11 14 2007

IT’S OUR FOURTH ANNIVERSARY!

$1.00

Suggested Donation

Where the Washington area's poor and homeless earn and give their two cents •

Volume 5, Issue 1

www.streetsense.org

External Study Expected to Shake Up DC Services

By Robert Blair

Mukul ranjan, 2004

The District has funded an independent study of its homeless services by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research center, to identify areas for improvement.

A comprehensive study of the District of Columbia’s homeless services, funded by the city and led by Urban Institute scholar Dr. Martha Burt, is raising expectations among local advocates and service providers that a serious new effort to reduce homelessness in D.C. is on the horizon. Commissioned by the Department of Human Services, the study began in July and is slated for completion by the end of February.

Burt, director of the Urban Institute’s Social Services Research Program, is a leading expert on homelessness in America. She has been involved in policy-oriented research on homeless populations and homeless service systems since

1983, and is well known to local advocacy and service provider groups.

The Urban Institute study is being conducted in two stages. The first part, scheduled for completion last month, focuses on the performance of the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, a nonprofit organization that acts as the lead agency for funding many of the District’s emergency shelters and homeless outreach programs.

Sue Marshall, the executive director of the Community Partnership, and her management staff have already met with Burt to discuss the organization’s role, activities, accomplishments, obstacles

See

Study, page 4

Arlington County Tackles High Rates of Working Poor

By Crystal Suyon Chung Arlington County is in the early stages of implementing a plan it hopes will reduce its high rate of homelessness, especially among the so-called working poor.

More than 80% of the county’s single adults who are homeless have jobs, the highest rate of the working poor in the greater Washington metropolitan area.

A report on homelessness conducted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and

Do you want to support “Four More Years” of Street Sense? $24,000 $20,000

$16,000 $12,000

$8,000

$4,000 $0

See the back page for more details.

released earlier this year found that nearly three out of four adults who belong to homeless families in Arlington County are employed.

There are currently 462 homeless persons out of the195,000 people in the community.

“Housing is a basic right,” said Trista Piccola, deputy director of the Arlington Department of Human Services, one of the county officials working to implement a 10-year plan to end homelessness.

The plan, adopted by the county board in April last year, aims to provide permanent housing as well as increase employment opportunities for the homeless.

According to Michael O’Rourke, executive director of the Arlington Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, the county board is working with key leaders in the community to start implementing the plan.

“If the working poor are chroni-

cally homeless, that means they have a lot of limitations,” said Tony Turnage, who coordinates homeless programs for the Arlington Department of Human Services.

To improve the income of the working poor, the county plan expands access to employment and training opportunities, Turnage said.

The county will work with employers to help people who are working yet living below the poverty level to receive better training and help them return to school to land higher paying jobs, Turnage said.

There are numerous factors that account for the county’s high percentage of the working poor, he said.

“I think you need to take a couple things into consideration,” Turnage said. “The first thing is that you’re talking about the Washington metropolitan area. We get

intrusions from different jurisdictions that somehow make their way here for a number of reasons.

“The other factor you need to consider is when you’re looking at homeless programs, most homeless programs require individuals to have some source of work in order to help themselves get back to self-sufficiency. A lot of reasons why they come in are because of eviction, domestic violence, or credit history, substance abuse, mental abuse.”

The county has historically had a low unemployment rate, according to Anita Friedman, division chief of the Arlington Department of Human Services.

“We have to have folks employed in order to help them from being homeless into a more permanent

Inside This Issue

LOCAL

EDITORIAL

Advocates and service providers sound off on the fight against homelessness, page 5

Maurice King wishes his friend wouldn’t change the channel, page 12

FEATURES

EDITORIALS

Patricia Jefferson reviews Jaleo’s tapas bar, page 10

Vendors share memories of the last four years, page 13

It’s Our Anniversary!

INTERVIEW

A King of Infinite Space Street Sense photographer Cliff Carle explains why the little things matter, page 7

Progress Report

Spanish for ‘Yum’

See

Arlington, page 6

Head in the Sand

Four Years On

in memoriam

David Pike

courtesy of bernie thompson

November 14, 2007 – November 27, 2007

David Pike, right, and long-time companion Caroline Gabel were to be married this month.

By Laura Thompson Osuri David Pike, beloved Street Sense board member and volunteer, passed away suddenly on Nov. 5. I cannot express how much we at Street Sense will miss his insight, dedication, humor and positive attitude.

After David retired from a 40-year career in journalism covering the likes of the Supreme Court, he dedicated his time to the more humble matters of homelessness. He started helping out with Street Sense in early 2005 as a volunteer editor, and soon transitioned into volunteering at the office. At the beginning of last year, David joined the Street Sense board of directors.

David came to the office faithfully every Tuesday morning and was known in the office for his helpfulness, his meticulous editing, his Panama hat, his gently rasping voice and his vegetarian diet. David also had a very dry sense of humor. Whether it

See Pike, page 3

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007

ALL ABOUT US

Our Mission

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347-2006 Fax: (202) 347-2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Davis Robert Egger Ted Henson Barbara Kagan John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Francine Triplett David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri VENDOR MANAGER Jesse Smith Jr. EDITOR IN CHIEF Kaukab Jhumra Smith ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) INTERNS Melanie Lidman and Desiree Perez VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Matt Allee, Robert Basler, Robert Blair, Mia Boyd, Cliff Carle, Jane Cave, Conrad Cheek Jr., Crystal Suyon Chung, Jason Corum, Rebecca Curry, Rick Dahnke, James Davis, Darcy Gallucio, Joshua Gardner, Arielle Geigerich, Genevieve Gill, Cassandra Good, Joanne Goodwin, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Brooke Howell, Jo Ann Jackson, Allen Jones, Kathy Jones, Mary Lynn Jones, Maurice King, Jo Knight, Geof Koss, Jessica LaGarde, Karin Lee, Matthew Lee, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Katie Leitch, August Mallory, Mandy McAnally, Sam McCormally, Jeffery McNeil, Kate Mitchell, Kent Mitchell, Moyo Onibuje, Swinitha Osuri, Dan Seligson, Eric Sheptock, Jennifer Singleton, Katie Smith, Kathryn Taylor, Francine Triplett, Linda Wang, Dan Weingarten, Dan Whittier, Kelly Wilson, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu VENDORS Nikyona Akinde, Willie Alexander, Michael Anderson, Jake Ashford, Tommy Bennett, Kanon Brown, Bobby Buggs, Leonard Cannedy, Cliff Carle, Alice Carter, Conrad Cheek Jr., Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Bernard Dean, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Ronald Franklin, Don Gardner, Richard Gerald, Leo Gnawa, Stephanie Gooden, Barron Hall, David Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Phillip Howard, Joanne Jackson, Michael Jefferson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Alicia Jones, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson, Arthur Mathis, Charles Mayfield, Lee Mayse, Jermale McKnight, Craig McKoy, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Lawrence Miller, L. Morrow, Charles Nelson, Moyo Onibuje, Therese Onyemenon, Kevin Robinson, Edward Ross, Michael Sanders, Gerald Smith, Patty Smith, James Stewart, Lizzie Stoddard, Francine Triplett, Carl Turner, Jerry W., Martin Walker, Mary Wanyama, Lawless Watson, Inell Wilson, Ivory Wilson

We are proud members of:

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

Our Editorial Policy

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

North American Street Newspaper Association

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

After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published consistently 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 an independent nonprofit organization.

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

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

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

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

Nov. 1 – Nov. 13 Donors Tiffany Hooper Janice Moskowits Andrea Skofstad And a special thanks to those who donated in memory of David Pike Laurie Asseo Gregory Stohr Mary Pike

Thank You!

International Network of Street Papers

Street Sense Vendor Code of Conduct 1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

There are no territories among vendors.

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

9.

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

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

WANNA HELP? If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or have a great article or feature idea, please contact Koki Smith at 202-347-2006 or e-mail editor@streetsense.org If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact Jesse Smith Jr. at the same number or come to a vendor training session on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. at our office (1317 G Street, NW - near Metro Center).

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007

ANNIVERSARY

from the director’s desk

By Laura Thompson Osuri

Street Sense: Four Years of Changing Lives and Perceptions

I

n concept, four years seems like a long block of time: it’s your high school years or college days o r a p re s i d e n t i a l term. But the last 48 months have flown by.

It seems like only a few weeks ago that Street Sense co–founder Ted Henson and I were waiting outside the offices of the National Coalition for the Homeless in a cold drizzle with a couple of bundles of papers and a box of bagels, hoping that at least one vendor would come by during the first two hours of Street Sense’s first day in print.

Although the course of events over the last four years seems so compressed, the contrast between where Street Sense was on that drizzly day and where it is now is phenomenal.

Compared to that let–down of our first morning, consider the first day of our Nov. 1, 2007, issue.

Thirty–four different vendors came by to purchase nearly 2,000 papers. Eight vendors even showed up before I got there at 8 a.m.

laura’s annual picks

It’s easy to note the numerical differences in Street Sense then and now, especially over the course of the last year.

In the last year, Street Sense has • increased the number of papers sold per month by 69%, from approximately 13,000 to 22,000 • raised the average number of vendors each month by 33% to 60 and • tripled its staff to three people.

Four years ago, we started with 5,000 issues a month, 10 vendors and no paid staff.

While the numerical measurements are important, they are not what truly matters here at Street Sense. The achievements that really matter are the changes in our vendors’ lives and the impact of our news stories.

What matters is that vendor Jeffery McNeil came to Street Sense this summer with empty pockets and hardly any hope, and today he is in a corporate mentoring program and his self-confidence is sky high.

What matters is that the attitude and work ethic at Street Sense inspired vendor Martin Walker to go into a treatment program late this summer to get clean and that he is now working in the trucking industry.

What matters is that through Street Sense, vendor Moyo Onibuje discovered

By Laura Thompson Osuri

Top Ten News Stories 1. Family Shelter May Close; Fenty Promises Housing – May 1, 2007 2. Woman Accused of Housing Locator Scam – Nov. 15, 2006 4. Slow Progress on D.C.’s Homeless Plan – July 15, 2007 3. D.C. Day Labor Center to Stay Open – May 15, 2007 5. Libraries: De Facto Day Shelters – Dec. 15, 2006 6. Panhandlers: To Give or Not to Give? – June 15, 2007 7. Internet Lends New Life to Violent Videos – Oct. 15, 2007 8. La Casa Shelter to Stay – April 15, 2007 9. Rates of Mental Illness Higher in Women’s Shelters – Sept. 15, 2007 10. Redefining “Homeless” – March 1, 2007

Top Five Editorials 1. Keep Drug Dealers Away from Shelters, David Pirtle – July 15, 2007 2. The Irony of Life, Eric Sheptock – Oct. 1, 2007 3. Our Society Still Rings of Racism, Martin Walker – April 15, 2007 4. Justice or Just Them? Leo Gnawa – June 15, 2007 5. Take Me Back to the Old Days, Jo Ann Jackson – Oct. 15, 2007

Did you miss these stories the first time around?

Find them in our archives at www.streetsense.org/archives.jsp

The achievements that really matter are the changes in our vendors’ lives and the impact of our news stories. his hidden writing talent. Through a story about him in our paper, he was able to connect to family in England with whom he had not spoken in eight years.

What also matters is that the Street Sense article, “Slow Progress on D.C.’s Homeless Plan,” which cited dozens of unanswered calls to D.C. government officials about what they were doing on the 10-year plan to end homelessness, came out one week before Mayor Adrian Fenty announced he was taking action to increase affordable housing and shelter space.

What matters is that the article “Librar-

Pike, from page 1 was a wry comment about August Mallory’s lack of punctuation or an imitation of Conrad Cheek Jr.’s sales pitch, David always knew when to chime in at the right moment.

As he helped out in the office for nearly three years, he got to know many vendors quite well, and had a vested interest in a handful of them.

For the past year, David would purposely arrive about 10 minutes early to his office shift so he could spend time talking to Charles Nelson, the vendor at Metro Center, before coming in. And when Charles was having medical problems, David searched online to find him the appropriate assistance.

As a board member, David will be remembered for his self-effacing manner, his insight and his true commitment to our mission.

I always appreciated that David would carefully read over all the meeting notes and come to meetings armed with questions.

At board meetings, David would often share his Street Sense office experiences and speak on behalf of vendors.

David was also responsible for editing most of our grant proposals and always added his two cents along with many cor-

ies: The De Facto Day Shelter” prompted the D.C. library system to properly train its staff to deal with homeless patrons.

What also matters is that Street Sense was the first to report on the closing of D.C. Village, the city’s only emergency family shelter, and the first to put the mayor’s promise of apartment-style housing for all the families on record.

These are the real accomplishments of the past year. While numbers matter, these personal and political stories are much more telling.

Such great accomplishments on the service and editorial sides of the paper could not have been possible without the support of our loyal readers and donors, nor without the wonderful volunteers and vendors of Street Sense.

Although our staff has increased three– fold in the last year, we still truly rely on our close network of supporters and volunteers to keep us afloat.

Thanks to everyone for making the last year so successful in many ways. I hope that in the next year Street Sense expands its accomplishments and successes even more and continues to empower the homeless and change public perceptions for the better. rections.

What I loved about David, though, was that anyone who talked to David for more than five minutes would inevitably find out about Street Sense.

David was truly passionate about Street Sense and he spread the word whenever he got the chance.

In f a c t , h e w a s planning to marry his longtime partner Caroline Gabel at the end of November, and in place of wedding gifts, was asking friends and relatives to make a donation to Street Sense.

But David was m o re t h a n j u s t a board member, volu n t e e r a n d a d vo cate.

He was also a dear friend. During the summer, when Street Sense was going through a rough time with staffing issues, David was there with an ear to listen and wise words of advice.

We swapped stories about cats, joked about marriage, and got to know each other’s families.

David Pike left his mark on Street Sense and helped make the organization and the world a better place through his efforts.

While he will be greatly missed by the vendors, staff and board of Street Sense, his legacy will live on and he will not be forgotten.

Anyone who talked to David for more than five minutes would invariably find out about Street Sense. Instead of wedding gifts this November, he asked friends and relatives to make a donation to the paper.

LOCAL NEWS

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007

Study, from page 1

desiree perez/street Sense

Ben Israel is one of 200,000 veterans who struggle with homelessness any given night in the United States.

DC Has Highest Rate of Homeless Vets

By Desiree Perez On the morning of Nov. 8, veteran Ben Israel stepped up to the microphone and told his story to a room full of reporters. He had a toughened quality about him like only the military could deliver, but his hands shook as he spoke and he cracked half-hearted jokes several times in an attempt to keep from crying.

Israel’s story was a difficult one to hear, but it wasn’t from a combat zone overseas or in a foreign nation. Instead, he spoke about the conflicts he faced once he exited the service and found himself without a home to come back to in his own country.

Israel, who has been homeless off and on for a period of 18 years, is one of nearly 200,000 veterans who struggle with homelessness on a regular basis. The plight of others like him is chronicled in a recently released report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which documents statistics on homelessness and near homelessness among veterans and suggests solutions. The report was co-sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation.

Although veterans make up 11% of the general population, they comprise a disproportionate 26% of the homeless population, the report found. A staggering 195,827 veterans were homeless on any given night in 2006.

In the District, 7.5% of all veterans are homeless — the highest rate in the nation by far. Louisiana has the secondhighest rate at 3.3%. The largest factor that keeps many veterans on the verge of homelessness is a lack of affordable housing, the report found.

“My main problem has always been housing. I’ve always worked,” Israel said. “The Army does well with education…but this area about housing needs fixing.

“I’m not here to bash the VA,” he continued. “But they’re spending their money wrong.”

Nan Roman, president of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said 467,000 vets pay more than 50% of their income for rent.

The District had the highest rate of vets with a severe housing cost burden, with 6.4% of veterans paying more than 50% of their income toward rent.

Roman compared the services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs with the need created by a scarcity of affordable housing programs for veterans, especially in areas like D.C. “We need to do a better job linking up the housing with the services,” Roman said.

Roman briefly described her hopes for the effect of her organization’s report, though she expressed concern over whether it would actually achieve those goals. “I’m hoping that we’ll implement what we’ve learned so that people returning from Iraq and Afghanistan won’t become homeless,” she said, “but I’m very worried.”

For more information on homelessness among veterans, download our Nov. 1 Veterans Day issue from www.streetsense.org/archives.jsp.

and relationships with the various organizations it funds and monitors.

Marshall said that she expects useful evaluative information for the Community Partnership to come out of the study.

She also anticipates suggestions on best practices, from other jurisdictions that Burt has also studied, that could be applied in D.C. “I expect we will get some documentation on what we do well and what we need to do better,” Marshall noted. Marshall said she expects the study’s possible recommendations to include “more emphasis on case management services and initiatives for permanent supportive housing.”

The second part of the study will investigate the array of the city’s homeless services and grapple with how the District and community stakeholders could best organize themselves to seriously reduce, if not outright eliminate, homelessness.

Besides closely examining the operations of emergency shelters across the city and reviewing transitional and permanent supportive housing initiatives, the second phase of the study will focus on shelter staffing issues – including staff pay, training, turnover rates, and recruitment.

The emergency shelter system, in particular, may come under close scrutiny. According to a discussion guide developed for the assessment, the mayor’s office is considering shifting responsibility for contracting for emergency shelter services from Community Partnership to the District government. The discussion guide solicits, among other things, service providers’ views on the pros and cons of such a change.

Chapman Todd, director of housing and support services for Catholic Charities, has also met with Burt to explain his organization’s programs and budget, and to visit some of its shelter programs with her.

Todd, who says he has worked with Burt before, is looking forward to the study’s completion. “From our standpoint,” he said, “we want to help as much as we can. Then stand back and watch Marti [Burt] work her magic.”

Another area of specific consideration is the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the Community Partnership’s depository of individual client data for all persons served through publicly funded shelter programs in D.C.

Burt is seeking information on service provider participation in HMIS data collection and the uses made of that data.

Of particular interest are provider opinions on whether HMIS data access should remain “closed,” with each participating agency able to access only the client data they entered into the system, or be more “open,” allowing the sharing of data across providers to make it easier to help clients.

Other study topics include how well the relevant oversight organizations are monitoring the provision of homeless services, and the extent and quality of collaboration between service providers and the Community Partnership and D.C. government agencies.

Mary Ann Luby, outreach worker for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, has also spoken with Burt about the assessment project. Luby said the study is a good idea and wishes something like it had been undertaken earlier. Luby expressed concern that D.C. has fallen behind other major cities such as San Francisco, Portland, and Chicago in promoting early housing options for the chronically homeless.

“The system should be driven by the needs of the clients,” said Luby. In particular, she’d like to see the final report call for better planning to move emergency shelter clients to housing – without barriers. “The emergency shelter system offers a front door, to meet immediate needs,” Luby explained, “but no back door to housing.”

Burt is also asking homeless advocates, service providers and funding agencies about their visions and expectations regarding future efforts to reduce homelessness in D.C. In addressing the big picture, Burt will identify who community stakeholders believe should be providing leadership in the struggle.

Luby, Todd and Marshall appear to expect the assessment to identify more permanent housing and better and earlier access to support services as priorities requiring greater emphasis. All three also mentioned the recent success in moving over 100 families out of the city’s only emergency family shelter, D.C. Village, and into individual apartments, as indicative of what may lie ahead on a broader scale.

“The transformation of D.C. Village is the first foray into a real systems change we’ve seen,” Todd explained.

A draft of the Urban Institute’s full report is expected to be submitted to the Department of Human Services by the end of the calendar year, with the final version due two months later.

The mayor’s office is considering shifting responsibility for contracting for emergency shelter services from the Community Partnership to the District government.

Foundry

United Methodist Church

A Reconciling Congregation

Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Sign Interpretation at 11:00 Homeless Outreach Hospitality Fridays 9 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church

1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007 Steve Berg Vice President for Programs and Policy National Alliance to End Homelessness

T

here’s good news and bad news. At the local level, a lot of communities are looking at the issue [of homelessness] as a problem we need to solve now. It’s not just managing the problem. I think now there is more awareness of the problem, and more people talking about homelessness than four years ago.

The bad news is the affordability of rental housing has gotten a lot worse. More and more people are paying a higher percentage of their income in rent. Foreclosures make this worse because people who had houses are now back on the rental market.

And during the last four-year period, we got less and less help from federal government. Homeless programs are an exception, but affordable housing support overall is going downhill.

What’s working is local strategies are getting much more concrete about how to get people into housing.

Shelter isn’t good enough; we’ve got to get people into apartments. That involves not being afraid to take on the hardest problems, like people who have been on the street a long time or dealing with the NIMBY response from certain communities.

What hasn’t been working is there’s still a long way to go in terms of general public awareness. There are programs that are working, but there’s not nearly enough of them. At the local level, people need to continue to get serious about solving this problem. We need to bring together all the different entities concerned with this problem, like mental health agencies. We need to reach people coming out of jail, families with children, and work on prevention of homelessness.

At the federal level, we need to take it to scale. We’ve got things that work, but we need to see more commitment from Congress on the much broader level about affordable housing.

We need to work toward bigger solutions to affordable housing, which has been ignored for the last five years.

Chapman Todd Division Director Catholic Charities

I

n the past four years, there has been an increased focus on the challenges faced by people that are chronically homeless. That’s really important because the emergency shelter system has become a longterm home for too many people. Bigger shelters are not the answer. Fortunately, I believe the tide is turning and that the emphasis has shifted towards the creation of much more permanent housing.

And that’s a great start. However, simply a renewed interest in permanent housing, as opposed to the building-up of the shelter system, is not enough. Now we really must work together to make a significant increase in the amount of permanent housing a reality – and a priority.

When the focus, for so long, has been on emergency shelter, maintaining a long-term commitment to the creation of permanent housing is no small task. The cause requires steadfast leadership to ensure reliable funding streams are in place to build, sustain and support the necessary housing stock. This is going to be a struggle: There will be pressures, as well as obstacles, to secure the funding, there will be communities reluctant to welcome formerly homeless neighbors, and there may be an inclination to declare victory and move on with the job half-done.

We need to collectively work together to make it unacceptable for people to be homeless in our area and in our country. Locally, it’s going to require a level of regional collaboration that isn’t currently in place. Nationally, it’s going to take a shift in funding priorities to place a higher value on the long-term solution of housing over the short-term stop-gap of shelters.

LOCAL NEWS

In honor of our fourth anniversary, Street Sense asked representatives from local government, service providers and advocacy organizations to share their views on the fight against homelessness in the last four years.

The Fight Against Homelessness What’s Working and What’s Not? Maria Foscarinis Executive Director National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

O

ver the past four years, advocates reached out across a range of issue areas to build coalitions to end and prevent homelessness. A diverse coalition came together to win enactment of new federal housing rights to prevent domestic violence survivors from becoming homeless, as part of the Violence Against Women Act — helping to address a major cause of homelessness for women. Advocates also reached out to children’s and education groups to push successfully for expanded education rights for homeless kids, as well as to enforce their existing rights.

Advocacy also focused on access to other “mainstream” programs, including public benefits like SSI and food stamps. Access to this aid became even more challenging for many homeless people as a result of I.D. requirements imposed after Sept. 11, 2001, and advocacy focused on fighting inappropriate barriers. In many cities, new crackdowns criminalized not only homelessness but also punished groups trying to help.

Groups around the country came together to learn how to advocate for the human right to housing in their communities. Advocates took the fight to the international level, presenting the injustice of U.S. homelessness to the UN human Rights Committee and to the InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights.

What works is building coalitions across the range of issues that drive and affect homelessness. What has not worked is fragmentation, diluting our voices, and fighting over resources that are way too small. What works is advocates and government coming together to work for solutions. What does not work is enacting laws to “sweep” homeless people out of sight.

We know how to end and prevent homelessness. Permanent affordable housing, adequate incomes, health and mental health care, child care, education — these are all part of the solution. This past year national advocates worked closely together in an effort to craft joint principles and strategies. Much more collaboration and advocacy is needed at all levels to build the political strength we need to make these solutions real.

Scott McNeilly Staff Attorney Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

L

ocally, passage of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 has produced significant changes.

HSRA has brought some clarity to the rights and responsibilities of providers and consumers of services. HSRA also created the D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness which holds considerable promise for addressing the lack of sufficient community input in the planning and administration of programs and the lack of coordination among government agencies and service providers.

The involvement of the City Administrator’s office in developing the Interagency Council and coordinating the efforts of the various agencies involved in delivering services to homeless or at risk residents is working very effectively. Although we still have a ways to go, we’re beginning to see that programs that have been subject to the ICH’s community input procedures are better designed to avoid potential problems and accomplish objectives.

The local commitment to production of affordable housing through the Housing Production Trust Fund and Local Rent Supplement Program has been critical to moving people out of shelters and off the streets and into housing. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been important in preventing people from becoming homeless, although we need to review whether the application procedures and eligibility criteria are fair and consistent among the various providers.

As far as what’s not working, the facilities where we provide emergency shelter are often in deplorable condition, are located in far-flung parts of the city making coordination with other essential services nearly impossible, and are far too large to ensure appropriate attention to the needs of individuals. We also still face significant challenges in ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to programs and services and in breaking down barriers to securing or retaining employment for people who rely on emergency shelter. Although we’re beginning to see changes, the delivery of case management and other services has been far too focused on compliance and obedience and hasn’t been of the quality necessary to help clients accomplish their objectives.

Looking down the road, our hope is to see significant progress on the Fenty administration’s commitment to transition the District’s homeless services system from one that is rooted in shelter to one that emphasizes – and provides – permanent housing as quickly as possible, with adequate support services if and when necessary.

This is a huge challenge in the District because of the high cost of housing in the private market. To be successful in such transition, there must be a greater investment in affordable housing, through both an expansion of the Local Rent Supplement Program as well as tax, zoning and other private market incentives to develop hard units. On the homelessness prevention side, we are advocating for additional protections for residents of properties whose landlords are opting out of the federal Section 8 program, so that they, or the District government, will have an opportunity to purchase their property and preserve it as affordable. We also are hopeful that the District’s New Communities Initiative will be faithful to its promise of lifting up neighborhoods for those who presently call the neighborhood home, rather than displacing them in favor of higher-income residents.

On the federal level, there must be a re-investment in the traditional housing assistance programs (public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program), as well as the use of innovative tools such as a National Housing Trust Fund.

See

Views, page 6

Representatives from D.C. government did not respond.

LOCAL NEWS

in other news

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007

By Mandy McAnally

California: San Francisco a Model for Homeless Services The number of chronically homeless people nationwide has decreased 11.5% from 2005 to 2007, and officials say San Francisco has played a big role in the decline. The number of chronically homeless in San Francisco dropped 38% during the same period. The city implemented several model programs to address homelessness that have been duplicated nationwide. The programs include expansions in supportive housing, on-street outreach counseling, and a bimonthly project that connects homeless people with essential services (Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/8).

New York: Number of Homeless Vets Up 67% Since 2005 The number of homeless veterans in New York has increased by about 67% since 2005, according to a new report.

There were 21,147 homeless veterans in New York last year, up from 12,700 in 2005. Some officials said the increase might be due to changes in how homeless individuals are counted.

Advocates recommend creating 5,000 housing units annually through 2012 that would link veterans with support systems.

They also recommend providing 20,000 more housing vouchers for homeless veterans and creating a program to help cover the income-rent gap (Franklin, AP/New York Newsday, 11/8).

Indiana: Homeless Migrating to Indianapolis The number of homeless veterans migrating to Indianapolis appears to be increasing each year. There are as many as 900 homeless veterans in the greater Indianapolis area. Advocates attribute the migration to Indianapolis-based Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center and other sources of help. A report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness said the number of homeless veterans statewide dropped to 1,200 in 2006 from 1,300 in 2005 (AP/Indianapolis Star, 11/8).

Texas: Homeless Make Up 10% of County Jail Population Dallas County commissioners have tentatively committed $1 million annually to found a new homeless assistance center that they expect will reduce incarcerations at the county jail.

Their willingness to provide the annual funding was prompted by a new study showing that the homeless account for about 10% of the jail’s average daily population, at an annual cost to the county of at least $2.4 million. The county jail has become a de facto homeless shelter for many of the county’s estimated 6,000 homeless (Krause, Dallas Morning News, 11/6).

Minnesota: Advocates Host Forum on Homeless Rates Officials and advocates recently met in Minneapolis to discuss strategies for fighting homelessness in the state. A recent study showed more than 9,200 homeless, one-third of whom are children, live in Minnesota. More than half of the people in the study reported having been homeless more than once in the past three years. About 28% said they are employed and nearly 40% of homeless people said they lost their housing because they couldn’t afford rent. The study showed that there are about 625 homeless veterans on any given night (Collins, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 11/7).

Views, from page 5 Michael Stoops Acting Executive Director National Coalition for the Homeless

I

’ve been involved in the movement for over three decades, but in the last four or five years we have people talking eloquently, talking passionately about ending homelessness in America. I think that’s a wonderful thing.

What’s also changed is that cities around the country that have long been absent partners in this movement are now pulling up a seat at the table and developing 10year plans to end homelessness, which we see as a positive development. If they come up with a 10-year plan, we will hold them accountable to it. I wish it could be sooner than 10 years, but these things aren’t going to go away overnight.

In the ‘80s we focused on right to shelter, in the ‘90s we focused on the right to housing. Now what’s changed is there is really strong support for providing people with housing with supportive social services. Our movement has become more professional in a good way, and we are doing much much more than three hot meals and a cot. We know people need housing and they need counseling. There are so many homeless folks out there, we’re not able to provide it to all who want it or need it, but we’re doing it for a limited number of folks to show that housing with supportive services does help end a person’s homelessness.

We’re looking closely at the upcoming presidential campaign as a way to focus attention on poverty. We need to elect leaders in all races from all political parties who will make ending poverty in this country a priority. We simply need leadership in this country… It’s clear to all of us that we do have the resources to end poverty in this country if we want to, but right now there’s not enough political will to do so.

South Dakota: Number of Homeless Children Rising Kids under age eight are the fastest growing population of homeless people in South Dakota, officials said. Last year, more than 650 children in Sioux Falls were identified as homeless, and more than one-third of kids in the school district participated in the free or reduced meal program. A main cause for the increase is a lack of affordable housing. Advocates have called for more public-private partnerships to build more lowincome housing, particularly in Sioux Falls (Ramaekers, KELOLAND TV, 11/10).

Arlington, from page 1 housing situation, she said.

“If you read page four of the report, it says right there that employment or an adequate and liable source of income is crucial to individuals’ and families’ ability to move out of homelessness into permanent housing. So the fact that people are working is more positive than not.”

Arlington County will assess employment programs run by nonprofit groups to see whether the county can assist them, Turnage said. The number of persons who have a disability or who fall into the category of the chronically homeless will also be reviewed.

To house the homeless, a housing developer has developed 39 units of federally and locally funded permanent housing in Arlington County. County officials say permanent housing is essential.

“We feel very confident that we have the resources to provide whatever services folks need, but there needs to be permanent housing,” Piccola said.

The report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has been conducted annually since 2001 and counts the number of homeless in various jurisdictions in the Washington area, including the District, Maryland and Virginia suburbs and outlying counties.

In the report, each jurisdiction gave its own nuanced explanation of the results and how the region is handling the issue of homelessness.

In Arlington County’s report, the county highlighted its services for the homeless, specific numbers of the homeless within the county, what type of people are homeless, and the county’s plans to combat homelessness.

Your thoughts and editorials are welcome.

Write to editor@streetsense.org

INTERVIEW LOCAL NEWS 7

Street Sense . November 14 – 27, 2007

MY Two Cents

He Looks Into a Nutshell and Sees Infinite Space Cliff “the Moose” Carle’s photographs have been published in Street Sense every month since 2006.

“Cliff’s Pics” finds beauty in things often overlooked in everyday life.

Here, Cliff explains what makes his shutter click. street sense

Where do your ideas come from? I’ve seen your work come a long way at Street Sense.

By David S. Hammond

Street Sense photographer Cliff Carle is an “Air Force brat” who grew up all over the world. He says of Washington, “It’s sensory overload for a photographer, and I’m loving it!” Cliff has lived in D.C. since 1968 and currently resides at the CCNV shelter at Second and D streets, NW. I sat with Cliff in the church courtyard outside the Street Sense office near Metro Center to talk about his work. Cliff had a camera slung around his neck which he used to explain some technical points. He also excused himself to kneel, then lie flat on his stomach, for a photograph of an ant crawling across the flagstones.

‘‘

Cliff Carle: I got hit by a car back in 2005, and I knew I had some money coming from a settlement for my injuries. I had no job and I was living in a shelter, but something kept telling me “Get a camera.” I thought “Why do I want a camera?” But getting it was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’ve been having a ball ever since.

How do you work? Do you carry your cameras all the time, or just when you’re looking for subjects?

Cliff Carle: I carry them all the time, as much as humanly possible, although it’s a lot of weight. I’ve done over 12,000 photos, and that’s a conservative estimate. Last weekend I shot over 400.

If I see something interesting, I’ll take 10 shots from different angles.

What kinds of things do you like to shoot?

Cliff Carle: I love architecture, and the macro setting for closeups – things like flowers, bugs, drops of water. It’s a whole other world down there by our feet! I want to get ants on a bivouac, and when they’re on the move. And then I want to get a spider’s web with water misted on it, and also a drop of water just entering a pond or a puddle – that’s a classic. But you’ve got to get everything just right – the light, the angle, everything.

It’s a whole other world down there by our feet!

I want to get ants on a bivouac, and when they’re on the move. And then I want to get a spider’s web with water misted on it, and also a drop of water just entering a pond or a puddle – that’s a classic.

Cliff Carle: Portraits, well ... they’re okay. I’m not a big portrait fan. I might see something in a person’s face, so I’ll do it.

Had you used a camera before you started taking photographs for Street Sense?

Cliff Carle: I took about two years of photography courses in college, and one year at the Penn-Lemuel Center on Rhode Island Avenue. I also took mechanical drawing in junior high school and college. That’s where I get the lines from – when you’re learning how to work on industrial blueprints, you take an object apart and draw it to specifications from three perspectives: top, front, and side.

I also have a B.A. in applied mathematics from the old Federal City College. I learned about complex theorems and relationships, so I understand a bit about the process of the lenses.

What kind of camera do you use?

Cliff Carle: I have a Nikon D70S and a Nikon D200. I only use Nikon camera equipment because Karl Zeiss made the world’s finest lenses. It’s the lens that makes the photograph, not the bells and whistles.

‘‘

How did you start taking photographs for the paper?

Cliff Carle: My thing is, I like to work with a long depth of field. For example, I’ve always liked how the straight lines of a railroad track seem to converge, going off into infinity. And I like taking photographs of buildings from the ground, because the

And you’ve taken some very lively portraits for Street Sense.

lens makes the lines bulge, and you can’t get everything! Now I’m experienced enough that I can break the rules, and even duplicate interesting effects. I can do wild things with a camera like Evel Knievel could do wild things with a motorcycle.

What’s it like to use such powerful digital cameras?

Cliff Carle: It’s heaven for the photographer, except it’s no way to learn photography. When it’s set on automatic, it sets the shutter speed, aperture and white balance for you. On a manual or film camera, you have to learn to do all that for yourself. But I love these cameras – love them! It’s like that credit card commercial – “Nikon D70S – $1,200. Nikon D200 – $1,500. The experience of using them? Priceless!”

What’s next for you?

Your shots of buildings and the D.C. physical environment show a lot of variety.

Cliff Carle: There are so many kinds of buildings in D.C.! Roman, Greek, French, Chinese ... .

Cliff Carle: I’d like to show my work in a gallery and find new audiences.

“Cliff ’s Pics” can be found on pages 8 and 9.

NEWS LOCAL PHOTOS & POETRY

What Street Sense Means to Me S – ense is what we have.

T – hings we’ve done should be left in the past.

R – ealize I’m trying to get my life back together by selling Street Sense so I can have an income.

E – nough of having such low self–esteem. I’ll get myself together if you will help me once again.

E – veryday I think about the life I had and it hurts really bad.

T – rying to understand and loving the paper, because I’m getting support from people who want to help me get my life back in order.

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

Cliff’s Pics: Best Of Over the last year, vendor Cliff “the Moose” Carle has taken thousands of photographs throughout the Washington area. His themes have ranged from snow to architecture to flowers. Here are a few of his best photographs. To learn more about Cliff, read his interview on page 7.

S – tanding on a corner but I’m not panhandling today and that helps me feel like I’ve gone to heaven.

E – xcellent staff members and vendors all working together to make us feel a lot better.

N – ext thing you know you don’t feel as pitiful as before.

S – hocked twice by how well known Street Sense really is.

On my trip to Atlanta, Ga., when I took my papers out I thought I was getting ready to be mugged. A couple of young ladies hollered, “Street Sense! I have to get one of the papers. It’s all that!” I sold out before I could move an inch.

Shock number two. I had some papers when I went to my doctor’s office. Come to find out most of the staff were buying them from someone at Union Station.

E – very part of me is so proud because Street Sense has me on a cloud. The paper sells itself, because of its information, poems, photographs, and ways to receive help.

If we keep doing what we’re doing, we may become a junior Washington Post.

Instead of publishing twice a month, I know soon we’ll be a daily paper and it won’t be long.

So, to staff members, vendors, writers, and photographers I say, “Let’s go for it, you know and I know we can.”

Let’s make this dream come true.

This woman was planting bushes near the Smithsonian when I snapped this, and she gave me the best “Are you serious?” look. And the portrait-like background only emphasizes her stare.

— By Jo Ann Jackson

This is the Washington Gas building. I just like the perspective and depth of field in the picture; it makes me dizzy.

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

PHOTOS & POETRY

A Suburban Moment Layers of pale blue lavender and rose decorate evening clouds over Dulles Airport and a neighborhood of bungalows (blissful retreat for a tunnel dweller who rarely sees Virginia sky) A mammoth jet glides, majestic from the east She is only about three years old, but this little girl was fearless. She loved sledding and wanted no part of having Mommy or Daddy help her down the hill.

carrying the one who brought me here to her borrowed home weekend of suburban solitude soon will end when she returns weary from a frantic journey how will I explain to her the joy of this suburban moment?

— David Harris

Sunshine

Here is the escalator at the Medical Center Metro stop. I like dealing with depth of field and distances, and this is one of the longest escalators in the world.

I’m in way too deep now I’m in way over my head Consequences lying ahead of me are something that I dread I’ve seen the lowest of low and been the highest of high But when it’s all over something inside you dies I could be a coward lower my head and cry crawl into my cell then lie down and die But I know life’s not over my heart tells me to fight and if I look hard enough I see my freedom in sight Though I am behind these bars I’ll start my life anew Despite these walls around me My sun will still shine through — By L.M.

This is a close-up of a flower in the Smithsonian garden. I love the macro of this photo and how huge the pistils look.

10 FEATURES

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

My Turn At the Table

By Patricia Jefferson

Jaleo: A Spanish Tapas Bar That Translates Into Good Food

I

romesco (grilled asparagus with almond sauce); the second tapas was espinacas a la catalana (spinach sautéed with pine nuts, raisins and apples); and the third tapas was patatas bravas (very famous fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and aioli). He told me that he enjoyed all three dishes; they were delicious and cooked well. He especially liked the almond sauce on the grilled asparagus.

As an appetizer, I ordered the tapas manzanas con Manchego Pasamontés (apple and Pasamontés Manchego cheese salad with walnuts). I enjoyed this salad very much because the Manchego cheese, which is shredded, melts in your mouth. The entire salad was different and delicious, and tasted mild.

I’m not a vegetarian, so as my main course, I ordered pollo a la parrilla con salsa verde y sètas (grilled boneless chicken leg with green sauce, mushrooms and garlic sauce).

The chicken with green sauce was very good. It was tender and juicy, and the sauce was somewhat spicy but just right.

The mushrooms were delicate and tasty along with the garlic sauce, which made the dish taste tangy.

Afterwards, I ordered dessert. David, however, didn’t want any. I ordered the helados y sorbetes caseros con carquinyoliś (a choice of ice cream or sorbets made in–house with a traditional Catalan crisp). I decided to order the vanilla bean ice cream with a Catalan crisp—a crisp that looks like a biscotti.

The ice cream was delicious, rich and creamy, and the cookie was light in taste and good, although it was very crunchy.

The entire lunch for two came to $62.63 plus tip. It was well worth the price for the quality. I recommend Jaleo wholeheartedly and would definitely dine there again.

The restaurant is located at 480 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20004. Reservations are not required.

Desiree Perez /street Sense

had an opportunity to eat at Jaleo, a Spanish tapas bar and restaurant located in the fabulous and historic Penn Quarter, a neighborhood filled with museums and an array of unique restaurants in the downtown area.

The restaurant is in my path when I’m walking downtown in the mornings and returning in the evenings. It appears to be a popular restaurant that remains full. I viewed the many awards the restaurant has received over the years, including one for Best Restaurant in the World for Wine Lovers and one for Outstanding Food, Comfort and Value. When observing the customers dining through the elaborate and stylish lace curtains in the crystal-clear, large windows, the food appeared to be appetizing and well presented. José Andrés, the executive chef and owner, opened Jaleo 14-and-a-half years ago.

I met my lunch date, Street Sense volunteer David Pike, at the restaurant. He was waiting for me at the door when I arrived. When we entered Jaleo, it was very crowded, but we were able to get a table quickly. It was a pleasant day, and I believe the large crowd may have been due to the nice weather. After viewing the Spanish–accented décor and the murals of flamenco dancers, we became engrossed in the environment. Jaleo is relatively large, with a large TV at the bar. The hostess was efficient, and we were seated at a comfortable table with a padded bench on one side and padded chairs on the other. There was seating outside the restaurant as well.

My lunch date David and I took a few minutes to listen to the Spanish music playing throughout the restaurant and to Jaleo, located at 7th and E streets, NW, serves up tasty tapas. look at the menu, which was in Spanish, of course. David said he knew some Spanish and, therefore, could relay our orders While waiting for our meals, David described his experito the waitress. We did not, however, need to know Spanish ences in various countries as a journalist and said he has been to order our food. to many different restaurants over the years. He’s a vegetarian In the meantime, David ordered coffee. As David was fin- and said that he enjoys the variety of dishes on Jaleo’s menu. ishing his coffee, the waitress brought us water and bread David ordered tapas as his main meal. He said the tapas along with olive oil, which is a tradition to serve with bread. were filling and would serve as a complete meal. They all She also brought olives, pickles and onions to the table. were served in bowls. His first tapas was trigueros con salsa de

Volunteer David Pike, who accompanied Patricia Jefferson to Jaleo, died of a heart attack Nov. 5. Please read our tribute to David on page 1.

Putting Payday Loans Behind You

By Colleen Dailey If you’ve been a one– time or a regular customer at any of the 48 payday loan stores registered in the District of Columbia, be warned: these widespread establishments with their flashy neon signs, appealing messages (“Fast Cash NOW!”), and interest rates of 300% to 700%, may soon be disappearing.

On Sept. 18, the D.C. Council passed legislation that prohibits payday loan stores from charging more than the maximum annual percentage rate (APR) that banks and credit unions may charge: a limit of 24% that the payday lending industry says will put them out of business in the city.

When the Payday Loan Consumer Protection Act goes into effect, the District will join 13 states and territories where fast cash loans have either been banned or regulated out of existence. Critics of this new law – most of whom represent the payday loan industry – have argued that payday loan shops filled a need in the community, and therefore, some residents who need emergency loans will now have nowhere to go for help.

The truth is, several local credit unions have been offering payday loans at annual interest rates of 16.5% or less for two or three years. But without the marketing power of their for–profit competitors, these lower cost payday loans have been somewhat of a secret.

Clearly, a 15–day loan with a 16.5% APR is better than a 15–day loan with an APR of 300% to 700%, but regardless of the interest rate, the use of payday loans is generally unwise.

If you find yourself unable to make ends meet from one paycheck to the next, taking out a loan that must be repaid in two weeks or less is probably not a solution. Rather, it’s a temporary fix that is likely to mire you in more debt each time your paycheck arrives.

So what are the best alternatives to payday loans? The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and other consumer protection groups recommend these strategies to avoid payday lenders: • Request a pay advance from your employer.

• Consider a loan from family or friends and get the terms of the loan in writing.

• Explore small-loan options at local credit unions; they often have much longer repayment periods and better interest rates than payday loans. (For a list of local credit unions that are open to all District residents, contact the Maryland & DC Credit Union Association toll free at 1–800–492–4206 ext. 113, or download the list at www.mdcul.org.)

• Use a credit card advance (but be sure you understand the interest rate and repayment terms first).

• Request additional time to pay the bill from your creditors instead of taking a payday loan.

• Look into overdraft protection on your bank account so if you don’t have enough funds to cover a check you write, the bank will pay the check and you’ll avoid insufficient fund fees and returned check fees.

In addition to exploring the alternatives above, if you have

a significant amount of debt, you should seek help from a reputable credit counselor. Visit www.caab.org for a list of local agencies.

You would also be wise to start an emergency savings account and plan ahead to prevent future financial emergencies.

Try direct–depositing $10 to $25 each month into a savings account, and gradually increase that amount if you can afford to.

For a list of financial institutions that offer savings accounts with no monthly or minimum–balance fees for at least the first 12 months, and opening and/or monthly minimum deposit requirements of less than $25, visit http://www.dcsaves. org/enroll/Products.asp or call DC Saves at 202–419–1442.

By exercising all of these options and strategies, you can save hundreds – even thousands – of dollars in interest and increase your long–term financial security.

This regular financial column is presented by Capital Area Asset Builders, www.caab.org, a nonprofit organization that helps people of all incomes to improve their financial management skills, increase their savings, and build wealth. Send your questions or ideas for future topics to saving@caab.org.

Sign up for the Street Sense e-mail newsletter!

We’ll deliver our top stories to your inbox every two weeks.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Visit www.streetsense.org to join our list.

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

Cryptogram

by Robert Trautman

The Persistence of Poverty In “The Persistence of Poverty: Why the Economics of the Well–Off Can’t Help the Poor,” scholar Charles Karelis offers new and radical thinking on why some Americans wind up poor and others do not, and offers perceptive ideas to governments and nonprofit organizations on how to help people emerge from poverty.

Karelis, a George Washington University professor, explains that the belief that poverty is a persistent and natural part of the order of life has long been with us. For instance, the Bible quotes Jesus as saying that “for the poor you will have with you always.”

Does this need to be?

The primary reasons the poor remain poor is because they don’t work, they don’t finish school, they don’t save and they don’t live within the law, Karelis says.

At first reading, these reasons may seem simplistic, but on further consideration, they provide an insightful foundation from which to fight poverty.

“There is a constructive option,” he writes, “and that is to make the poverty– reducing behavior rational instead of irrational for the people who are poor.”

He goes on to examine each of these behaviors and what policy–makers can do to change them.

First, U.S. Census data show that poor people are likely not to work. For instance, in the year 2000, 51% of the poor between the ages of 18 and 64 did not work at all, as compared with 14% who were not poor.

Karelis says we must make work pay better. This means paying higher wages to encourage the working poor to increase the number of hours they will work and increasing the earned income tax credit margins that exempt lower paid workers from taxation.

Education can be seen as a kind of work, but work whose financial rewards will come only later, in the form of high wages. Many of the younger poor, however, do not make this connection.

Karelis argues that by offering students from low–income families more career training in specific vocations, a connection can be made that increases the economic appeal of schooling. You’ve see the ads on the back of buses that Metro is looking for qualified mechanics? Those jobs are well–paid and offer an incentive to get an education.

Saving is not often on the minds of the poor, given their tight incomes. Karelis argues they can avoid the stress of the inevitable “rainy day” by putting a bit of their income away every month. The government can encourage this saving by backing high-interest rates for low–income savers.

Karelis writes that much that is said about work and about education can also be said about crime. The poor can be encouraged not to sacrifice the long– range income of steady work for the dicey

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

OBN OIKVAGN RFOB ANFPM QKKI FC OBDO FO ODUNC VQ DGG XKVI OFYN – RFGGNY SN UKKPFPM Hint: K = O

October Solution: You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it – Bill Cosby

Street Su-Do-Ku The Persistence of Poverty: Why the Economics of the Well-Off Can’t Help the Poor

3

October Solution

bOOK rEVIEW

FEATURES & GAMES 11

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

By Charles Karelis (Yale University Press, 2007)

benefits of immediate income they get through crime. He writes that a “generalist” criminal was found to make about $5,700 a year during the time he was not in jail whereas the legitimate minimum wage employee would have made about $7,900 after taxes.

Karelis argues that the odds of punishment should be raised and sentences lengthened to make honest work pay far better than a life of crime.

This, he writes, “…is likelier to be effective than strategies built on the assumption that criminals are dysfunctional and hence unresponsive to sticks and carrots of this kind.”

Karelis’ work is grounded by two competing and well–known concepts of economic justice.

One is that people are entitled to whatever they can produce themselves or can get by trading. The other is that an allocation is just when it is proportionate to individuals’ needs, in the familiar phrase “to each according to his needs.”

Karelis advocates for small transfers of wealth from the rich to the poor. He argues that such transfers do not shrink the overall economic pie, but actually make it larger by giving the poor more to spend on their needs and the rich a bit less.

Transfers also encourage the rich to work harder, thereby making the pie larger.

He says that “…such transfers can be expected to wring extra utility from the transferred dollars themselves, while at the same time increasing the work motivation of both the well–off donors and the poor recipients, on whom there is exerted both a positive income effect and a positive substitution effect.”

9 7 8

6

1 8

3 5 6 1

5 9

6 7

9

6

5

8

1

7

2

4

7

5

1

2

6

4

3

8

9

8

4

2

9

7

3

1

5

6

4

7

8

3

1

2

9

6

5

2

3

9

6

5

7

8

4

1

1

6

5

8

4

9

2

7

3

6

8

7

1

9

5

4

3

2

9

2

4

7

3

6

5

1

8

5

1

3

4

2

8

6

9

7

4 2 8

3

9 2 5

3 9 2 4

2 7

3

7

9 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

12 EDITORIALS

MAURICE SPEAKS

By Maurice King

Ignoring the Problem Won’t Make It Go Away

N

o t l o n g a g o, I s a t with a friend of mine whom I met when we both lived at CCNV. He has since moved into housing. We were channel–surfing, trying to find something interesting to watch on television on a Sunday, which is often a difficult day for finding good programs.

At one point, he landed on a program that started out with a story about a young girl who is a good student in school but, who, like thousands of others, is homeless. My friend immediately said, “This looks like it’s going to be depressing,” and quickly changed the channel.

I had to agree that the program was probably going to be less than a happy story and was probably going to ask some very painful questions that a lot of viewers would prefer to sidestep, so my friend’s reaction was probably a reaction shared by a large number of other viewers.

However, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment at the same time. After all, my friend had been in the same situation himself not long ago, and it was as if he were saying, “It doesn’t concern me anymore,” when he just decided to

switch channels so easily.

His reaction also ignored the fact that I, his best friend, am still in that situation. I had a decidedly ambivalent feeling that we did not watch the program, almost as if we were showing disinterest in the plight of those homeless school children who could easily be our children or grandchildren.

There is no question that the homeless experience is unpleasant and makes many people uncomfortable when they hear about it. Most people would rather keep the homeless out of sight, out of mind.

However, is such an attitude defensible? The problem still exists, and closing one’s eyes to the problem does not make it go away.

When people who are formerly homeless close their eyes to the situation, it could be because the memories of being homeless are too painful for them to bear, but are these people not the ones who can best advocate for the homeless?

Do they have a moral obligation to advocate for the homeless rather than to deny any association with them?

These questions are not easy ones to answer. They arouse a lot of deeply rooted emotions that not everyone wishes to face. Yet, in truth, the homeless are in need of advocates who can assist them, and the formerly homeless are a valuable resource population.

When a person can say, “I’ve been in that situation,” that person’s credibility is increased a thousand–fold in terms of the power of their message. That’s what counts.

I am aware that for a person seeking light entertainment, a documentary dealing with homeless school children would certainly not be a program of choice. However, the problem is that too many people would readily change the channel and ignore the plight of the homeless. Too many people just walk by the homeless on the street and ignore them. The leading complaint among the homeless is that nobody cares, and it’s easy to understand why.

When the people who are turning a blind eye and are showing indifference are the formerly homeless themselves, there really is no excuse for such an attitude.

As much as the homeless feel abandoned, the last thing they need is to be abandoned by the formerly homeless population, who should be the most sympathetic to their plight.

It may be painful to remember what it is like to be homeless – and no doubt many formerly homeless persons have to recover from the trauma of having been homeless – but no one can pretend that the problem of homelessness has vanished, because it can happen to anyone; no one is immune.

Maurice King has been writing for Street Sense since January 2004. E–mail him at benadam@cyberdude.com.

Jumpstarting a Job Search is Tough But Necessary

By Moyo Onibuje

I

’m inviting Street Sense readers along in my journey to face the obstacles that have kept me jobless, and as a consequence, homeless, for two-and-a-half years. I have not been sober and settled enough to organize the job search process. I have also been a coward in facing my responsibilities to myself.

I hated the prospect of getting a résumé together because I didn’t want to face up to the mess my life had become.

Now that I’m relatively stable, I’ve got to face the daunting task of putting together a résumé , then fitting together the various bits and pieces of my life.

Homeless and disenfranchised people have various self–defeating thoughts that keep them from taking that first step in the job search: “I’ve got no I.D.” “I’ve got an interrupted job history.” “I’ve got a permanent disability.” “It’ll affect my benefits.”

“I can’t get no references.” “I have no access to my credentials.”

“I don’t have a portfolio.” “I’ve got no work experience.” “I don’t have access to a computer.” “I’ve got no clothes.” “I don’t have transportation money.” “I’ve been incarcerated.”

The list goes on and on.

But there is always a danger that if you keep giving excuses for not doing something, sooner or later you will start to believe the excuses and they will become reality.

After experiencing so many troubles, I had actually forgotten the science of finding a job, which basically involves: 1) Evaluating your past work experience and future goals.

2) Organizing this in a detailed and professional format called a résumé – make it relevant and state your goals clearly.

3) Searching the various employment outlets for jobs matching your work experience and future development desires.

You need a résumé to get you through the door and show your suitability for the position you’re applying for. It’s also motivational for you because it represents your hope of making an income that will elevate you and your family above your present circumstances.

A résumé is a vivid written description of the last five to 10 years of your work experience, personal development and goals. It helps the prospective employer decide if you should be selected for the interview process. It lists education, work experience, computer skills, leadership experiences and references. You can print your résumé out on paper, e–mail it to employers or even post it online on job search Web sites.

It’s important to get feedback upon completion of your résumé and your reference list.

A reference list should be separate from your résumé . Typically you list three to eight references. Remember, the object of references is to establish your credibility in all areas – responsibility, reliability, punctuality and so on.

Most homeless people, me included, don’t have any references.

This is why it’s important to discuss such things with your case manager, if you have one, or another relevant professional.

What do you do with a résumé once you print it or save it?

You’ve got to get it into the hands of the right people. Remember, if you believe in yourself, no obstacle is insurmountable.

Now that you have your résumé , the next step is to apply for a job.

Don’t forget the resources for job seeking, which include: newspapers, agencies, the Internet and job fairs. E–mail and posting on the Internet have overtaken traditional outlets such as mailing and faxing.

If you do decide to post on an Internet job Web site, you have to register and get a password. Safety issues are also paramount; you might want to include an e–mail address in place of your real address. Remember to delete the résumé once you get a job and always try to repost it every 14 days to keep it current.

In the cover letter, professionalism and formatting are very important. The letter needs to be addressed to a specific person

within the organization and you need to match your skills and experience to the vacant position. If you are applying because of a referral, mention it.

Once you select a position to apply for, you’ve got to decide how to get your résumé to the prospective employer. Methods include faxing, e–mailing, mailing or dropping it off in person.

Remember a résumé is not an application form; you may still have to fill one out if you are called for an interview.

Once you’ve got the résumé in, it’s really a waiting game. You have to develop patience.

Assuming you are successful, you’ve got to learn the techniques of job interviewing –body language, dressing, grooming, arriving on time and answering questions prospective employers may ask.

Find out as much about the company as possible before you go for the interview. Endeavour to get a detailed job description as soon as possible.

You have got to remember to dress for the part, so obviously a couple of suits in your wardrobe will help because first impressions always count. Don’t forget to groom yourself.

Next, make sure to ask about length of probation, drug tests, benefits, promotional prospects and other topics important to you. Good luck!

There is always a danger that if you keep giving excuses for not doing something, sooner or later you will start to believe the excuses and they will become reality.

Street Sense vendor Moyo Onibuje grew up in Nigeria and England and loves to read.

Read August Mallory’s Letter from Seattle on our blog at www.streetsense.org

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

EDITORIALS 13

street sense anniversary

By James Davis

From Homeless to Homeowner

I

t hardly seems like four years ago that I walked into the Street Sense office on 14th and K streets, NW, to see just what a street newspaper was all about.

I didn’t quite know what to expect, but what I saw were people who had a sense of pride and dedication etched on their faces. Two college grads, Ted Henson and Laura Thompson Osuri, took the paper from its humble beginnings with shared office space with the National Coalition for the Homeless and made it into arguably the No. 1 street newspaper in America.

I was a resident of Central Union Mission at the time and had just started receiving unemployment compensation after being laid off from BAE Systems, a defense contractor.

I looked at the newspaper as an opportunity to supplement my income while in search of another job.

What I didn’t know is that not only would I become a vendor for Street Sense, but I also would start volunteering in the office twice a week and would go out on the streets to recruit new vendors.

I also decided to join the National Coalition for the Homeless Speakers Bureau, and solicit signatures on a newly proposed bill in Congress, the Bring America Home Act. During my four years with Street Sense, I have been blessed not only with meeting wonderful and interesting people who became regular customers but by the whole experience of helping those less fortunate than myself.

I have had the opportunity to appear on a national television show, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and to be quoted in a number of news publications, including The New York Times Magazine.

After working more than 20 years as an

electronics engineer, it’s ironic that I would become somewhat famous as a person who experienced homelessness.

Presently I can be seen on YouTube in a video called “James’s Story,” filmed by a graduate of the Travel Channel Academy. Imagine that!

I enjoy immensely the work that I do in breaking down stereotypes that people may have about those experiencing homelessness.

I have traveled around the country with the National Coalition for the Homeless Speakers Bureau, educating the next generation of leaders, activists and advocates. I also enjoy serving on the board of directors for the paper.

I have had the remarkable opportunity to have my poetry published in “Street Verses,” a poetry book available from vendors and online at www.streetsense.org.

I congratulate all our vendors who have benefited in a positive way from being with the Street Sense family. I would also like to thank all of my customers from the bottom of my heart for supporting me over the years, and especially Karen Bruch, store manager at Ritz Camera in the District, for recognizing my work ethic and friendly interaction with customers and offering me a job on the very same corner I sold Street Sense. She has a heart of gold and a truly remarkable personality. She also hired one of our former vendors to do odd jobs at the store when needed.

Special thanks to the staff, Ted, Laura, David Hammond and Jesse Smith, who have all encouraged me and been very supportive through my good and bad times. They gave me the strength and motivation to push onward and continue to do so with others.

Presently I am renting a room in a private home but am in the process of purchasing a town home near Forest Glen, Md. I have hopes of renting out a finished basement to deserving Street Sense vendors on a short-term lease to allow them to save and eventually get their own places.

With the help of generous and kind people who support the vendors and this organization and God’s help, this can definitely be accomplished. I thank you all once again and look forward to our fifth anniversary.

street sense anniversary

No Longer Running on Empty

I

first heard about a newspaper starting up and its need for salespeople through Fred, the first vendor manager at Street Sense, at Miriam’s Kitchen in October 2003.

At the time, I was still recovering from having been kidnapped and carjacked. I’d stolen my car back and was hiding out on Capitol Hill, but that’s another story.

Anyway, I was still sleeping in my car when Fred passed through Capitol Hill again with the first issue of Street Sense in November 2003.

I signed up as a vendor the next day and ran out of gas at the Tidal Basin on my way home. I had no money and no gas can, only Street Sense papers.

Dear Street Sense, Yours is one of my two favorite newspapers – the other being the Washington Post. I particularly like the stories of your vendors, employees, and associates. But then I love the art, the poetry, the photographs. ... I read Street Sense cover–to–cover, and redistribute it to others in our community. I find myself always rooting for everybody that you feature, plus all the other homeless people in your town.

Best regards, Marie Conlin, Chair Samaritan Group (Eastern Shore) Koki, I just wanted to send a super big thank you for the technology edition of your e-mail newsletter – it is extremely useful to me in terms of teaching in the classroom. I am an instructor of a JOUR 1001 class at the Univ of Colo.–Boulder, so being able to bring homeless issues into the Internet realm and to have concrete examples instead of hypotheticals is incredibly helpful. Thank you for helping bring these issues to life for my students!

Sincerely, Courtney Goodheart

It felt strange putting on the Street Sense I.D. for the first time, but I did, and by the time I got to the gas station I had sold enough papers to get a gas can and fill it with gas.

This made me a believer in the Street Sense paper and my ability to make money in sales.

Street Sense sales have been a constant source of income for me over the last four years. I’ve sold more papers than any other vendor during that time.

The income has allowed me to rent a room, put gas in my car (when I had one) and enjoy being a respected part of the Capitol Hill community.

I might dine at Mr. Henry’s and listen to jazz while I eat a Reuben sandwich. Sometimes I stop for the happy hour at the Banana Cafe, but the employees and patrons of Finn McCool’s opened their hearts, invited me in and have gotten me hooked on the food from their chef.

Between them, my friend at Las Placitas and Marty’s, I get decent meals on a regular basis.

I’d like to thank all of the business owners, employees, street vendors and patrons who have been so helpful over the years.

Conrad Cheek Jr. has sold Street Sense for four years and loves to play chess.

street sense anniversary

By Allen Jones

Like a Newborn Child

Vendor James Davis serves on the Street Sense board of directors.

What our REaders are Saying...

By Conrad Cheek Jr.

T

his November commemorates the fourth year that Street Sense has been established in the nation’s capital as a nonprofit organization focusing on grassroots, national, political and socioeconomic issues.

In the early beginnings, the two founders had the idea to start a street newspaper.

I, along with a few other vendors, started selling the paper during its earliest stages of growth.

Like a newborn child coming into an unfamiliar world, Street Sense has navigated through the uncharted terrain of this city, covering hard–hitting issues that affect society locally and nationally.

I’ve been a witness to its growth ever since it shared suites with the National Co-

alition for the Homeless, its sponsor before Street Sense received its 501(c)3 status.

It’s been an incredible experience to be associated with the pioneering efforts of this organization and to witness it grow to maturity.

In this city I see what is called the silent populace, the underprivileged, whose opinions and views are nearly never heard in the halls of Congress and legislative hearings.

This populace now has a platform through the matter–of–fact, to–the–point stories in Street Sense.

This reminds me of the civil rights era when African–Americans would protest and march in demonstrations on a consistent basis to reach their objective.

In comparison, Street Sense has consistently reported information to the public about human rights and civil liberties that everyone should possess.

Through selling this paper, I’ve gained a wider vision of social, political and economic factors in society and their ramifications for the neglected, marginalized and disenfranchised.

Let us hope for the continued growth of Street Sense and its consistent news reporting.

Allen Jones has been a Street Sense vendor for four years and loves to play tennis.

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

14 SERVICE PROFILE

Provider Profile

Saturday Morning Pancakes, Served with a Smile

By Desiree Perez

desiree perez/street sense

Every other Saturday, St. George’s Episcopal Church holds a different kind of service: it serves breakfast to the homeless in a ritual it calls the Kwanzaa Kitchen Breakfast Program.

The program was established in 1992 by parishioner LaMonte Wyche Jr., who was inspired by the community kitchen programs organized by the Black Panther party.

He founded the Kwanzaa Kitchen Breakfast Program in order to offer the same valuable service to the needy in D.C. Originally, the outreach ministry program served about 20 needy and homeless patrons and employed a volunteer staff of four. Today, the program is staffed by roughly 15 volunteers and serves nearly 300 breakfasts any given Saturday.

“The primary goal is to provide a hot meal to the needy in the community, the less fortunate in the community, primarily homeless men. But we also feed families,” said Janis Evans, the program coordinator. “Any member of the community is welcome to join us for breakfast.”

The volunteers at the Kwanzaa Kitchen program get an early start. First-shift workers show up at 6:30 a.m. to begin preparations.

They set tables, mix pancake batter and get the food cooking on the stove. Pretty soon, it’s time to eat.

Patrons are welcomed in at 8:30 a.m. As diners walk down the flight of stairs that leads to the kitchen and the dining hall, the smell of bacon and eggs serve as an inviting

Janis Evans, the program coordinator, pours pancake batter in preparation for 300 breakfast guests.

wake-up call.

The dining area is reminiscent of a school cafeteria. There are plenty of folding woodtop tables and plastic chairs for every guest.

Children’s artwork and uplifting religious messages are posted on multicolored butcher paper on the walls.

Despite its relatively large size and the hustle and bustle, the Kwanzaa Kitchen Breakfast Program provides a homey atmosphere. Patrons can count on friendly service, a clean

and hospitable environment and plenty of good conversation.

At least one volunteer is always in the dining area, helping out or happily chatting with the guests, and before breakfast is served, patrons gather at the tables and enjoy a relaxing morning.

Some play chess; others unfold the morning’s newspaper and catch up on current events. Most have steaming cups of coffee.

Once the meal is ready, guests have their

orders taken and in a few minutes they get plates of freshly scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, pancakes, fruit and grits or cold cereal.

The program provides juice, coffee, salt and pepper, butter — and Aunt Jemima syrup.

Patron Richard Williams describes the Kwanzaa Kitchen as “a place where people can go, get something to eat, [and] get off the streets for a bit.” The program was important to the community “because we don’t have a lot of places like this,” Williams said.

Come 10:30 a.m., the last of the customers trickle out and clean-up begins. It’s near the end of a busy morning, but the volunteers are stil smiling and still bustling about.

Volunteers must be willing to get up early and put in a great effort, but anyone can help, Evans said.

“Primarily what it takes [to volunteer] is a lot [of] enthusiasm, and a lot of energy, and a lot of drive to really want to serve people and make a difference in the community. It has to come from the heart and the spirit,” Evans said. “That’s really what it takes.”

Volunteer C.C. Jeter has come to feel a deep sense of community while working at Kwanzaa Kitchen. She values the services the program provides so much that she brings her teenage daughter Perri and young son Jaleel to the program to volunteer with her.

Her family is so involved, C.C. said, that every Saturday morning Jaleel wakes up early and asks his mother, “Mom, are we going to feed the people?”

St. George’s Episcopal Church is located at 160 U Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Get Two More Issues of Street Sense a Year Delivered Right to Your Door!

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

Order a subscription today.

Not only will you receive 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: ___________________________________ Email: ________________________________ Please make checks payable to Street Sense.

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

Thanks for your support!

FEATURES 15 SERVICE PROVIDERS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Street Sense . November 13 – 27, 2007

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

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

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

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

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

Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Street Sense Through the Years

2003

2004

2005

2006

Support “Four More Years” of Street Sense As there is no president running for re-election this cycle, Street Sense has decided to start its own re-election campaign. So while Street Sense celebrates its first four years, we are making the familiar campaign call, asking the public for “Four More Years.”

Like presidential candidates, Street Sense needs funding to make our re-election bid a success. And we are calling on readers to give what you can to help Street Sense to raise $24,000 to accomplish all our goals in the next term.

But unlike presidential candidates, Street Sense will uphold promises and truly help those who are poor and homeless.

So read the initiatives to the right and decide how you want to support Street Sense accomplish all our goals in “Four More Years.”

To Support “Four More Years,” I Will Donate: ___ $44 because it’s made up of two fours. ___ $60 to pay for one month’s transportation for one vendor, expanding Street Sense’s vendor network into the suburbs. ___ $100 to help pay for two public service anouncements on Metro buses, increasing awareness about Street Sense. ___ $250 to pay for one week’s salary for an editorial assistant, improving the paper’s design and its investigative news coverage. ___ $500 to pay for the space rental for Street Sense community forums, raising more awareness about poverty issues. ___ $1,000 to pay for one vendor scholarship, helping Street Sense vendors further their education and start small businesses. ___ $1,200 to help pay for the printing of one issue, when Street Sense goes weekly in 2010.

My Information Name:____________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_____________________________________________ Phone:_______________________E-mail:_______________________

___ Another amount of $_______ Please make checks payable to Street Sense Mail to: Street Sense, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

You can also donate online at www.streetsense.org

Street Sense is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

November 13 -- 27, 2007 • Volume 5• Issue 1

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

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

We’ve Gone Biweekly!

Look for a New Issue Every Other Wednesday. *This means two more issues a year.*