job and work under the table just to avoid paying child support. These are the ones the system should go after.

Well, enough of my venting at your expense.

I am glad to be back in the Street Sense family.

I would like to thank Laura, Ted, and recently Jesse, for the fantastic job they have done to make sure Street Sense is still here and growing upon my return.

Just remember when you all see me again it will not be safe to use your cell phones or ipods!

Thank you again for so much love and support.

And a special thanks to David Hammond.

James has been with Street Sense for threeand-a-half years and has served on the board of directors.

Foundry United Methodist Church A Reconciling Congregation

Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Sign Interpretation at 11:00 Homeless Outreach Hospitality Fridays 9 AM Foundry United Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

EDITORIALS 13

MAURICE SPEAKS

A Solemn Occasion

I

n a previous editorial, I wrote about the option of having a family to go home to as a solution to homelessness. In that editorial, I mentioned that my own family indicated to me that coming home was “not an option.”

The reason for that statement was not because of my father, who would have welcomed me had he been the one calling the shots. In early May, my father passed away.

I boarded a bus and traveled all night, getting not a wink of sleep, in order to arrive at his funeral in North Carolina.

When I went to his funeral, it could not have been made clearer to me that I had no home to return to.

When I arrived at the funeral site, my stepmother acknowledged me only for a fleeting moment. I was in a state of confusion anyway, as I saw relatives and friends of the family that I had not seen in 20 or 30 years. I had to deal with the visual shock of how they had aged.

It was at the memorial service that I saw how I had become little more than an unwanted stepchild. The clergyman speaking there did not know me, and he spoke only about what a successful second marriage my father had with my stepmother. He spent a long time praising their marriage and how much my father loved her, almost ignoring the fact that my father had been married to my

Top Vendors in May Anonymous........................................ 1371

mother for a longer period and that they had raised a family together.

The only mention he made of me was how my father had “loved his boys with unconditional love,” for whatever that was worth. It was as if my mother, my brother and I were a mere afterthought in this ceremony that was designed to stroke my stepmother’s ego.

I knew that I was persona non grata in my stepmother’s house, so there was no place for me to go to mourn after the ceremony. Fortunately, the cousin who had stayed in touch with me and who had informed me of my father’s death had come with her daughter, and they took me around at a time when I definitely did not need to be left alone. It would not have been good for me to go back to a hotel room to sit by myself.

My cousin paid for the hotel room, I must add, which was a very nice gesture on her part. Even though I no longer had a home to call my own anymore, it was nice to know that I still had some family that cared.

As for my father, I know he is no longer suffering and has moved on to the next world. He suffered enough from the ravages of Alzheimer’s, and even though he was good humored about it, the disease ultimately took his life regardless. I devote this column to his memory, may it be blessed.

Conrad Cheek....................................1315

Maurice King has been writing editorials for Street Sense since January 2004, and is also in the process of publishing his own book. If you have any comments, e–mail him at benadam@cyberdude.com.

Michael Douglas................................. 265

Jake Ashford (below left)..................... 700

Jake

Charles

Phillip Howard..................................... 582 Allen Jones.......................................... 571 Martin Walker..................................... 560 Lawless Watson.................................. 517 Charles Nelson (above right).............. 516 Bobby G. Buggs................................... 511 Cliff Carle............................................ 456 Kevin Robinson................................... 358 Ivory Wilson......................................... 320

Moyo Onibuje...................................... 250 Chris Sellman...................................... 215

Fourth World Movement Issues Call to Action

By Eric Sheptock

T

he Fourth World Movement is a non–profit organization dedicated to the eradication of extreme poverty. The name “Fourth World” is derived from the fact that in any society there is a “fourth world” of people whose poverty and exclusion denies them recognition of their value as human beings. The Movement was initiated in 1957

by Joseph Wresinski, a Catholic priest. His firsthand experience with poverty helped him to shape the principles by which the Movement is run, the most basic of which is the idea that complex issues of extreme poverty are addressed with the poor and not just for them. The Fourth World Movement recognizes the poor as the first promoters of human rights.

Emphasis is not on giving a handout, but rather a hand up. They measure their success not by how many people they help out of poverty; but rather by whether people they empower to help themselves out of poverty speak out for the rights of those worse off.

Its goals include revising society’s priorities, an emphasis on partnership with those in poverty, and making society’s resources accessible to all under a human rights based approach. There are currently four centers in the United States: in the D.C. area, New Orleans, New York and southwestern Virginia.

The Fourth World Movement/USA is made up of 11,000 supporters and sympathizers in this country and works in partnership with disadvantaged families to set up programs in slums, ghettos and barrios that also emphasize education such as preschools, street libraries and job–training programs. The Fourth World Movement also works in partnership with government and agencies whose aim is to diminish poverty, while encouraging them to collaborate with those in poverty.

The International Movement ATD Fourth World has teams

in 30 countries and correspondents in over 100, actively involving over 100,000 people. It is a non–governmental organization (NGO) that has consultative status with the United Nations, which in 1992 declared October 17 to be the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The Fourth World Movement is presently issuing its “Call to Action: Ending Extreme Poverty, A Road To Peace” in an international campaign to involve all concerned citizens in an effort to combat the worst cases of poverty and ensure that the rights and dignity of the world’s poorest are recognized and respected. The “Call to Action” is about mobilizing people to make changes around them. These changes must occur in all classes and sectors of society. People in poverty must be united and thereby empowered. The public must be informed and become concerned with the issue. Government, businesses, the poor and the general public must begin to work together.

People may contribute to the campaign financially and can also distribute information about the campaign.

Help is also needed preparing for this year’s commemoration of October 17. The goal is to acquire 1,000,000 signatures worldwide by October 17 and present them to Ban Ki Moon, the secretary–general of the United Nations. But the year–round emphasis is on continuous encounters whereby people are made aware of the issues surrounding poverty.

Those looking to learn more about the Fourth World Movement can attend Fourth World Fourth Friday (FWFF) gatherings that occur on the fourth Friday of every month at their Washington, D.C., office. A recent FWFF roundtable discussion discussed how eradicating extreme poverty promotes peace.

There was talk about dealing with the anger and frustration created by persistent, extreme poverty which, when combined with neglect by the government, can create volatile situations such as those in Sudan, Haiti and France. In a less severe but equally important way it can create numerous altercations from day to day in the lives of poor and homeless people. One of the participants suggested that, instead of fighting each other, we help people to reframe the issue to figure out what government is doing wrong, how the nation’s resources are being mismanaged and what changes can and should be made. We can then approach the government diplomatically with an organized plan.

This single article couldn’t possibly do justice to the cause of Fourth World Movement. The Movement is doing so many great things for so many people that it has left me to wonder why it isn’t better known than it is. An organization such as this deserves to be in the headlines on a regular basis, especially its grass–roots teams.

For more information, go to: www.4thworldmovement.org or call the DC office at (202) 393–2822 or the Maryland center at: (301) 336–9489.

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

14 STREET SENSE NEWS

VendorNotes Welcome We wish a hardy welcome to Daniel Johnson, our new summer intern who will focus on the journalistic side of the business. Daniel’s skills in my estimation are excellent and his maturity belies his age. One thing I must mention about this young man is the fact that he started his tour of duty two weeks before schedule. This is an indication of what type of person he is. He will make a good fit with our organization, and we are lucky to have him.

We have also acquired the services of two new volunteers who will assist in duties around the office as well as distribute papers. They are Dan Weingarten and Katie Wells. They both possess pleasing personalities and are happy to work with us. Let’s do our best to make their jobs as easy as possible.

Congratulations

We wish to extend our congratulations to vendor Lawless C. Watson Jr., who has recently been selected by our

By Jesse Smith

Board of Directors to become the director of advertising sales. Lawless has had some considerable experience in the area of marketing and sales, and he will be developing a training program designed to involve other vendors in the area of soliciting advertising for our paper.

Condolences We wish to express our sincere condolences to two of our vendors for their recent loss.

Denise Wilson, born in September 1958, sister of vendor Don Gardner, recently succumbed to cancer and was laid to rest last week. By all accounts Denise was a credit to her community, where, in her profession as a teacher, she did much to enrich the minds of many of the students whose lives she touched. As an indication of how incredible this young lady was, she chose to do whatever she could to continue the education of the children in her native New Orleans during and long after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

She was 48 years old and certainly will be missed.

Also, our sympathies go out to vendor Tommy Bennett, who lost his father.

We don’t have much information about his father other than that he was in his late 70s or 80s and that he lived in one of the Southern states. Tommy, our hearts are with you.

Out of the Hospital We are happy to announce that vendor Cliff Carle has been released from the hospital and seems to be recovering well from the surgery performed on his jaw.

He is still as talkative as ever (as I found out when I asked him how he was doing: After about twenty minutes of conversation; I realized that he was recovering nicely). Happy to have you back.

Musical Accompaniment I was on my way to the office one day and, just as I was about to enter the first door, a most wonderful piece of music touched my ears. I paused to determine where it was coming from.

I was surprised — though I should not have been — to discover that its origin was the sanctuary of the Church of the Epiphany.

I was delighted to hear a violin and piano performance featuring George Gershwin, compositions from Porgy and Bess, the selected pieces of “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Summertime” performed by Betsy Hinkle on violin and Jad C. Bernardo on piano.

It then occurred to me that I had been missing many rich performances in the midst of downtown. I heartily suggest that if you are in the area to take advantage of the Tuesday Concert Series offered by the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G Street N.W. This is a noontime concert program, so people working in the area may also attend. The dates for the remaining concerts are as follows: June 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; and August 7. I highly recommend this series.

Get Twice as Much Street Sense Each Month Delivered Right to Your Door!

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

Order a subscription today.

Not only will you receive 24 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area. ___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 24 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ____________ Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________ State:_______________ Zip: ______________ Phone: ___________________________________ Email: ________________________________ Please make checks payable to Street Sense.

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

Thanks for your support!

intern iNsight By Daniel Johnson

Learning from Captain Controversy and other Street Sense Devotees

M

y first impression of Street Sense was a smiling stranger in a black beret.

The man beneath the beret was Jesse Smith and his photo was the first thing I clicked on when I visited the Street Sense Web site months before I ever came to Washington, D.C. As I read through his story at my desk in Abilene, Texas, I quickly learned how he got involved with Street Sense and how much the Street Sense community meant to him. And after reading how Jesse found his place, one question hung in the back of my mind: Will I ever be able to fit in at Street Sense?

Coming from the sheltered, conservative and often–hypocritical community of Abilene Christian University, I wondered if I could make the jump from a community filled of spoiled, upper–middle class white kids to a community that knows first hand the struggles and dangers of life on the streets. And to my relief I fit right in.

Whether I was distributing papers to vendors, smoking a cigarette with Jesse or discussing religion and politics with “Captain Controversy” Leo Gnawa, I have realized that there is no place I would rather spend my summer than in the Street Sense office.

Three weeks and two packs of cigarettes into my summer internship, I have learned that there are many things that I can learn from Street Sense, professionally and personally.

Besides yearly youth group mission trips and the occasional soup kitchen volunteer program, I have done little to help the homeless in America. But now at Street Sense I feel I have found a place where I can genuinely use my skills in an effective way to help the homeless of D.C. One lesson I already learned is that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’re from, Street Sense is a place where everyone can fit in.

I have never witnessed such a close group of people devoted to helping each other no matter what the circumstances, and I am amazed by the altruistic mindset each member of the Street Sense staff is driven by.

I can only hope that one day I will find something I can do with the same passion that Laura, Jessie, the vendors and the volunteers have for Street Sense.

I am anticipating a busy summer filled with very few dull moments. And now that I have seen first hand the altruistic and genuine efforts of the Street Sense community, I will later be asking myself if I can I ever leave.

Daniel Johnson is a print journalism major at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and will be working as a summer intern for Street Sense through the Georgetown University Institute on Political Journalism.

FEATURES 15 SERVICE PROVIDERS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

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

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

Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269-2277 www.foodandfriends.org Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452-8926 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347-2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ministry/ welcometbl.htm

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

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265-2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561-8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364-1419 www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939-2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Green Door (202) 464-9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675-9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling and mentoring, education, youth services, clothing Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338-8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org laundry, counseling, psych care Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328-6608

Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252

www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682-1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social activities Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675-9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797-8806 www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842-9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services of D.C. 924 G Street, NW (202) 772-4300 www.ccs-dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347-8870 www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347-0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332-2874 http://www.ccs-dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544-9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667-8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462-4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau available

Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889-7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667-4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347-3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371-1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html national emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328-5500 www.legalclinic.org legal services

MARYLAND SHELTER Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762-8682 www.communityministrymc.org The Samaritan Group P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480-3564 Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499-2319 www.cmpgc.org

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

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942-1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org

shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue Capitol Heights (301)333-4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600-B East Gude Drive, Rockville (301) 217-0314 www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportiveservices

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

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

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

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

Street Sense . June 15-July1, 2007

VENDOR PROFILE

PHOTO FINISH

The Fishbowl

By Cliff Carle

Goldfish crowd a small fish pond near the Smithonian castle, much like tourists will also be crowding the National Mall during the Independence Day celebration.

Charlie Mayfield

Charlie Mayfield was born February 3, 1934 in South Hampton County, Va. He is 73 years young. He is part of a family of 8 boys and 2 girls, and is the third oldest He came to D.C. in the 1960s and has been here for approximately 40 years.

Charlie graduated from South Hampton Elementary School. An elementary education may not seem like much, but considering the climate of the times during the 1920s through the 1950s, a high school and elementary education was considered good. He worked on his family’s farm until 1954, when he moved to Norfolk, Va., where he obtained employment as a laborer in an electrical plant that produced many electrical adjunct components such as lamp poles. He worked at that plant for five years and then gained a position at the Southern State Feed Plant that produced nutrients for livestock. After four years service with that company, he decided to move to Washington, D.C., He was employed as a construction worker for 12 years for many of the construction firms in the D.C. area. He went on to pursue a career in landscaping for eight years and after that he developed skills and was employed as a carpenter for five years and he remains active in other ventures to this day. Given his age, Charlie Mayfield deserves to be called Mr. Charlie Mayfield.

How did you become Homeless?

StreetFact

Though I was down on my luck a few times, I was never homeless in the real sense of not having a place to stay.

Aggressive panhandling is illegal in 100 major cities in the United States.

(See story on page 1 for more info.)

Source: NATIONAL COALITION OF the homeless

Why do you sell Street Sense?

I like what it represents, the extra work and it is an opportunity to make extra money.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I plan to stay active working in any type employment and basically just enjoying life to its fullest.

Favorite Music?

Country and Western music; one of my favorite artists is Charlie Pride.

Favorite Food?

Fish and chicken.

June 15- July 1, 2007 • Volume 4 • Issue 13

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

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

Favorite Movie?

Most Western movies, many featuring John Wayne, and the old Amos and Andy series.

Favorite Book?

I am not what you call a book reader, but most anything I would have liked to have read is in a movie like the Western “Shane.”

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