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Volume 12: Issue 17 July 1 - 14, 2015

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COVER ART U.S. President Barack Obama speaks in front of the casket of Rev. Clementa Pinckney during funeral services for Pinckney in Charleston, South Carolina June 26, 2015. Pinckney was one of nine victims of a mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Chruch last week.

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OUR STORY Street Sense began in August 2003 after Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003. In 2005, Street Sense achieved 501 ( c ) 3 status as a nonprofit organization, formed a board of directors and hired a full-time executive director.

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STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

National Gathering Plans U.S. Human Right to Housing

By Dottie Kramer Editorial Intern The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) held a forum on the human right to housing at the Microsoft Innovation and Policy Center June 24 and June 25.

The Center sought receive feedback on a three-year national to house those without housing across the nation.

“Through conversations with a lot of people in the field, we realized it’s time for a national campaign to end criminalization of homelessness,” said Eric Tars, senior attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

Seattle University School of Law released a study in May 2015 analyzing the cost of criminalizing homelessness in Washington State. The study revealed that state tax payers could save two million dollars annually if the same money invested in enforcing bans on sitting, sleeping and standing in public spaces (2.6 million dollars in five years) were instead used for permanent housing solutions (for five years).

It is hard to ascertain a comprehensive, nationwide cost of criminalizing homelessness, because ordinances that criminalize behaviors necessary for survival outside are passed at the individual state and city levels.

A “housing not handcuffs” campaign was widely dis-

cussed at the NLCHP forum.

Essentially, decriminalizing the homeless frees up resources to help them.

“Turn the resources that are wasted, and ill-used from criminalization into resources that can go towards permanently housing people,” Tars said.

Many groups were in attendance, including but not limited to, the sponsors; Covington & Burling LLP, Fish & Richardson P.C., and Sidley Austin LLP. “We’re really hearing what they have to say,” said Diane Atens, Director of Development and Communications for the National Law Center.

“I do believe that the human rights framework is the right framework we should be using,” Tars said, “72 percent of Americans agree with the statement ‘housing is a human right.’”

The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by member states such as the U.S. in 1948, and identifies “adequate housing” as a universal human right.

Use of social media was highly encouraged to include those who could not be present for the discussion. InvisiblePeople.

TV founder Mark Horvath was one of many presenters at the event for his use of social media to “democratize and empower those less fortunate.”

The official plan will be released in January 2016, including economic projections, policy recommendations and advocacy strategies to achieve them.

District Provides Safety in Summer Heat

By Megan Panagoupolos Editorial Intern

Formerly Homeless Youth Inspired

By Congressional Representatives

By Ashley Strange, Editorial Intern

PHOTO COURTESY OF REPRESENTATIVE BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN

On June 16, forty youth from New York, Atlantic City, Newark, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. joined together at the Thomas Jefferson Building to hear U.S. Representatives John Lewis, Cory Booker and Bonnie Watson Coleman speak about overcoming adversity and becoming young leaders. The youth were shown the movie “Selma” to remind them of the difficulties that African Americans faced trying to vote during the civil rights movement.

Representative Lewis recounted his forty arrests during the 60s, standing up for African American rights. He also spoke of his time as a Freedom Rider: the challenge his group posed by using segregated bus facilities in the Deep South and the harsh beatings they received from citizens while authorities looked the other way.

“I wanted to see those signs come down,” Lewis recalled. He also detailed the unfair “literacy test” African Americans were required to take before filling out a ballot at the voting booths.

Representative Cory Booker is an advocate for homeless youth.

HE wants youth to know that, while striving to become young leaders, they often “chase after the big goals and [forget] the little things.” His goal was to encourage young people to remember why they decided to become leaders in the first place.

The youth in attendance later reflected on what the representatives had said. Many stated that they will now vote. Others expressed appreciation for the stories shared. One gentleman said he would “vocalize and speak up” for himself as well as others.

Members of Covenant House later assisted youth in registering to vote.

When Street Sense went to press, the District had declared four heat emergencies thus far in 2015 -- a number very comparable to other years, according to Dora Taylor, Public Information Officer for the Department of Human Services.

The District is considered to be in a state of emergency when the heat index, the air temperature in relation to relative humidity, is 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

A Heat Emergency Plan is implemented by the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) when an extreme heat warning is issued by the National Weather Service.

In the event of a heat emergency, residents are encouraged to visit a cooling center, spray park, recreational facility, or senior center. Centers are open until 6 PM, or unless the heat warning is not deactivated by that time.

HSEMA sets agencies on standby when a heat emergency is expected, as to have every facility open and running at full capacity when the heat emergency is announced.

“No one has ever been turned away from a shelter due to overcrowding due to us being alerted in advance when an emergency is expected.” Taylor said.

Handicap-accessible sites located throughout the city are opened and designated specifically for senior citizens during a heat emergency. Individuals can call 202-724-5622 for more information.

An extensive list of general public cooling centers and facilities can be found at hsema.dc.gov. In addition to these facilities, all public libraries will function as cooling centers to the general public.

Warrior Poet Moves Beyond Local Copy Center

By Dottie Kramer, Editorial Intern

Dannie Lee Baldwin used to bind his poetry at Staples, and give the booklets away as gifts. But those days are history now that his book is being sold on Amazon.com.

Baldwin, a Vietnam veteran, has been writing poetry since his days in the Marine Corps. His first book, Love, Life, and Songs, features over 100 pieces of his original poetry. He is hopeful that a volume two will follow.

“Life is my inspiration,” Baldwin said in an interview with Street Sense. “I try to see the good in people.”

Life and God deeply influence his work.

3

Baldwin’s zeal is palpable. He reads some of the newer poems, and recites the rest from memory.

“My favorite poem? I’ve written so many ... I guess it’s ‘Why?’” Baldwin said.

‘Why?’ is a poem that questions the discrimination that many living in poverty face.

“Take to heart these poems of few, the good I learned in the ghetto,” reads the promotional description. “This book is dedicated to my two sons and to all my grandchildren. Hoping that they will find knowledge, understanding and inner peace with God and themselves. To all those who enjoy read-

ing poetry and finding understanding.”

The cover illustration is designed to reflect Baldwin’s devotion to God. It and the illustrations throughout were drawn

by Baldwin’s son’s brother (his first wife’s child from a different marriage).

“I just like writing poetry,” Baldwin said.

“Sometimes they’re hard to understand.”

Baldwin believes poetry will stay involved in his future.

“I always wanted to write poetry and I ended up doing it,” he said.

Even with his book’s success, Baldwin is humble, and thanks God every day he wakes; even when he ‘wakes up grouchy.’

Baldwin has experienced homelessness many times in D.C. He now lives in Virginia with his cat.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS JL/FLICKR

Conference Empowers Women to Overcome “Demoralizing” Re-entry

By Dottie Kramer Editorial Intern

Women on the Rise held Howard University’s second annual female reentry leadership conference last month. Seminars to help previously incarcerated women readjust to life on the outside were provided along trainings for practitioners who frequently interact with women who are previously incarcerated were also offered. Previously incarcerated women have a tough time readjusting to life on the outside, including reconnecting with their families.

“The two most significant challenges are housing and employment,” said Cedric Hendricks, Associate Director of the Office of Legislative, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs, a federal agency that supervises adults in the District of Columbia who are on probation, parole, or supervised release. “It is often hard to get an employer to say yes. Affordable housing costs money. Employment and housing are critical to success.”

Re-entry into society is a difficult task, and while D.C. attempts to ease the transition through a multitude of resources, Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden connects sometimes individuals may feel as though with conference attendees by sharing her they fell through a crack. own experience with city-funded resources.

“Re-entry is traumatizing,” Amme PHOTO BY DOTTIE KRAMER Voz, a previously incarcerated woman,

said. “I don’t expect to gain anything from this [conference].”

Voz is not using her real name because she believes the attention could be detrimental to her re-entry.

Office of Returning Citizens Affairs (ORCA) director Charles Thorton disagrees about the potential benefit of the conference to Voz and other attendees.

“We’re the little engine that could,” he said.

Thorton noted that women are having a greater role in the city then they used to, citing Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden as examples.

Deputy Mayor Snowden spoke at the conference about having been in the same shoes as some of the attendees. Her son was adopted from two teens who could no longer be responsible for him, and for the first six months that he was in her care she had to use her son’s city-funded resources.

“I have never had a more demoralizing experience in my life,” Snowden said of accessing those services.

Snowden told Street Sense she valued her experience at the Women on the Rise event.

“It’s a new government, and we’re doing things differently. I’m most excited

that I got so much constructive feedback from the conference.”

The previously incarcerated women benefitted from a financial empowerment workshop, an entrepreneurship workshop and a leadership.

Lunch was provided after the morning sessions, followed by a keynote speech from Kemba Smith, author of the memoir “Poster Child.”

Smith was incarcerated in 1994 for minor drug crimes related to her then boyfriend Peter Hall. She was sentenced to twenty four and a half year, but pardoned in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton.

The last session of the day was a public speaking workshop, after which certificates of achievement were distributed by Thorton.

Throughout the day, incarcerated women spoke up about what they wanted, from being able to wake up in the morning and not weep about their futures, to opening their own cleaning businesses.

Deputy Mayor Snowden believes that the women took an important step towards creating a better tomorrow.

“You have been given the opportunity to make today great, just by waking up,” Snowden said.

premieres, Mann wanted to meet likeminded, sober people. The back story to his Sober Grid “epiphany” demonstrates that the app has the potential to fill a gap for clean and sober social networking. “This app is using technology to help sober people in a sober community,” continues Mann. “To be able to find a sober person near you at the touch of a buttonyou can’t beat that.”

So far, people from all over the world have signed up, with London, New York, Los Angeles, Australia and Toronto hot on the up-take. “Thousands of people have already signed up,” says Mann. “I’ve even had sober celebrities reach out to me, saying they think the idea is cool.”

Since the app was designed with the needs of sober people in mind, its features will be familiar to users in recovery.

“There’s a button for burning desires which puts a red box around your profile,” says Mann, referring to the time at the end of some recovery meetings when the chair invites anyone who feels a “burning desire” to drink or use drugs to speak up.

Another button on the app puts a blue box around your profile, drawing people’s attention to the fact that you’re looking

for a ride to a meeting.

The app includes a sobriety calculator, an online Big Book and a Sober News Feed featuring all your friend’s updates in real time.

One of the first questions people ask Mann about the app is whether it’s a sober dating app. Dating in recovery is a controversial issue. Some people swear you shouldn’t start dating before your first sober anniversary. This doesn’t stop people from doing it, of course. And besides, Mann isn’t developing a sobriety program. He’s creating a sober network to support communities that already exist. If people decide to use Sober Grid for dating, he supports that, but it’s not the app’s primary goal.

“Sober Grid is not a program of recovery,” adds Mann. “In the same way that a sober cruise ship isn’t a 12-step program, neither is Sober Grid.” For this reason, he doesn’t have an opinion about the things people use Sober Grid for, as long as it’s connecting them.

Whatever your thoughts on social media are, watch this space. For sober people, the Grid might just be the next Facebook.

Courtesy of International Network of Street Papers (INSP) News Service.

Going sober? There’s an app for That

By Andrew Warburton, Spare Change News — Boston The day after Sober Grid was released, the new geo-social mobile app’s headquarters in Boston’s Back Bay was abuzz with excitement.

“You wouldn’t believe the response we’ve had so far,” says Beau Mann, the 33-year-old creator of Sober Grid.

“We’ve already had a few thousand downloads already and the responses are through the roof.”

The new app is at the intersection of digital technology and the offline 12step recovery movement. Occasionally, a smartphone app appears which excites people so much it becomes a daily ritual.

Dating apps like Grindr and Tinder are perfect examples.

Mann, the co-founder of Sober Grid, which is a GPS-based social networking app, hopes his latest technological innovation will do the same for the recovery community.

Yes, sober people all over the world are getting on the Grid.

While 12-step recovery groups are usually considered face-to-face activities, the role of technology in the spread of the movement has been undeniable-phones, online meetings, websites, and so on.

For this reason, it makes sense that the age of digital technology would issue in another medium, an app like Sober Grid, to change the lives of sober people once more.

Nobody should be surprised by the marrying of recovery and GPS-based social media. Meetings have always been places where people become connected, and in this sense, they’re a force for good in a fractured world. Websites like Facebook and Twitter, and smartphone apps like Tinder, take this idea even further, promising instantaneous connection. When you combine both types of connectedness-the digital and the recovery-you get Sober Grid.

If it wasn’t for Utah, there might not be a Sober Grid. Every year, the app’s developer, Beau Mann, travels to Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. It was during one of these trips that he experienced his “light bulb” moment.

On that trip, Mann found himself in a big, empty house in Park City, awaiting friends arriving later in the week. Having recently ended a relationship, it wasn’t the best time for him to be alone, and he remembers thinking: “Jeez … there ought to be an app to meet sober people.’”

Armed with tickets to the Sundance

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

NEWS

Letting Nothing Get in the Way of Family

By Colleen Cosgriff Editorial Intern Rochele Johnson pulls up a picture on her phone. It is of herself sixteen months ago, when she entered a detox program.

“Who is this?” she asks her young granddaughter, Kayla.

Kayla shrugs.

“She can’t even recognize me.”

Johnson began using hard drugs at the age of 25. Now 54, she has been sober for 16 months.

“I’ve been in six treatment programs, and I always relapsed in transitional housing. It was treatment, transitional, relapse,” Johnson said in an interview with Street Sense.

“It’s supposed to be treatment, relapse, SRO,” she continued, referring to a single room occupancy dwelling.

“I always relapsed. This is my first time in SRO. I’m excited about being here. I’m happy. I’m going to stay. I’m done,” Johnson said.

What’s different about this past year, Rochelle said, is that she “wanted help this time.”

Johnson has three children, ages 33, 23, and 19. Over the years, her relationships with them became strained because of her substance abuse. She would do “anything and everything” to get drugs, including take money from her family members.

Her family forgave her. Today she enjoys going bowling with them on weekends, but her past is still present in the back of her mind.

“I have a wonderful relationship with my family now,” Johnson said. “They forgive me, but it’s hard for me to forgive me.”

Many mothers who struggle with substance abuse often face the difficult decision of what to do with their children when they seek treatment. Children are frequently placed in the foster care system or sent to live with relatives. When Johnson was abusing or in treatment, her children stayed with their grandmother.

Some mothers who need treatment fear they will damage their relationship with their children if they leave. They might instead choose to forgo treatment. The substance abuse goes untreated and home life for the children usually becomes unstable.

“Addicted mothers, along with their dependent children, are one of the greatest underserved populations in the District of Columbia; there are nearly a thousand homeless families, of which half are headed by addicted mothers, and there are thousands more who are at risk of being homeless as a result of substance abuse,” according to Samari-

tan Inns - one of the treatment programs Johnson has worked with.

If a parent is a substance abuser, there’s a high chance the child will become an abuser, too. Some children of substance abusers also grapple with abandonment issues, if their parents become absent from their lives.

Judy Ashburn, Director of Treatment Programs at Samaritan Inns, believes their new program, Clark Inn, will help parents heal strained relationships with their children. A ribbon cutting for the facility took place on June 16. It is expected to be fully functional within the next month.

“To break this generational curse, the earlier we get the mothers, the better,” Ashburn said in an interview with Street Sense. “By the time they get into their 40s and 50s it’s hard to break that cycle. By treating both mother and child, we help treat the relationship with the child.”

The Clark Inn program is centered on creating a secure relationship between parents and children. The mothers will receive parenting education to build a “circle of security” with their children as soon as they enter treatment.

“The child needs to be able to go out and explore and then come back and be comforted by the mother.” Ashburn said.

“She needs to read the child’s cues and missed cues, to pay attention to the cues and bring comfort to that, as a mother.”

Supportive fathers and family members can attend family therapy in the evenings at the Carriage House, which is a building across the patio from Clark Inn. Johnson is optimistic about Clark Inn. She says a lot of the women she has met during her times in treatment have lost their children to the foster care system.

“There’s a lot of young mothers out there on drugs. They have a chance [at the Clark Inn], they can be with their children to try and do the right thing to raise their children. They have a chance to pull themselves together, to grow up with their children,” Johnson said.

From personal experience, Johnson knows that for the treatment to work, the mothers must want the help. She relapsed so many times because she wasn’t ready to get sober, and she didn’t want to stop using.

“I was using for over 25 years,” Johnson said, tearing up. “I am proud of myself.

I really am. Never thought I’d make it. I tried so many times. You just have to be strong. One day at a time. Just say ‘no.’”

Her granddaughter Kayla holds her hand as they walk into the courtyard together.

Rochele Johnson and her grandaughter Kayla.

PHOTO BY COLLEEN COSGRIFF

Ribbon cutting ceremony at amaratin Inns’ new “Clark Inn” on June 16.

PHOTO BY COLLEEN COSGRIFF

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Celebrating the Road to Homeownership

District Seeks to Unite Housing and Community

By Megan Panagoupolos Editorial Intern

Coretta Ellis celebrated her achievements at the Homeownership Celebration outside Metro Towns at Parkside.

PHOTOS BY MARK THAYER

By Mark Thayer Editorial Intern Eighteen new homeowners who had proved their determination by completing the District of Columbia’s Homeownership Assistance Program (HPAP), were celebrated on June 30 for their recent purchases of homes at Metro Towns at Parkside.

“Anybody who is going through this program should know that it is a hard program, it’s frustrating. Things might not seem like they are going anywhere, but you have to keep your eyes on the prize,” said Coretta Ellis, a new homeowner who completed the HPAP program, “It is so worth it in the end when you put that key in the door.”

The HPAP program taught Ellis lessons

that she found invaluable in her new state of home ownership. Ellis said she learned how to better budget for herself and her family how to take care of her home on her own without a land lord or maintenance staff. Before enrolling in the HPAP program Ellis and her family were staying in a shelter. Today she looks upon her home with tremendous appreciation.

“I love it! I never in a million years would have thought this possible, but I love it.” said Ellis, regarding her new home.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority, Bozutto Construction, the Pollin family, Enterprise Homes, and SunTrust Community Bank came together at the June 30 event to honor Ellis and 17 other new homeowners. The new homeowners were presented with gift baskets filled with a

variety of supplies that all homeowners can appreciate--Swiffer cleaning supplies and laundry detergent to name a few--and warmly welcomed into the community with a buffet lunch and friendly atmosphere.

“It’s still so new, it’s like I’m dreaming,” Ellis said while smiling towards gathered community of her new neighborhood.

Saturday, June 27, the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development partnered with the Greater Washington Urban League to host the Seventh Annual D.C. Housing Expo and Home Show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

This free event included workshops on senior housing information, home purchase finance assistance, foreclosure counseling, free credit reports, youth financial literacy training, and more.

It attracted a full house despite the rain, leaving standing room only for the opening program.

Attendees were not only able to become more secure and informed regarding their financial future, but also participate in a raffle or get their face painted.

The exhibitors present were AARP, Citibank, PEPCO, Wells Fargo, Ameritech Construction, among other notable companies and organizations.

Housewarming gift baskets.

PHOTO BY MARK THAYER

Youth Speak Out About Homelessness

By Dottie Kramer, Editorial Intern

The Community Foundation, a non-profit that describes itself as a “hub for philanthropy,” held a panel on June 30 to discuss youth homelessness. The panel included policy makers, advocates, and youth that are currently experiencing homelessness or were homeless in the past.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) point in time (PIT) survey, which aims to count all homeless people across the nation, began including homeless and unaccompanied youth as a separate category in the most recent PIT count. Though this survey is conducted as perfectly as possible, HUD acknowledges that some people are not counted. On the night of the January, 2014, PIT count, there were 194,302 homeless and unaccompanied youth were counted on the street, nationwide.

The five youth on the June 30 panel described how they became homeless, and for all of them it was family struggle.

Problems at home included parental mental health, conflict with parents, and abuse

within the home. All youth felt as if being without shelter was better than being in their current living situation.

“I was sexually abused from ages 1417. Eventually, that led to my stepfather kicking me out of the house,” Jasmine Williams, HIV tester at Sasha Bruce and formerly homeless youth, said.

These youth had a wide variety of backgrounds, different education levels, and different futures in front of them. However, when faced with the question of “how would you address the problem of youth homelessness with unlimited funding?” their answers were all very similar.

“I would invest in more jobs for youth, and provide guidance counselors to help youth manage their money and make investments,” Justin Strange, homeless youth, said.

A young woman said that she would provide more clarity in resources available to youth. She believes that Sasha Bruce truly helped her, and could have helped her earlier, had she known about them.

More housing, and low income housing was another popular solution that the youth shared.

At the non-profit level, the advocates agreed with the youth, and shared some legislation that they or their groups had sponsored that was the first step in helping the youth.

D.C. Alliance of Youth Advocates (DCAYA) is working on a new project for intergenerational housing that is a community based housing where youth can interact with people who are much older and live in the same building, Maggie Riden, Executive Director of DCAYA said.

All the advocates stated that their resources are, unfortunately, limited.

“I think that the greatest challenge is that we know what to do, we know what works, we have great outcomes, we have a lot of knowledge and learning, but we don’t have the resources to do all those things,” said Debbie Shore, founder and executive director of Sasha Bruce Youth work.

Executive Director Polly Donaldson and the District Department of Housing and Community Development hosted the 7th Annual Housing Expo and Home Show on Saturday June 27.

PHOTOS BY KEN MARTIN

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

7

NEWS

Redefining Housing Availibilty and Affordability

Panel discussion at the June 23 HAND Housing Expo.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMOTHY B. WARNER

By Mark Thayer Editorial Intern Street Sense vendor Patty Smith recently qualified for housing with Woodley House, Inc. “Everyone has been helping me, and asking me about my new place. It’s been so nice,” said Patty Smith. “I get to tell everyone who asks, ‘I have a home!’”

Smith described the transition into her new residence, saying that the hardest part of moving to Woodley House was missing friends she made during her six months living in a local shelter, but that didn’t alter the joy she felt in having a place to call her own.

“My case manager asked if I was ready to go to my new home ... I grabbed my bags without another word,” Smith said. “There are two beds in the room, a dresser, a table, a lamp, and a radio. It’s beautiful.”

With three meals a day, a space of her own and the company of fellow residents, Smith said the move has vastly improved her quality of life. She appreciates the community and has become a welcome part of it.

On June 23, 2015, the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) held its Annual Meeting and Housing Expo to discuss how to make the kind of security and satisfaction Smith is experiencing a reality for more residents in the greater Washington area. The daylong event included a panel discussion on regional strategies to increase development and preservation of affordable housing.

“We need to stop having million dollar conversations about billion dollar problems,” opened David Bowers, vice president and Mid-Atlantic market leader for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. regarding affordable housing discussions.

Housing experts and community leaders debated how public and private sector stakeholders can collectively make progress in the matters of affordable housing.

Michael Bodaken, President of National Housing Trust, moderated the panel.

“Housing is about building a community.

It’s about keeping people where they need to be,” said Andy Shallal, owner and proprietor of Busboys & Poets. “Especially when we are talking about the vulnerable; the elderly and poor. They need community.”

Home Matters is an organization that shares Shallal’s emphasis on the importance of community in the ongoing discussion of affordable housing. A national movement to increase awareness and raise funds for the development of affordable housing and better communities across the country, Home Matters is striving to alter the public perception of the American Dream and establish a greater emphasis on community.

“The ‘American Dream’ used to be focused primarily on homeownership. We hope to re-define that dream to a more community-centered definition,” said Helen Malani, Home Matters’ Media Contact.

Malani expressed that Home Matters is striving to develop a more focused effort in affordable housing development. Many entities are working to improve the conditions and availability of affordable housing, but Malani believes those entities are working independently from one another.

The result is that the light shining on the issue is not bright enough.

“Our goal is to create a collective voice that elevates the housing issue, because it can help solve other societal problems,” said Malani.

On December 2, 2014, Home Matters’ Redefining Home: A Design Challenge was opened for submissions. This design challenge — the first nationwide competition aimed at addressing community-focused affordable housing — challenges architects and designers to develop feasible housing designs that address stressors on low and moderate-income families, such as crime and neighborhood violence, low opportunities for economic development, lack of health care access, and poor schooling options. The competition’s winning submissions will be announced on September 15, 2015, at the Autodesk Gal-

lery in San Francisco.

“The hope is that this multi-faceted competition addresses the community based American dream. The home can positively influence general health and wellness, education, safety, and economic conditions,” said Malani. “Communities today often associate a negative connotation to affordable housing developments.

Modern architecture and aesthetic design can help break through that stigma—we believe that design is the future. We hope designs will go beyond just shelter, and help improve other societal problems.”

In the nation’s capital, affordable housing projects are embracing a new aesthetically modern design standard. The John and Jill Ker Conway Residence in the district’s NoMa neighborhood will provide 60 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans, 47 units of affordable housing for tenants making below 60% of the local median income, and 17 units of affordable housing for tenants making below 30% of the local median income, according to Sorg Architects. The 14-story residence was designed to maximize natural light inside the building; the northern and southern views from the building include some of D.C.’s most notable structures. Included in the design are spaces for services that will accommodate the social, medical, and emotional needs of tenants.

The leaders of the $33 million project hope to complete construction by the end of 2015. Financing has come from both public and private sources. A Wider Circle, a local nonprofit organization, plans to fully furnish the 60 permanent supportive housing units, assuring that they are move-in ready.

The United State Interagency Council on Homelessness estimates that individuals experiencing homelessness can cost the public between $30,000 and $50,000 per

person per year. Many of the factors that drive up this cost are avoidable if a home can be provided for chronically homeless individuals. Dr. Joshua Bamberger, Medical Director for Housing and Urban Health for the San Francisco Department of Public Health reiterated the cost benefit of supportive and affordable housing. A home can reduce the costs associated with preventable public and emergency service uses, explained Bamberger.

“The best designed housing projects incorporate a mixed income population,” said Bamberger “A certain portion of units being dedicated to chronically homeless tenants, and the rest being divided between various low income levels is the ideal. It reduces the ghettoization and resulting stigma of the community.”

The importance of aesthetic design not only applies to the surrounding community but it helps the formerly homeless and low-income residents who will occupy the building, expressed Bamberger. Lighting, color, architecture, and community space can alleviate many of the stressors that formerly homeless and low-income tenants may experience. The duel benefit is that when buildings are aesthetically pleasing, members of the surrounding community are often more accepting of the residents that occupy them.

The importance of aesthetic design not only applies the surrounding community but it also helps the formerly homeless and low-income residents that will occupy the building, expressed Bamberger. Lighting, color, architecture, and community space can alleviate many of the stressors that formerly homeless and low-income tenants may experience. The duel benefit is that the surrounding community is often more accepting of architecturally appealing developments, and the residents that occupy them.

They Said it Couldn’t Be Done!

By Ken Martin Vendor I’ve approached several government agencies and nonprofits in the District over the past twelve years. I am disabled, and I wanted help with a business plan.

After suffering from circulation, spinal, & neurological issues (all of which are painful and painfully tongue-twisting conditions), heart disease and multiple heart attacks -- I’ve learned how to deal with pain. I’ve also dealt with the changing names of vocational rehabilitation in the District: from The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, to the Rehabilitation Services Administration to the current Department of Disability Services. But for the most part, tangibly speaking, all I received has been “Lip Service.”

They found all kinds of excuses why I could not do it!

Over the years, the prognosis for my homelessness has remained that I need to go back to work. I don’t know why it’s been so hard for these agencies to understand that with my disabilities - I cannot meet the regular expectations of an employer. Each day brings new pain and fluctuating personal limita-

tions. A wise businessman wouldn’t take a chance on me. Why would they when they could get a younger person for less?

And I don’t blame them!

But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

In the late 2000s, a project by the Inclusion Research Institute showed me and other physically challenged individuals that people with disabilities could thrive through entrepreneurship. They showed us a guy that earned $75 while in a coma!

I can’t always meet the needs of someone else’s business, but I can assign myself tasks based on what I know I can complete each day. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to run a business, you just have to stick to your plan. And Ken will not relent.

Now, thanks to Life Asset, I have the chance to follow my calling: selling hats (headwear and related accessories). Visit our occasional weekend pop-up shop in its 2448 18th Street NW location or visit us online at www.brims4you.com for “the image you desire and the service you deserve.”

More to Come!

By Sasha Williams Vendor Out of the shelter, into our place.

Turning a leaf, enjoying a new space.

Planning for things to come ahead.

Not to worry about a bed.

It’s our 1st Place Our journey was a race.

Stress free and peace in my head Why am I so scared.

More to come, there is no end.

Our new life does begins.

Traveling on a better road.

Another story yet untold.

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

9

FEATURE

Why, As We Cry

By Robert Warren, Vendor

To ask why is only to begin to cry, once again for the young and not-too-old The wise old soul’s wisdom lost another king to us all - gone before his time but know that the Lord brought them home to shine black and white will have their time For the scales will be fair peace and forgiveness everywhere oh a evil seed that what racist ideology bread, remember Mother Emanuel please and the sound of the gun NRA says it just for sport and fun Sandy Hook and our Beautiful kids were done For few dollars the second amendment says to the crazy among us you can have a gun politicians should be lined up just for fun and nobody ask why why why must the best among us die now I cry once again as I listen to broadcaster on Fox News lie CNN try MSNBC wish for pie in the sky until the next Fort Hood it’ll be all good so why not just cry now no reason why as we cry

Activist Bree Newsome scaled a flagpole in front of South Carolina’s statehouse to remove the confederate flag atop it.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRUCE SMITH/AP, OVERLAYED ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

July Fourth or You-Lie Fourth

By Michael Craig, Vendor

The aftermath of the Charleston massacre has switched the focus from the mourning of these American church-going citizens to the relevance and implications of the confederate flag.

The historical relevance of the confederate flag is found in the division of our union and a strange cultural racial pride to maintain the institution of slavery.

ILLUSTRATION BY CYNTHIA MEWBORN

However, even though physical slavery has been outlawed, the confederate flag has not.

As we approach July fourth, which was established during slavery times, those who support the flying of this flag must ask them whether this is the celebration of July fourth or you-lie fourth.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE WHITEHURST

Voices of Mother Emanuel: A Vigil

By Chris Shaw, Vendor

On Independence Day, “Freedom” should particularly represent one’s ability to walk freely, enjoying life - rather than to be cut down by hot bullets of hatred! On Friday June 19, I joined many other Washington’s at the Metropolitan AME Church for a non vigil in reembrace of the 9 victims of the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.

1) I tried to persuade him. “This must not stand”- To no avail’ For he fired the gun into me , anyway.

2) As a minister, I saw he looked to need something to believe. Said I, “Do you know Jesus?” Then the bullets stopped my reaching out...

3) I am a librarian. I felt sorrow for this lost soul. But now, where is the love and understanding?

4) Outside, my mother was waiting for me-- When will I again to see her?

5) I have served somehow at this sanctuary over fifty years! Never, were we violated in this way.

6) Have mercy on his tortured soul. However, I am free today.

7) God gave us everything; Satan cannot take it all away in one cruel instant.

8) I just know the Savior will answer these questions, that seem to have no answer.

9) All of my life I studied Scripture. The Lord must have prepared me,then, for this terrible moment!

ILLUSTRATION RICHARD JOHNSON | @NEWSILLUSTRATION

COMICS & GAMES

Something About Chino!

(Part 1)

By Bernie Dean Vendor This story begins about a lonely, but overpopulated man and his life.

People know him as Chino! He is a guy of many passions and desires. At 41 years old, he is still energetic, and full of life.

He plays all sports: football, baseball, basketball, racquetball, soccer, etc. He is in Washington, D.C. on a venture to recover property of his from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. copyright offices. He wrote five books: titled, “Big Conflict: East vs.West,” “Hoodlum,” “Big Conflict 2,” “Hoodlum 2: The Hoodlum Tries,” and “Mixed Emotions.”

When he started writing, he was incarcerated: Kitsap County Jail, Sheldon Corrections Center, Cedar Crack Corrections Center and last but not least Coyote Ridge Correctional Center. He decided to put together his future since he was locked up wrongfully at 18 years old and 19 years old.

Chino graduated from Linden High school in 1991, as valedictorian and JROTC. C-Net award winner and honor cadet award winner. He was in navy JROTC, highly decorated ensign 26 to 28 ribbons, 14 to 15 medals. When he left for naval boot camp June 27, 1991 until August 28, 1991, for the first four weeks he was RPOC (Recruit Petty Officer in Charge), then Squad Leader.

September 25, he left for Great Lakes, Illinois -- for Corps school (almost like

nurses). At Corps school, I qualified CPR, triage, vitals. Then wrongfully discharged from Corps school, off to Bremerton, WA to board the USS Camden AOE-2 in stream division, the boatswain bracket.

When he first got there November 8,1991, a few sailors mentioned to him about 1st Lieutenants Division, like street sweepers. Or he could sign up with. Naval intelligence as an informant. So he went with that to get out of First Lieutenants Div(ision). But also because he had a copyright issue pending!

Chino’s Grandfather claimed to have created the Bugs Bunny Cartoons, and to own Warner Brothers. He was featured years ago on the John Wayne “the Duke.”

Tom Anthony Bike and my grand uncle (my grandmother’s brother Tom Anthony Biddle) were both featured with their wives! My grandmother, Linda Ann Biddle and Grand Aunt Linda Ann Biddle. When he was 4 and 5, Chino used to go to his grandfather’s house.

Through research and be schooling, he found out he was a prince. But not just any prince -- a descendent prince of all prince’s on the planet, equipped with special mental weaponry.

This could earn him a lordship.

So in school, he would to be an A student -- which is why he is so confused how

he didn’t receive an educational Heismann in New Jersey or nationally. But, he also finished high school soccer 19th in the state and number one on the field for overall player and goal-scorer. Fourth in the counties. He hoping to address the new, now Wendy-Heismann, committee to maybe receive the Heismann and backpay for his high school years (September 5, 1986 to June 24, 1991). Then Chino’s homelessness will stop.

Hopefully, this year will be Chino’s year.

He is Vendor #132, creator of Klever’s Comic’s on page 10. He sleeps and works on 12th and G Streets (by the Marriott, first bench next to the elevator, at Metro Center). Even if he’s asleep you can donate any hour of the day, especially for a tooth fairy or Easter bunny wake up (a big donation). Hopefully, this year, Chino can count on mail-in donation. Any denomination and 100 percent tax deductible!

So hopefully, I can count on you, Great Washington D.C. (and Washington D.C. area) for your support.

That’s the end of Part 1, Something about Chino!.

Thought for the day: Always remember no one knows another one’s path or passage so never presume, predict, or judge in any scenario. (to be continued)

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

11

OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Services from Martha’s Table I am writing to you from Martha's Table, where I serve as President/CEO. We're great Street Sense supporters here at Martha's Table and big fans of the stories you publish!

I wanted to send a quick note in response to a recent article that mentioned our organization: "Ending Some Services at Martha's Table," by Gwynette Smith. While we're very excited about our planned expansion to Ward 8, and to have an opportunity to serve even more children and families there, Martha's Table has had a 35-year commitment to the 14th Street neighborhood and will continue to honor this commitment. I want to emphasize: this is an expansion, and not a departure. Our food services (like McKenna's Wagon, our mobile food truck) and our early education programming will continue to be sited in this neighborhood.

We remain very committed to those seeking services in the 14th Street Corridor, and look forward to expanding our impact at the same time!

Sincerely, Patty Stonesifer President/CEO Martha’s Table

The Cat in The Hat: Metro Part 10

By Phillip Black,Vendor, “The Cat in the Hat”

On June 19th, which was my birthday, I was riding the Blue Line train towards Metro Center. At the Potomac Ave Station, a young man boarded the train, eating a sandwich from McDonald’s. Two stops later at Capitol South, six Metro Transit Police Officers stormed the train, grabbed the young man from his seat, threw him to the floor, and handcuffed him. It was a lot of drama. They offloaded the entire train for a young man eating an Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s. I guess the officers really thought they were keeping Metro riders safe, because of a sandwich. Where were the Metro Officers when someone was getting assaulted, or getting their phone taken? Metro needs to place officers in certain locations around stations to make us feel safe. It doesn’t take six officers to take down a young man eating a McDonald’s sandwich.

Identifying the Benefit of Peer Counselors

By Reginald Black Vendor, “The Street Reportin’ Artist” At a consultation preceding the June 2 meeting of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), there was an interesting conversation about a new approach in the service community -- the idea of peer workers who act as outreach workers.

Some of the people in attendance tried to define what peer workers would actually do. Robert Warren, executive director of People for Fairness Coalition (PFFC), described a one-on-one process with someone who has successfully dealt with a problem such as homelessness helping others navigate to a successful conclusion.

“I think it’s about [teaching others how to be] a self-advocate,” he said. “One of the things we do at People for Fairness Coalition is self-advocacy.” Warren also saw value in just lending an ear. For the last six years, PFFC has been at the forefront on issues pertaining to homelessness and has been one of the most vocal groups at ICH meetings. The PFFC members have all experienced housing issues at some point in their lives.

Albert Townsend pointed out that someone that understands the landscape has unique information. Michael Coleman, a voting consumer member of the ICH, suggested that peer involvement boils down

to a homeless peer talking to another homeless person. “I've gotten more useful information from homeless people, they seem to know more than organizations who are paid to know.”

Others voiced the concern that personal or confidential information might be required for peers to complete assessments, and clients may be reluctant to provide certain information to a peer, fearing, perhaps rightly, that the information could be misused. However, despite this concern, peer counseling was seen as a good idea and many thought that peers may be better than professionals at finding those who may have fallen through the cracks.

This discussion needs to continue. People for Fairness members were trained in coordinated entry assessment processes last year, we helped created the system.

We have insight. The group also discussed what would peers need to assist other in the community. Peers would need training and technology. With planning for the winter season beginning also, it seems this will be a good move to reduce housing issues for close to many in the District, Peers will h

Legal Clinics in the District: The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

By Tim Farrel, Volunteer

A few weeks ago, a Street Sense vendor put a call out to DC attorneys to write a column geared to homeless issues. In an effort to understand these issues, I had the opportunity to attend a class sponsored by the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. The class introduced about 40 volunteers to the program, whose goal is to make justice a reality for those who struggle with homelessness and poverty.

The WLCH provides free legal advice every work day across the District. These clinics are located at the following places on the following days: Monday: UPO Pete Greene Community Center; 2907 MLK Jr. Ave. SE (Congress Heights Metro); Monday: N Street Village, 1333 N St. NW (Mount Vernon Sq. Metro); Tuesday: So Others Might Eat, 60 O St. NW (NOMA/Gallaudet Metro); Wednesday: Miriam’s Kitchen, 2401 Virginia Ave. NW (Foggy Bottom Metro); Wednesday: Family Resource Center, 920 Rhode Island Ave. NE (Rhode Island Metro); Thursday: Thrive DC, 1525 Newton St. NW (Columbia Heights Metro); and Friday: Unity Health Care, 425 2nd St. NW (Judiciary Square Metro). The clin-

ics are staffed for an hour each day by a rotating group of 8 staff attorneys and 250 volunteer attorneys and paralegals.

The volunteers come from big firms and small. Many also work for the federal government and some are in house counsel.

Volunteers specialize in all areas of the law, from entertainment law to securities.

The training focused on issues that commonly arise at the clinics such as shelter and housing benefits, and Social Security benefits. The clinics also help clients get proper identification (birth certificates and I.D. Cards) and assist with consumer complaints (collection, garnishment, identity theft, credit reports, access to medical care, student loans and storage facilities). Finally, the clinic takes cases involving street rights, private property and police complaints. Despite the diversity of the cases taken and the diversity of the volunteer attorneys’ experiences, the clinic does not take cases involving immigration, employment (wrongful termination), family law (divorce, custody), criminal defense, eviction cases or small claims or fee generating cases. However,

the WHLC is aware of other legal clinics and law firms that do this work and refers these cases out for review. As a result, there is really no issue that the clinic cannot provide guidance. During our orientation we had one of the board members speak to us about his 25 year experience as a volunteer attorney. A communications and corporate attorney, he noted that volunteer attorneys can make a big difference in a client’s life with relatively little professional effort – rather than years of litigation in a typical corporate matter, most matters at the clinic are resolved in a few months, and some are resolved shortly after the initial intake session.

This is not to say that the issues facing clinic clients are simple. Indeed, one of the clinic’s missions is to advocate for policy change and volunteer attorneys are encouraged to speak out at public meetings and articulate to our civic leaders the issues facing the clinic’s clients. The clinic is also not afraid of taking on class action matters and has had some success in obtaining restraining orders against various defendants. All of this makes volunteer-

ing at the clinic a worthwhile experience for young and old attorneys with various levels of experience. The very able staff attorneys provide guidance and support every step of a case. The clinic also provides files and intake forms to get the case going and has a vast forms library to assist with many of the issues that the clients commonly face. Volunteer attorneys are expected to attend one clinic a month and to take on an assigned case until it is finished. For those too busy to give their time, the clinic also accepts tax deductible donations. As was clear at the seminar, it is always in need of more paper, name tags and other office supplies.

In exchange, volunteer attorneys gain an understanding of the issues facing an underprivileged segment of the District, get an opportunity to develop their practice and gain new skills, plus meet other like minded professionals to share ideas, consult and work with on other projects. In all, the WLCH is an excellent resource for the Street Sense vendors and an opportunity for some of Street Sense’s barred patrons to give back.

The Street Sense Writers’ Group is led by writing professionals and meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The group’s goal is to develop ideas and collaborate on the next great issue of Street Sense.

My God she snores

Sleep – A basic requirement of life

My God she snores, So I threw her on the floor.

I mean on the leaves instead, ‘Cause last night the bench, Was our bed.

Sleep, sleep, sleep – a basic requirement of life. Our bodies are subjected to lackadaisical scrutiny, crying out for sleep. How come we take sleep for granted when we are able to sleep, but find it a burden when there is lack of sleep? Lack of sleep was created for me because of homelessness, trouble in the family, jobs, such as more than one at a time or personal relationships. Other reasons for lack of sleep were caused by financial pressures.

One problem homeless people have is trying to sleep but being unable to relax and dream or simply relax because you have to guard your personal effects. When you are homeless you cannot stretch out on a comfortable bed, enjoy a sound sleep (which is one of the most important aspects of sleep).

By Ronald Dudley, Vendor

By Shernell Thomas, Vendor

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS SHAW

Hi, my name is Daniel Ball

By Daniel Ball, Vendor

QUESTION: How long have you worked for Street Sense?

ANSWER: I worked for Street Sense going on four years.

QUESTION: How much money do you make selling Street Sense papers for five days a week?

ANSWER: My answer is this people; I, Daniel, make at least $30 dollars per day.

QUESTION: How do you spend your money?

ANSWER: I pay rent with it.

QUESTION: Are you homeless or do you have your own place now?

ANSWER: No, I am not homeless at all. I do live with my mother right now, thank you.

QUESTION: What do you like to drink?

ANSWER: Plenty of cold water.

QUESTION: What are some of your favorite foods?

ANSWER: Rice and Oodles of Noodles, etc.

QUESTION: What is your favorite color in clothes?

ANSWER: Black.

QUESTION: Where is your church home now?

ANSWER: The Kingdom Hall.

Last comment is this: I,Vendor Daniel Ball, try to love everybody.

I’m Andre, Your Street SenseVendor

By Andre Brinson, Vendor

Over and over again I ask God, my protector, with fear of no answer, why I am here going through these hard and dangerous times. I sell the Street Sense newspaper at the Friendship Heights Metro station and sometimes at Tenleytown.

I love my Friendship Heights “family” and I truly enjoy selling and meeting my “family” in the morning with a smile. I’ve been told so often that I make people’s day. To my Friendship Heights family of supporters, I say “thank you” with all the gracefulness in my heart.

I want you to know that I support and care for a little girl. Her name is Anyah (or A’n ya?) and she is six years old. I used to see her twice a week but my circumstances have cut these visits short. I am a homeless man but still a father to my kids. Please: racism shows and it needs to stop.

I just found a job at this time. I am currently taking my CDL (Commercial Drivers License). I’ve been on the street four to five years. This is going to be Andre’s year.

In a strange way I can discipline myself. Surely I could do other things for money. It’s hard on the streets and very hard to stay focused. Thanks for encouraging me to hang in there. I did.

Gratitude and Appreciation

By Lorrie Hayes, Vendor

I would like to say “Thank you” to all of my customers! You have been there for me. I get such joy when I get hugs and kisses and it makes me feel good to brighten your morning.

When we greet one another and say “good morning”, please know that I appreciate all your generous donations with my whole heart.

I say “Thank you, again” and always remember the smile that makes your day and the hugs that embrace my love for all my beautiful customers.

Love, Lorrie.

ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL BALL

The Danger of One Square of a Sidewalk

By Aida Basnight-Peery, Vendor

I wrote an article about during my first year of working for Street Sense Newspaper about the “The Beautiful Sidewalks” in Washington, D.C. Today, I am going to re-write and title it the Dangerous Sidewalks of Washington, D.C. because no one seems to care I wrote online numerous times to the people who fix potholes in the streets. Still no one has answered back to me in a email nor has anyone come out to fix one little square of a sidewalk that quite a few people have actually fallen to the ground over or where barely able to hold their balance to keep from falling.

I try to help both women and men up when they fall and ask them “Are you ok”? Do you think you might need medical attention? Right off the bat those who have fallen to the ground ALL say, ‘I am ok’ and ‘no.’ Their pride and the embarrassment is so overwhelming that everyone has seen them trip over a square sidewalk that isn’t their fault.

I sells the paper right in front of this broken square of a sidewalk on 14th-unit of 900 and I (Eye), unit of 1900, Street, NW. right across the street from Franklin Park on 14th Street and on Eye Street right across from McPherson Square Metro Station and Five Guys Sandwich shop. I have complained to the security guard there about this one square of sidewalk for over a year and half.

Sometimes I sit my orange carrier bag on the broken square to have the same security guard to tell me I can’t sit my bag their. Only once did he ever put an orange cone over the broken sidewalk. And it turned out he’d taken it from someone else who eventually took it back.

I’ve tried to alert this security guard and to the City about this dangerous broken sidewalk for over a year and half and still this square hasn’t been fixed yet. I worry someone will really get hurt and will need medical attention from tripping over that one loose square of sidewalk. I will testify if someone needs me to that this one little square has been broken for a year and a half. I’ve been a Street Sense vendor on that corner for 4 years to present day, just paces away from this dangerous spot.

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

13

VENDOR WRITING

After Katrina: A Ten-Year Roller Coaster, Part 3

By Gerald Anderson Vendor PREVIOUSLY: I wanted to check out what was happenin’ in D.C. My new 20-year-old friend—a little short guy named Marcus— and I started walking from the Armory. At a nearby Metro station, a lady asked me for a cigarette. I notice she smokin’ weed, so I asked where we could get some. She thought we be police. I told her “No. We just thugs. I’ll hit your weed a few times to show you I’m not no cop.” So she took us to the hood, which was only a few blocks away. We walked with her into an alley in the hood, where her dough boy— her dealer—sat in an abandoned car. She told us we gotta stand on the side. So I told her, “Then we gonna stand on the side with our money, because just like you

don’t know us, we don’t know you.” So she said, “The one with the money come with me.” That was me...

The dealer heard the way I was talkin’.

He say where you from, Baltimore or somethin’? I say New Orleans. He got out the car and hugged me. He said, “Man, if you’re people be wantin’ some product send them to me, whatever.”

After the lady help us cop crack cocaine for me and heroin for my homeboy, we went by her friend apartment. It was clean, but still in the ghetto with old couch, fridge filled with beer, that kind of thing.

My homeboy went to the bathroom.

He come out buck naked. He was crazy high and telling the women “It’s partyin’ time.” I sit back laughing and tell him to just be cool.

I told my homeboy, “Man, put your clothes back on or we gonna put you out.”

I went to try my crack cocaine out. I took a hit and felt I was in a whole new world. All the pressure, all the drama was gone. It was like my first time gettin’ high again. After we sit there for a couple hours, we told the ladies we be back later, now that we know it’s cool, that there’s no drama with other men and no violent.

We got ourself together and headed back to the Armory. Back near the armory they had a lot of police cars. The high was so crazy that it had me thinkin’ they was waitin’ for me. So we sit in the park across from the armory.

We had some free cell phones with a thousand minutes. We called one of my homeboys up and tell him come across the street to help us get back to the Armory.

He said “What’s goin on?”

I said, “Cops waitin’ to arrest us.”

He said, “Man, ain’t no cops here just for you. Just come back.”

Then my cell phone rang and it was my case manager, saying we had some places to go tomorrow. I was so discombobulated I told him I was on the phone with someone and could he call back later. It was crazy. When you get high, someone call you, you gonna make up all kind of lies.

With me not bein’ affected with drugs for the past three weeks, the crack cocaine hit me so strong. I thought all kind of ways about my case manager. Maybe he working with the police. We don’t know—we just came here. Me bein’ a guy that’s experience a lot, I just didn’t know. Or trust.

Happy to Praise God

Supporters

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I say is “Thank you, God, for another day.” I appreciate all that around me, from the trees and flower to the human being. To be alive, to walk, and talk, and see, is truly a blessing to me. I am always grateful for what I have. I try not to worry about what is missing in my life.

I am assured that God looks out for me. I keep my faith and pray for my shortcomings. This is why I am happy to be able to praise God.

I thank God for the supporters at Street Sense. When I wake up in the morning, the first thought is God. God, thank you for the people at Street Sense who have given me so much of their time to support me. I never dreamed there were so many caregivers until I became homeless.

God, keep blessing my supporters and Street Sense for giving me a brighter side of life.

By Jacqueline Turner, Vendor

By Chris Shaw, “Cowboy Poet” Episode 36

WAY DOWN, IN THOSE “BOONDOCKS!”

By Chris Shaw “The Cowboy Poet” Billy and Macedonia had a rude awakening at the front portals to the Mission of Last Resort at Fourth and New York Avenue. Vice Captain Quinton Boyd of the DC Squad had the place sealed completely off-- wrapped tighter than a wedding cake with white nylon ropes and ‘crime scene’ flags while Quinton’s boys were scuttling around inside, gathering whatever ‘evidence’ they needed to put together to, you might think, indict Senator Marsh on conspiracy to murder Rev’rend Rand.

Macedonia, not too subtly, jabbed a meaty thumb into the chunky captain’s polyester-clad ribs. “Hey, Sister, that’s DC Metro property you’re poking. Not so fast there--” “Look, Cap’ Quint, Y’all don’t need draw more chalk around where Rev’rend fell, and you got your man down in the cell, so wha’s the big issue now?”

“Added suspects and co-conspirators,” the officer retorted cheerlessly.

Billy straightened his towering cowboy hat, and stepped forward. “What more do you need, man! Ferret is dead, and Harris had come clean-- we need to install our new parson.”

Quinton sneered sarcastically. “And who might THAT be--You, I suppose?”

Billy nodded.”I see we can’t get any help here. D’you mind if--” Macedonia stared the officious vice cop down. Both she and Billy reached out, awaiting Quinton Boyd’s capitulating and

offering his walkie-talkie for their convenience. After all, no pay phones were at hand on this desolate block, which any vice squadder would know straight up.

Boyd squeezed the green “Go” button and handed the two-way radio to Billy Luck.

First, Billy called Vinny’s bar on 11th Street, but they demurred- Link Wray’s Wray Men Band was about to rip the roof off that joint, so out of the question.

Spike, the manager growled into the box, “Why don’cha try duh BOONDOCKS Bar, at Ninth and K. They could always use a few stiffs like youse guys!”

So, that is how Billy Luck’s investiture as due replacement for the late lamented Reverend Rand, as the new shepherd of the New York Avenue Mission of last Resort, cameto be. How Billy reunites with Skipper Mizelle, newly installed U.S. Senator from The Volunteer State, (District of Memphis) Tennessee; well, all we can let slip is that it and our joyful resolution to the saga of Billy Luck shall be revealed in the next pair of closing chapters.

Meanwhile, Clyde Frothwick and Annie are zooming down he Beltway towards the Pennsylvania Avenue exit- hell bent on donating a bale of clothes to the downtown missions of DC’s ‘Skid Row!’ (to Be Continued)

(to be continued)

By Ricardo Meriedy, Vendor

Freelancing, Part 1

By Moyo Onibuje, Vendor

Freelancing is the only work where you get paid for you curiosity. Remembering you deserve to be paid well and for your curiosity too. You’ve got only yourself to rely on when trying to come up with a catchy headline. Most freelancers work about ten publications, write at least four articles a month, and bring in 5k a monththe chances are that you won’t have say, one article due every Tuesday at noon.

Speaking from my personal experience, I know I go to writers group at street sense every wednesday at 10:30, and then I’ll hand in or I’ll hand in on a Friday.

There is no such thing as a bi-weekly pay check, but I get papers while I sell to make profit on my article. The work is hard and you have to be self-disciplined.

All the time you’re selling yourself. I can write about this or I can have discovered the best story ideas are the ones where I am full of curiosity. I always try something new to pitch, so my mind has to be constantly open to ideas.

Everyone knows it takes money to make money. Freelancing is not a full time job.

Writing pitch (query) letters and having

a good resume definitely helps: I prefer writing because you don’t have to give in but one article a fortnight. A lot of times I’ll just go to a news stand and just spend time looking through magazines and newspapers for ideas. I get along with my editors “Eric Falquero.” Sometimes, I’ll call him to ask him if he liked a piece. A respectable shout out to chcf editor “Mary Otto,” who is currently on leave writing a good book. I try to make sure anything I write on I feel passionate about.

I don’t have a life on the web, but I know HTML. I studied information technology in Lender. I have business cards, because freelancers for Street Sense need business cards. My office is pretty much a pen and a writing pad, a phone, the library and a park bench, as well as my home, where I have a computer.

My storage spaces are my bookshelves and I also keep track of my newspaper sales. I have a library of reference books that help me write. I have no subscriptions, “that’s what the library is for,” and I am not a member of any professional organizations. (to Be Continued)

Change

By and About the Poor and the Homeless

Thank You Notice

Issues I would like to change bother me to my soul. If you want to move closer to God, you must align your will with His. I've been job searching for 2 1/2 years and I'm tired.

Believe me, my plate is full. I will never give up on me. I dare myself to dream big.

I believe for me the sky is the limit. So if you shoot for the moon and miss, at least you'll be among the stars. God Bless.

In the name of God, gracious and merciful. I thank my God for another birthday t o d a y. I t u r n e d 67. What makes it so hard to cure homelessness? Nobody wants the slave to rise above the slave master. The only freedom we will have in this country will come when the house slave removes the chains off the slave in the field. As long as we as a people keep killing and selling death to each other, we will not be free.

Thank you for everyone who supported my family during our time of mourning.

Happy Father’s Day to fathers who are here and father passed. Live each day with your father, grandfather, brother, or nephew. Give them the best hug and kiss and love from your heart. Each day means a lot to spend with your loved ones. Each day at a time. Live and learn to spend a day with them. Do whatever you want to do, and live as if this was their last day.

Live it to the fullest, and enjoy. Many fathers are sadly gone, sick, unwell, in the hospital, nursing home, can’t walk, or can’t talk.

By Marcus Green, Vendor

By Barron Hall, Vendor

God says, "hold on, I will avenge you."

So why is the mayor making it such a chore for us to have decent housing in decent neighborhoods? Police have cameras. What do we have? Murder in our streets and unsafe homeless shelters.

It doesn't matter what others have. We are still poor and homeless. Some people have prosperous churches. Do they reach out to us? No. We are still poor and homeless, in neighborhoods that are filled with drugs and guns. Babies are dying down the street from the District building. Who is fooling whom?

Letter Regarding Mom Tribute to My Father: Part II

By Roberta Bear, Vendor

By Sybil Taylor, Vendor

It is with a very heavy heart that I am sharing the news of my mom, Helen Louise Bear, who passed away on May 19, 2015.

It has not been very easy to watch the experience with my family when her health began to decline in 2005. The last time I saw her was last summer. I would call to say hello and tell her I loved her. When I received the phone call from my brothers and other family members who were at her bedside, they said that her passing went very quickly, and that they had the opportunity to say goodbye. My mother was comfortable and did not suffer in the end. It was just her time. I have to remember she is no longer in pain and suffering, and she is with God.

When we arrived, he had a beautiful service. We all viewed him, kissed him, then said a few words to him. He looked so good in his brown suit and brown tie that my mother had picked out for him.

And, he was smelling so nice with a light scent cologne. Everyone viewed him quietly as they walked passed the casket and talked. Everyone paid their last respects to him. He had beautiful flowers that stood out to the fullest. The minister sang lovely songs for him and gave a good service in his honor. We all got up to do our final goodbye and last look at him.

My mother took it hard. The minister sang “Always” by Stevie Wonder. We all cried as they folded up the white cloth that covered his face. They closed the casket and p.ut his flag in honor of him having served in the Army on it. Our last cry and goodbyes forever and ever untill one day we will all be with him. He has gone first, but we will all join him one day in his mansion. Smiling and sharing our cry and love. We will reunite in glory. We were all comforted by family who gave my mother sympathy cards, love, and support. My mother had a small repast with me, my sister, my brother, and my sister in law.

We had a little food, music, and something to drink. We got a ride home from the cemetery.

Dad, you will be forever missed. The sun will shine and the moon will glow. I will be that shining star in the sky, twinkling for you always, and smiling, and shining, and sparkling always. The angel who glows day and night forever.

Dad was very sick. I came each day to give him therapy. He would pay me $20 a day for

Rest in peace mom.

Love, Roberta Bear

Where is the Love By ‘Baby Alice’, Former Vendor

All they do is, hate, lie, disrespect and threaten me, twenty four hours a day I’ve sold myself, and I sell drugs, and the people around me do nothing but lie You don’t know if I’m serious, or making rap music You don’t know my business, stop lying about me!

By Sybil Taylor, Vendor

He was Thinking of Me

By James Johnson, Vendor

helping him. My mother would wash him up, change his colonoscopy bag, groom him, feed him, and give him plenty of water. My sister helped mom out by taking turns. They would both cook breakfast for him, make his bed up, change his pads and diapers, talk to him, and let him rest. He was on the morphine machine for awhile, then he started doing so good that they took him off. His doctor said that he was doing excellent. He was exercising every day and getting out of bed, but he was still weak. He was able to talk. He sent us to McDonald’s to get lunch. He would eat with us. He had a hospital bed, T.V. Radio, and doctor and family visits. He was well loved and cared for. Each day he got better, but then he started getting weaker and weaker. He was taking morphine tablets or drops in his mouth for his pain.

His pain was so bad he couldn't take it anymore. It would hurt him to urinate and pass bowels. He was almost in tears. He would make faces, but he would not give up the fight. The cancer got worse. He couldn’t speak or think too good. He lost so much weight till his face had sunken in. He looked like a skeleton. I pulled the cover he had over him. He was so cold.

As I sit here contemplating life, thoughts of you are so dear I exist in this world because your seed help bring me here From my childhood I cherish some memories that can never be erased I owe you honor and respect, with gratitude the fact I embrace Though often I’ve let you down, for me you continue to care When others turn their backs, for me you’re always there To God I’m ever so grateful, because the truth is plain to see Dad when the lord created you, he was also thinking of me

Song of the Spring

By Gwynette Smith, Vendor

Spring is here! Buoying our spirits with each breeze.The warm air enfolds us and takes us along for part of its journey.

The skaters on their boards, mothers and babies in carriages, flowers and fountains lend us their energy, beauty and calmJoy arrives, at least for a while.

Heavy coats, snow, ice, and short days retreat somewhere over the horizon. For now.

Pray its visit lasts, and not just a quick memory that pleasant hours will follow.

And remembrance of the sun will warm our souls throughout The Cold Winters of Life.

15

STREET SENSE July 1 - 14, 2015

COMMUNITY SERVICES Housing/Shelter

Food

Clothing

Showers

Outreach

Medical/Healthcare

Transportation

Laundry

Education

Employment Assistance

Legal Assistance

Academy of Hope: 269-6623 601 Edgewood St, NE aohdc.org

Bread for the City: 265-2400 (NW) | 561-8587 (SE) 1525 7th St, NW | 1640 Good Hope Rd, SE breadforthecity.org

Community of Hope: 232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

Jobs Have Priority: 544-9128 425 Snd St, NW jobshavepriority.org

Covenant House Washington: 610-9600 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE covenanthousedc.org

John Young Center: 639-8569 119 D Street, NW

Calvary Women’s Services: 678-2341 1217 Good Hope Road, SE calvaryservices.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless: 347-8870 1234 Massachusetts Ave, NW dccfh.org

Catholic Charities: 772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Father McKenna Center: 842-1112 19 Eye St, NW fathermckennacenter.org

Charlie’s Place: 232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave, NW charliesplacedc.org

Christ House: 328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd, NW christhouse.org

Church of the Pilgrims: 387-6612 2201 P St, NW churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach food (1 - 1:30 on Sundays only)

Friendship Place: 364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave, NW friendshipplace.org

Community Family Life Services: 347-0511 | 305 E St, NW cflsdc.org

Food and Friends: 269-2277 219 Riggs Rd, NE foodandfriends.org (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc)

Foundry Methodist Church: 332-4010 1500 16th St, NW foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities ID (FRIDAY 9-12 ONLY)

Georgetown Ministry Center: 338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave, NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Gospel Rescue Ministries: 842-1731 810 5th St, NW grm.org

CELEBRATING SUCCESS!

Martha’s Table: 328-6608 2114 14th St, NW marthastable.org Miriam’s Kitchen: 452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave, NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place: 529-5991 (24-hour hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village: 939-2060 1333 N Street, NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Ave Shelter: 832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave, NE

Open Door Shelter: 639-8093 425 2nd St, NW newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html

Samaritan Inns: 667-8831 2523 14th St, NW samaritaninns.org

Samaritan Ministries: 1516 Hamilton Street NW | 722-2280 1345 U Street SE | 889-7702 samaritanministry.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork: 675-9340 741 8th St, SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 797-8806 71 O St, NW some.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center: 333-4949 3655 Calvert St. NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

Thrive DC: 737-9311 1525 Newton St, NW thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care: 745-4300 3020 14th St, NW unityhealthcare.org

The Welcome Table: 347-2635 1317 G St, NW epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St, NW | 745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave, SE | 797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Second Day in the Drop-in Center

By Patty Smith Vendor I found myself hanging all over the Lounge. Let me tell you the reason for all this. Here is my story coming from the inside of the homeless. Last night I couldn’t sleep. I woke up fully charged with energy.

I don’t know how this happened. I had eaten a big dinner. My telephone was not working and I wanted to pay a friend some money that I owed her. So I left the shelter at 12 pm and walked to Shaw, the old place that I used to live in. Of course I couldn’t find my friend, so I headed downtown and hung out for a couple of hours. Next thing I knew, it was morning. I worked a little selling the paper and a couple more hours passed. So now I am crashing in the Longue.

Happy days and times are here.

VENDOR PROFILE: JACQUELINE TURNER

LAST WORD: INSPIRED JOURNALISM

By Dottie Kramer, Editorial Intern

Virginia native Jacqueline Turner has been selling Street Sense since 2011. She usually has a smile on her face, and can frequently be found helping others.

“If I had one wish, I’d like to save young people,” Turner said.

Turner has always wanted to make the world a better place, and believes the coolest thing she ever did was help a runaway find clothes and employment. She was only in junior high at the time.

Recently, Turner attained a job through The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc (NCBA). She serves food to senior citizens who lack the mobility to be able to get it themselves.

“I like it because the people are all around my age, and they have nutritious food, and I feel like I’m useful,” Turner said.

The new job is especially exciting because she has been actively looking for work for the past three years.

By Brian Carome, Executive Director

Turner lives with her family, including a daughter and three of her five grandchildren in a District apartment. It makes her feel needed.

Family is important to Turner. The proudest moment in her life was holding her daughter for the first time.

“I would like to do more than I’m doing now to help the world, because that’s a requirement of being a Christian,” Turner said. “You want to feel like you’re spreading love.”

Turner loves learning, although her only formal higher education has been through certificate programs.

“I like to learn things. With more people around, the more you can learn,” Turner said. “Not brain-boggling things all the time, it’s the little things.”

“If I had one wish, I’d like to save young people.”

In addition to studying the Bible and selling Street Sense, Turner plays chess and reads. Her ideal Saturday night is spent eating walnut ice cream and watching old movies (her favorite is A Good Day to Die).

One day, Turner hopes to return to live in Virginia, she loves the country.

Phillip Black Clifton Davis Leonard Hyater Authertimer Matthews July 1 - 14, 2015 • Volume 12 • Issue 17

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW

Executive Director Brian Carome and Artist-in-Residence Bryan Bello screened Fairness Rising, a film shot and directed by the Street Sense Filmmakers Co-op, to the delegates in attendance at the 2015 Global Street Paper Summit in Seattle, Washington.

PHOTO BY ERIC FALQUERO

During the week of June 22, I traveled to Seattle, Washington, along with Street Sense Editor-in-Chief Eric Falquero and Filmmaker-in-Residence Bryan Bello. There we represented Street Sense at INSPired Together, the annual Global Summit of the International Network of Street Paper’s (INSP). The Summit -- the first ever held in the United States -- gathered over 100 delegates from 22 nations and 44 street papers. It offered delegates an opportunity to share innovations and best practices.

Delegates presented, traded and wrestled with innovations aimed at increasing the mission impact of our organizations -- from experimental digital payment methods, strategies aimed at paving pathways to employment, creative new forms of content, and vendor empowerment efforts.

Street Sense was proud to present on our expanding efforts to produce content across new platforms for self-expression that reach beyond the pages of this publication, including film, theatre and staged performance, audio, photography, interactive art and illustration.

Additionally, the Summit focused street paper leaders on the particular challenges and opportunities we face, both locally and across our international network. We reflected together, how as journalists and aspiring champions of social justice and

equality, we can most effectively respond to the social ills facing our communities.

As the Summit opened Wednesday, there were expressions of collective outrage and disbelief about the tragic and disturbing massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our international guests expressed shock at pervasive and persistent gun violence in the U.S., as well as the troubling state of racial relations. And as the Summit closed, we celebrated together the historic Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, applauding the coverage many of us had given that issue in its path forward. In between, from the perspective of local papers around the globe, we lamented widening income inequality and the increasingly out-of-reach cost of housing.

As I turn my focus back to the day-today operations here at Street Sense, I bring INSPired ideas from my colleagues and newfound friends from around the world.

How can Street Sense facilitate broader, more thoughtful conversation that will quicken the pathway out of homelessness for the 130 vendors and artists who produce and distribute our media? How can we more effectively deliver that content to our readers and audience? I would welcome your ideas about these challenges.

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Over 100 delegates from 22 nations and 44 street papers came together June 23 - 26 to share how they best empower people experiencing homelessness in each of their own unique communities and circumstances.

PHOTO BY ERIC FALQUERO