10 14 2009

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October 14 - October , 2009

Where the poor and homeless October 14 - October 28, 2009

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G S U N AT I DO

Volume 6 Issue 25

65 cents for the Vendor

What if the City Government is Poor, Too?

page 4

35 cents for production of the paper

Empowering inmates, one stamp at at time page 6

See pages 5 & 6

Martin Walker makes his comic debut at 4th annual Street Sense auction page 14

BUDGET CUTS, E PLEAS HELP

PLEAPSE HEL

Jefferey McNeil’s fictional character finds love at a truck stop page 10

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October 14 - October 28, 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 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

Our Mission

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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!

Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area.

___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________ Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ City:____________State:__________ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ________________________ E-mail: ________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense.

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

We are proud members of:

North American Street Newspaper Association

International Network of Street Papers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it.

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

Thank to those that attended the silent auction.

For information, see page 14!

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October 14 - October , 2009

Rural southern children face higher risk of poverty Children living in remote southern areas face a greater risk of poverty than their urban counterparts, according to a study from the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute. In 2008, rural children fell into poverty at a faster rate than children living in urban settings, the study showed.

The Institute based its findings on U.S. Census Bureau data and found that in six out of 16 states, poverty rates for children under 18 years old increased in rural areas while decreasing in cities.

The highest increase of rural child poverty occurred in Delaware and Florida, which each saw increases of more than six percent between 2007 and 2008.

Also, rural children fell into poverty faster than urban children in Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Georgia.

Experts say that rural children in poverty face a greater chance of becoming poor adults.

“These are kind of the forgotten poor,’’ Institute director Mil Duncan told the New York Times. ‘’When we have good policies that work in cities, we need to examine how they can work well for rural kids in poverty.”

Man to walk around Ireland to highlight homeless plight Daniel Granger, 30, decided to show how difficult homeless life is after spending a few nights on the streets.

He’s walking nearly 1,000 kilometers around Ireland

to help raise money for Focus Ireland, a group that has helped 10,000 people facing poverty during the past 18 months. Granger will walk from his home in Bray, Co Wicklow, to Galway, UK Press Association reports.

VA announces $17 million in grants to aid homeless vets Nineteen states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will share more than $17 million in grants, The Washington Examiner reports.

The grant money will go to local community groups and will help create more than 1,155 beds for homeless veterans and will help provide other necessities for the organizations.

“These grants will aid our efforts to eliminate homelessness among those who have served in uniform,” said Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Director Eric Shinseki . “Our partnerships with community-based organizations provide safe, transitional housing while these veterans leverage VA’s health care and other benefits to return to productive lives.”

Rainbow Kitchen celebrates 25th anniversary A local food pantry and homeless assistance group in Pittsburgh is celebrating 25 years of operation this month.

“In these troubled times, Rainbow Kitchen helps to provide a vital safety net for hungry children, struggling families, low-income elderly, ill, disabled, and homeless individuals, and growing numbers of unemployed and underemployed. We can only dream of celebrating a so-

ciety in which its services would no longer be needed. In the meantime, we are fortunate that Rainbow Kitchen is here to keep up its valuable work,” said Scott Lammie, UPMC Health Plan CFO. The organization, which opened its doors in 1984 in response to growing unemployment in the greater Pittsburgh area, helps needy families with food assistance.

During the past two years, the group has seen participation in the food program increase by 25 percent.

United Way helps move 5,000 L.A. residents to permanent housing The United Way of Greater Los Angeles says that its Creating Pathways Out of Poverty plan, a venture that began in 2007, has already yielded big results.

According to its two-year plan update, almost 5,000 homeless individuals have been moved into permanent housing and 3,500 Los Angeles residents have gotten assistance finding employment.

“As we realize the economic impact on homelessness in Los Angeles and beyond, we need to continue driving the programs that will eradicate homelessness and poverty in L.A. County,” said Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “It’s an uphill battle—foreclosures are up 222 percent and, in L.A. County, over half of households in the county spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.”

The Creating Pathways Out of Poverty plan is a 10year collaboration that involves addressing the root issues of poverty, including health care, financial stability, housing and education.

Compiled by Dianna Heitz, from published reports.

Donate to Street Sense My Information

I will donate:

Name:_______________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_______________________________________________ Phone:_______________________E-mail:_________________________

___ $50 for two vendor awards each month

Please make checks payable to Street Sense Street Sense is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization.

All donations are tax deductible.

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

You can also donate online at www.streetsense.org

___ $70 for food for vendor meetings ___ $100 for postage each month ___ $200 for the vests of 15 new vendors ___ $500 for rent for vendor office ___ $1,200 for the printing of one issue ___ Another amount of $_______ ___ Another amount of $_______ for vendor: ________________

In Kind Donations Needed * Messenger and tote bags and backpacks for vendors

* Laptop computers with at least Windows 2000

* Bottled water to hand out to vendors

and 10 GB of storage space

* Food for vendor meetings

* Laser color printer

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October 14 - October 28, 2009

City Cuts Vital Services Slashes in funds for D.C. homeless services cause stir On October 5th, the Fenty administration implemented an $11 million cut in local funding for District shelter providers and homeless supporters. According to the Committee on Human Services, specifically affected programs include overnight shelters and supportive service programs that can help those less fortunate to find employment.

At present, the homeless are currently roofed under the Housing First Program, a program designed to assist in locating immediate as well as permanent housing for homeless individuals and families.

However, there will be a net reduction in the program’s annual budget.

“Rather than having the homeless earn their way up to the point where they will get residence, they are getting residence first,” said Adam Maier who is the Committee Mayor Adrian Fenty Clerk for the Committee on Public Works. Support services will be provided, but it is up to the individual to participate in these services or not. “This program goes after the most severely homeless; people suffering from serious mental illnesses are taken in.” $19.2 million was kept in the budget to start the Housing First Program, for individuals and families. As a result, 400 people were housed in the first year of its operation, according to Maier.

The city may no longer have money to continue funding the program; however, they have maintained Councilmember funding for its current resiTommy Wells dents.

In 2009, President Obama allocated an additional $19.2 million in the federal budget towards Housing First. As a result, this doubled the

PHOTOby Marcus Williams

By Shivan Sarna

Joyce L. Grand, director of operations at the House of Ruth talks about the budget cuts and how they will affect the dayto-day operations of the center, which helps women who experienced domestic abuse. number of people in supportive housing. “There was local money, as well as federal money to support the local money,” Maier said.

The House of Representatives approved the federal money; however the Senate did not. As of now, discussions are underway and members of the Committee on Human Services are trying to contact the Hill in order to get this crucial fund sanctioned.

The number of homeless families in the District rose 20% from January 2008 to January 2009.

“Rising unemployment, mental health and substance abuse programs that lack the capacity to engage and serve our most challenged residents, and the growing lack of affordable housing are contributing to an upsurge in homelessness,” testified Richard Flintrop, representative of Healthy Families/Thriving Communities.

Shelter providers expressed concerns over 30% cuts saying that they simply cannot function without service programs at planned funding levels.

Due to these cuts, services and support, such as client transportation (e.g., getting to and from job inter-

views, school or medical appointments), educational opportunities for clients, child care money for young parents, and money for staff training can no longer be provided.

The situation is dire with shelters already turning away people because there simply is no space for accommodations, according to the Latin America Youth Center.

During the hearing, people voiced concerns over the budget reductions.

The House of Ruth, which is the largest nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence, has learned that $500,000 will be curtailed from its existing contracts.

The House of Ruth provides critically need housing and helpful services to more than 600 women and children each day, at thirteen locations throughout DC. “The House of Ruth provided me with structure and guidance,” attested one distraught woman.

“Everything is being shut down which is making it more difficult to find jobs.” Christel Nichols, president of the House of Ruth stated in a press statement. “The impact on the women and children currently served

at the House of Ruth is devastating.

Because of these cutbacks the city will see a dramatic increase in homelessness, domestic violence, fatalities and despair.”

Ex e c u t i ve d i re c t o r o f Ca va l r y Women’s Services, Kris Thompson said, “Women living in poverty are the ones who will really feel the impact of these cuts.

Women who have already lost their jobs in this economic crisis will have fewer services and housing options available to them. These cuts will make women who are already at risk much more likely to end up Joyce L. Grand living on the streets or in unsafe situations.”

Budget cuts have forced safe housing programs to close, leaving women already at risk in a precarious situations.

The homeless are zealously advocating a power statement against Mayor Fenty. They are so angry that they have expressed their desire to have the mayor out of office by win-

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October 14 - October , 2009

Amount Cut (million dollars)

Spending Cuts for the FY10 Budget 40 30

Testimony on Budget Cuts on October 5

By Robert Warren

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10 0

Areas of Budget Cuts Human Support Services includes cuts in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child and Family Services Administration, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disability Services, Adult Literacy, the Neighborhood Investment Fund, Local Rent Supplement Program, Adult Job Training, and Access to Justices.

Education includes cuts in the cost of living for DCPS and DCPCS, summer school for DCPS and DCPCS, DC Public

Libraries, and Pre-K for all.

Public Safety includes cuts in the funding for metropolitan police, the Department of Corrections, Fire and

Emergency Medical Services and in the Office of Unified Communications.

Government Direction and Support includes cuts in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the Office

of the Attorney General, the DC Council, and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Economic Development and Regulation includes cuts for the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic

Development, the Office of Planning, the Department of Employment Services, and the Commission on Arts and Humanities.

Public Works includes cuts in the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Transportation Financing is inclusive of the termination of the lease for 225 Virginia Ave, SE

ter and are proposing a petition for a recall vote.

“The mayor is going to be judged on how he treats those who are less fortunate. The buck stops on the Mayor’s desk,” a woman said during her statement.

“Either we have food in our mouth and a roof over our head or we don’t.

We don’t care whose fault it is,” a testifier exclaimed.

Organizations such as the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and the Latin American Youth Center have urged the District government to reconsider these cuts, as a community is at its height only when it serves those who are most Charles Allen vulnerable.

Councilmember Tommy Wells’ Chief of Staff Charles Allen said that Mr. Wells is “pretty shocked and very concerned,” because in recent budget hearings they were told there were not going to be drstic cuts in funds, and the answer was a clear no. However, the Department of Human Services (DHS) was then told that there were going to be cuts of 30% from the budget. To Mr. Wells and the committee this was “frustrating.”

“We don’t know where the cuts are coming from, though we are continuing to work on how to replace these funds and hopefully a solution will be found soon,” Allen said. Another hearing will be held at the Wilson building on Wednesday October 14th, where the focus will be hypothermia and the overall winter plan.

Good morning Chairman Wells, council members and distinguished guests. My name is Robert Warren and I am a member of the People for Fairness Coalition (PFFC). We are an advocacy group of homeless and formally homeless men and women who are very concerned with the budget cuts affecting homeless services and the working poor.

In these times of hardship, we don’t believe that this local government should be cutting funds from the people most in need in our city.

Just last month there was a front page headline in The Examiner titled “Bummed Out on K Street-Homeless Fill D.C.’s Business District.” The article depicted the homeless as “an army of mentally ill homeless people have set up camp along K Street…alarming business owners and tourists.”

People For Fairness Coalition has started doing street outreach during the night (midnight-6 a.m.) helping provide the homeless with information about the services they need during hypothermia season. Now these services, which were hard won by the homeless community, are going to be cut.

Cuts to programs lead to more suffering among those who are already suffering in our great city. I just attended a town hall meeting at the men’s shelter at 801 East where the residents and I were informed that the services we receive would be reduced even further.

The shortage of case management and the closure of the Franklin shelter has led to the so-called “army of mentally ill homeless people” in downtown D.C. Case management is critical to getting individuals out of homelessness. Two social workers, the current staffing at 801 East, are inadequate to give case management to 380 residents. Now the proposal is to cut this in half to one social worker for 380 residents.

D.C.’s local government is cutting outreach services and other programs that help the working poor and the homeless. This does not make sense. It makes me think about what the congressman from Florida said about the Republicans and health care coverage; that a part of the local government of Washington D.C. doesn’t care if people, some of them mentally ill, just live out their lives on the streets of D.C. until they get sick and die. I am hoping that is not true.

I would ask the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Human Services and the local government do more outreach to the homeless, the mentally ill and the sick. That we would make the sacrifices we need to make the city’s 10 year plan to end homelessness really come true.

Working together and bringing day programs would go a long way to making all our lives better God willing.

We pray God would bless us just to do that.

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October 14 - October 28, 2009

Musically Bridging the Gap

INTERVIEW

Empowerment: One Stamp at a Time

By Reggie Black

Program children practice their instruments.

Photos Courtesy of DC Youth Orchestra Program

Changing the statistics in the District

By J. Deveaux The District ranks 51st in eighth grade reading and math proficiency, according to the Corporation for Enterprise Development 2009-2010 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard. This information is based on race, income and gender. The CFED also keeps track of policy priorities in regards to this. “[Kids] need to have some place where they belong. . . where they feel important. Our place is to provide [this for them],” said Ava Sepece, executive director of the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, which provides children across the economic spectrum with opportunities to interact with one another and to learn and perform music.

Sepece describes music as an area of learning that helps children develop other skills. She goes on to describe how children that learn in an ensemble setting become more proficient in math and are less likely to drop out of school.

This organization does not keep track of the specific statistics associated with single parent homes and living situations associated with their students.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation uses data sheet from the Census Bureau to come up with percentages of the children in the D.C. population that are from single parent households and in poverty. As of 2008, there were 28, 000 children in poverty, 26% of the population. In the same year 59,000 children were in single parent families, 57% of the population.

This program “mirrors the demographics of the city,” in Sepece’s words, with 60% African American students and 85% minority, over all. Most of the children involved with this program go to college. Sepece estimates that 95% of her kids advance to 2 to 4 year programs.

The CFED asserts that in D.C., gender and income are not obstacles to attaining a college degree. However, when it comes to the effect of race on pursuit of higher educa-

tion, D.C. is ranked 51st, the lowest in the nation. The media relations manager for the CFED, Kristen Lawton, reads the percentage of people in D.C. that attain a high school degree based on the same criteria, “89% of people in D.C. get their high school degree.”

Sepece took the time to mention a speech she gave on March 27, 2009 to the National Endowment for the Arts.

In it she says, “Very few of our students come from affluent households and most of them are D.C. residents. Many of them attend schools with limited music education resources.

Music is a field that is often dominated by those who have been given the best private instruction, at the best institutions, with the best musical instruments available, and in general our students do not have these advantages. In the last three years, 25% of the students in the program received scholarships or heavily subsidized tuition discounts.”

She goes on to describe what her program provides in contrast to other orchestra programs in D.C. “And the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program offers 17 times the number of classes that other area youth orchestra programs offer. Without our funders and donors, the program would simply not survive. In addition to our regular program, we also have multiple outreach projects in area schools and at Department of Parks and Recreation facilities, offering free classes to students in D.C. and helping children to make productive use of after-school time.

Music does have the power to bring academic success to children who might not otherwise find it . . . If any of you doubt this, let me tell you that in the last four years 100% of the students who graduated from the DCYOP also graduated from high school.

By contrast, according to Education Week, the graduation rate in D.C. Public Schools was 57.6% while and the national average is 70.6%.”

Dr. Patricia N. Marks, executive director of Patmos Ministries in Springfield, VA, leads Stamp Out Loneliness, a program to give stamps and envelopes to inmates so that they can keep in touch with the outside world.

Dr. Marks’ current passion aims to distribute 400,000 stamps to the more than 130,000 women incarcerated in state and federal prisons in the United States, and she says the project will keep growing. Additionally, she actively supports “the toothpaste project” which promotes health and hygiene in women’s and men’s prisons and awareness of prison issues in area churches. She also demonstrates her care and concern for the children of the incarcerated by mentoring children who attend the United Methodist Virginia Conference, All God’s Children Camp. I recently asked her some questions about Stamp Out Loneliness, and her larger efforts to care for all people affected by incarceration.

Reginald Black: When did you begin your mission and why?

Patricia Marks: Stamp Out Loneliness started in 2006. The Chaplain at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women was talking with the prison ministry volunteers about the need for Christmas gifts for the women. The Chaplain was focusing primarily on items such as shampoo, soap, deodorant and toothpaste. While I recognize the need for these items, I was not particularly excited about gathering and packaging these things.

I pressed and asked if there was anything else the women needed. The Chaplain spoke about the need for stamps so the women could write home to their families. That need really struck a chord with me so I promised the Chaplain I would get a stamp for each of the 1,200 women in the institution. I was really being brazen; I really thought I would be fortunate to gather 300 or 400 stamps.

RB: How has your mission grown?

PM: In 2006, much to my surprise, having spread the word only to a few women’s groups, I gathered 2,760 stamps.

In 2007 I gathered more than 6,000 stamps. This year so far I have gathered 38,997stamps. The outpouring of love is amazing. Some groups send hundreds of stamps; some individuals send 4 or 5 stamps. I know that there is love and a story behind each stamp.

RB: What is your goal now?

PM: Rather than focusing on one prison, I am now concentrating on providing one stamp to every woman who is incarcerated in a state or federal facility. To reach my goal I need a total of 400,000 stamps. It’s more than ten times the number I have now, but I am not giving up.

RB: What is next after you reach this goal?

PM: My next goal would be to reduce the number of women who are incarcerated.

RB: What keeps you motivated and what response have you gotten for you efforts?

I am encouraged every time I receive stamps, whether it is through the mail or at a speaking engagement. My role in this is really very small. It is the hundreds of people who have contributed the thousands of stamps that are important. In some ways it is very humbling to realize that this project is only possible because of hundreds of people; many of whom I have never met. Mostly I am motivated by the information I get from the women who tell me what a difference a stamp makes in helping them stay connected to the community and their families.

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Neighborhood Steps up to Fill Shortages

By D. Giles Clasen With grant and foundation dollars declining and demand growing, organizations providing support services for the poor are faced with difficult jobs. But the Broadway Assistance Center (BAC) in Denver has found generous allies as residents, volunteers and local businessmen pull together for food drives.

Every day, prognosticators rattle through the radio and television preaching gloom or not-quite-doom after reading the most current economic indicators like tea leaves as forecasts to the future.

But maybe one of the most important indicators of local economic and social strength is the soundness of a neighborhood support system like the Broadway Assistance Center. The BAC has provided a variety of assistance to poor and homeless people since 1975, including food lines, food and clothes banks, and rental and utility assistance programs.

As the stock market fluctuates and shows varying signs of recovery and failure, organizations like the BAC have been witness to a steady and constant growth in poverty, with increasing demand for services and fewer dollars to go around. At the same time, a trend of donations from local community members has BAC hopeful.

“What we’ve seen is that our foundation and business funders are able to pledge smaller amounts than they have in the past,” said Betsy Stapp, the director of the BAC. “The willingness and the motivation is still there but the actual dollar amount has decreased.”

At the same time, rent and utility expenses have gone up for the organization that moved to the ground floor of Denver’s St. Joseph’s Church in 1996, but is independent of the church. These fiscal changes are occurring at the same time that more people are in need of services. More people from the middle class are coming to the organization to take advantage of the food and clothing pantry on Mondays and Fridays, and the Soup Kitchen on Thursday evenings, Stapp said.

“They’ve been self sufficient until recently. For the first time they’re having to go out into the community to seek assistance,” Stapp said. Paul Bray is one of those individuals. Bray volunteered with the homeless for 15 or 16 years before having a stroke in the past year. Now he is on Social Security.

“It helps me to not have to pay for a meal,” Bray said. Bray could not recall

his career before his stroke but listed the many organizations he volunteered with. Stapp emphasized the difficulty many people have asking for help. “They’re embarrassed and apologetic. And often times somewhat bewildered. They ask, ‘How in the world did I get into this situation?’” she said.

Paul Enterline and Amber Frazell are a young engaged couple asking themselves that question. The two are currently living at Amber’s mom’s house while her mom is in the hospital. They hope to get married in a year. But they don’t want to get married until they have a little bit of stability. Frazell is working on her Bachelors degree from an online university.

Enterline is waiting to hear if he was accepted into a program by Swift Transportation to become a truck driver. He lost his last job. Paul didn’t have reliable transportation for the long commute to the low paying job.

Frazell said the two go to food banks regularly because they don’t have any means of making money right now. “Standing in line for food is sad,” she said. “Waiting in line feels like you are waiting for a miracle to happen.” Frazell said she tries to imagine an end to the current economic situation but doesn’t see one.

“I can picture myself in the line for a long time,” Frazell said.

For Enterline the situation has been a completely different experience. It is part survival, but also part identity.

“I come from Michigan. I know how to make money. I knowhow to work hard,” Enterline said. “The last year though has been impossible. It literally kills me not to make money right now, not to provide. I’m used to always having $300, $400 in my pocket.”

Enterline has had his own place and taken care of his sister’s since he was young. Now he admits he sometimes doesn’t feel like a man because he can’t support the two of them.

“When I go into a really bad depression about money, I usually drink it away,” Enterline said.

Stapp has been excited by the way the community has responded to the needs of the BAC. While foundational support has been harder to generate, a trend of smaller donations and support from local community members has BAC hopeful. She said more

With grant and foundation dollars declining and demand growing, organizations providing support services for the poor are faced with difficult jobs. But the Broadway Assistance Center in Baker, Colorado, has found generous allies as residents, volunteers and local businessmen pull together for food drives. families in the neighborhood are taking advantage of the food bank and soup kitchen also.

“Soup kitchens and bread lines were a regular part of the scenery in the 30s,” Stapp said. “But the numbers are swelling now just as they did during the Depression when more and more people were affected.”

The longer lines to the BAC are getting noticed.

On a regular Thursday night the line can grow to be three city blocks long. It can take over an hour to feed everyone inline. 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

longer lines are not necessarily bad for the program. They are possibly the strongest advertising for the BAC. One restaurant owner down the street from the BAC saw the lines and began bringing in donations of breakfast burritos on Monday mornings, Stapp said. Another woman who comes on Thursday nights to volunteer began bringing 50 sack lunches with her every week.

“We’re seeing a grass roots response with things like soup drives,” Stapp said.

Still, standing in line for food every day is a difficult pill to swallow.

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Life’s Storm

By Jacequin Turley

We once were free to roam the streets as the geeks in high school.

Walking in sunlight with the wind at our backs.

But somewhere between now and then ,the sunlight faded and the wind turned into a storm That poured over our existence.

We now live in the shadows created by the aftermath the storm left behind.

Where the human eye cannot see because no one cares to look hard enough.

We have become transparent in the worlds view.

So we are forced to sit in a most uncomfortable seat.

Behind society’s toleration.

You see we are the outcasts, misfits and freaks no one wants to be bothered with.

Little do they know it only takes one wrong step in this world to fall through the cracks.

And land in the same seat we’re sitting in.

Since we sit in the lower ranks of human existence, we are at the mercy of others.

Forced to ask them to help in order to become equal in the world view.

But the shadows are a hard place to escape, so we must wait to be seen.

By someone that takes the time to look.

Buy most of us are beyond the human eyes of the popular kids who grew up to be placed in Corporate America.

Walking in their suits basking in sunlight, sipping on their latte’s.

We sit wondering what a drip would taste like.

When they walk past for a minute we remember what the sun feels like on our pale skin.

Then we realize, just as in the past, they are ignorant to the fact we exist.

Then the shadows come again.

Covering our existence to a world gone blind.

photos by Luke Eshleman

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An encampment under a bridge by the New York Avenue Metro

The leaves of Fall blowing thoughts of survival.

The winds that say, cool are the breezes, pretty soon will the cold wind blow.

Those nights of falling leaves that make the stars gleam with a new brightness.

The moon light, the only warmth you get in these fall nites, colored with leaves falling, glistening off the moon light.

Bringing in the cold air of a new sunrise.

As we wake, another day to ready ourselves for when the leaves will be no more.

Only the falling leaves will

remain as the trees uncover it tells man—time to take cover—yes that is the plan.

We will follow through as sure as autumn leaves the beauty that we see.

A killing cold will come, killing the beauty of the leaves, leave them you, you see to die with no more color.

So take cover as the trees five cover to a new leaf that will bring the green of life.

Take cover that you may have life to live again outside with the leaves of the trees of fall.

By Robert Warren

Another night to cold to stay another homeless man or woman not enough to eat another dring my mind say i can’t feel my feet another call for help no phone to make a call if you would please another life lost to cold another chance to ask who really cares?

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A’s Wordsearchby Patrick Azarius Vendor Patrick Azarius has done extensive research to find these obscure ancient cities. Now you can find them in this puzzle.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

KUSSARA MARAD ARGEDAVA ETAM LINZI

6.

7.

8.

9.

IDALIUM AMATHUS HEBENU AZUPIRANU

Truck Stop Love Y

ou never know where you will find love, or who you will fall in love with. When you find love how beautiful life is, how the days are filled with excitement and joy. The personal bonding between man and women. That special one--L.O.V.E how you show her off to your family. The dreams of children and the white picket fence, the sun always shining when you’re in love. How each letter and phone call is like a Hershey kiss, sweet and delicious.

To have that perfect someone in your life, someone who is always faithful, will celebrate your victories and successes and will be there when you fall, even if it means you are broke and homeless. Ever since the days of Adam and Eve, men have searched the earth for a woman who will make thems whole and complete.

The opposite of love is a broken heart, the fear of not having your love returned, the phone calls unanswered, her saying she’s leaving you. The fear, jealousy and the lies. How painful love can be when you feel hurt. Many books have been written about love romance and heart break.

Otis was a country boy in a small town in Mississippi along the Mississippi river. He only knew poverty, for he never knew his father, who was a migrant who worked for low wages. He was a decent man who tried to feed eight children on a small salary, while his mother was a nanny for a rich aristocrat in Gulf Port. Otis was a middle child who wasn’t very noticeable or attractive compared to the rest of his siblings. He rarely studied or cared for school work and he didn’t care for sports, but he did have a love for cars. Oh, how he dreamed of racing a racecar. He couldn’t wait to get his drivers license so he could drive a car.

Otis also daydreamed about one day living in Manhattan. He read about Philadelphia, Boston and Washington -- the bright lights, fancy restaurants and endless night life. He had all the magazines of glamorous women of all races and colors. It was only a daydream to him because the dream of getting out of the swamps of Mississippi and leaving his family behind didn’t seem foreseeable to him.

He became a grown man, sleeping on his mama’s couch and depressed. He wanted adventure and excitement. He wasn’t a virgin, but he was inexpe-

By Jeffery McNeill

rienced in the rituals of romance. He knew he didn’t want to have his parents’ life and be miserable with a local woman in his hometown and be stuck in Mississippi. He dreamed of the beautiful bombshells he saw on T.V. and he knew he wanted to marry one of those gorgeous women.

He finally got the opportunity to leave his hometown when the local plant was looking for long-distance truck drivers. He got hired and he got his first job by delivering a load to Miami. Miami was a new world to him. It was liberation for Otis, he was like a kid in a candy store. There were women in bikinis at the bars in the clubs. Many were Latino and pretty.

Otis wasn’t in Mississippi anymore, but with the partying came the excess. Excessive alcohol and drugs and Otis fell prey to it, he would get his check, walk down the strip, find a young lady, and party with all his money, up till he had to borrow money.

Otis got tired of the Miami route and got lazy.

His muscular body was a thing of the past and he became beer bellied and fat. He was almost 30. He went to a few detoxes and was a trucking junkie with no true women he could love. He left Miami and got a route to Chicago. On a current route there he was delivering a load on highway 70 in Columbus, Ohio. He stopped at a local truck stop for a night’s rest. There was a bar where he could drink away his troubles. He went in that bar to watch the Browns-Steelers game. While watching the game he was getting drunk on shots of Hennessey. He saw his Femme Fatale.

Across the bar he spotted her, a long leggy blond.

She had eyes that could pierce through your soul.

She was wearing a mini skirt and a tight Steelers jersey and she had a scent of perfume. He slowly forgot about the game.

After a couple more shots of Hennessey, he finally got the nerve to strike up a conversation. He asked her name. She giggled and said, “My name is Jessica.

I live in a small trailer outside of Columbus.”

Otis, like a cool poker player, weighed his fate.

He started seeing hope in a boring trucking life. She was innocent and beautiful in Otis’ eyes, but she was young. He ordered another shot and he forget about

her youth and wanted her more.

Jessica pressed on and told her dreams about being an actress.

“If only I could get a break and leave this town.”

Otis with his bankroll said, “you can ride with me!

Us two together.”

Jessica in her lovely voice said, “Yes, lets ride.”

They rode all over the country Otis finally had the one true love in his life, he would drive while she played her little guitar singing folk songs. They both drank and partied heavily together. Soon she started getting bored sleeping in the back of his truck. She started wanting to get her hair done, new clothes, and wanted a home of her own.

They started arguing and fighting every night, Also Otis was an alcoholic and she was into pills. A wonderful match.

Jessica would disappear for days at a time, Otis wanted out of the relationship but he was smitten by the girl he met at the truck stop. He tried to make it work; one day he went to buy her flowers only to see another man in the back of his truck.

He went to get his shotgun. Jessica escaped with the man and never returned. She stole his money and now lives in L.A., hoping to be an actress.

Otis cried and contemplated suicide. He went to rehab and got clean. He met a fabulous womn and now has two adorable kids and is a counselor for people in distressed relationships.

Jeffery has been a vendor for two years and now works part-time at the Census Bureau.

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October 14 - October 28, 2009

Will write for food: Writer’s Group 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.

Voyage into Winter!!!!!!

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

Our Journeys have taken us far and wide and we have picked up survival tips and testimonies. Here lie our stories of courage and strength we hope you will be able to put them to good use... And always remember X marks the spot!!!!!!

Live and Learn

The inability of the pilgrims to store fruits and vegetables in their long sea voyages

by David Rubin coming to the North American continent created a disease called scurvy.This was due to the lack of vitamin c,(ascorbic acid) in their diet. When they landed in the new world,they took the leaves of the christmas tree (spruce tree), and directly ingested it or boiled it in tea for it's high quality of vitamin c, which eventually cured scurvy. Some days in the winter, I feel a little slow about getting a healthy meal, but if you look around you and remember the pilgrims of the new world. There are abundant healthy alternatives out there to survive. My favorite would have to be a soft limestone rock which is highly nutritious in calcium.

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

Sticking it to Winter

by Reginald Black In 2009 we still face the challenge of survival. I can remember how the winter of 2008 left me in a state of turmoil. It wasn’t enough that I was homeless, but I had to survive freezing cold temperatures. One thing that saved me and that could save others as they journey into another winter season, would have to be the four wall rule. If you can find a place with a working door you are good to go. Next you will need layers of clothing.

Not too little and not too much. You don’t want to sweat, dampness in cold weather is dangerous. If you wear too little you will be uncomfortable, also risky the colder the air temperature around you gets. If you curl into you clothing you will retain your own heat.

But if all else fails, a direct source of heat would be ideal. I believe that if you are smart you can stick it to old man winter.

My Day on the Boat

by Patty Smith

When I was 18 my cousin debbie who 16 and I took a river boat ride. While on the boat, we ran and ran throughout the boat. We get cold and smoked close to a pack of cigerrettes on our three hour journey. When we got home we took off our jackets and ran to the bathroom to finish some of the cigerettes. This memory still rushes back to me today, how we had gotten so cold. It’s been years and every time my boyfriend wants me to go on a boat ride I get scared. In them days I was not afraid. The news reports of so many tragic situations happening on boats has scared me over the years.

Patty is a vetern vendor and enjoys creative writing. Contact: Pattyscoffee@netzero.net

When the cold weather comes

by James Fetherson I will be a homeless challenge project guide for the National coalition for the Homeless The project takes young college people and trains them in the art of survival in freezing cold temperatures, being able to cope with life on the mean streets, do a little panhandling, and also get a meal at a local soup kitchen. There is a big difference between blankets and a sleeping bag. I am a veteran of many cold nights in dc. I am also a veteran expert in cold weather training in the U.S. Army at Fort WainWright, Alaska.

They will learn how to cope on the streets. They will learn how it smells, sounds, and see life on the cold lonely streets of Washington. To survive one must become more adaptable to change, while being motivated with discipline.

James is also a Veteran in the U.S Army Contact; James_Fetherson@yahoo.com

Reggie’s Reflections- Snatched!!!!!!

By Reginald Black It had been six days and I was still over my friend's house. I got hit on by younger girls and it seemed liked no one cared that a minor was acting like them. I was hanging out in the room, when I heard a huge commotion. The girl was fighting with some other relatives. I didn’t want to get involved so I tried to tune it out.

The house got louder and louder after a lot of bumping around the mission was accomplished family member stormed out of the room with the girl’s child in hand. It was a horrific scene, one until this day I try to erase from my mind. She came into the room crying. I attempted to comfort her, but it was of no use. How did I play into this. She ranted and raved as I tried to calm her nerves. This had been one crazy day. We just stayed with each other and I comforted her. My heart felt noble and I just wanted to do the right thing, but what was the right thing?

Was it to be with this lady? Did it mean getting involved in a situation I didn’t know about? I was confused, but I refused to give up hope.

Reggie Hosts the Writer's Group Meetings. Contact: Rblackstreetreporter@gmail. com

My Winter Wonderland By: Joaquin M. Turley, Jr.

When the temperature drops, my nomadic existence doesn’t allow me to wear my flip flops and forces me to break out my winter shoes. My winter shoes are hard to reside in because they are falling apart at the seams, exposing my toes. I walk these streets in the summer light, secure in its radiance. Now the cold is coming to freeze my tears and instill in fear because I have no place to stay. I walk faster and faster trying to outrun the cold front coming to erase my summer joy. Winter is the worst, because it causes my toes to freeze. I cry, but the tears rushing to my face get stuck between my sorrow and regret. I didn’t make it in time to get into the shelter tonight. Now I am forced to live in a winter wonderland that most only bask in because they eventually get to retreat to their warm beds and hot coco. For me this is my winter nightmare because I cannot escape it. It is hard to keep up with time when my shoes are not functional and I am literally running for my life, while my toes are aching. Tomorrow I will try again to outrun the cold and get inside to the heat. As I struggle to survive the winter nightmare that has become my existence.

Joaquin is a new member of the Writer’s group. Contact: Joaquin.turley@yahoo. com

What is America and Why

by Robert Warren

Columbus day and coming to the Americas makes me think of a people searching for a place to call home. They still came, while making that search having to go through hurricanes, rain, and snowstorms. That is just like the homeless in America today. It's like we go through a hurricane of problems trying to find a place to call home. Sometimes we don’t make it through the rain and snowstorms we go through. People live out their lives under the highways and byways with people never knowning that they were even there. Never overcoming that hurricane. The storm that was just to much, and they die with only god there to see why.

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

The Writers Group meets Wednesdays at 2:30 the address is 1317 G street Nw the Street Sense Office and all are invited to participate. Also Street Sense is on Facebook and Twitter check our sites there for updates. We hope to see you at our next meeting.

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Patty Smith & Reginald Black

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Graveyard Football: Part II

A

nnouncer: Grim Reaper says half time is over. The second half of this bone-crushing game is about to begin. ( The fans cheer as the cheerleaders leave the field.)

Commercial: Voice-Last stop 24 hour, seven days a week ambulance services. If you shoot, cut or stab someone, call us and we will be there.

Commercial: Voice-Hi friends, I’m Bob from Best Rest Funerals and I’d like to take a moment to ask you if you’ve thought about where you will be when you die. Stop by and see me; the first consultation is free. I will walk

Thanks

to

By Ivory Wilson

you around and show you where I will be putting you, down under the ground. You will never hear a sound.

You will be here for eternity.

Announcer: Grim Reaper says Nevada Dry Boners will receive the kick. Humeri N45 will receive the kick for Nevada.

Punting N6 will be kicking for Arizona. Punting uses his team mate’s head by mistake, kicks it in the air.

Once Trapezoid N28 puts his head back on, Punting will try again. Punting kicks. Humer catches it at the 10 yard line, jumping in the air. Comes down at the Arizona one yard line 99 yard leap, but Humer is hit so hard by Pisiform of Arizona, there’s nothing left but bone dust. Pisiform, out the game for good. What a hit! Arizona and Nevada line up at the one, nose to nose. The ball is snapped, Punting runs it in. Touch Down! Folks, Nevada has scored 6 points. The game is tied up. But dawn is coming fast. The field is filled with rib bones, patella bones, vertebralS bones.

Announcer: Grim Reaper says these players are playing like they are dead.

(He laughs. Everyone starts running for their graves.)

Will they ever finish? At night, late, stop by your local cemetery and find out.

Ivory is a vendoer and can usually be found at 7th and E streets, NW. He is working to publish his next book.

The King and the Lovely Maiden

By Patty Smith

K

ing Edgar’s wife had died and he was mourning. There came word that in Devonshire there was a fair maiden, the fairest in the land and her name was Elfrida.

The king sent his knight, Athelwood, out as a spy, to send word of her loveliness. While in Devonshire, Athelwood fell in love with Elfrida. They were both young; therefore, Athelwood forgot the task laid upon him, and they eloped.

Soon after the marriage to Elfrida, Athelwookd returned to King Edgar with news that he done what was required of him. He told the king that Elfrida was homely, cross-eyed and hump-backed. Athelwood explained that he didn’t want to disappoint the king so he married the girl.

The king was happy about this and asked if there was anything that he could do for them. Athelwood said he just wanted a castle deep in the woods, since he didn’t want anyone else to know how ugly his wife really was. The king granted him this.

But the next day they found Athelwood with a dagger in his heart. Shortly after, the king married Elfrida.

Patty has been a vendor for four years and loves fashion.

All Silent Auction Donors!!

Event Support

Golden Eagle Guests

WVSA Arts Connection Café Saint Ex The Night Off Joey Montgomery Linda Potrawski

Zoe Beckerman Ezra Klein Barbara Lofts Peter Loge

C. Peter Magrath Tim Mazzucca Bernie Thompson Becky Thompson

Auction Item Donors Big Bear Cafe Andrew Ortiz Arent Fox Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Barbara Chowny Brassiere Beck Bernie Thompson Brenda Lee Wilson Brian Thompson Bus Boys and Poets Café Saint Ex

Café Saint/Bar Pilar Claudia Levy Cliff Carle CORK Farmhouse Flowers and Plants Frank Mearns Gala Hispanic Theater Georgette Furukawa Go Mama Go! Gregory Martin Java Green

Javier Martinez Joy in Motion Kristal DeKleeer Le Creuset Lena Orouke Long and Foster Real Estate Loren Scherbak Lush Matt Schmidt Mo's Bar at 701 Mr. Yogato

Nana Newseum Petals for the People Peter & Patsy Chick Piscasso Arts and Framing QuinTango Roberta Haber Shakespeare Theater Sixth and I street Synagogue Soupergirl and Treets Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Strahtmore Studio Theatre Swinitha Osuri Ten Mile Square Photography The Night Off The Phillips Collection Tranquil Space Winston & Strawn LLP

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October 14 - October 28, 2009

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Perceptions Save the Pay Phones!

By Tony Porco

W

hen was the last time you tried to use a pay phone?

When was the last time it worked? The endangered status of pay phones causes inconvenience to many of us, and telephone companies should pay more attention to maintaining this service.

The media portrays pay phones as obsolete and unnecessary, because everyone now has cell phones. But is this true?

First of all, not everyone actually has a cell phone. According to Newsweek’s “The Technologist� column and the industry web site Switched.com, roughly 18 percent of Americans do not own a cell phone. This sounds like a small amount--until you consider that it’s more than 55 million people.

Secondly, while cell phones can make life a lot easier, they are not dependable in all circumstances. Every cell phone runs out of power or minutes, or is occasionally left at home by a forgetful owner. Not long ago, one of my co-workers had to ask me to call the office while we were on a remote assignment because her cell phone was out of minutes. More importantly, there are places, such as the underground parts of the Metro subway, in which many cell phones have no signal.

Thirdly, for those who cannot afford a cell or land phone, including some homeless people, getting in touch with friends or loved ones can be tough. Personal voice mail services, such as the Community Voice Mail featured in a recent article in Street Sense, can solve the incoming-call problem, but what do its users do about outgoing calls? Pay phones present an affordable mode of communication. Anyone who can get two quarters together can make a call. Sadly, the phone companies seem to care little about repairing the many pay phones that no longer work, judging from the many that I have found in that condition.

Asking to have them repaired doesn’t always help. I once called Verizon’s phone repair line to report a broken pay phone in my old office building. I was told that there was no record of the phone number ever existing, even though I was reading it right off the phone in front of me!

Obviously, the almighty dollar rules here as it does in so many places; phone companies won’t maintain pay phones unless there is a substantial demand for them. Even though I frequently see people using pay phones, especially in the Metro and in Union Station, the current demand is not enough. So if you have two quarters to spare and a friend or business with which you want to reconnect, consider dropping the fifty cents into a pay phone--even if you have a cell phone. Doing so may ensure that the phone is working sometime when you forget that cell phone, when it runs out of power or when you find yourself with ‘fewer bars’ in more places. It may also help a homeless person make a call that gets them a home, a job interview or a conversation with a supportive friend.Â

By Patrick Azarius

T

o condemn the homeless is a tricky assumption. People must understand not everyone is conceived into a supportable household. Some of us who are homeless suffer from mental disorders, domestic violence and other personal issues. Not because of the common theory that we are all criminals, dolts and high school dropouts. However, it doesn’t take someone who is an expert on all aspects of life to realize homelessness is not a radiant existence.

There lies the problem; why are people homeless? It is a difficult question to answer and a harder problem to remedy.

I’ve been homeless for two years. I suffer from anxiety and paranoia. I had to quit my job because the symptoms elevated to the point where it rendered me incoherent. Now some people might yawn and say “get over it,� there have been people who suffered worse and their circumstances have not hindered them from becoming successful. True, some people might label me apprehensive. My encounters with countless paupers have

illuminated the fact that the homeless you see on the streets are those eating out of the dirt filled trash and sleeping on the concrete. There is something morose disturbing their souls. Hopelessness, rape, drugs, incest, babies left in dumpsters; one man told me he took his first injection of heroin with his father when he was 14 years old. You, the reader, must understand the emotional aptitude varies from person to person.

How do we alleviate and solve the plight of the medicated? We must rehabilitate and rejuvenate their souls as well as their minds. Educate them thoroughly so they will be able to get a job with a sustainable income so they won’t revert to their past circumstance. Provide daily emotional and therapeutic evaluation and support. It’s going to take more than soup kitchens, providing shelter and handing out dollar bills to eliminate this disease we call homelessness.

Patrick is an active member of the writers group and does our weekly puzzle. patrickpierre39@yahoo.com

Need Help?

The Next Step Program is a self-help approach offering: s (ELP lNDING A JOB s 2EFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES s 2ESUME WRITING s ()6 !)$3 SERVICES INCLUDING BEREAVEs !SSISTANCE APPLYING FOR BENElTS MENT SUPPORT BURIAL ASSISTANCE AND A s #OMPUTER MENTORING RETREAT PROGRAM

#HANGING 9OUR ,IFE /NE 3TEP AT A 4IME )F YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE Next Step Program, VISIT ONE OF OUR OFlCES BETWEEN AND A M ANY WEEKDAY MORNING (AMILTON 3T . 7 7ASHINGTON $ #

5 3T 3 % 7ASHINGTON $ #

Tony is a published writer and longtime volunteer for Street Sense.

www.samaritanministry.org Your thoughts and editorials are welcome.

Please e–mail content to editor@streetsense.org or mail to 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Samaritan Ministry’s Next Step Program helps people who are homeless, have HIV/AIDS, and others in need make changes for a better life. Program participants meet with staff members to set goals in employment, housing, health care and other areas. Goals are reached one step at a time with staff providing resources and offering encouragement and support. There are no religious requirements for participation.

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Silent Auction Brings in the Crowd

By Reginald Black

S

treet Sense held its fourth annual Silent Auction in the WVSA Arts Connection Great Room in D.C. on Thursday, Oct. 8. The annual fundraiser helps Street Sense continue its work of informing audiences from Main Street to K Street about poverty and homelessness, in addition to spreading awareness of organizations that help low income residents all over the region.

The festivities kicked off at 7 p.m. Items on display included gift cards, antiques, a photograph of a fountain on the Capitol grounds taken by veteran Street Sense vendor Cliff Carle , autographed photos of Capital and Wizards players and an array of various rare products and services. Street Sense board member and co-founder Ted Henson started off the night with a few words in which he praised the vendors for their hard work. He was followed by Street Sense Executive Director Laura Osuri. Thursday’s auction just may be both Henson’s and Osuri’s last with the paper, and the theme reflects that changes will be made within Street Sense.

After Osuri’s address, Jeffery McNeil, who has been with the paper for about two years, described how he came to find Street Sense. The crowd cringed as he described his arrival in the District with only 25 cents and a bus ticket and gasped as Jeff revealed the news of obtaining his new line of employment with the Census Bureau. Board member and new vendor trainer Martin Walker, who has been performing as a stand-up comic, left everyone rolling in the aisles as he brought a little levity to the evening while praising the vendors, calling them “the front line soldiers.” Last to speak was Randy Evans, also a long-time vendor, who really got the crowd jumping with his singing.

After the performances the bidding continued to the sounds of vendor Greg Phillips and pianist Linda Potrawsky.

At the close of the auction there was an aura of goodness about the room. For those that attended it was a fabulous night of food music and fun. No one left empty or half full.

With each passing minute it seems Street Sense will not get older, but RIGHT BOTTOM: Guest mingle and bid on auction items, wiser. and Executive director Laura Thompson Osuri talks with one guest in the foreground. RIGHT TOP: Board member Lisa Directors Note: About 120 guests atEstrada (center) and vendor Jeffery McNeill (left) talk with a tended the auction raising $8,501 guest. LEFT: Vendor and boardmember Martin Walker perfor Street Sense. For a list of auction forms his comedy routine. ALL PHOTOS BY JANE CAVE. donors, see page 12.

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.

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C.

October 14 - October 28, 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

October 14 - October 28, 2009

Shakaye Henry

Vendor Profile

THe Last Word

Trying to Make a Difference

By J. Deveaux

I

Shakaye Henry is originally from Ohio. She was married. She had a son.

She believed the situation she was in wasn’t the best for her and her son, but her son was taken from her when she was put in an assistedliving facility. She hasn’t seen her son in two years.

She would like to have her son back. She has been dealing with litigation but has not been able to find proper legal representation in order to make this happen. In her attempts to flee her situation, she found herself in D.C. She has been involved with work programs and would like to some day be involved with legal studies.

am an intern at Street Sense and a student at George Washington University. Sometimes it’s hard to wake up in the morning knowing I may not have a job tomorrow. Journalism isn’t what it used to be. The program that I’m involved in that Why do you sell Street Sense? got me this internship at Street Sense requires me to make videos, She explains how she likes the opportunities that write articles and blog posts, take pictures and build and maintain it provides for homeless people to help themselves larger online social networks. They don’t expect anything of me and she describes the work that she has done, “I that I wouldn’t have to do anyway. It all just comes at me at one have been doing custodial work programs . . . and time and I have little time to do anything else. would like to study the law to get my son back.”

There are things that I have to do. I have to eat. I have to sleep.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I have to work. All of these things are made harder by this program She hopes to be doing something with the law. She jokes, “if I could be anything I wanted, I filling my days. would be a movie star.” She goes on to explain the extent of the work programs she is involved Then I come to my internship eight hours a day and I realize I have in and how they have helped her in connection with computer skills and other marketable abilinothing to complain about. I deal with people trying their hardest to ties. make a difference to themselves or someone else.

What is your favorite food?

I wish I had a dollar to give every vendor I see but I’m not rich.

“I like Chinese food. My favorite is shrimp fried rice. I don’t get to eat out much. That would I’m in college. I wish going without sleep to do homework one night probably be my favorite food, though.” She goes into other types of Chinese foods that she’s had meant that someone else could sleep on a soft bed but it just means and not liked and ends with the tried-and-true shrimp fried rice.

I’m going to be tired. I wish Street Sense and other street newspapers What is your favorite movie? weren’t needed but they are, and me going through a rough time in She goes into how she likes any movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone in it.

Shop |“I like Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Sho school only affects me. action movies. They’re fun.” She brings up “Rambo” and the “Terminator,” specifically. | Eat | Explore miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat I am an intern at Street Sense, and I wish I could do more.

What is your|favorite kind of music?

“I like Stevie Wonder,” she asserts as she goes into explaining that she likes most of the popular Exploremusic | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explo that plays even though she doesn’t like to listen to music much. She doesn’t feel like it’s | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miD her thing.

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CFC# 28233

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