09 30 2009

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

Where the poor and homeless September 30 - October 13, 2009

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G S U N AT I DO

Volume 6 Issue 24

On the Outside

65 cents for the Vendor

page 4

Library Staff and Homeless Patrons Struggle to Stay on the Same Page

35 cents for production of the paper

Grameen America starts a branch in D.C. Page 6

Arizona and Nevada take football to the grave, a story by Ivory Wilson Page 12

Central Union Mission will not close, at least for now Page 5

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristal DeKleer Lisa Estrada Ted Henson Mary Lynn Jones Sommer Mathis Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Martin Walker David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri INTERIM EDITOR-in-CHIEF Lisa Gillespie VENDOR MANAGER Gregory Martin ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) Interns J. Deveaux, Marcus Williams VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Sherry Antoine, Laura Arico, Robert Basler, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Chandler Christian, Carol Cummings, Rebecca Curry, Katie Edson, Andy Freeze, Lisa Gillespie, Cassandra Good, Joanne Goodwin, Roberta Haber, Erica Hall, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Kayne Karnbach, Michael Kelly, Maurice King, Geof Koss, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Starlett McNeill, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Robert Orifici, Michael O’Neill, Jon Pattee, Katinka Podmankzy, Sarah Pope, Carlin Rosengarten, Diane Rusignola, Cara Schmidt, Jamie Schuman, Jesse Smith, Christna Studivant, Matthew Taylor, Suzy Tekunan, Robert Trautman, Eugene Versluysen, Linda Wang, Denise Wilkins, Danielle Williams, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu

VENDORS O’Jango Amen, Michael Anderson, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Ernest Ballard, Carlie Banks, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Corey Bridges, Michael Brown, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Conner, Pamela Cooper, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Chino Dean, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Charles Eatmon, Eric Ellis, Richard Embden, Randy Evans, Craig Fleming, Tanya Franklin, Roger Garner, Robert Gregory, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Shawn Herring, Michael Higgs, Phillip Howard, Lester Irby, Michael Jackson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, DeRutter Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Kevin Lasister, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Frank Mearns, Virginia Moore, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Lester Myers, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Charity Ogbonnaya, Moyo Onibuje, Gregory Phillips, Harry Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Forrest Rainwater, Michael Reardon, Jeanette Richardson, Sean-Christopher Riley, Tyrone Rogers, Ed Ross, Denise Sanders, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gerald Smith, Yvette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Sybil Taylor, Steve Thomas, Eric Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Patsy Uzzell, Martin Walker, Joseph Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Darrell Whitmyer, Edna Williams, Brian Wills, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods

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Our Mission

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

The Story of Street Sense

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

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

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a

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

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

A year later in November 2006 , the organization hired its first vendor coordinator, and began partnering with several service providers.

In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first fulltime editor–in–chief in April.

As of January 2009 the paper has 80 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

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

Order a subscription today!

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

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

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I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers.

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

Thanks to Last Month’s Donors Eric Duncan Robin Goracke Lara Thornely Hall Patricia Johnson Robyn Kerr Joseph Kim Eileen Lavelle Valerie Lee Gisela Marcuse David Martin Michael Mavretic Melani McAlister

Erica McWhorter Sharon and Rob Orndorff Jennifer E. Park Caitlin M. Roberts Jane Thorpe Kristen Traylor Marian Wiseman And a special thanks to: Terri Nally & Ric Weibl Michael & Swinitha Osuri Amy Sareeram

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

California homeless center starts charging for meals

A rough economy has forced a homeless center in California to begin charging 50 cents for meals that used to be free. The Homeless Services Center in Santa Cruz, Calif., says that donations have dropped and food prices have ballooned, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

“Everyone grumbles when they’re charged for something that used to be free,” said Doug Loisel, center director. “We don’t turn anybody away. We ask them to do community service.”

The center offers visitors the chance to do work after hours in order to earn their meals. Those who cannot complete the work are given free meals on “scholarship.” The 50-cent charge is anticipated to raise somewhere between $35,000 and $50,000.

The center serves about 124,000 meals per year.

The number of diners dropped by 75% the week after the center started charging, Loisel told the Mercury News. But numbers are back to a more normal level, he added.

Homeless American Girl doll causes stir

The latest addition to Mattel’s American Girl doll collection is a little different from the other dolls. Her name is Gwen Thompson and she’s homeless. The doll has received mixed reactions, CBS News reports. While some say the doll promotes awareness of social issues, others say they are unhappy that none of the proceeds go toward helping homeless organizations. And some

are upset that the doll’s $95 pricetag means that most homeless children will never have a chance to own it.

Mattel says the doll can “offer valuable lessons about life.” And it acknowledges that it has given more than half a million dollars, since 2006, to HomeAid, a nonprofit group that helps the homeless find permanent housing.

The Gwen doll and its related merchandise are limited edition and will only be sold for the next few months.

‘Rock and Wrap It Up’ provides leftovers to shelters What do you get when you mix rock and roll, hot dogs and homeless shelters? You get Rock and Wrap It Up, a food recovery program that collects unsold concession stand items and donates the leftovers. The premise is simple; after sporting or music events, all the uneaten food from a stadium or venue is wrapped up and donated to local homeless shelters, says Syd Mandelbaum, the founder of the program.

“Food should not go to a landfill if there’s one hungry person,” he told NJ.com.

The program has taken off across the nation. According to Mandelbaum’s count, 150 million pounds of food will go to shelters this year, which amounts to about 100,000 meals per week. And there are 160 rock bands that stipulate in their contracts that uneaten food at their events must be donated. Plus, 31 professional sports franchises have added their names to the list of participants. The program, which began in 1990, has more than 6,000 volunteers nationwide.

The initiative has grown so popular that Congress, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and even the Environmental Protection agency have sung the venture’s praises.

The program can be reached at (877) 691-FOOD.

Homeless Air Force veterans given full honors at burial

In Arvin, Calif., two homeless Air Force veterans were laid to rest with full military honors, KERO 23, an ABC affiliate, reports. Staff Sgt. Vincent Barrett and Airman 2nd Class Ronald Axtell were buried at Bakersfield National Cemetery – the first homeless veterans to be buried there. The coroner’s office discovered that the men were veterans and that they were entitled to a military burial.

Scottish student teams up with homeless Mark Kobine, a student at Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, is joining forces with a homeless group to use his art to help raise money.

Kobine plans to create everyday furniture out of old church pews with the design collaboration the Greyfriars Recycling of Wood, a social enterprise initiative for the city’s homeless. Though production is just beginning, the furniture will be sold eventually to help the Greyfriars group.

Compiled by Dianna Heitz, from published reports.

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

Balancing Budgets and the Homeless

By Marcus Williams As library administrators attempt to keep their positive relationship with the homeless, budget cuts are adding new strain. And, as it struggles to serve D.C.’s homeless without discouraging other library patrons, an upcoming change to library hours may leave many homeless patrons out in the cold.

Any regular visitor to D.C.’s downtown libraries understands that the public space often serves as a gathering point for the homeless.

On any given day, more than a dozen people without housing or work congregate around the main entrance to the Martin Luther King Jr. Library (MLK), many of whom spend most of their time reading inside.

New budget cuts to all of the District’s libraries, totaling 11% (or $4.8 million), have forced the library system to change their hours. Neighborhood libraries will no longer be open on Sunday’s; only MLK will be open.

Meanwhile MLK will stay closed on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

“For some people, this is the only place they have to come to,” says Louis Whitaker, a homeless patron of the library. “What they need to do is open up the shelters, that’s what they need to do.”

For homeless patrons who regularly find a break in the library from freezing winter-temperatures outside, the loss of morning access is disappointing. Shelters typically close their doors early.

The change will likely push many people further out of the downtown area says a group of homeless men gathered to catch a bus outside the library.

“They’ll go wherever’s open,” adds one man who, like many library clients, says he uses the

FOUNDRY A Reconciling Congregation Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010

www.foundryumc.org

library’s computers to look for job listings and often sits at the tables to read.

It can sometimes be impossible to discern the housing status of those using library services; however, some local groups believe they discourage use by other patrons.

In a survey of library patrons and nearby residents to the West End library in northwestern D.C., the West End Library Friends (WELF) found that 53% of respondents would use the library more if there were “fewer homeless people hanging out there”. Thirty percent strongly opposed including programs for the homeless in their new library’s services and only 50% of respondents said they felt safe at the library.

The survey was distributed primarily over email to West End’s neighborhood associations and West End Library Friend’s members. Participants were self-selected and significantly wealthier than even West End’s median income of more than $90,000. 34% of respondents had personal incomes above $120,000 a year and 59% had graduate degrees.

Pam Stovall, the Associate Director of the Martin Luther King Junior Library, recognizes that the homeless population may affect other patrons, but emphasizes that it is mostly newcomers.

“I have had some visitors who don’t feel as welcome, turn away, cross the street, that kind of thing,” says Stovall.

Nonetheless, the results of the survey led WELF to recommend a series of policies that, if implemented, would inhibit use by the homeless, such as new bag allowance rules.

Other recommendations from the West End Library Friends include creating “minimum hygiene standards” and excluding programs for the homeless from new offerings.

“Hygiene standards” often mean odor regulations. Texas and California libraries have odor regulations that prohibit patrons from emitting odors that “interfere with the use of services”.

Stovall says, the D.C. library system is not considering similar measures.

Although few of the West End Library Friends’ recommendations have been implemented, they highlight a tension faced by library administrators who must maintain services for a diverse clientèle. While most working patrons cannot use the library on Monday and Tuesday mornings, the homeless can and do.

Sometimes rules are not enforced on all clients.

“I had a back pack and a sleeping bag with me - both nearly brand new and completely out of people’s way, a security guard came by with a measuring tape - measured both bags - and declared that their total length exceeded limitations and that I’d have to take them out

PHOTOby Marcus Williams

A look at library budget cuts and how they will affect homeless patrons

Homeless man stands in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library downtown. He is one of the many homeless patrons that will be affected when library hours decrease. of the library,” reports a homeless blogger who works primarily from library computers. Later that day, he watched a group of teenagers enter pulling cello cases.

In 2001, the District of Columbia was sued by a homeless man who was expelled from the public library for appearing dirty. The man, who was wearing several dirty sweaters and two winter coats, hoped to escape from the cold outside to read indoors. The D.C. Public Library ultimately lost the case, and its appearance policies were ruled overly vague.

The group gathered outside MLK disagrees about whether they are treated differently by staff. Most feel singled out, but don’t necessarily begrudge the library.

“It makes sense,” says a man who says he has been repeatedly asked to leave for falling asleep.

Stovall takes the risk of discrimination seriously. “To discriminate in that way is to jeopardize all of our freedoms,” she says.

Neighborhood associations throughout the district don’t all agree with the West End Library Friends’ appraisal. At most community meetings to voice concerns about library services the homeless have not been brought up.

However, security is a common concern,

and the the West End Library Friends attribute that fear to homeless patrons.

Asked about these security concerns Stovall answers that there have been “no fights. I’m not even aware of any robberies. The D.C. public libraries are a pretty safe place, and we take pride in that.” Stovall has been with the D.C. public libraries for over 15 years.

For some library patrons, regular use alongside the homeless is normal.

Asked if she feels unsafe amongst the homeless, one patron immediately responds “Why? Does someone think it isn’t? It’s really not an issue.”

The library has tried to balance the needs of the homeless by creating some programs targeting them specifically. For instance, the MLK library has hosted two census career fairs for the homeless. Another program, Teens of Distinction, recently won a grant to collect oral histories from homeless individuals.

“We are happily serving the homeless population, we have a good relationship with those customers and I think we try our best to create an environment where all people can coexist in the public library,” says Stovall.

For the homeless, that relationship will play out on a shorter weekday schedule this winter.

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

Unnecessary Controversy Over Move The Central Union Mission is not moving in November 2009. The move was under debate from the moment it was proposed to the moment it was been resolved.

It is a CBRF (Community Based Residential Facility), only housing men.

The mission was originally unclear as to why it needed to move in the first place, garnering media scrutiny. The main issue of contention among residents in the Petworth area, the proposed new location, was that they did not want a shelter for homeless men in their back yards.

In April 2008, the mission posted on their website that they would be moving to a new location. The mission’s capacity is holds up to 135 men and the facilities are difficult to maintain, David Treadwell, executive director of the Central Union Mission asserts that this is the reason why the mission needed to move to a new location.

The people of ward 1a (Petworth) are the main opponents because during the warmer months homeless men sleep on the streets so they do not have to deal with the hassle involved with getting into most shelters or, they are turned away because the shelters are passed capacity.

“Am I really supposed to believe a group that runs a homeless shelter and was unsuccessful in building a new one on Georgia Avenue, is now all of a sudden supposed to be a Real Estate developer,” one resident said in response to a posting on the Prince of Petworth’s blog.

Cliff Valenti is the chairman of ANC1a, a community organization that meets on behalf of the people that live in the wards of D.C. The ward that the Central Union Mission was planning on moving into was ward 1a, Petworth.

The people of this community resisted this move from the beginning. One blogger in particular, named the Prince of Petworth, has been keeping track of the development of this story. He provides a somewhat objective and informative look at what is going on in D.C., but mainly the area of Petworth, off of Georgia Avenue.

The DC Kaleidoscope, a city blog about Petworth, uploaded articles entitled “Latest on Central Union Mission” and “Central Union Mission on ANC1A Agenda,” as news came out about the move. The Prince of Petworth made the largest contribution in regard to the development of

PHOTOby j. Deveaux

By J. Deveaux

A homeless man gathers his things together outside of Central Union Mission located in Northwest before it opens. the move in its final stages.

He posted an email that he received from Valenti that spelled out his problems with the Central Union Mission’s proposal and the Response of the legal team that represented the mission. Councilman Jim Graham weighs his thoughts in the middle, as well.

Valenti describes what he knows about the intentions of the mission and the plans as they stand, “Here are the facts: In the mission’s application to receive a special exception they have abandoned the plans for a CBRF

(or 250 bed men’s shelter per the past proposal). They are proposing a mixed use with 100% affordable low to moderate income housing, and 3,576 square feet of office space that will be used by the mission and/or possibly a third party. This housing will consist of 37 units (21 one bedroom, 10 2 bedroom, and 1 3 bedroom).”

The issues with this property have been resolved.

Treadwell met with the zoning board to figure out the final details of what will happen with the Georgia property.

The mission is not moving. The building it was supposed

Street Sense Needs Advertising Does your business want to place an ad in Street Sense?

Are you an advertising professional who can mentor one of our vendor sales representatives?

Do you have sales skills and want to put them to use for a good cause and earn a commission?

…..then we want to hear from you!

If you are interested in helping Street Sense increase advertising through these or any other means, please contact executive director Laura Thompson Osuri at (202)347-2006 or info@streetsense.org.

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

The Capital Welcomes Grameen America

By Caroline Hopper Grameen America, a nonprofit microfinance organization, celebrated its arrival in D.C. with a fundraising event Thursday, September 24th at Local 16 restaurant.

Muhammad Yunus started Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, in 1976. It innovatively offered loans to the poor. Both Yunus and the bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 because of their pioneering efforts to create social development.

Providing loans, financial services and savings programs, and helping to establish credit, Grameen America uses Grameen Bank’s lending model, working to move clients towards financial independence.

Lukas Lipinski, senior advisor, stated about Grameen America’s D.C. branch, “Our focus right now is really fundraising, where people in the D.C. area who could potentially be influenced by a positive growth…would be able to come out and support us and donate to get the D.C. branch started.”

With $200,000 already raised, volunteers at Thursday’s kickoff event hoped to leave with more than $12,500. This money will be loaned to five women in D.C. to allow them to start their own businesses. To finance the first 2,000 borrowers in D.C., Grameen America has a goal of raising $2 million, which equates to $1,500 per individual.

The event was held on the upper floor of the restaurant. It houses dozens of excited guests. They earned donations directly from guests and through proceeds from Muhammad Yunus’ books. It was on sale at the event. They also earned money through proceeds from drinks sold at the bar. Thursday’s kickoff depended on volunteers for its success.

“Seven months ago we started with just two people,” remarked one volunteer, contrasting that number with the dozens of volunteers that lined the walls of Local 16 on Thursday.

Guest speaker Melissa Carrier, founder of the University of Maryland’s Center for Social Value Creation, spoke to guests about the great potential of social entrepreneurship.

“Business is an incredibly powerful vehicle to effect social issues,” Carrier said.

Grameen America helps to generate these small businesses. Using the Grameen group lending model, developed for over 30 years by Grameen Bank, borrowers use loans to launch and grow their own businesses.

This group model requires borrowers to join groups of five, which are then organized into Centers. With eight Groups in each Center, Centers meet weekly, led by career managers who are in employment with Grameen.

This method encourages successful repayment, while providing information about credit scores and savings. Also, to help ensure the stability of its borrowers, Grameen integrates required savings into all loans.

The method has proved successful with a repayment rate of over 98%.

The Grameen microfinance model assists poor individuals who would otherwise be denied loans by conventional banks because of their lack of collateral and credit scores. This model gives borrowers the gift of in-

Below, Melissa Carrier, executive director of the Social Value Creation Center at UM’s Smith School of Business spoke at the event. Above, volunteers at the event boast Muhammad Yunus’ book.

achieve entrepreneurial success”.

In order to finance these loans in D.C., the organization hopes to raise $2 million, depending on donators to reach this goal. Donations can be made at www.grameenamerica.com.

Besides donating, Lukas Lipinski asks that anyone interested attend weekly Wednesday meetings, the time and locations of which can be found at the Grameen America Facebook page. Grameen America can also be followed on Twitter.

Now Providing Quality Dental Services for D.C. Medically underserved and homeless persons

….We treat you well

For one of Unity Health Care’s Medical Homeless Service Sites Call (202) 255-3469 dependence, allowing them to take themselves out of poverty.

In Lukas Lipinski’s words, Grameen America’s D.C. branch will “empower working corps and help them

For an appointment at any of our Community Health Centers Call 1(866) 388388-6489

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September 30 - October 14, 2009

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Vancouver’s Vulnerable Residents’ Fear Rises in ‘Olympic’ Evictions

By Sean Condon Megaphone, Canada--The bedbugs in Mary Mallet’s Downtown Eastside apartment have gotten so bad that she’s given up using the bed and now sleeps on a chair at her desk.

Her roommate, Don Stjean, takes the floor.

The two friends, forced to share a tiny bachelor apartment in the Golden Crown Hotel on West Hastings because of a tight budget, pay an astonishing $750 a month for a room infested with bedbugs, cockroaches and rats, along with a broken window and toilet and ripped up baseboards. Most of the time there is no hot water. Drug dealers roam the halls at night.

And though the two have complained to the hotel’s management over the past year, they say their concerns are ignored. Now they have learned that the owner, Daniel Jun, is planning on evicting the tenants to make repairs—just two years after he unsuccessfully tried to replace the low-income residents with Olympic construction workers.

“It’s depressing enough as it is,” says Stjean, who, with Mallet, was homeless before they moved into the Golden Crown. “It takes a lot to try and move forward and now we’re going to lose everything. What kind of Mickey Mouse game are they playing with our lives?”

On August 24, Jun handed out a notice to just a few of the residents in the 28-unit Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotel that said the building was going to be shut down and renovated because of the cockroaches, bedbugs, rats and “filthy, stinky carpets”.

“All rooms to be emptied for couple [sic] of months during the work period,” the note said. “We have no choice but close [sic] the doors in order to improve the hotel.”

While Mallet and Stjean believe Jun is trying to empty the building and then sell it to new owners, Downtown Eastside community activists believe Jun is planning on renting out the rooms to tourists at inflated rates during the Winter Olympics.

“As far as we’re concerned, this is

Many of Vancouver’s most vulnerable residents fear a rise in Olympic evictions as the city prepares to show the world an ‘acceptable’ face. Many now find themselves fighting to hold onto low quality housing and insect-infested hotel rooms. an Olympic eviction,” says Kim Kerr, executive director of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA), which is representing some of the tenants. “This is particularly concerning because it is the first one of its kind; now that we understand that he intends to empty the entire building and, from what we understand, plans to turn this place into housing for visitors and/or workers for the Olympics.”

In February 2007, Jun told community activists he was evicting the tenants so he could rent out the building to Olympic construction workers.

Golden Crown is located directly across from the new Woodward’s development and Jun had hoped to clean up the building and charge higher rents.

“We want to rent out for workers because the hotel needs the working people...” hotel manager Ted Oh told Street Corner (now known as Megaphone) at the time. “Gradually, as the city clean[s] up the area, when Woodward’s [is complete], it will be a beautiful city centre and we have to match [that appearance].”

But because Jun did not have the proper permits, the evictions were deemed illegal and were overturned.

The city’s chief licence inspector, Barb Windsor, says Jun does not have the proper permits this time either. In a letter she sent to him on September 3 she wrote, “The District Inspector advises that the eviction notices have not been issued in accordance with the Residential Tenancy Act.” Windsor also notes that the city doesn’t believe the rodent and bug problem in the hotel is bad enough to justify a mass eviction.

“Could it use some cleaning up?

Probably. But not to the point that required him to evict,” she told Megaphone.

However, Jun and hotel management claim the renovations this time have nothing to do with the Olympics or Woodward’s. In the note, Jun said tenants would be given “first priority...at the same rate” when the hotel’s doors reopened in a few months. Rents range from $550 to $750.

But hotel residents say Jun has only given the eviction note to a few people and refuses to create a contract that would make that promise official.

“They just told us to get the hell out,” says Mallet. “But where the hell are we supposed to go? They won’t

give us back our [September] rent or our security deposit. I’m just supposed to believe them that they’ll give me my money and take me back after I leave?”

The eviction threat is causing a lot of stress amongst the tenants, many of whom have mental health or addiction issues. A few say they signed a paper that accepting Jun’s offer to move out by the end of September because they didn’t understand that the eviction might be illegal. Others have already left the hotel or are scrambling to find other accommodations.

Pauline Walton, who pays $750 a month for an insect-infested bachelor apartment she shares with her husband, says there are few options available for the couple and that many of the apartments she has applied for are only renting out rooms for the Olympics.

“We don’t know where we’re going to go,” she says. “We all think we’re going to end up back on the streets.” Jun could not be reached for comment.

Reprinted from Megaphone © Street News Service: www.streetpapers.org

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September 30 - October 13 2009

Luke Eshleman is a wedding and event photographer based in Washington, DC. Before beginning his career as a photographer, Luke served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Boston Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and recovery program in Boston, MA. Since moving to DC in 2008, Luke has been in search of opportunities to combine his passion for photography with the needs of the homeless and impoverished communities in the city.

Documenting those that live around Union Station

S treetS ense.org

September 30 - October 13 2009

Eshleman followed a path up into the woods off Florida Avenue and found an encampment littered with evidence that it was used as living quarters.

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Palace, or Astoria strictly ended with the letter “L.” Towering in the general vicinity of 9th Street and New York Avenue were somber dorm style SROS (single room occupancy) that housed only men. These were named York, Ted’s (or Central Hotel), DC Annex (called the Empire before a fatal 1958 fire), the Warren (with an iron porch and loggia, reminiscent of a Mississippi steamboat.) Close to Chinatown lay the Claiborne, Hecht’s Hotel, and The Fulton. Their check-in counter and corridors were awash were in Lysol and Airwick and a pardrone who kept stranger at bay and ran thing more tightly than cell block 9.

How did the humble side street rooming houses compare to the larger flops?

The first type of avowed home in an odd way for lone dweller who had none. Here, the reception area resembled a fussy parlor with ceiling gasoliers and oval tables with cozy slip-ons and garish geranium pattern deco linoleum nailed over mud brown floor boards.

The individual digs recalled Roger Miller ballade King of the Road (“Two hours pushing broom, buys and 8x12.4 room. No phone, no pool, no pets, ain’t got no cigarettes!”) Upstairs counting flowers on the wall from your hard flat mattress in its rusty hooped framed, beneath single 25 watt bulb overhead. Your remaining décor would be Victorian fire place painted over marble or metal surround, a beat up chair, nightstand, paste board dresser and clothes poll.

Out front “guests” hobnobbed with passers bys or each other, scooping their world from a flat bench with iron runners. Overhead was a trusty window sill cooler,

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The Fading of the Rooming House

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t was the classic old-time “boarding house,” which existed in our capital city around the 1800s. These historic accommodations were usually run by a “gentlewoman,” who opened her own home in order to feed and house congressmen, clerks and other government officials.

Beyond the central core, and fanning west from the shuttered former Central Library (now the Historical Society of DC) was a site of the honeycomb network of traditional rooming houses. This area is located between Mt. Vernon Square at 7th Street and Thomas Circle on 14th Street.

The rooming houses of the Mt. Vernon area served no meals and they usually labeled people who dwelled in these houses as “roomers” or “boarders.” The boarders would usually have a tough evening out involving drinking “grain,” and they would be expected to sleep that rough night off on a nearby patch of grass until they felt better. The rooming house were cheap, not at all fancy, and what you ate was wrapped in cellophane which could be stored in a desk drawer.

Homelessness is a 20th century epidemic. The term was not commonplace prior to 1979 because nearly all transients in D.C. paid rent. The daily charge was $3 to $9 or a weekly rate of $15 to $25. The earlier charge applied to the four story tin-fronted buildings that were reminiscent of drawn cityscapes from the funky imagination cartoonist named R. Crumb.

Dotting the commercial strips were red neon signs blinking proudly the notation “H-o-t-e-l” above the cornice line, but any similarity between the Terminal,

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HISTORICAL EVENT A. King of Moylug B. Conceived the idea that the Aperion was the source of all things C. Galeic Kingdom D. Commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza E “An unjust peace is better than just war’”

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FOUNDERS 1. Anaximander 2. Tadhg Mac Muirchertach 3. Cicero 4. Dal Riata 5. Khufu

David Rubin

Place a number into each bos so that each row across, each column down and each smaller 3x3 square will contain every number 1 through 9.

by Patrick Azarius

Vendor Patrick Azarius has done extensive research see if you can match these historical events with their founders.

by

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A’s Wordmatch

Street Sudoku

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By Chris “Sky” Earnshaw

holding beer milk or OJ. By 1981 the “rooms” and men’s hotels were all pulled down for a now vanished brutalist conventions centers.

Mount Vernon square holds one non notable survivor: the Fulton Inn, where women in recovery can saferly escape substance abuse. Prevail!

Chris has been a vendor for Street Sense for six months and plays in a band called Whale Etouffee.

S treetS ense.org

Will write for food: Writer’s Group

September 30 - October 13 2009

Writer’s Group meets Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Street Sense office. The poetry after party is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

controversy!!!!!

The Writer's Group is in need of laptops email: info@streetsense.org if you can help

After reading an article in The Examiner.... The Advocates of the Homeless felt that they had to make their voices heard. We hope you the reader can see it from our side.... http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/K-Street-corridor_-Where-homeless_-business-meet-8209459-59396957. html

Blind Leadership

By Joaquin M. Turley, Jr. The recession has affected many throughout the last few years. Families, businesses, and several industries are struggling to stay afloat in these most economic times. One might think if those who were having a tough time before the recession are struggling, then those who were hanging on by a thread are in need. Now the mayor of the District decides to close the biggest shelter in the downtown area in order to help? Common sense would tell anyone looking at this problem that something must be done in order to help the homeless. One might ask the question, why would the Mayor close this shelter which was the biggest refuge in the entire city? The reason is budget cuts. Is this what our members of society are worth? The mayor should have put his plan to build permanent housing for the homeless into effect before he closed anything. Now people want to complain about the homeless being on the streets in the downtown area. I say to all of the readers of street sense, do the actions of our political leader make any sense?

We as a community must help everyone and that will truly make America a unified nation. Instead of a place where we cast out members of society that do not fit the ideals of the masses. Maybe Mayor Fenty should come out of his air conditioned office once in a while and step into reality. Maybe then he would see things more clearly.

Reggie’s Reflections- Little Flirt

By Reginald Black I was still with the girl who had done more than a little to win me to her side. I was still puzzled out of my mind. I was staying with her and her family house.

It had been four days, two of which were very interesting. I stayed in her room for the most part and rested. We didn’t talk very much. I wasn’t sure if she was the one I wanted. My heart was still reaching out to my crush. I stayed online a lot and she didn’t object. I was in another person’s house hoping to rekindle the flame I felt a few months earlier. It was just after the Fourth of July and the children wanted to go outside. I went out while the girl I stayed with slept. I couldn’t help but to notice that the younger female acted very strange around me. She was even nearly missed by a car while looking at a teenage male. Later, inside the house, she indirectly threw herself at me. Very disturbed, I timidly told my friend what had happened. This was something I couldn’t explain or even begin to reason. Was it possible that our youth were learning dating techniques from the females living there or was it elsewhere? I wasn’t sure but I had no choice but to try and deal with it.

Reggie hosts The Writer’s Group Meetings: Contact: RBlackstreetreporter@gmail. com

Joaquin is a new member of the writer’s Group. Contact: joaquin.turley@yahoo.com

Brownie Points

by Robert Warren

Debasing Claims

by Mikhail Douglas

“Bummed out on K Street” the headline on the front page of The Examiner September, 16, 2009 gives me the feeling that Mr. Bill Myers and others want to give the impression that all homeless people who frequent K Street parks are good for nothing bums, with mental problems. The real question is “Why businesses along K Street and the downtown area do not support homeless shelters? ” Why won’t they support extended hours during the day and weekends? Why cut off options, putting the homeless out with nowhere to go? No weekend day programs currently exist. So, the parks are used as the weekend and day program, especially along the K Street business corridor. Some people will come out and help as much as they can. They are a blessing to people down on their luck, with a myriad of problems. Yes, the poor will always be among us, but how else will people get their blessings from God for the good deeds they do? Maybe Mr. Bill Myers would like to come out and help. I am sure he, the alarmed business owners and tourists can use brownie points with God.

I am astounded by the claims the article “Bummed out on K Street” makes about homeless people in Washington D.C. A substantial amount of them are foundationally based on evidence that is unproven without any clarification and has not been fully researched. First, in the beginning of the article, it reads “An army of mentally ill homeless people have set up camp along the K Street blocks”. How can this writer know who is or is not mentally ill? Has he conducted a psychoanalysis on their metal state? I am sure the person who wrote this article did not conduct one. His claim is subjective and has no substantial objectivity to it. Secondly, I would like to point out a quotation made by Councilman Jack Evans, D-Ward 2. He said “No matter what, you are still going to have people out on the streets because they are resistant to outside help.” Not all of them are resistant. Surprisingly, some of them do want help. As a matter of fact, a lot of them seek out help from others, but never really receive any. I believe this article should have been edited for validity of its statements.

Robert is a member of People for Fairness Coalition. Contact: Robertwarren47@yahoo.com

Mikhail loves to write poetry. Contact: mikhail_79@msn.com

An Army Bummed out???

By James Fetherson

The other day as I read the Examiner, I was shocked to read about an army of mentally ill homeless people in the K Street Business District. I was a member of the U.S. army, in which I served honorably for 10 years. Also, I am a writer at Street Sense and a graduate Homeland Security Specialist from Everest College. I now plan to enter the federal government as a police officer. I am not a mentally ill person.

James a member of Writers Group is also a veteran of the us army. Contact: James_ Ferhersen@yahoo.com

Logic Never Dies

by David Rubin

When the article concerning homeless people in Washington D.C. came out with Mr. Bill Myers calling them an army of mentally ill, I was struggling with a Sudoku puzzle. One of the major indicators of mental illness is when logic becomes suddenly difficult. Not to call Bill Myers sardonic, but homeless people do have ways of checking their mental health.

David volunteers & writing his own novel. Contact Stonepotts2000@yahoo.com

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Carlton Johnson, , Patty Smith, Reginald Black

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S treetS ense.org

September 30 - October 13 2009

Graveyard Football: Part I

By Ivory Wilson

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t’s a quiet night. The moon is shining bright over a graveyard in Arizona. A gray mist slowly moves across the graves. All of a sudden, a skeleton hand comes up out a grave holding a football. His head pops up out the ground. He shouts out loud “are you ready for some football. “ The graveyard started coming alive; transforming into a football field. Skeletons started popping up out their graves, laughing and talking to each other. They made goal posts out of dead trees.

Next door is a cow pasture. A farmer left lots of old junk cars, old school buses, even an old barn. They made football shoes out of car tires; pulled pieces of barb wire off a fence post. They put it under their shoes for cleats. They made a score board from a piece of tin roof off of the barn: made uniforms out of seat covers; and used dried armadillo shells for shoulder pads and knee pads. They used flower pots for helmets. They found some black paint buckets in the farm to paint the numbers on their uniforms.

The crematorium cheerleaders made pom-poms out of plastic flowers and flays for uniforms. They took all the seats out the cars, and busses and used them for bleachers, for both sides.

Announcer: Grim Reaper Welcome folks to tonight’s NFL football game between the Arizona tomb stones and the Nevada Dry Bones. It’s being broadcast to you live from beau-

tiful Mausoleum Stadium.

Commercial: Tonight’s game is brought to you by Last Stop Caskets. Sick, ill, or just been killed? This is your last stop.

Commercial: Voice-Best Rest Family Plots. Once we put them down, they will stay under ground.

Commercial: Voice- Worm Hot Dogs. They taste so good, you can feel them crawling inside of you. Worm Hot Dogs—by Worm Meats.

Commercial: Voice- Embalm juice. If you’re drinking Embalm juice, you’re surely dead. By Embalm Drinks.

Announcer: Grim Reaper The teams are lining up on the 50 yard line. The Arizona TombStoners won the coin toss. They will receive

Three Friends

By Patty Smith There were three friends, Mary, Margaret and Martha. They were all beautiful girls, and shared each other’s joys and sadnesses: when one cried, the others were sad; when one laughed, they all laughed.

Life was going very well till Martha’s father lost his wealth, and then life turned loathe. Martha’s mother was laid low, and Martha fell sick. Mary visited her a lot, but Margaret could not visit her as much because she lived far away.

In the meantime, Margaret got sick. Martha’s condition was improving, and Mary saw that there was no need for her to visit quite as much. She went on to attend to Margaret. Martha and Margaret got together and discussed the fact that Mary no longer loved them, and they sent Mary away.

One day they were sitting in a restaurant. They saw someone who they thought looked like Mary. It was Mary. Her beauty was gone because she had been sick, too—but she still had the same grace and sweetness about her.

Patty loves to wear makeup and is a regular contributor to the writers group.

the football first. Frontal, N10, for the Arizona TombStoners will receive the kick. Punting, N6, for the Nevada Dry Bones will be kicking. It’s a high flying one. Folks he really put his foot in this one. His foot is flying with the ball.

Frontal, N10, catches the ball at the 10 yard line and starts running to the 20, 30, 40, 50 yard line dodging tackles as he leaps over the tacklers.

He finally hits hard, and bull dog down to the ground by Willium, N44, Nevada. Arizona lines up in a shot gun formation. Hyoid, N7, quarter back flings the ball down the field to Nasal, N27, and it is caught. TOUCH DOWN! Arizona Tomb Stoners have 6 points on the board. The Nevada Dry Bones have nothing.

Arizona tries to run it in for the extra points, but Nevada Dry Bones stop the

run at the one yard line. Folks, it is only the first two plays of the game and the Arizona Tomb Stoners have already scored. This is a bone-breaking one. (laughing) Ethmoid, N32, for the Arizona Tomb Stoners, will be making the kick. Coxas, N12, Nevada Dry Bones will be receiving. Ethmoid, N32, kicks.

OH NO, IT ’S AN ON-SIDE KICK! It hits Scopulae, N26, of Nevada in the chest and bounces off. Occipilat, N33, for the Arizona Tomb Stoners picks it up and runs it in 60 yards.

I tell ya folks; this game is a murder. The field is full of broken bones. A good thing we have Intoses Quick Dry Cement. In 3 minutes, you’re good as new. I use it myself. It’s great on brittle bones, decaying bones, and achy bones: just put it on and let it dry.

It seems the Nevada Dry Bones can’t score. This football game has been going back and forth for 2 hours, with no change in the score.

It’s half time. The crematorium cheerleaders take the field to perform their death dance. They lay in the middle of the field silent for 45 min.

Folks just looking at those crematorium cheerleaders shake their pompoms makes my heart drop.

The crowd laughs.

To be continued . . .

Ivory regularly sells at 7th and E streets, NW, and recently moved into his own place.

POETRY

The Round Table

By Robert Warren

These men that come and sit around the round table of thoughts with eyes looking out into what only you and I can see Yes those that have seen a few things in their day. and now they sit around the round table and give voice to what not many can Speak on, yes these men know the truth of a struggle against time. too much time gone by. as their thoughts look out into a world that Doesn’t see yes only you and i can see and around this table of hope for change that our thoughts and deeds may bring on. So we will ask that you to will come to the table and maybe god will let you see into the thoughts of the men of the round table.

Robert is a regular contributor to the writers group and is trying his hand selling ads for Street Sense.

S treetS ense.org

September 30 - October 13 2009

Counting My Blessings

From the Shelter to the Street

By Paticia Henry

F

or two weeks I lived on the bridge on 2nd Street across from Georgetown Law School. I had been put out of the shelter without a written notice.

(A notice would have permitted me to stay at the shelter until a fair hearing judge decided the case.) But since it involved having two more bags than allowed—mostly papers, including many from the Homeless Assistance Reform Act workgroup—I left voluntarily with my bags.

Several weeks ago an informal notice to downsize to two bags had been left on my bed, and although I thought it had been resolved, this was a crack-down on violation of shelter rules.

The area where I slept along the sidewalk was like a stage that I would have to walk off to use the bathroom after facilities closed in the evening. (I was thinking of the Vulnerability Index that is used to assess homeless people’s need for expedited housing. I felt like I had the “end-stage renal disease”.)

It was eerie there during the long nights, especially when Senator Kennedy, the senator from my state, died, and the funeral procession would pass by to Arlington National Cemetery. One night I was dozing with a bandana over my eyes to keep out the bright street lights. A man put $5 in my hand. I screamed. Another night, I was sitting next to the large sign in front of the shelter, which says: “Renovations of the City Shelter Moving Forward under the Supervision of Mayor Fenty and the Office of Property Management.” I had the bandana over my eyes, trying to get some shut-eye, and a man asked me if I wanted to go to a hotel.

As for hypothermia assistance, I called the shelter hotline van to ask for a blanket, not realizing that blankets are not available until the beginning of the hypothermia season on November 1st, even though some summer nights are cold.

I also asked where a person staying outside could get shelter from rain. The answer was that there was no shelter for rain unless a “severe weather alert” had been called. Bags can get ruined in drizzle alone.

I’m back in the shelter because two people helped me with storage and rent. We need better safety-nets so this doesn’t happen.

And we need to determine and claim our rights under homeless assistance laws. Basic needs are basic rights. The dolly no longer rumbles down the corridors of the shelter after lights-out to strip the cubicles of women who didn’t return at 9:00 p.m., but since the shelter is housing and home to us, more than two bags of clothes and other necessities is needed. Many women, who go out to work every day, need to be able to maintain at least a week’s worth of clothes. Other women, in programs, need to look competent and able to take care of themselves.

Patricia has been a vendor for five years and helps to proofread each issue.

By Jeffery McNeill

I

t has been almost two years since I have been with Street Sense. My journey began on a park bench near Franklin Shelter, back when I only had the clothes on my back and a dream that one day I would not be so miserable. I had no friends. To get to sleep at night I would panhandle a little change to get a little shot of alcohol to get a decent night’s sleep.

But things have changed thanks to several key blessings that have helped me reconnect and turn my life around.

My first blessing started one day when I was in Franklin Park and I saw a bunch of people downtown selling newspapers wearing green vests that read “Street Sense.” They told me about the newspaper and I went to the church where their office is located, watched the training video and tried my luck at it. I felt secure, because I had a job flipping burgers, but I didn’t enjoy it and they forgot to pay me. I finally got paid, but I got really drunk on the job and got fired because I forgot to come back to work. I had one more check and thought I had one more party in me, so I took my money to the liquor store. I got drunk again, and as a result, I got beat up, robbed and left with about twenty five cents. I felt like an idiot and I thought my life was over. I learned if you want to make God smile, try to make your own plans. I had two papers and a quarter that was my net worth at the time.

Adversity and fear could lead to opportunity. With those two papers I managed to earn $1.50 which at the time was about enought to buy eight papers. I continued to sell them and slowly started to recover.

But to me, it was a thankless job. It took me all day to sell twenty papers and I had little money to buy food or clothing. Though many would give me a couple of dollars and say keep the paper, I didn’t want to be portrayed as a homeless misfit.

To me that was unacceptable, so I started going to libraries and to Borders Bookstores to read sales books. I read everything from the 48 Laws of Power, to Julius César, even Jimmy Hendrix and the Michael Jackson story. My reading became my escape.

I fantasized about how I would sell papers believing I was on stage and the corner was my audience. I learned to market my papers by making signs and before long people were buying from me. People treated me on their same level and didn’t realize I was a homeless guy.

My second blessing came one day when I was selling newspapers at DuPont Circle and I met a church group from Barnesville, Ohio. They were staying at The Church of the Pilgrims. I remember telling them my mom was buried in Barnesville and because of my mental condition I was alienated from them. I didn’t know anything

about either side of my family. One of the women suggested something about going back to see if she could do anything, but I d i d n’t r e a l l y believe her. She bought the paper, gave me three dollars and I never thought much of it afterwards.

On Christmas Day, I was alone and probably was going to go to a bar and get drunk, when I got a phone call. It was my Aunt Carol. I literally fainted and was overcome with grief.

I immediately took the next train to Ohio and became reunited with both sides of my family. I have found my father and I now have a relationship with everyone except my younger brother. My last blessing is related to my alcoholism. It was no secret that I was an alcoholic. My illness progressed to severe alcoholism. I got fired from jobs, lost lucrative contracts because I was drunk and I lost many material and spiritual gifts because I drank, chased women and used many controlled substances. It got so bad, I got suspended from selling newspapers.

I didn’t even care that I was an alcoholic, lonely, miserable, and even suicidal at that time. I dreamed of never drinking but didn’t know how to quit or if it was even possible.

One day, I was depressed and drunk and someone took me to a clubhouse in DuPont Circle to detox from alcohol. I didn’t want another drink in my life. I was a washed-up, forty-year-old, fat, unattractive and filthy man. That’s what alcohol did to me. I was squandering my gifts by raising liquor to my throat.

I finally called out, “rid me from a drink,” which today is a battle, because I am always tempted by desires that I haven’t addressed yet, namely lust. However, being still technically homeless keeps me humble and keeps me from trying to date women or watering down my standards by settling down with anyone who says they like me. That has always been my Achilles heel. I would date someone because they approached me instead of taking the initiative in a romance.

But as of today, life has been a lot better.

I will be celebrating a family reunion, I am currently 62 days sober and I am actively seeking a gym to visit to improve my physical health. I am looking for my own place to stay and I have plenty of work and business opportunities all thanks to selling papers.

Jeffery is now working for the Census Bureau and looking for his own place.

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S treetS ense.org

September 30 - October 13 2009

CFC: Never to Small to Make a Difference

Bidding FOR Change STREET SENSE’S FOURTH ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION AND RECEPTION

OCTOBER 8, 2009, 7PM WVSA ARTS CONNECTION GREAT ROOM 1100 16TH STREET, NW

Join us for food, drink, fun and lots of great auction items to celebrate the mounting change at Street Sense - in all forms.

By Lawless Watson Anyone who has ever spoken to me knows that to have my name and the word ‘speechless’ in the same sentence is an oxymoron. However, I sit here not knowing what to say, or how to put into words what I really feel.

Thus, I will simply start by mentioning an old African quote that says, “If you think that you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito!” I heard this quote during an enlightening and very encouraging presentation from Mary Levering (Director of Integrated Support Services), as I sat in a room full of people clinging to her every word.

You see, I had the honor of being a Testimonial Speaker at the 2009 Library of Congress Combined Federal Champaign’s (CFC) Kickoff Rally. This honor was bestowed upon me when Luashawnna Malachi(CFC Campaign Manager) invited me to address those attending the rally.

Upon arriving at the James Madison Building, where the event was held, I was greeted with the warm smile of Sandra Jones who escorted me to a very large room where the event was taking place. I soon found myself being introduced to various members of the CFC Management Team and others. Among them were Robert Gee (CFC Vice Chairman), Rafel Small (CFC Management Team Member), the amazing Annece Perry, and so many more.

Though sitting amid folk from various walks of life, I realized that I was very comfortable, relaxed, and gleefully absorbing the information shared by the Keynote Speakers as they graced the podium in front of me.

I listened as Jason King (Director of Turning The Page) mentioned that the value of the dollar [or dime for that matter] has such an unknown impact when you enact with CFC. The distinguished Librarian of Congress addressed us all with his usual well spoken mannerisms that made you just sit up and take notice.

But then it became my turn to speak, and they returned -- the attack of the butterflies, the weak knees, the shaking hands, sweat pouring from me as if I was taking a shower. And I wished that the U.S. Navy Armed Services Color Guard, who had so majestically opened the event, was still standing there, in front of the room, to draw the attention away from me -- to protect me from these butterflies, and those anticipating eyes!

Thank God, just as I approached the microphone I remembered --- and I began to pray, “Father, I ask that You make me at least half as effective as the mosquito in that closed room.”

I cannot say just how effective my ten minute testimony was that afternoon. I can only say that I was wiped away when Luashawnna Malachi asked me to stay around for a moment

Street

TICKET PRICES

Sense

LIBERTY NICKEL: $30 Entry into the auction and reception

→

SILVER DOLLAR: $60 Entry into the auction and reception Name in thank you page of program

DOUBLE EAGLE: $100 Entry into the auction and reception Name in thank you page of program Name in thank you ad in Oct. 15 issue

TO

PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE:

Mail a check for the appropriate amount (indicating the number of tickets you want) to 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 or purchase them online at www.streetsense.org and clicking on the auction link.

Tickets will be mailed or e-mailed, and you will be added to our guest list.

TICKETS

WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR FOR

$40.

after the event. She then explained to me that it had been read in the updated version of my profile, found in the current edition of Street Sense, that I could even ‘get more done’ if I at least had a bicycle. And when they were made aware of such, the members of the 2009 Library of Congress Combined Federal Campaign’s Management Team presented me with a gift card with which to meet that need.

They will never know how the seed that they planted in this man’s life, in the lives of everyone at Street Sense News, in the lives of everyone at the National Coalition For The Homeless, in the lives of the beneficiaries of every recipient of CFC. Never will they ever know the full beauty of the flowers, the fruit, the plants, the trees, and even the forests that even the smallest of their seeding shall grow.

May God ever bless the efforts of CFC. Lawless has been a vendor for Street Sense for three years and has recorded his own album and has plans for more.

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C.

September 30 - October 13 2009 (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org

housing, job training, supportive mental health services

Calvary Women’s Services 928 5th Street, NW (202) 783–6651 www.calvaryservices.org

Dinner Program for Homeless Women AND the “9:30 Club” Breakfast 309 E Street, NW (202) 737–9311 www.dphw.org

Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing

Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org

Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277 www.foodandfriends.org

CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org

Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter. org laundry, counseling, psych care

Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org

The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

SHELTER

Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731 www.grm.org John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-529-5991 shelter and other services for domestic violence victims N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW

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

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870; www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW

(202) 347–0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/ services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/ dc.html emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

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

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

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda (301) 493–2400 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600–B East Gude Drive, Rockville (301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional

15

housing, and supportive services

VIRGINIA SHELTER

Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B-Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org The Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 9th Road, North, Arlington (703) 525–7177 www.aachhomeless.org

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

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823–4100 www.anchor–of–hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter Legal Services of Northern Virginia 6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Falls Church (703) 778–6800; www.lsnv.org civil legal services only

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

S treetS ense.org

September 30 - October 13 2009

Vendor Profile

James Hughes James Hughes, 38 and his girlfriend of 23 years have both lived in the nation’s capital all their lives. James happens to have Spina Bifida. Spinal Bifida is a congenital disease that affects the curvature of the spine.

It prevents him from performing strenuous activities.

However, this setback does not hamper his positive attitude towards life. In reference to selling Street Sense, he says that “You have to stay out there.”

James first heard about Street Sense from Randy Evans, who is a current vendor. After hearing about the paper and its intentions, James devoted every day of the past month to selling it. He uses the money that he earns from Street Sense to help the homeless and maintain his own financial independence.

In addition to selling Street Sense, James also volunteers his time at the Coalition for Housing the Homeless Organization, COHHO, and is actively involved in St. Luke’s Catholic Church. He also works with the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus to help organize events and outings for the church’s congregation.

How did you become homeless?

James is not homeless, but enjoys spending his time helping those who are without a home.

He says that he feels blessed to be in the position that he is in, which enables him to assist others.

James says that Street Sense has provided a way for him to reach out to the homeless.

Street Sense’s Fourth Annual

Silent Auction “Bidding

and

for

Reception

Change”is

Thursday October 8th.

Bring get a Street

in this coupon and

half price ticket

($20) Sense

→

For

at the door. more details

see page

14

or visit

Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | www.streetsense.org. | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | What is your favorite scripture, since you are involved with your local church?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all mind. This | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | your miDCity is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miD All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (MatthewCity 22:36-40) James feels that we should help other people love God through others.

Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | How do people treat you, when you’re selling Street Sense? | that Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop He says that his condition hasn’t stopped him from accomplishing anything he wants to fashion in MidCity do in life. There are people that pass by him and don’t necessarily pay attention to his condiExplore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | tion. However, he says that most people are respectful. James simply goes with the flow; “Some people buy. Some people don’t.” | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore 1603 U Street|NW City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity Shop |1736 Eat14th| Street Explore | miD NW www.caramelfashion.com www.circleboutique.com If you are a federal or state employee please considerShop supporting | Eat | Explore | miDCity |Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | S Street Sense through the Combined Federal Campaign Eat today. | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore 1338 U Street NW City | Shop | Eat | miDCity | Shop | Eat |Floor Explore | miD 1911 | 9thExplore Street NW 2nd www.lettiegooch.com www.dekkafam.com Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop September 30– October 13, 2009 • Volume 6 • Issue 24 Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Street Sense Org |Nonprofit miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore 1317 G Street, NW US Postage Paid 1512 U Street NW City |DCShop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miD Washington, www.moojooken.com 1734 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 Permit #568 Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity www.redeemus.com | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity |S James Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | reminds customers to only buy Mail Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | from badged vendors and not to | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore give to those panhandling with 1528 U street NW 1803a 14th Street NW City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop |afterEat | Explore | miD www.nanadc.com.com shopping MidCity— one paper. www.rue14.com unwind at Cafe Saint Ex Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | www.midcitylife.org Interested in a subscription? Go to page 2 for more information. | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore What is your favorite food?

James enjoys soul food, which includes collard greens, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and corn-on-the-cob.

caramel

CFC# 28233