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n 2017, we began hosting a number of different workshops aimed at helping our vendors develop skills beyond writing for our newspaper. On any given day, our vendors are illustrating, painting, recording podcasts, taking photos, rehearsing plays, organizing advocacy groups and coming together as a community.
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ran workshops in 2024
In 2023, artists/vendors published a book of their photography,
and shared their life experiences in an oral history project!
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NEWS IN BRIEF
D.C. auditor finds data is missing from singles homeless program
RANEE BRADY Editorial Intern
The D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) is failing to collect critical income data for participants in one of its key homelessness intervention programs, raising concerns about whether the program is meeting its goals, according to a new alert from the Office of the D.C. Auditor.
In the alert, released on Sept. 3, the auditor’s office reported DHS lacks income information for the vast majority of participants in its Rapid Rehousing for Individuals Program (RRH-I). The program is a short-term subsidy initiative designed to help people experiencing homelessness transition to permanent housing and access employment opportunities.
One way participants can afford housing after the subsidy ends is to increase their income. But the government lacked all or part of the required income data for 1,519 of the program’s 1,791 participants over the last three years, according to the alert.
“Only 272 participants’ records included income data both at entry and exit [from the program],” it read.
Based on these numbers, RRH-I staff did not record complete income data for 85% of participants. The missing information removes a key indicator for measuring the program’s success, according to an email release from the auditor’s office.
“Without data on a participant’s income, it is impossible to determine if that participant is eligible for the program or if the participant is likely to remain housed once the housing subsidy ends,” the email said.
This is not the first time the D.C. auditor has highlighted gaps in a Rapid Rehousing program. In August, another brief from the office found that 79% of families left the Family Rehousing Stabilization Program (FRSP), D.C.’s name for Rapid Rehousing for families, without increasing their income.
BIRTHDAYS
Darlesha Joyner Sept. 27
ARTIST/VENDOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
Brian Carome
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Darick Brown
DIRECTOR OF VENDOR
EMPLOYMENT
Thomas Ratliff
Melody Byrd Sept. 29
ARTIST/VENDOR
Documenting participants’ income before and after the program is especially important because one of the program’s goals is to is to raise earnings for its participants. RRH-I pairs individuals with case managers and service providers who help them identify and access employment opportunities, according to the DHS webpage for the program.
However, finding a source of reliable income is not easy, even when participants are housed. And if individuals earn too much from newfound employment, they can lose access to public benefit programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, illustrating the phenomenon experts refer to as the “benefits cliff”.
As part of the alert, RRH-I staff were questioned about the missing information. Staff explained there are often more pressing concerns while rehousing participants preventing them from gathering such data, and not all participants are focused on raising their income.
“For many clients, income growth is not a primary goal while in the program as they may instead be focused on addressing their mental health concerns, substance use concerns, or their medical needs,” the DHS accountability team wrote in an email conversation to the auditor’s office on June 27, according to the report.
The D.C. auditor provided two recommendations to DHS to improve its data collection: one, DHS should audit the providers who run the program to ensure they’re collecting and inputting income data, and two, DHS should require these providers to conduct exit interviews when participants leave the program. DHS agreed with these recommendations and pledged to improve data collection efforts moving forward.
“We continue to aspire to getting consistent document-verified income data for all clients (if they have income) as an additional piece of the client puzzle to determine how we most effectively support the client,” the DHS accountability team wrote, according to the report.
Andrew Anderson Sept. 28
ARTIST/VENDOR
VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES
Aida Peery, Chon Gotti, Nikila Smith
VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS
Ann Herzog, Aiden Eisenschenk, Beverly Brown, Madeleine McCollough, Roberta Haber
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Annemarie Cuccia
DEPUTY EDITOR Donte Kirby
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Alaena Hunt, Jelina Liu, Molly St. Clair, Nina Calves, Sachini
Adikari, Ranee Brady, Shani Laskin
Anthony Carney Oct. 6
ARTIST/VENDOR
WEB INTERN Zachi Elias
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNS
Arisha Shumael, Kevin Akakpo
ARTISTS-INRESIDENCE Alexandra Silverthorne (Photography),
Jemel Fleming Sept. 29
ARTIST/VENDOR
Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration), Leslie Jacobson (Theater), Roy Barber (Theater), Willie Schatz (Writing), Molly Pauker (Watercolor), Debbie Menke (Watercolor)
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□ The 2025 Sell-a-Thon is back in October! Two $50 prizes at the end of the month. Earn extra points every time your customer fills out the audience survey. Catch the rankings in the admin office!
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□ Find a list of vendor announcements and other useful information just for you at streetsensemedia. org/vendor-info.
Bailey Green Oct. 6
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VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT
Read this democratically elected code of conduct, by vendors, for vendors!
1. I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.
2. I will treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and fellow vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making donations, or engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.
3. I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.
4. While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $3 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.
5. I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.
6. I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.
7. I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.
8. I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”
9. I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
10. I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”
D.C. Council passes RFK Stadium deal, rejecting housing amendments
JENNA LEE Volunteer Freelance Reporter
The D.C. Council approved a historic $3.7 billion deal to redevelop the RFK Stadium campus and invest in affordable housing and other projects in the surrounding area at its meeting on Sept. 17. The deal remained largely unchanged from the version the council voted on in August after a slew of amendments aimed at increasing accountability for housing development deadlines and anti-displacement efforts failed.
The deal passed on an 11-2 vote, with Councilmembers Robert White and Brianne Nadeau voting no and Councilmember Matthew Frumin supporting the bill, a switch from his August vote. During the vote, White introduced several amendments — all of which failed — seeking to implement funds to prevent residents in the area from being displaced, harsher penalties if the team fails to provide promised amenities like affordable housing by the stipulated deadlines, and a doubling of the $50 million community benefits agreement, which reserves funds for community investment projects.
The debate around the deal to bring the Washington Commanders home has plagued the council since D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced it in April. It has centered around whether the significant public investment — estimated at over $1 billion — provides an opportunity for economic growth for the city or unfairly subsidizes a billionaire franchise with money some advocates say could be better spent on building affordable housing.
The deal pledges to create 6,000 units of housing, 30% of which will be affordable, but advocates have argued that, without a stadium, the number of new units could be much higher. According to the deal, D.C. will pay $500 million for the infrastructure of the stadium, over $350 million for parking garages, and $202 million for a transit study and utilities. The Commanders will contribute $2.7 billion.
“This will be the largest economic development project in D.C. history, it will supercharge our Growth Agenda, and we’re ready to deliver for our city — our businesses, our people, our project,” Bowser wrote in a statement after the vote.
The final deal includes an amendment from Councilmember Wendell Felder, who represents Ward 7, where the stadium is located, to direct about $2 million in stadium revenue to rental assistance, displacement prevention, and other programs each year to residents in economically underdeveloped areas in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8. The fund will aid residents needing legal representation in eviction proceedings, subsidize low-interest loans for the rehabilitation of blighted properties, and offer grants to small businesses.
“This amendment guarantees meaningful and sustainable investment will flow into communities most impacted by the RFK Stadium redevelopment,” Felder said at the meeting.
The council also voted to force the team to adhere to stricter environmental guidelines.
White’s failed amendments pushed for firmer penalties if the team failed to meet housing development deadlines and would have funded displacement prevention grants for residents affected by the development. Advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns that developing the area could raise rents and push residents out of their homes.
“If we’re going to subsidize this project, the very least we can do is demand accountability,” White said, as he introduced an amendment to add a $10 million penalty every time the team misses a deadline.
As the master developers for the site, the Commanders will pay $1 per year in rent for nearly three decades in exchange for building affordable housing on the site — functionally waiving rent on the property for the team. In the current version of the deal, the team will have to start paying higher rent if it misses deadlines, which are phased in between 2030 and 2040.
This latest version also builds in extra time for development zoning approvals, intended to ensure the team does not have to pay rent penalties if housing is late due to zoning delays.
Bringing the Commanders home has been a longtime goal for Bowser. Nearly a decade after she was first elected into office, it became feasible after Congress, in December 2024, passed the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. It gave the District permission to build on the land. Since Bowser and the Commanders announced a preliminary deal in April, the council has reviewed, amended, and voted on a deal at a fast-tracked pace amid pressure from the team and the mayor.
Councilmembers debated the merit of changes to the bill until minutes before the vote, drawing ire from Bowser and Commanders President Mark Clouse, who wrote a letter to the council expressing his dismay at the possibility of eleventh-hour changes.
“Less than 24 hours before the final vote, the Commanders organization was presented with a list of unworkable and impractical new last-minute demands by Councilmembers, which we simply cannot agree to as it jeopardizes the deal,” the letter, first reported by NBC4’s Mark Segraves, reads. Many of the demands, like the penalties for failing to deliver affordable housing, did not make it into the final deal.
In late July, the Council Budget Office released its analysis of the deal, finding that without the stadium, the area could support 5,000 additional housing units, with 1,500 being affordable, an alternative some advocates latched onto.
A few council members, including Christina Henderson and Charles Allen, both initially skeptical of the deal, said they felt comfortable voting for the deal on first reading after the Commanders made key concessions.
The deal enables the city to receive sales tax revenue garnered through parking garages and merchandise sales, and creates a $50 million community benefits agreement, through which the team agreed to build a grocery store and youth sports academy in the area.
The team also agreed to ensure 51% of the construction jobs go to D.C. residents, provide $15 million in contracts for local small businesses, and implement traffic mitigation measures, including leaving space for a potential Metro station near the stadium.
The RFK Stadium earlier this summer, before demolition began. Photo by Nina Calves
RENTAL Act passes D.C. Council amid dissent from housing, tenants’ rights advocates
JENNA LEE Volunteer Freelance Reporter
The D.C. Council voted to uproot longstanding tenant protections to help spur affordable housing investment in the District at a meeting on Sept. 17.
The council voted 10-3 to approve an amended version of the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act — which exempts some buildings from legislation protecting tenants and speeds timelines for evictions — aiming to combat a growing eviction backlog and unpaid rent, which some councilmembers have said are stalling affordable housing investment. Most of the debate centered around the reduced power of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which gives tenants a seat at the bargaining table when their building is up for sale. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George, Brianne Nadeau, and Trayon White voted no on the bill, which was introduced by Councilmember Robert White.
Earlier this year, housing providers reported a steep increase in unpaid rent. Lawmakers and landlords argue relaxed eviction laws during the pandemic and a backlog in eviction courts have contributed to the crisis, making it less attractive to invest in affordable housing in the city.
“We are building housing too slowly,” White said. “We are driving landlords and investors away. We cannot lose sight of the impact on real people. From parents who have to choose between paying for groceries and rent to the landlords at risk of losing their homes. These are big issues that deserve big solutions.”
White and supporters of the bill say the dire state of affordable housing production in the city requires loosening regulations to make investment more attractive, as housing providers struggle to break even with high rates of unpaid rent. In 2024, the District had an economic vacancy rate — the percent of units that are occupied but not generating rent — of 15%, up from the 5% vacancy rate considered healthy. White said these conditions are driving away affordable housing investors, though some advocates have claimed delinquency rates have been overestimated in the city by cherry-picking small subsets of the population for data.
Meanwhile, dissenters say the bill prevents tenants from fighting against evictions and strips tenants of long-held rights to negotiate in their building sales. A 2023 report from The Coalition, a nonprofit committed to equitable economic development, found TOPA was effectively gave tenants a seat at the bargaining table and contributed to improved affordable housing in the District.
“The RENTAL Act would have always caused tenants harm by making evictions easier and cutting back on tenant protections,” LegalAid DC said in a release ahead of the vote. “In the middle of an occupation of the District, when the federal government is criminalizing homelessness and detaining our neighbors without warning, that harm will be multiplied. The DC Council should reject the RENTAL Act and keep its focus on defending District residents.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser initially proposed the RENTAL Act in February, though White’s version made significant changes from that proposal, including preserving TOPA for some newer buildings. An amendment introduced by Nadeau, Lewis George, and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson struck a provision which would exempt buildings where the developer enters an affordability covenant from TOPA, and an amendment from Lewis George added protections from tighter eviction timelines for victims of domestic violence.
“These amendments are about strengthening tenants’ rights and our affordable housing market, not weakening them,” Lewis George said. “They’re about putting power into the hands of the people who live in these buildings, regardless of income, race, or where they live.”
But advocates felt these victories were reversed by an amendment from Councilmember Anita Bonds, which added an exemption from TOPA for buildings with two to four units, arguing these buildings are often owned by residents renting out units they built on top of their home to make extra money. Bonds argued if these buildings were protected under TOPA, these owners would have to “buy out” their tenants.
In an interview, Nadeau said she felt her amendment made the RENTAL Act better than it was on the first reading, but that Bonds’ amendment constituted the biggest change the council had made to TOPA in years. She said the amendment should have had its own hearing, because councilmembers lacked information on how many units like these exist in the District, and agencies could have testified to difficulties with its implementation. She added because the amendment was proposed the day before the meeting, councilmembers did not have adequate time to deliberate on it, which led her to vote no on the bill.
“There’s several thousand households that are going to be impacted by this, and they didn’t get any input,” Nadeau said. “It’s just a bad idea.”
Councilmembers Matthew Frumin and Trayon White also proposed failed amendments to the bill. Frumin’s amendment would have made the 15-year TOPA exemption proactive, meaning it would apply to new buildings, not buildings already built. White’s amendment would have extended the bill’s 10-day initial eviction notice period to 30 days. Councilmembers against the amendment said the current 30-day period is inordinately long and a remnant of lax pandemicera eviction laws. Before the pandemic, the notice period was zero days.
“This is more days for the notice of intent than we had prior to COVID, because that was zero prior to COVID,” Robert White said. “So yeah, I’m trying to fix a very broken system. It’s not fun, but that’s what we have to do right now.”
The John Wilson Building, which houses the D.C. Council and mayor’s office. Photo by Kaela Roeder
Trump administration to audit D.C. public housing for noncitizens, continuing crackdown on migrants
ALAENA HUNT Editorial Intern
The Trump administration is threatening to audit the over 3,000 public housing authorities across the country, aiming to find people who are using public housing programs without citizenship or proper documentation. The first target is the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), according to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner.
On Aug. 27, the Washington Examiner reported it had reviewed a draft letter that would be sent to DCHA requesting the names and mailing addresses of any tenant found to have “misrepresented either his or her citizenship, national, or eligible immigration status.” In a post on X on Aug. 29, Turner wrote, “D.C. Housing Authority is on notice — we are demanding all citizenship information for residents.”
Turner threatened to reassess public funding for any housing authorities that do not comply.
Housing authorities, including DCHA, have about a month to reply. DCHA has not responded to multiple requests for comment to confirm whether it received the letter, or what it plans to send back to the federal government. Between housing vouchers and public housing, over 20,000 households live in DCHA-supported housing, though advocates believe most have legal status.
The audit comes as residents report feeling increasingly scared about the federal government’s policing of migrant communities in the city.
Public housing authorities are already required to share citizenship status with HUD, but two senior HUD officials told the Examiner many authorities do not do this. HUD recently signed a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which means if HUD finds out someone is living in public housing without proper documentation, DHS could send Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to that address.
Although a person must be a legal immigrant or U.S. citizen to qualify for public housing, a federal mixed-status rule enables for people without legal status to live with a family member. HUD is requesting information specifically on these “mixed family” units, the draft letter reviewed by the Examiner said, including full names and mailing addresses. The Trump administration is also seeking to eliminate the rule allowing mixed-status families to live in public housing entirely.
Even with the mixed-status rule, gaining entry into public housing programs is extremely difficult. Street Sense reporting has found multiple instances of people sitting on the city’s housing voucher waitlist for more than 15 years. The programs’ scarcity suggests the number of non-citizen residents in D.C. public housing is quite low, advocates said.
Public housing and federally-funded vouchers are “such a limited resource that when it opens up, there’s already a waiting list, and immigrant families are not at the forefront of that list,” said Abel Nuñez, the executive director for CARECEN, an organization that offers services and advocacy to the D.C. Latino population.
Daniel del Pielago, the housing director at Empower DC, an advocacy organization for low- to moderate-income families, believes there are few migrants in the city’s public housing units.
“Doing this for years, I’ve seen a very small percentage of non-African American residents in public housing,” he said.
This raises the question, advocates said, of why HUD is auditing public housing authorities in the first place, and whether D.C. will comply.
“If the city is auditing, that is because they know they’re not going to find anything. I think that they’re trying to do things that make it seem like they’re trying to be compliant with the federal government, so that the federal government doesn’t come after them,” Nuñez said, referring to proposed legislation to remove the elected D.C. attorney general and replace them with a presidential appointee. “From where the mayor sits right now, the city’s home rule is under the gun.”
In recent years, D.C.’s housing services for migrants have been separate from those for long-time city residents. In 2022, after Texas and Alabama’s governors sent buses of migrants to Washington, D.C. as a political stunt, the city created the Office of Migrant Services (OMS) through the Migrant Services and Supports Act of 2022. This created a set of separate homeless services for migrants in the District, services that assume migrants are only staying in D.C. temporarily. The act also changed the definition of who would be considered a D.C. resident under the Homeless Services Reform Act, excluding migrants from homeless services. Although this act expired this year, it means that, in addition to federal restrictions on who can receive public housing, few migrants were eligible for locally-funded services like housing vouchers in the last several years.
By the end of 2024, OMS closed the three hotels it set up to house migrant families, and the city sent residents to Harbor Light Center, the only operating migrant shelter in the city. This past summer, staff told all Harbor Light migrant residents they needed to leave. Street Sense reported in July that no residents remained at the center, which is now for sale.
Whether it yields results or not, the public housing audit could intensify the chilling effect on migrants advocates say is taking place across the country. Nuñez said he has clients who won’t go outside for two weeks at a time, out of fear of running into ICE agents. The loss of trust between the city and migrant communities could also lead to fewer migrants seeking access to city resources, he warned.
“You think about all the things that we told a lot of our immigrants, even when their immigration status was in question. It’s like, ‘Come out of the shadows. Particularly, local governments are going to support you,’” he said. “But now, the federal government is using any information it can get to detain and deport people.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Photo by Chris Kain
D.C. homeless seniors face financial barriers to assisted living, according to new report
MOLLY ST. CLAIR Editorial Intern
Some formerly homeless and low-income D.C. seniors are turning down necessary assisted living care because, after charges for the facility, they would not have enough to cover their expenses, according to a D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) report released in early September.
To move into an assisted living facility, homeless or formerly homeless D.C. residents insured through Medicaid must pay nearly all of their income for housing and additional costs of care. Residents can only keep a personal needs allowance (PNA) — a monthly sum individuals on Medicaid can retain to go toward personal expenses. The District’s PNA, set at $138 a month, is residents’ only source of disposable income, according to DCFPI, the local progressive policy organization.
This PNA applies to residents at Abrams Hall, a senior apartment complex in Northwest D.C., and D.C.’s only assisted living facility designed to serve individuals who have experienced homelessness or have a history of behavioral health conditions, according to the report. The facility subjects residents to the $138 PNA set by the D.C. Council. Prospective residents say the PNA is not enough to cover their monthly expenses, causing many to reject the care altogether.
Abrams Hall opened its doors in September 2022, initially filling 22 of its 54 units with individuals who had experienced homelessness. Today, only nine units are filled by formerly unhoused individuals as an increasing number of potential residents reject care because of high costs. The facility has started opening eligibility to other low-income seniors, according to DCFPI’s communications with Housing Up, a D.C.-based affordable housing provider.
For the report, DCFPI interviewed people who have turned down Abrams Hall due to the low PNA rates, which individuals seeking assisted living care reported were insufficient to cover expenses like cell phone bills, toiletries, and clothing. While the PNA is $138, interviewees reported regularly spending over $200 each month on necessary expenses.
When D.C. residents reject assisted living care at Abrams Hall, many turn to standard Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) in D.C. PSH, a long-term voucher program for people exiting homelessness, only requires residents to spend 30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities, permitting tenants more financial flexibility. But PSH is far closer to standard apartment living than an assisted living facility, and it does not offer the same intensity of care for those who may need help with daily activities like showering and getting dressed. This lack of care may cause elderly individuals to go without necessary medical attention or live in unclean spaces when living on their own, according to the report.
Kate Coventry, the deputy director of legislative strategy at DCFPI and author of the report, said the growing rates of homelessness among elderly populations nationwide and within D.C. call for expanded services across the District. She said affordable care options that offer services like housekeeping and are accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or with limited mobility are crucial.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the percentage of older adults experiencing homelessness has nearly doubled since the early 1990s. Today, more than 20% of the overall U.S. unhoused population are single adults aged 55 or older. In D.C., seniors account for more than 30% of the
District’s overall adult population experiencing homelessness, according to the most recent census.
“We’re seeing more older people experiencing homelessness for the first time,” Coventry said. “We also have people who are elderly who’ve been experiencing homelessness for a long time, so we kind of have two different populations, and the thing is, PSH, they’re not there to help you get dressed in the morning. Assisted living is.”
Low PNA rates in D.C. are the “biggest barrier” to assisted living for older adults experiencing homelessness, according to Coventry. Factors like convenient locations and accessibility of facilities are also vital to ensure assisted living facilities meet the needs of their residents, she said, and those who require a higher level of care are not forced to resort to PSH.
“People need to be able to get to their medical appointments, other appointments,” Coventry said.
In July, the D.C. Council added a provision to the approved fiscal year 2026 Budget Act to add $500,000 to the Department of Healthcare Finance to increase the PNA to $300 each month per individual, more than doubling the current monthly allowance.
But the potential PNA increase will only take effect if the District exceeds the expected revenue for the year. In late September, D.C.’s chief financial officer will outline the revenue forecast, which will determine whether growth is expected for 2026, leading to an increase in the District’s PNA. Coventry said current economic indicators, like tax revenues from businesses and restaurants across the city, don’t suggest growth in 2026.
“I’m grateful it’s on the list and I hope there’ll be increased revenue, but I’m not hopeful,” Coventry said.
Abrams Hall, an assisted living facility in D.C. Photo by Jelina Liu
A bill in Congress would increase the punishments for camping in D.C. Advocates are fighting to stop it
SHANI LASKIN Editorial Intern
n Sept. 10, President Donald Trump’s executive order to temporarily take control of D.C.’s police force expired. The same day, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform met to discuss a set of bills seeking to exercise Congress’s authority over D.C., many of which advanced the president’s agenda to make D.C. “safe and beautiful,” including cracking down on homelessness and crime in the District.
While many of Congress’s D.C.-related bills focus on crime prevention and law enforcement more broadly, the Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act specifically targets homelessness by increasing the penalties for people camping outdoors on public property. If the bill is passed, people camping outside could be fined up to $500 and/or jailed for up to 30 days. Advocates against the bill argue punitive measures like fines do not address the root causes of homelessness and trap people in cycles of poverty.
This bill is part of an increasingly common trend to criminalize homelessness and abandon housing-first approaches. Last summer, the Supreme Court ruled in Johnson v. Grants Pass that enforcing penalties for sleeping outside did not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment.” Then, this July, Trump issued an executive order encouraging all levels of government to enforce camping bans, utilize involuntary commitment to move people off the streets, and end support for housing-first policies. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, in the year following the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling, cities across the country passed a total of 220 bills criminalizing homelessness, similar to the one proposed for D.C. Of the other 13 pieces of legislation the committee discussed, only one passed without significant debate. The bill, sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., would allow the D.C. Council to electronically send legislation to Congress.
The rest of the Republican-introduced bills, including the Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act, were highly contested, with votes largely split along party lines. All bills passed the committee, and the House of Representatives will vote on each individually. As of Sept. 23, four of the bills have passed the House and are headed to the Senate. One would lower the age at which D.C. youth can be tried as adults to 14, another would lower to 18 from 24 the maximum age someone can have youth offender status, and a third would repeal restrictions on law enforcement’s ability to conduct high-speed chases. The last bill would put D.C. judicial nominations solely in the hands of the president.
D.C.’s Home Rule Act, established in 1973, gave residents the right to vote for the mayor, D.C. councilmembers, and advisory neighborhood commissioners, who oversee the city and govern on local matters. While Congress maintains some control over the District, home rule grants a level of autonomy for D.C.elected officials who govern the over 700,000 residents who do not have voting representation in the federal government.
In the committee meeting, Norton introduced letters from the D.C. Council, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb expressing opposition to the 13 bills, with the council calling them “an unprecedented attack on the autonomy and home rule of our local government.”
A week later, on Sept. 18, Bowser, Schwalb, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and former Deputy Director of the
White House Office on Gun Violence and Prevention Gregory Jackson Jr., testified before the committee. In their statements, each argued the federal government was breaching D.C.’s autonomy, and emphasized the ways they believe Congress could more effectively support the District, including funding bridge housing for people exiting homelessness, confirming judicial nominations, and aiding in efforts to increase law enforcement retention.
In his testimony, Mendelson said, “It is frustrating to watch this committee debate and vote on 14 bills regarding the District, without a single public hearing, with no input from District officials or the public, without regard for community impact, nor a shred of analysis, including legal sufficiency or fiscal impact.”
What would the Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act do?
Sponsored by Rep. William Timmons, R-SC, the Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act would increase the potential fine for camping on public property to $500. The bill would also allow police to arrest people for camping, resulting in a jail sentence of up to 30 days. It defines a camp as “any material to set up, maintain, or establish a temporary place of abode,” meaning it could potentially apply to people who sleep outside but not in traditional tent encampments.
Under the current D.C. Municipal Regulations, the unauthorized use of public spaces, such as camping, is illegal and punishable by a fine of up to $300. A person cannot be arrested solely for living outside, but police can arrest them if they are suspected of having committed a crime, or refuse to leave an encampment, according to the office of the D.C. Attorney General.
The city routinely conducts encampment clearings to dissuade people living outside from setting up structures, although arrests are rare. However, people experiencing homelessness have recently been arrested for other charges, such as having open containers or fare evasion.
The Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act has yet to pass through the House and Senate. While it is likely to pass the Republican-majority House, the Senate may prove more difficult, given that some Democrats would need to support the bill. In fact, Senator Tom Cotton, R-AR, introduced a nearly identical bill at the end of July that has yet to pass the chamber.
What did the representatives argue?
Timmons and his allies asserted the bill would restore order to the city, with Chairman James Comer, R-K.Y., referencing Trump’s August executive order, which required the removal of encampments across D.C.
In his statement during the meeting, Timmons argued “allowing individuals to sleep in tents on the streets is not compassion, it is neglect.” He went on to say the bill would allow law enforcement to connect people living in encampments to services, which outreach teams already do, and that arrests could result in a conditional discharge, not criminal penalties. That caveat is not reflected in the text of the bill. In a press release following the meeting, Timmons’ office wrote the bill could also encourage federal law enforcement to step in “when D.C. refuses to act.”
Committee Democrats argued against the legislation because of what they deemed to be an overreach into local
governance, as well as the bill’s disciplinary measures and its lack of acknowledgement of the role of services in tackling homelessness in D.C. Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-CA, called the bill “wrong and immoral” and criticized its failure to address causes of homelessness, like housing supply, service capacity, and affordability.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-FL, similarly condemned the bill and emphasized the need to address the housing shortage and increase access to services, saying, “It does cost more, and it is harder, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.” Rep. Summer Lee, D-PA, called the bill “lazy and dishonest policymaking,” arguing the intent of the bill was not to solve homelessness but to punish those experiencing it.
After about 45 minutes of debate, the committee passed the bill without amendments, voting on party lines with 25 in favor and 20 against.
How are D.C. providers and advocates responding?
Throughout the committee meeting, Democrats continually criticized Republicans for attempting to enact laws affecting the city without the input or approval of D.C.’s leadership and residents. A Sept. 9 call-to-action from the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) called on people in and outside of D.C. to contact their representatives to oppose the bill, stressing D.C. has no voting member of Congress.
According to NHLC Campaign and Communications Director Jesse Rabinowitz, hundreds of people across the country have engaged with this effort. Rabinowitz also told Street Sense the center has been lobbying representatives, including Frost and Lee, to advocate against the bill.
“The average rent in D.C. is over $2,300 a month for a onebedroom, and that might be pocket change for Donald Trump and other billionaires, but for a lot of people, that’s too much money to afford. Housing is too expensive, and the solution to homelessness is housing and support, not handcuffs and deploying the National Guard to D.C.,” Rabinowitz said.
The director of policy at Miriam’s Kitchen, Andy Wassenich, emphasized criminalization furthers the issue of homelessness by trapping people in cycles of incarceration and poverty. Organizations such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness have long held that the solution to homelessness involves many facets, including but not limited to increasing access to affordable housing and quality services and treatment.
“Punishing individuals for being homeless is counterproductive,” Wassenich said. “It’s not what people need. They need to be lifted up, not hammered down.”
A new bill would institute fines for camping in D.C., targeting people living in encampments like this one, cleared earlier this summer.
Photo by Nina Calves
Top-selling Street Sense vendor Abel Putu talks about new apartment, community, wheelchair basketball
SAM BELMAR Volunteer Freelance Reporter
Abel Putu, who has often been one of Street Sense Media’s highest-selling vendors since he began working there in 2017, recently moved into an apartment after more than 20 years of homelessness.
Putu hopes the stability will give him more time to dedicate to building enduring connections with community members and spreading the joy of his two passions, Street Sense and wheelchair basketball.
Putu, who had experienced homelessness since 2002, lived on and off in shelters before moving into a Northwest D.C. apartment building last year. He received one of the city’s Permanent Supportive Housing vouchers, he said, but the process took several years — a common experience among voucher holders. Putu said the pandemic delayed his voucher application, as he had originally expected to be housed before 2020.
“The pandemic messed everything up,” Putu said.
Nonetheless, Putu expressed his gratitude to the city and Mayor Muriel Bowser for their steadfast support in helping him find a long-term home, especially because many people he knows from his time experiencing homelessness are still waiting to be matched to a voucher.
“Thanks to the mayor, thanks to all the social workers that I used to work with,” Putu said. Putu’s now fully settled into his one-bedroom apartment, which he said allows him to commute easily to Street Sense for work. He wants to stay there in the long term and is making plans to decorate.
Eventually, Putu hopes to adorn the walls of his new home with various artworks he has created and saved over his years working for Street Sense. In his free time, Putu enjoys drawing and painting with vibrant colors and has published his work in Street Sense.
“I’m going to keep painting,” Putu said. “And whatever I make, they’re going to put it in [the Street Sense paper.]”
Putu often carts around his artwork in a large black binder, showing his vivid creations to any customers he meets while selling downtown. Those who stop and talk with him will soon learn that art isn’t his only hobby; he’s also one of the biggest proponents of wheelchair basketball.
Since the 1990s, Putu has participated in various wheelchair basketball teams, including the MedStar NRH Punishers Basketball Team, which assembles players from across the DMV. In addition to raising awareness around accessibility, Putu sees the sport as a way to shine a light on homelessness in the District, as he said many other basketball players with disabilities have also experienced homelessness.
Putu hopes to bring the sport to the biggest local stage, Capital One Arena, enabling wheelchair basketball leagues to host games for larger audiences to see. He said his favorite player, Kobe Bryant, who spent time with wheelchair basketball players before his death, has been an ongoing inspiration for his game. Putu hopes more NBA players will become aware of wheelchair basketball to increase the sport’s visibility on the national stage.
“It’s a whole league because we’re playing in Philly, we’re playing in New York, we’re playing all over the states,” he said. “We need to make it professional so people can see how important it is, because people think that we’re all disabled. We’re trying to change the world, we’re trying to make the world better.”
Putu also uses his positive attitude and determination to sell the paper, as he recognizes creating enduring relationships with Washingtonians is the best way to gain recurring customers and build a network of support for Street Sense. Putu credits winning top-seller honors on multiple occasions and consistently being one of Street Sense’s most productive vendors to this approach.
“It will always be good, because when you’ve got a good personality and a good character, people will like you,” he said. “And the thing is, I’ve been helping people who are disabled. The blind who cannot see, I’ve been using my wheelchair to help them cross many times.”
Putu emphasized that people need to know the story behind Street Sense to become invested in supporting the paper. Leveraging his outgoing personality, Putu said he helps customers understand how Street Sense can strengthen the D.C. community, including those who have not experienced homelessness.
“It’s like running a company,” Putu said. “You’ve got to know how to include your customer into your business, into your marketing. Because some people will say, ‘I like this product, but why can I benefit from this product?’ That’s the same way you’ve got to do it with Street Sense.”
Part of Putu’s approach to selling copies of Street Sense is treating customers with respect, regardless of their backgrounds. He said part of the reason homelessness has continued is because discrimination has persisted at the city level, complicating social service allocation to minority populations and those with disabilities.
Putu, meanwhile, lives according to the idea no one is inherently different from another person due to their ethnicity or background. He stressed his opposition to discrimination in all of its forms, especially since his family includes people from diverse racial backgrounds.
While selling papers across the city, Putu said he actively tries to treat everyone he encounters with respect and kindness.
“I don’t do discrimination, I always want to just love people for who they are,” Putu said. “And people will love me for who I am. It’s not about my disability, it’s about what I do, my emotions, and my personality and character.”
Editor’s Note: Street Sense Media occasionally reports on itself and its vendors. No executive leadership was involved in the production of this story.
Abel Putu is one of Street Sense’s best selling vendors. Photo by Jelina Liu
Trump didn’t seize D.C. alone — Democrats set the stage
JEFFREY MCNEIL
s fall arrives, I’d rather be publishing the latest chapter of my book, “The Grind,” or debating whether the Commanders can finally end their 33-year Super Bowl drought. Instead, I have to speak about the federal power grab in Washington, D.C. — a political stunt that’s both horrifying and predictable.
ABefore someone says I’m defending President Donald Trump, let me be clear: I’m not. The real question is why anyone is shocked that D.C. is under federal control. This city has long been a running joke: a mayor caught smoking crack in a hotel, a reputation for murders and tent encampments. When locals discuss crime, they often mention the following hotspots: U Street, 11th Street corridor, Chinatown, and Ward 8. The pattern remains the same — young, unsupervised teenagers with little to no guidance. Instead of accountability, Democrats push cashless bail and quick reintegration, cycling offenders back onto the streets. Then they act surprised when Trump seizes the moment.
I’ve lived here since 2006. I’ve been robbed. I’ve been assaulted. I’ve even been homeless. So when I say crime has dropped, I know what I’m talking about. Let’s keep it real: Trump claims crime is out of control, but who’s being arrested? People with expired driver’s licenses and bodega workers. Where are the carjacking rings dismantled? The drug lords or prostitution networks exposed? No Gottis, no Lucianos — just low-hanging fruit paraded as progress.
This is a photo op, not a solution. Combating crime in D.C. is complex. In Northwest Georgetown, you’ve got marbled sidewalks and layers of security. In Anacostia or parts of the Northeast, you may wait hours for a police response. This has always been a city of extremes.
We’ve debated these issues since the Moynihan Report. Despite cries of racism, the evidence is clear: broken homes produce broken outcomes — generational poverty, teenage parents, kids on corners instead of in school or work. Weak families create weak communities, and weak communities fuel cycles of crime.
Any attempt to improve education or housing often means displacing low-income residents. When that happens, the same councilmembers who preside over decay dismiss critics as racists. So despite endless town halls and fiery debates, people still get shot, robbed, and strung out in D.C.’s hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Crime didn’t drop because of Trump’s crackdown or “fudged stats.” It dropped because rents skyrocketed — $2,300 for an average apartment — and gentrification pushed the poorest residents out. H Street, 5th and K, Trinidad — once rough, now lined with million-dollar condos and police patrols. Economics, not politics, lowered crime.
The areas still struggling — like Ward 7 and Ward 8 — won’t be fixed by National Guardsmen on patrol. They suffer from the same social problems that have plagued cities since the Great Society: single parents stretched too thin, kids raising themselves, and young men with no role models. Without real intervention, they’ll keep producing the next generation of victims and offenders.
Since COVID, D.C. has received billions in federal aid. Yet instead of creating permanent shelters, the city handed out tents. Instead of converting vacant offices into housing, leaders fought to preserve encampments. When robberies spiked in Chinatown and on U Street, the D.C. Council looked away. Even as Safeway and CVS closed in poor neighborhoods — hurting the elderly and sick — Democrats shrugged.
So yes, Democrats helped make this moment possible. They mismanaged, ignored, and excused until people lost faith.
But Trump’s federal takeover isn’t the answer. If crime were truly out of control, he could have deployed SWAT or sheriffs. Instead, we got National Guardsmen sweeping sidewalks and hauling trash. That’s not “law and order.” That’s theater.
Here’s a caveat most people don’t know: now that the National Guard is staying longer than 30 days, taxpayers will have to cover housing and healthcare. Details don’t matter to the MAGA faithful — any dissent makes you a communist. But the truth is more straightforward and sadder: our troops are being used as political pawns. They signed up to defend the country, not rake leaves for an aging president desperate to look tough.
Worse is the smugness of people who’ve never even set foot in D.C. I’m tired of self-styled experts flipping between Fox and CNN, swearing this city is America’s murder capital. They’ve never walked these streets, never seen which neighborhoods are safe and which aren’t, never stood in line at a farmers’ market next to guardsmen picking up litter.
And when you tell them the truth — that homicides are at a 30-year low — they retreat into fantasy. The FBI faked the numbers. Soros pulled the strings. Maybe the FBI director is moonlighting at Mar-a-Lago, plotting Obama’s arrest in some “5D chess” plan. Fantasy stacked on fantasy, all to protect a narrative that doesn’t match reality.
I voted for Trump because he said he’d shrink Washington. Instead, we got a federal occupation. I voted for freedom. Instead, we got theater. I voted to drain the swamp. Instead, I got guardsmen hauling trash bags.
This isn’t law and order. It’s political cosplay. And if we let it stand, history won’t remember it as a strength. It will remember it as betrayal.
Jeffrey McNeil is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
The day the music died
BEVERLY BROWN
The repetitive backup beeps of a trash truck. The droning of air conditioners. The rumble of Ubers and taxis. The din of stop-and-go tires on asphalt. The jack-hammering and intermittent crashes of rubble tumbling down a construction chute. These are the city voices that assail me each morning as I walk up 13th Street from Federal Triangle to the offices of Street Sense Media.
But one morning in 2022, a new sound was added to the clamor. It was gentle. It was melodic. It was… almost symphonic. And like a dog following a scent or a bee flying toward the color blue, I walked toward the sound. As I approached the corner of 13th and G Streets, I found the source of that sound. A man was nimbly fingering a stringed instrument I didn’t recognize. I lingered a few minutes, listening and watching the man make music, before I continued to work. But I found myself feeling calmer and happier.
Over time, I changed my commuting walk so I’d be sure to hear this man’s music on my way to work. His sounds and songs varied from classical to folksy to extemporaneous picking. But the result remained the same — I felt more peaceful and happier for hearing him play. It was a wonderful way to start the day.
One day, when he momentarily stopped playing, I approached and asked him about the instrument he played. He explained that it was a traditional stringed instrument from the Andes made from an armadillo shell and called a charango. Ah! Yet another piece of the cultural quilt that makes the District so uniquely wonderful!
The charanguista was there every morning for years. Rain? Snow? Cold? Intense heat? He was there and played for all who would listen.
Then, on Aug. 18, on my way to work, I didn’t hear music. I looked but couldn’t find the man with the charango. A nearby Street Sense vendor confirmed the music man had not been seen. The charanguista was gone. The beeps, droning, rumbles, din, drilling, and jackhammering were still there. But the music? The music had died.
This man and his music brought me joy for more than three years. Even so, I never thought to ask his name. I thought, or perhaps hoped, that he’d always be there for all of us who work downtown. Now I worry. Why is he not here, and what could have happened to him? We are living in dark times. And as John Steinbeck said, “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”
Wherever you are, Mr. Charanguista, I hope you are safe and well — and lighting someone else’s morning with your music.
I did not tell you about the days when I walked the streets as if I were in a track meet trying to win a golden medal for my advocacy on the streets of this nation’s capital. I am the bull market on the street. I am here for you all.
Beverly Brown is a weekly volunteer with Street Sense Media’s Vendor Employment Program.
ART
Fear is a choice
JAY B. WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
The Constitution of the United States of America is the binding document that allows us to call one another citizens. It liberates us by defining our protected rights — our right to vote, our right to protest, our right to protect ourselves, our right to govern ourselves, and ultimately, our right to exist.
And yet today, many live in fear — fear of what the president says, fear of what is happening in Washington. But to those who stand in opposition to this administration’s agenda, I ask: Are we taking actions that lift one another up? Or are we taking actions that hold us down, that spread fear instead of hope among our communities?
Fear, as Wikipedia defines it, is a mental state — an “unpleasant emotion that arises in response to perceived dangers or threats.”
Library of things petting zoo
In “The Neurobiology of Fear” (published on the National Institute of Health website), R. Garcia reminds us that while the subjects of our fears are learned, the capacity to fear is natural and organic. But research is clear: fear reduces our ability to think critically. And yet critical thinking is exactly what we need. It is the tool that allows us to solve problems in lasting and effective ways. It is what helps us see the details others might overlook, and what shields us from the small mistakes that can lead to great consequences. So I say this: Do not fear when you have power. Do not fear — because you do have power. And your voice is that power. It is the power to bring life or to bring death. The power to instill fear or to inspire courage. The power to oppress, or the power to liberate. Choose liberty. Choose freedom. Choose to not fear.
Breast health is important
SASHA WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
I care. Someone cares.
Breast cancer awareness is important. Getting mammograms is super important. People have survived breast cancer. Others have died.
I’ve been worried about my breast health since maybe before, but possibly during the pandemic, on top of other losses, but anyhow. It’s so important to check your breasts by getting a mammogram.
I went to my appointment, but there were concerns, so I was told to come back to do a diagnostic test. This is my first time. So it’s a very interesting process. I still want a good report from the doctor, but for now, I wait.
Regardless, it’s important to get checked. Breast care/breast health is an important part of breast cancer awareness.
A few weeks ago, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library had an event for the kids. They had mini horses and a small train. They gave the kids rides around the front of the library with balloons around the outside. A play mat was set up in the cafe area with a movie screen. They played two movies, “Finding Dory” and “Finding Nemo,” and they had a few kids with faces painted, so someone was doing that also. I took some pictures of the fun, of the movie area, and they had a lot of people in the cafe for the hours it was there and set up. So they made money that day for sure. They had a mat set up at the place where they had the horses with hay and a fan so they could stay cool.
I loved seeing all the balloons, and the movies were cute, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. This was just a few weeks ago, and it lasted a few hours. The event was finished by 4:00 p.m. It didn’t take them long to tear down everything and pick up the mats they had put together to form the floor for the kids to sit on to watch the movies.
Make up to break up
RON DUDLEY Artist/Vendor
I thought I was tired I wanted to leave but wanted to stay, baby, I’m begging you please Yes, I’m a sucker for love, I admit don’t go everything that I promised, all my secrets you know I had a talk with Miss Cleo she told me love was illegal it’s high like a eagle then come down on most people
If it’s real you will know if you must let it go if it comes back to you that’s when you know it’s true
Some say love ain’t easy some say love ain’t hard I say love takes time it’s like praying to God I feel you I hear you, baby
I see things clear the devil been busy but I won’t let him get me I’m fortunate to have you girl and I’m so glad you’re in my world I was on my knees praying the day that he brought you then my heart just stopped when I thought that I lost you
Labor day blessings
JOSIE BROWN
Artist/Vendor
Labor Day is a time of celebration
Labor Day is for gathering
Labor Day is a time to wine and be fine
Labor Day is to be kind and not frown
Labor Day friends are always around
Never letting you down
Labor Day is a time to prepare a meal and live
Labor Day is a time to work and rest
For not living in distress or settling for less
Labor Day is a time to rest despite the test
Don’t settle for less when you can have the best
Labor Day is always fun, and you don’t need to run
And you don’t have to be sad, but glad
And know the race is not given to the strong but those who endure
Because the battle is not mine, it’s the Lord’s Labor Day, let’s be on one accord, not bored
So have a happy Labor Day, just lay and obey
Don’t stray or forget to pray
Staying in the race and don’t forget the amazing grace
So let this Labor Day be the best with no stress!
ELIZABETH BOWES
Artist/Vendor
Illustration by Sasha Williams
Scenes from the event. Photos by Elizabeth Bowes
What does it take?
L.Q.
PETERSON Artist/Vendor
The ambition of humankind: power, resources, gold, diamonds.
On a mission to conquer it all, the greed is so blinding.
To be so corrupt, twisted in wickedness so binding.
Trapped in hate’s depths, is there a way of rewinding?
A place where evil can prosper. Earth can be such a strange place.
A land where the poor surely starve, while they pile food on their plates.
Is peace a real thing, or is self-destruction our fate?
On a quest for world peace, but what exactly does it take?
To
brighten your day
JACQUELINE TURNER
Artist/Vendor
Number one is chocolate. Chocolate melts in your mouth and gives you a feeling of euphoria, a pleasant, good feeling that makes all unpleasant thoughts go, even if it’s temporary.
For some, their day gets an uplift when they get marijuana that changes their mood, body and does other things besides feeling “up.” I am talking physical health.
Then some go all the way out on hallucinogenics that don’t work for all, and sometimes just the opposite.
Then there are things like black berries with sugar. The taste makes you smile from memories. A warm bowl of soup on a cold day. Your favorite program that makes you daydream. A smile of encouragement. A hug from someone. This is what brightens my days.
Word of the day
APOLLOS ROBINSON Artist/Vendor
When having the sense to clearly see injustice, but not the resources to expose the people in power, they won’t help unless they cash in on dilemmas that they prey on. Narratives are created. The shape is shifted.
Unpleasant thoughts are had, and the mind races. Questions loom: why do I even need these people? What has been placed here?
Take the chance, become one with the drama. The greatest of minds have been waiting, watching, wanting. The time has arrived.
My interpretation of trepidation.
An update
DARLESHA JOYNER
Artist/Vendor
Hey guys, I am still living and pushing towards 35 years with the virus. My birthday is Sept. 27, and I am doing a photoshoot this year for my birthday. Something for me. They’ll do my hair, eyelashes, and makeup. There’ll be balloons, cake, and ice cream for the photos.
XY
ELYNORA
HOUSTON Artist/Vendor
Congrats to the men who can stand on a ladder and not need someone to hold it steady. Salutations to the men who are blue and/or white collared employees and don’t get pedicures and manicures. Thanks to all the men who flush radiators and change car oil.
Jason Aldean sings, “Teach ‘em yes ma’am and no ma’am and never turn down a cold beer/Tell ‘em there ain’t nothin greener than the grass you’re standing on right here.”
I see some girls with tattoos and boys in cowboy hats. I see a few soldiers here tonight. Welcome back, we got some hard-working nine-to-fivers!!
God knows
MELVEON HARP
Artist/Vendor
I think about the world every day. God has been in it all, so if there is strife in your life, God has the power to cause a change. Sometimes we are hurt and in pain, but believe in God, and your spirit, if lost, can be found. We can talk a good talk. But we need to find God. Are you going to the fire? Don’t think, if you do worry, you will not have to ask God and all creation. Live by God’s will. If you live your life badly, you will burn forever, but God knows your heart.
Don’t give up because you have sinned and you didn’t follow God, the glory. Amen. I have one God. Thank God for Street Sense. We have people in this world who have so much compassion.
We don’t know when God will call you home to Heaven or Hell. You walk into my home, and you will see:
1. This is our happy place
2. Give thanks to God
3. With God, all things are possible
Thank God for my Pastor Coffey. All things belong to God. Thank God for all the people you put in my life and all the people you put out of my life. It’s been very hard, but I need love and happiness.
Why we have faith
KYM PARKER Artist/Vendor
To be in this world today
To feel pain
To know remorse, regret, and anger
To understand others’ pain and regret
To feel others dying and in pain
To watch others suffer
To see then go through the pain
Is why I have faith
She tells me every day she’ll take my worries away
Take my fears away, that’s the reason I have pain
I claim yes in the name of her
She gives us life, breath, shelter, and love
Some know her better
To her children:
Give care whenever you can
Show love, cause it helps
Show happiness, and it helps
Let it go
When I’m in pain and I feel bad, she’s here
When I’m depressed, I talk to someone
When it’s good for me, it helps
I have family and friends who love me
I have a healthy support system
They show me love
They don’t judge me
That’s faith
God gives us all faith, she gives us all chances
She shows us all what we can do
She gave us this morning, blessed us
And kept us safe
Know that in the end, you will always
Come before her with no judgment
For those who are evil
For those who have hurt people
I say no to you
I say no cause I have faith
Don’t give up
TONYA WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor
Always remember: WE have the power.
Sure, we may be going through a whole lot in our lives, such as problems and the pains of the flesh. But we just got to keep fighting, because we have the power. No, it might not be easy; I know it often isn’t. But if you truly want to stop doing what you feel is harming you or taking you on the wrong road or path, just keep fighting.
And cry out to Jesus. He’ll heal your heart. He keeps his word. He never lies. He helps, but you have to take the first step. When something doesn’t feel right in your spirit, you might feel like nobody cares. But Jesus does. He is the one, the only one.
So don’t give up. Please, hold on. Remember, life is good. Please talk to someone. Get out of the darkness and get help. Don’t let nothing bring you down. Keep your head up. Jesus is always with you. He never leaves you. You can talk to him every day, all day… because he always listens.
When we dream, we can dream big
EVELYN NNAM Artist/Vendor
When night comes down, I close my eyes, and I’m suddenly pulled into a darkness that flies.
I no longer see anything because of the new sight I have while my eyes are closed. I dream of places I’ve never been, of purple mountains and oceans green. Sometimes I’m flying high above trees, or running fast with the greatest ease. In dreams, I’m brave, in dreams, I’m strong. I sing and dance to a magic song. But when morning light fills my room, the dreams slip away like flowers that bloom. I try to remember what felt so real, but dreams are secrets that daylight steals. Still, every night when I lie down my head, new dreams come to my warm bed.
When we dream, the world turns new. The sky can be red, the grass can be blue. When we dream, we have no fear; faraway places suddenly appear. When we dream, we can be tall, we can be tiny, we can be all. When we dream, we’re always free. In dreams, we find who we can be. When we dream, we climb so high, reaching up to touch the sky. When we dream, we sail the seas, on boats as light as the summer breeze. When we dream, we sleep so deep, safe, and sound in a slumber’s keep. In dreams, we fly and play, having fun all day. When morning comes, we wake, ready for the new day’s take. When morning comes, my dreams may go, but in my heart, they still can grow. They leave a light inside of me that helps when things are hard to see.
When we dream big, we try new things, we chase the joy that dreaming brings. We look up high and say, I can! And reach for stars with our own plan. When we dream big, we start to know not just who we are but how we’ll grow. We build, we learn, we give our best. Our dreams help us pass every test. No dream is too silly, no wish is too far. We climb as high as any star. At night we fly, by day we try. Dreaming big helps us reach the sky.
So close your eyes and dream tonight. Your dreams give you the power to fight.
And when you wake up, hold on tight... becaaaauuuussssseeeeeeeeee
Big dreams can make everything BRIGHT!
Diamonds, stones, and rubies
BRIANNA BUTLER
Artist/Vendor
Look up to where my help comes from. My money is tight. I still give and be nice, though. I pray and believe there will be better times.
I watch football as a motivational push sometimes. I believe if they can do it on a field, I can strive to learn all the things I need to pass this test of mine and get the career I desire. The career I was born to get. I love my Golden State Warriors. They help me get up and be active when I power walk. It’s so great to have a show that can inspire you to climb and to break those hard, very hard, stumbling stones in your life. Learning a great deal from them is always the best. When I come together with my church assembly family, I get lots of hugs and kisses, and I get to know about myself in my faith-filled actions. They let me know to keep hold of God’s unchanging hand through the path of righteousness. They encourage me by helping fix me mentally, and that helps me be a better person. This building up and breaking down barriers makes me a champion, and I shine like diamonds and rubies. So if you are going through something, remember you can achieve too, if you believe.
(News)paper
GRETA CHRISTIAN
Artist/Vendor
There are all kinds of papers we need in this world:
Street Sense!
Printer paper and printing paper
Recycled paper
Tracing paper
Gloss-coated paper and glossy paper
Bond paper
Tissue paper
Copier paper and copy paper
Photo paper
Craft paper
Business paper for forms and business cards
Tobacco paper
Box-covering paper
Parchment paper
Wax paper and waxed paper
Inkjet paper
Woven paper
Drinking cup paper
Acid-free paper
Filter paper
Shore paper
Artists’ paper
Litmus paper
Book paper
Manila paper
Banana paper
Book paper
Cotton paper
Sandpaper
Wallpaper
Food paper
Blotting paper
Xuan paper
Wrapping paper
Looseleaf paper
Autumn
ANTHONY CARNEY
Artist/Vendor
From struggle to strength
DON GARDNER Artist/Vendor
In this life, we hustle, strive, and grind
Through shadows deep, we search to find
A spark of hope, a love so true
Guiding us when skies aren’t blue
Love’s the force that fuels our fight
In the darkest times, it is our light
Without it, souls would fade away
But love’s eternal, here to stay
Life’s a journey, ups and downs
Smiles and cries, laughs and frowns
But through it all, love holds us tight
A beacon shining in the night
Laughter echoes, healing pain
A melody in the rain
It lifts us up, breaks the chains
Reminds us of joy, remains
Through labor, sweat, and endless toil
We plant the seeds in fertile soil
With love, our work will bloom and grow
A legacy for those who know
So listen close and hear the call
Let love’s light shine and never fall
Illuminate the path ahead
With love, our spirits will be fed
Without it, all would cease to be
But love’s the key to set us free
It never dies, it only grows
The purest truth, the love we show
It’s my favorite season! Yeah, I know most people call it “fall”... but I don’t. Unlike summer, my favorite season is never too hot. It’s just right! I love it when the leaves change color, then fall (no pun intended) to the ground. We make big piles and jump into them. So get ready: my favorite season has arrived. Then Halloween and Thanksgiving aren’t far behind. Sooner than we think, we’ll gobble, gobble, and eat until we bust!
The season
DANIEL BALL
Artist/Vendor
When you fall, please get back up!
I love seeing different kinds of colored leaves fall from the trees. I love watching Monday Night Football. Someday, I will have my own TV show on BET.
I like frightening children and adults on Halloween night. Let’s eat some trick-or-treat candy tonight!
FUN & GAMES
Across 1. Sulk (around)
5. Some French bodies of water (Fr.)
9. Boards over waves or browses over websites
14. “It’s ____” (“Our bad”) (2 wds,) (2,2)
15. Sprout
16. Tree knot, e.g.
17. You may be bussed under it
19. Block house for an Inuit?
20. Legendary Six-Day War statesman Dayan of Israel
21. Roll of bills
23. Cost of living?
24. “___ calls for me?”
25. Sensible and practical, as opposed to off in space somewhere (3 wds.) (4,2,5)
29. One may surround spectacles that are painted or spectacles that are tinted
31. Rectangular paving stone (TEST anagram)
32. ___ vera
34. 60’s war zone, briefly
36. Poke fun at
40. Apt name for small, appropriately placed gifts... or something found in each answer at 17-, 25- ,52- and 65-Across?
44. Admit (2 wds.) (3,2) (INLET anagram)
45. ____-Tac A/P (northwest hub)
46. Salt Lake City collegians
47. Synonym for ritzy, luxurious or fancy-schmancy
50. Meandering about word that’s unchanged when you add an “R” to its start
52. Kind of tail-gating snacker who’s likely to be using salsa and/or sour cream (2 wds.) (6,5)
56. A.A.A. recommendation (abbr.)
59. Reed section member
60. Apt word ‘hidden’ in “... counties where one may not legally buy potables like gin, vodka and rye”
61. Sleep disorder
63. What old grads do on Homecoming Weekend
65. Objects kept as reminders or souvenirs of persons and/ or events
68. Some Army E-8 NCOs (abbr.)
69. Pet brand with a paw print logo
70. Unit of loudness (NOSE anagram)
71. Behold, of old (Biblical & Shakespearean word)
72. Elder or alder
73. Some genetic lab samples (abbr./initialism)
Down
1. “Throw ___ from the Train” (Billy Crystal/Danny DeVito movie)
2. Whopper topper
3. With “around,” to move cautiously and indecisively; act timidly
4. One of only two Bible books named for women (abbr.)
5. Bigger than med. (abbr.)
6. It’s often left hanging
7. Have a joint possessory interest in (2-3) (NO COW anagram)
8. Gym wear
9. Hit the slopes
10. What hardcore Deadheads, aptly, never were for band founders, Jerry, Bob, Ron, Phil and Bill
11. King or queen
12. Weather map area name that may follow cold, warm or storm
13. Indolence, or a three-toed arboreal neotropical mammal
18. Yeats’s “____ and the Swan”
22. Fawn’s mother
McIntyre
26. Upscale hotel chain
27. Withdraw gradually
28. “___, Brute?” (2 weds.) (2,2)
30. Giftees (I REINSPECT anagram)
32. Communication for the deaf (abbr./initialism)
33. 4G ___ (standard for wireless broadband smartphone communication) (abbr./initialism)
35. Classic British sports cars (abbr./initialism)
37. PM time segment
38. “Didn’t I tell you?”
39. Triage sites, briefly (abbr./initialism)
41. Shoelace problem
42. Airplane assignment
43. Hardly racy
48. Ground cover
49. Solitary sort
51. Stuff in a muffin
52. College housing, for short
53. Way too weighty
54. Cheek cosmetic
55. Per annum (2 wds.) (1,4
57. Brandon ____, Hilary Swank’s “Boys Don’t Cry” role
58. Partially alleviates, as a burden or hardship
62. Returning GI’s diagnosis (abbr./initialism)
64. “Humanum ___ errare” (“We all screw up sometimes,” in Latin)
66. Abbr. on a French envelope
67. Commercial and legal ending
ILLUSTRATION OF THE WEEK
This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre. It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.
AKINDELE AKEREJAH Artist/Vendor
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento Case Management Coordinación de Servicios
Academy of Hope Public Charter School
202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Pl. NE
202-373-0246 // 421 Alabama Ave. SE aohdc.org
Bread for the City 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 1700 Marion Barry Ave., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org
Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Marion Barry Ave., SE calvaryservices.org
Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org
Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org
Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org
Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach
Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org
Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 4 Atlantic St., NW communityofhopedc.org
Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org
D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org
Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 North Capitol St., NW fathermckennacenter.org
Food and Friends // 202-269-2277
(home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org
Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry
Identification services
Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org
Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org
Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9096 1526 Pennslyvania Ave., SE jobshavepriority.org
Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org
Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Rd, SE
2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE
Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org
My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org
New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE
Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW
Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org
Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org
Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org
So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org
St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-363-4900 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org
Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org
Unity Health Care unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699
1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 850 Delaware Ave., SW, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 1151 Bladensburg Rd., NE, 4515 Edson Pl., NE
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org
The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable
Whitman-Walker Health 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 1201 Sycamore Dr., SE whitman-walker.org
Woodley House // 202-830-3508 2711 Connecticut Ave., NW
For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide
Multiple positions
Costco // Washington D.C.
Part-time/Full-time
Costco is hiring for positions that include cashier assistant, food service assistant, stocker, service deli assistant, gas station attendant, member service assistant, tire installer, cashier, forklift driver, membership clerk, production assistant, distribution assistant, and production line assistant.
Required: Be able to stand and walk for long periods.
Apply: tinyurl.com/SeptCostcoDCS
Retail sales associate
PetSmart // D.C.
Part-time
PetSmart’s pet associate (retail sales associate) is responsible for engaging with pet parents and their pets while providing positive experiences and upholding the company’s vision, mission, values, and strategy. This role also shares responsibility of store cleanliness and maintenance, and pet safety standards as well as the direct care of pets within our store.
Required: Associate must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally team lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
Apply: tinyurl.com/DCPetSmart
Housekeeper room care
AC Hotels // 867 New Jersey Ave. SE
Full-time/ Part-time
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: cleaning and servicing assigned guest rooms in a timely and organized manner, following procedures and hotel standards; keeping an organized linen cart that is neat, well stocked and organized; Reporting any areas within guest rooms that need attention, such as fixtures, door locks, televisions, HVAC, etc.
Required: N/A
Apply: tinyurl.com/ConcordHousekeeper
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Street Sense Media loves our readers! Our award-winning newspaper is the core of what we do. Our low-barrier vendor employment program is built upon it. Our journalists cover local issues affecting real people and feature our vendors’ voices, defying market trends in media. So thank you for taking this survey, because we’re on pins and needles to know what you think about our newspaper!
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