12 12 2007

Our vendors debate the existence of God in this special issue on faith, page 6

$1.00 Suggested Donation

Where the Washington area's poor and homeless earn and give their two cents December 12, 2007 – December 26, 2007

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Volume 5, Issue 3

More Poor in District

www.streetsense.org

VENDOR VOICES

FAITH MATTERS

Spirituality Needs No Roof

A Gift That Keeps On Giving

By Margaret Thomas

See

Poor, page 7

T

DANIEL JOHNSON/STREET SENSE

Alfredo Lopez has had several jobs, including assessing property and teaching. However, since he became homeless two years ago, he has not been able to find work.

“I need a permanent place to live,” said the 61-year-old resident of Blair Transition House, which offers temporary housing and counseling services to the homeless. “If that doesn’t work, my only hope is that I get social security soon.”

Finding a job that pays a livable wage may be more difficult than Lopez realizes.

According to a recent study released by the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, economic conditions have worsened for many District residents in the last decade.

The report found that employment rates of employed blacks and residents with a high school diploma are near 30-year lows. Since the late 1990s, some 27,000 more D.C. residents have fallen into poverty.

“It is surprising and deeply troubling that large numbers of D.C. residents are falling behind when so many of the city’s economic indicators are at their best levels in decades,” Ed Lazere, executive director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, said. “The District’s well-known economic disparities are getting even worse.”

In D.C., a family budget is the second-highest in the nation after Boston. A basic family budget for a family of three in D.C. is $61,000. A low-wage resident earns $22,500 an-

By Eric Sheptock

Father Randolph Charles leads services at “Street Church” every Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Franklin Square Park.

By Melanie Lidman “Do you know the joys of Jesus Christ?” From her perch today under the overhang of the Martin Luther King Jr. public library in downtown D.C., Synthia North waits patiently for people to come hear her message.

Her clothes are worn but neat, a black skirt and navy blue blazer. She wears simple, sturdy black shoes. Most pedestrians hurry by; in this area, there are many homeless people that sit patiently all day, waiting for a few dollars. The two overstuffed plastic bags around her feet give away her precarious situation in life, and most people ignore her, not even looking as they pass by.

“Can I bless you?”

The simple request is surprising in its sincerity.

Synthia doesn’t ask for money, or food, or anything a passerby can give her. Instead, she waits patiently.

If someone stops to talk to her, she asks if she can give something to them. “Please, let me bless you,” she says.

There are many adjectives that come to mind when thinking of the word “homeless”: depressed, dirty, drunk. “Spiritual” is not normally a word that springs to mind.

There are no existing statistics or academic studies that explore the link between homelessness and spir-

Inside This Issue

ituality, but a large number of homeless people are very vocal about their love for religion and God. Aid organizations that provide food to the homeless often interweave religious messages with their bagged lunches. And many of the volunteers who work with the homeless are motivated by their faith to reach out to some of society’s most marginalized people.

Contrary to popular belief, homelessness is not always the result of addiction but rather the combination of a number of tragedies and challenges. It’s hard for someone on the outside to understand how someone who has suffered so many terrible things can continue to believe in God. But religious outreach workers see nothing strange in a homeless person’s unquestionable devotion to God. Area churches in the nation’s capital have developed programs that target homeless populations.

The National Community Church provides a weekly Bible session and distributes up to 75 bagged meals afterwards. Brian Lehman’s Church of the Homeless met daily at Union Station near the fountain for Bible study, discussion and often some food. The church disbanded in September when Lehman moved to Michigan.

The challenge some churches have found is that homeless individuals may want to attend services,

See

Faith, page 7

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

$16,000

LOCAL NEWS

Fuzzy Faith

Montgomery County Ruling

Cliff Carle explores icons of faith around the city, pages 8 and 9

Landlords can’t reject tenants simply because they receive federal housing assistance, page 5

The Street Healer

LOCAL NEWS

PROFILE

In Ivory Wilson’s latest story, a con artist is challenged at his own game, page 10

Calling All Hands

The Music Man

The D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness is looking for a few good men, page 4

One man uses music as therapy for autism and Alzheimer’s, page 3

FICTION

See Gift, page 13

$20,000

PHOTOGRAPHY

Focus on Faith

he Christmas season is upon us once again. Many gifts will be exchanged.

Almost as many will be returned – possibly because they were two sizes too small. However, the residents of Franklin School Shelter have begun to receive gifts that they can’t – and shouldn’t want to – return.

While the lease that would have allowed Franklin School to be turned into a “hip hotel” has not been totally reversed, it has been temporarily suspended. Those who believe in poetic justice might attribute the fact that Western Development Corp., the culprits who tried to take Franklin, lost its contract to build the garages for the new stadium.

Due in part to the efforts of the advocacy group Until We’re Home and in part to the fact that they would’ve been in some hot water if they hadn’t, D.C. government renovated the bathrooms at Franklin School. They are presently installing a new heating system.

Since the beginning of the year, several other improvements have been made to the facility. Volunteers have come in and painted the building and cleaned the courtyard. New

$12,000

$8,000

$4,000 $0

See Page 3 for more details.

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

2 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 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, Karen Brooks, Cliff Carle, Jane Cave, Jason Corum, Rebecca Curry, Rick Dahnke, Darcy Gallucio, Joshua Gardner, Arielle Giegerich, Genevieve Gill, Joanne Goodwin, Carol Hannaford, Sean Hardin, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Brooke Howell, Jo Ann Jackson, Mary Lynn Jones, Maurice King, Jo Knight, Geof Koss, Jessica LaGarde, Karin Lee, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Katie Leitch, Claire Markgraf, August Mallory, Mandy McAnally, Sam McCormally, Jeffery McNeil, Kate Mitchell, Kent Mitchell, Moyo Onibuje, Swinitha Osuri, Michael Patterson, David Pirtle, Jamie Schuman, Dan Seligson, Eric Sheptock, Kat Shiffler, Jennifer Singleton, Katie Smith, Patty Smith, Kathryn Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Margaret Thomas, Francine Triplett, Eugene Versluysen, Linda Wang, Dan Weingarten, Kelly Wilson, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu VENDORS Willie Alexander, Michael Anderson, Jake Ashford, Tommy Bennett, Kanon Brown, Bobby Buggs, Leonard Cannedy, Cliff Carle, Alice Carter, Conrad Cheek Jr., Anthony Crawford, 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, Jo Ann 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.

International Network of Street Papers

Street Sense Vendor Code of Conduct 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Nov. 28 – Dec. 11 Donors Laura Akgulian

John and Ruth Ferrill

Harold Sharlin

Ron Ball

Kate Gersh

Barbara Ucko

Michael Benedict

Patricia Henry

Wes Wassam

Hope Childs

Christopher Hertz

Jeffery Cook

Amy Hubbard

Special thanks to:

Mary Rose Curtis

Patricia G. Kenworthy

Jack and

Janet Cyphers

Pam Kesner

Amanda Cutts

MaryAnn McKibben

Carolyn Libson

Kenneth T. Durham

Dana

Julie Long

Christine Luby

Jason Corum and

Janice Moskowitz

Terri Nally and

Kate Dixon

Mary Grace A.

Ric Weibl

Mariann and

O’Malley

Ane Powers

Fran Durante

Sophie Prevost

Jackie and

Libby Dohm

Rebecca Reeve

Bob Van Hook

Daniel Farnbach

Thank You!

10.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 Laura Osuri 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 . December 12 – 26, 2007

PROFILE 3

SERVICE PROFILE

He Uses Music to Reach Out to Those in Need

By Patty Smith with Melanie Lidman

“Music resonates with everyone,” Grabiel said.

It is a way of healing.

COURTESY OF PABLO GRABIEL

On a recent day, I met a man on 13th and L streets. He had on a dark jacket and a nice pair of blue jeans. He wore a ponytail and had a pleasant-looking face.

His name is Pablo Grabiel, and he is a musician and a music therapist. He works with autistic, disabled children and adults, including elderly suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Grabiel said the work he has done is important to him because he gets to help others with life challenges.

Music, he said, is a way of healing. “Music resonates with everyone … with people from all different backgrounds. There’s music for funerals, music for weddings, music for birth,” he said. “I find it to be a way to connect with a wide range of people.”

When he works with the elderly, Grabiel plays music they can connect to, and they reminisce together. Seeing Alzheimer’s patients actively engaged in his music is a high for Grabiel. He speaks of moving experiences of playing duets with a man suffering from Alzheimer’s, actually seeing his mind working as the man picked out the melody by ear after not playing piano for four or five years.

With children, Grabiel uses music to teach behavior modification among other things. After observing autistic kids for a few weeks, he would write songs to help them such as “I ask before I grab,” “I share my toys,” or “I don’t hit when I’m mad.”

Grabiel has lived in Washington, D.C., for three years but was raised in California. He said his family was musically inclined but he wasn’t as a child. He had a turning point at 19, when he taught himself to play guitar. Since

Pablo Grabiel, right, uses music to work with autistic children and seniors with Alzheimer’s.

then, he has been hooked.

Today, Grabiel is 29, and he performs and provides musical services at more than 65 nursing, assisted-living and independent-living communities in metropolitan Washington.

Grabiel has the ability “to connect with residents, and be able to take them back through music to happier times in their lives … just make them smile,” said Brooke Trabucco, the dementia activity coordinator at Fairfax Nursing Home who has known Grabiel for two-anda-half years. “Through his music he’s always been able to involve all the residents. Some residents who won’t talk a whole lot will start singing along.”

Grabiel went to college at the University of California in Los Angeles and takes music

classes at the University of the District of Columbia. He married his college sweetheart, Danielle. They don’t have any children, but they have two cats.

How did you get into working with specialneeds populations?

I guess I just kind of fell into it naturally because my parents are very community-service oriented. I grew up in Los Angeles and studied psychology at UCLA where I worked for a summer as a counselor for at-risk youth. I found the work extremely challenging, but very rewarding. When I graduated, I got a job working with families with children with developmental disabilities. Though I’m now more focused on music than psychology services, I still do a lot of work with the elderly and other specialneeds populations. I play for numerous senior-

citizen homes in the District.

Tell us about your community service work.

Working for the community is something that my mother and father helped to instill in me when I was growing up. I spent a lot of time volunteering at homeless shelters and shelters for abused women. I have a lot of great memories from these experiences, and I guess I’ve carried that into adulthood.

Most recently I have been working with the Brookland Community Development Corporation in northeast D.C. I helped organize two stages of music for the Brookland Day Festival in September. We are working on a new project to bring live music to the12th Street commercial corridor in Brookland. I also provided a jazz duet at the Thanksgiving meal for homeless people through a local youth program on Nov. 27.

Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

Well, I have a couple of bands right now and we have been writing some music. In five to 10 years, I would hope to have recorded a few albums of original material — some mine, some with my colleagues but original. It would also be great if some of my little community projects took off.

You can hear Pablo Grabiel’s music on his Web site, www.grabielismo.com.

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.”

To Support “Four More Years,” I Will Donate:

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.

___ $100 to help pay for two public service anouncements on Metro buses, increasing awareness about Street Sense.

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.”

___ $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.

___ $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.

My Information

___ $1,200 to help pay for the printing of one issue, when Street Sense goes weekly in 2010.

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

___ Another amount of $_______ You can also donate via credit card and make reoccurring contributions online at www.streetsense.org.

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

4 LOCAL NEWS

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

Nine Vacancies on Interagency Council on Homelessness

By Kent Mitchell The District’s Interagency Council on Homelessness is seeking to fill nine empty council seats from among advocates for the homeless, homeless or formerly homeless people, and organizations that serve the homeless.

There are two vacancies for advocates for the homeless, two for homeless or formerly homeless individuals and five for representatives of service organizations.

This is the first time the 30-member council has advertised such a large number of vacancies at one time. The council was created in 2005 by the Homeless Services Reform Act to promote greater coordination among District government agencies and to enable community input into strategic planning.

The number of openings is due to a range of reasons, officials said. Some people have moved away; others have changed jobs and are no longer eligible within their category on the council; and others have simply dropped out.

The council has been meeting more frequently and growing in relevance over the last six months, providing input into the closing of the city’s only family shelter, D.C. Village, approving a plan to bring the homeless in from the cold during the winter months, and holding bimonthly public meetings to facilitate short-term and long-term planning around housing supply and other issues.

The council now publicizes its public meeting dates months in advance, a development

lauded by many advocates, and recently divided its members into three standing bodies – a steering committee, a strategic planning committee, and an operations and logistics committee – to enable faster results. It has also moved its public meetings out of the Wilson building and to different sites among homeless service providers to encourage more participation from the community.

A Web site, which will serve as a clearinghouse of information, host a consistently updated shelter count, and provide a discussion forum on shelter conditions, is expected to be operational within a month.

Cheryl K. Barnes, the only member of the council who is formerly homeless, said she believes the intergovernmental body has great potential.

“We are looking to change the way of looking at homelessness,” she says. “There is always going to be a need for shelters, but they don’t need to become a way of life.”

Barnes particularly hopes that other homeless individuals step forward to serve on the council, noting that, through service, “We can have our voices at the table on how, when and what we’d like to see put in place.”

“As a general standard, we need folks who are interested in collaboration, optimistic

about the possibilities and who are eager to partner across the public-private line,” said Schroeder Stribling, a council member and program director at the women’s shelter N Street Village.

“Diversity is a significant concern and by diversity I mean that, in the context of service providers, we want people who are contracting with government, but also those that aren’t,” said Scott McNeilly, chairperson of the council’s steering committee and a staff attorney at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

“To the extent we can, we also hope to identify those who have been through the various systems, such as the family system or single system, supportive housing or transitional housing,” he said.

Others noted that the council could benefit by including seniors and people with disabilities among its members.

Any District resident may apply for a vacancy by submitting a one-page application to the District’s Office of Boards and Commissions (OBC) along with a resume or biography. The application can be found on OBC’s Web site (www.obc.dc.gov). Applications are reviewed

by OBC, shared with the city administrator’s office and then sent to Mayor Adrian Fenty for

The Interagency Council has been meeting more frequently and gaining relevance in the last six months.

approval.

Laura Zeilinger, a program analyst with the city administrator’s office, said that while there is no deadline for applications, city officials will begin the evaluation process once applications reach a critical mass. Final approval rests with the mayor and requires a swearingin ceremony.

Council members interviewed for this story gave credit to the Fenty Administration, the City Administrator’s office, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) for prioritizing their work. “They [DHS] are taking this on with gusto,” Stribling said.

To advertise the nine open positions, the council is undertaking a range of formal and informal outreach, such as discussing the vacancies at public meetings and talking to colleagues within the provider, advocacy, and homeless District communities. A summary document expanding on membership criteria is being distributed through both formal and informal outreach and has been shared with the OBC. While the OBC is responsible for listing vacancies on all District boards and commissions, the current vacancy list on its Web site has not been updated since August of this year and shows only one vacancy for the homeless panel.

The next public meeting of the Council is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at N Street Village, 1333 N Street NW, continuing the council’s efforts to meet in community settings.

Honor Those Who Have Died While Homeless in the District of Columbia Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2007 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

McPherson Square Park 15th and K Streets, NW Contact Michael O’Neill at moneill@nationalhomeless.org

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 thanks the following people for their generous donations in memory of DAVID PIKE Joan Anderson Nancy H. Evoy Georgette Frederick Landis Gabel Joanna K. Griffith Gabel Lina Greenhouse Alan and Elizabeth Griffith Ann Lassiter and Doug MacMillian Mary G. Lynch Alan and Anne Morrision Roy Rodriguez Sue and Rodger Schlickeisen R. Ford Schumann David A. Sellers Kathleen Sylvester

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

LOCAL NEWS 5

Landlords Can’t Discriminate Against Section 8 Tenants

By Andy Zieminski Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS – Montgomery County landlords cannot turn away low-income renters simply because they receive federal Section 8 housing assistance, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 30.

The high court rejected arguments that enforcing the county’s housing law, which prohibits discrimination based on income among other factors, would essentially require landlords to participate against their will in the voluntary assistance program.

“This is a victory for the civil rights community and for the affordable housing community. It’s a victory all around,” said Michael Dennis, compliance director for the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, which investigates housing discrimination in the county.

Dennis said the decision directly affects Montgomery and Howard counties, the only Maryland jurisdictions with laws that prohibit housing discrimination based on a person’s sources of income.

A lawyer for Glenmont Hills Associates, which had challenged the county law, said Friday the Silver Spring landlord will “very likely” appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“This was an interesting issue, but an issue that I thought was fairly clear, that a

county could not force a landlord to participate in the Section 8 housing program when Congress had made that participation voluntary,” said Jay Holland.

Holland noted that his client voluntarily participates in other housing assistance programs, including one sponsored by Montgomery County.

The Court of Appeals did not agree that the voluntary nature of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 program pre-empts the county law requirement that a landlord not discriminate based on income. “ T h e re i s n o t h i n g in any of the relevant federal statutes even to indicate, much less establish, that voluntary participation by landlords was an important congressional objective” when the voucher program was created decades ago, retired Judge Alan Wilner wrote for the court.

Montgomery County in 1991 added income to its fair housing law, which prohibits

discrimination based on several factors. The amended law banned discrimination based on a person’s income, which includes “any g ov e r n m e n t o r p r i vate assistance, grant, or loan program,” according to court documents.

The Section 8 prog ra m u s e s f e d e ra l l y funded vouchers to help low-income families afford rent at the market rate.

The complaint against Glenmont Hills Associates began in 2002, when a woman identified in court documents only as “Ms. Walker” was told the complex would not accept applications from people using vouchers.

The landlord claimed in court documents that participation in the program carries excessive administrative burdens for landlords, including mandatory changes to lease agreements and additional property inspections, an argument the court rejected.

But the director of the county’s Office of Human Rights in December 2002 deter-

Montgomery County housing law prohibits discrimination based on a person’s income, including “any government or private assistance, grant or loan program.”

mined the landlord was in violation of the county’s fair housing statute. The county’s Commission on Human Rights agreed and fined the landlord $15,000.

Glenmont Hills then took the case to Montgomery County Circuit Court. It sided with the landlord, writing that “the county cannot force a landlord to enter into a contract with the federal government,” according to court documents.

The county appealed, and the high court decided to take the case.

Holland cautioned that the ruling could have a negative effect on affordable housing, which Section 8 is designed to promote. To avoid being forced into taking Section 8 tenants, landlords could push their rents above what the program will cover, he said.

“I think the unfortunate result of this could well be . . . less low-income housing in Montgomery County, rather than more,” Holland said.

But affordable housing advocates hailed the court’s decision.

“Great for Montgomery County for standing up for the working poor,” said Stuart Katzenberg, head organizer in Maryland for the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now. Katzenberg said that rent discrimination against low-income families is “a huge problem across the state,” especially in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

6 FOCUS ON FAITH Bobby Buggs Yes, I believe in God because He’s the air that I breathe and He’s blessings that I receive on a daily basis. He’s always there for me. And I find myself supplicating on a day-to-day basis about the little things that I may or may not have an opportunity to enjoy.

Cliff Carle Of course. I believe in God, yes, I do. I believe in God for several reasons. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” That’s the definition of faith that’s in the Bible. I believe in that. Because I am an adrenaline junkie, with the things that have happened to me in my life, I should be dead by now, but I’m not.

So, there must be a higher power out there, looking out for my ignorant, street-savvy, living-on-the-edge self.

Conrad Cheek Jr. I believe that there is a God whether He’s called Allah or Jehovah or by whatever name. I believe that He is extraterrestrial because Jesus said that “I am not of this earth and I go to prepare a place for you.”

Bernard “Chino” Dean No. I don’t believe in the gods that have been created by men and women through the stories that have been written in life: the Bible, the Quran, written by men and women who told stories by other men and women. I believe in galaxies off in a distance – G.O.D. – that they are the ones that give us the opportunity to connect and converse back and forth.

Richard Gerald I believe there is a God, because of where He brought me from to where I am now. I have to have faith that there is some kind of God. If it wasn’t for God, what would there be? God is the balance between good and evil. If there wasn’t a God, what, the world would be just all evil? There would be no good? So when people say there is no God, they must not have experienced life.

Patricia Jefferson Yes, well, I always believed in God; that never changed. I believe that when things go wrong, He will always be there. That’s the belief I always went by.

Allen Jones I certainly do. You have to believe there’s an intelligence force in the universe. I look at myself as a duplicate being of supernatural forces higher than myself.

I know I didn’t create myself. I know I have intelligence, I have ability, I have power, I can do things to the level of my ability and more.

There have been situations where I know that I was in tight squeezes and I couldn’t get out of it and for some reason or another, I was able to get out. So I believe there’s a higher force involved on that level, assisting people, helping

MY TWO CENTS

Do You Believe in God? Street Sense vendors share their thoughts.

“No. God wouldn’t treat people like this.”

– Jerry W.

“Yes. I believe that when things go wrong, He will always be there.”

– Patricia Jefferson

“You have to believe there’s an intelligent force in the universe...

A part of your inner and outer being that will guide you if you want that guidance, that will lead you if you want to be led in the right direction, and that will give you wisdom.”

– Allen Jones people get over obstacles and presenting miracles in their life. So, yes, I do believe there’s a higher being – a part of your inner and outer being that will guide you if you want that guidance, that will lead you if you want to be led in the right direction and that will give you wisdom. He’s a wise God, a universal force. It’s a natural part of a universal scheme of things: out of chaos comes order.

Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson Emphatically. The only thing that comforts 24/7 in all aspects of human endeavors, emotions and enlightenment comes from what is in this world, not of this world, i.e., the love of our Lord and Savior.

Jermale McKnight Yes, because of power. Like, strange things happen sometimes. One time I see this guy, he bowed his head, then a car flipped over three times, but everybody lived. I was going to CVS, the one that’s 24 hours before you go over by Union Station by the bridge, and he was asking for medicine and I had it, but I didn’t have enough, so I walked by. Then I looked back and I saw that, and the car flipped three times: one for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Ghost.

Jeffery McNeil Many times I’ve been in near-death experiences and through the grace of God I’m still here. One time I fell overboard in the North Atlantic when I was in the Navy and I was saved. One time I was held up at gunpoint and the bullet barely missed me. That’s why I believe in God.

Therese Onyemenam I believe in God. He watches over me.

He has saved my life from a stroke, and I pray to Him every day.

Patty Smith Yes, I do believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ our Savior. In my whole being I believe that He died on the cross for us to save our sins, and I am saved. I’m a believer. Without Jesus in your life, you live in a world of confusion. And I look forward to eternal life.

Carl Turner Very much so. I’ve been here for 55 years. If it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be here. I go to church. I raised my children in church. I’m strong on the religious side.

I thought everybody believed in God. He made me in His image, even though I believe in women too. He just made man first. It’s like a 50/50 thing.

Jerry W. No. God wouldn’t treat people like this.

Martin Walker Absolutely. I believe in God because I’ve always believed that there has to be a supreme being overseeing everything that goes on in life, period. I believe in God because of personal things that have affected my life that I know had to be in the control of a greater power. I believe I’ve had a sort of personal contact with God in one way or another throughout my life.

My belief is that there just has to be a greater power. Otherwise I think humans would have self-destructed many, many, many years ago.

NATIONAL NEWS 7

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

Poor, from page 1

IN OTHER NEWS By Mandy McAnally Maryland: Shelter Closings Worsen Homeless Problem The onset of winter coupled with the recent closings of four large homeless shelters in Baltimore have left thousands of homeless people without nightly shelter. The city now has nearly 300 fewer shelter beds, and its winter shelter is open but not yet fully functional. The recent shelter closings occurred with little warning, and they’ve put a heavy burden on other city shelters, advocates say (Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 12/6).

California: Berkeley Prohibits Lying Down on Public Streets Berkeley City Council approved an ordinance to hire people to patrol city streets and parks and report misconduct by the homeless and others to police and social service agencies. The plan facilitates enforcement of a law against camping in public places. It prohibits lying down on commercial streets during the day and bans smoking on sidewalks on main commercial avenues. The city also has approved a 25-cent parking meter increase that will fund a $1 million program to provide more housing and public toilets, as well as programs for people age 17 to 25 without day jobs (Dolan, Baltimore Sun, 12/7).

Florida: County Sets Up Tent City For Homeless Catholic Charities, the city of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and other agencies have set up Pinellas Hope, a tent village for the homeless. Catholic Charities distributed 200 vouchers

Faith, from page 1 but often feel uncomfortable in the church building. They might be worried they are inadequately dressed or that other people will stare at them.

Church of the Epiphany recognized this problem and started “Street Church” last February. Anywhere from 20 to 70 people gather in Franklin Square Park every Tuesday at 1 p.m. to sing psalms, hear a short sermon and take communion. Attendees also enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches provided by church volunteers.

“The homeless that spend most of their time on streets or in parks consider that their home turf, so... we’re taking something to them, to the place where they spend much of the day,” said Father Randolph Charles, the senior pastor at Church of the Epiphany, who organizes Street Church.

Synthia North doesn’t participate in Street Church or outreach street ministries. She regularly attends Baptist services, and has had her own ministry since 1998, she says. A large part of her ministry is sitting, as she does now, and waiting for people to come and talk with her about spiritual matters.

“No matter where I go, people find me and want to talk to me,” she says.

Synthia likes to go by the name “Power,” a name she says the Lord gave her. With beautiful, smooth skin, and neatly trimmed bangs, she barely looks half her age of 59. Previously, Synthia worked for Texas Instruments and AT&T and attended secretary school. She has a daughter named Shammah, who is 23 and lives in Florida.

Synthia left her home in New Jersey almost three decades ago for a life of wandering, determined to go wherever she felt called. She likens her life to the wandering of Jesus’ apostles, and has taken solace in her religion despite horrific sexual abuse during her time on the streets.

“A lot of women would have cracked up from what’s happened to me, but I trust in God,” she said. “That’s how I survived 29 years on the streets.”

Many homeless people do not share Synthia’s devotion to religion, and are wary of the strings that may be attached to faith-based help.

“We’re probably holier than most people,” laughs Mary Rand, an artist who lives on the street in northwest Washington. Every day, Rand sets up her overflowing shopping cart downtown, and as she paints, she’s had plenty of people try to preach to her.

“Whether we want it or not, we hear it,” she said.

Even if they are uncomfortable with the message, homeless

to people who are invited to live at the village. About 70 people recently set up tents at the site. The program also aims to help the homeless find employment. Advocates feel the site’s location away from downtown is an effort to “hide” St. Petersburg’s homeless population (Tampa Tribune, 12/11). :DVKLQJWRQ 3URSRVDO &ODVVLÀHV +DUDVVPHQW DV +DWH &ULPH Harassing the homeless could be classified as a hate crime under a measure recently approved by a Seattle City Council committee. But even if approved by the council, the law would have little practical effect in city courts, a city attorney said.

Malicious harassment carries no greater penalty in municipal court than regular harassment. Yet, supporters say the new classification sends a message to potential offenders and to policymakers. Mayor Greg Nickels supports the measure (Galloway, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/4).

Wisconsin: State Opens New Facility for Homeless Veterans The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has opened a new facility for homeless veterans from 23 counties in western Wisconsin. The building will provide 30 veterans with transitional housing and 10 with long-term supported housing.

The shelter will also offer group sessions for drug and alcohol abuse education and other programs. The renovation and new programs were made possible by a $116,000 federal grant (Heinz, WEAU13, 12/7). people need the essential services these organizations provide.

“If you’re dependent on food, you never want to offend anyone,” said Rand.

Though many aid workers are not preachy, Rand said some “try to blame the homeless person, saying ‘You’re not religious enough, and that’s why you’re homeless.’ That’s a terrible thing to say to someone who is living on the street.”

Lehman, who left a lucrative $250,000 salary as a lawyer to dedicate his life to Church of the Homeless, said he never required people to listen to his message in exchange for food.

“I’m not buying you breakfast for you listening to my Bible study, we’re not playing that game,” Lehman said. “It’s too important to me for me to be giving you four dollars to listen to me...I don’t want to force you to listen to this.”

At the Martin Luther King library, Synthia prepares herself to impart a blessing on a stranger who has stopped to talk.

“You’re going to feel warmth when I touch you,” she says before she begins her blessing. “I was given the gift of laying on of hands.”

She begins, “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” her eyes looking far away. “This is your humble servant ‘Power.’“ There’s no sociological explanation for why such a large number of the homeless community is spiritual.

“In one very real way it’s a miracle” that homeless people survive every day, Lehman said. “Every day, they don’t know how much money they have, but it’s enough to get by.”

“Pride and self righteousness get in the way,” he continued.

“What you see among homeless people are people who’ve blown apart their lives, and they have no self righteousness left. They know the mistakes they’ve made, there’s no way to undo it all...That’s why they love Jesus, they don’t think they deserve it, but they get mercy and love.”

Even Rand, who dislikes the religious overtone in many aid programs, still depends on faith to help her survive the streets.

Her faith is something private, a personal journey that she doesn’t discuss with many people.

At the end of the day, “when you have to go to sleep and you have nothing at all, the only thing you have to surround yourself with is your faith,” she said.

Back at her spot outside the library, Synthia continues with her blessing, her eyes far away and her speech even. She’s intent on transferring her love of religion.

“Move the mountain of doubt from this girl’s mind, for she is but a child. Bring her closer to the path of your ways so that she might know your love.”

“Amen.”

When she finishes, the smile is genuine.

“I know you’ll have a good day now,” she says.

nually.

And while the bottom fifth of D.C. working residents earned $10.81 per hour or less in 2006, the top 20% earned $34.50. The earnings gap in the District is now wider than in every major U.S. city except Atlanta and Tampa.

“The District really has two economies. One is moving forward strongly, but the other one is stagnating, even deteriorating,” Lazere said.

To solve this problem, the District needs to improve access to quality education and training and to assist low-wage earners with childcare, health care, and affordable housing, he said.

Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said the homeless situation in the District is shameful. “We should not have one of the highest rates of hunger, homelessness and poverty,” Stoops said. “It shows that D.C. and the federal government have not attended to the root causes of poverty, and homelessness is the most visible forms of poverty. Shame on us for allowing this to be.”

The Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report this month citing a nearly 12% drop nationwide in the chronically homeless from 2005 to 2006. However, D.C. numbers increased from 1,773 to 1,891, which the department attributed to better counting methods.

Aeren Martinez, development director at the Community Council for the Homeless, is worried that the method used for counting the homeless is flawed. She said if the count took into account people living from paycheck to paycheck or nearly homeless, the number will triple.

“It is a sad state of affairs that in a country as rich as ours that there are some areas that are devastatingly poor. Something must be done to share the goods,” Martinez said.

Lazere agreed. “It will take bold new actions by D.C. leaders to help families acquire the skills needed to succeed in this economy,” he said.

The city appears ready for action. Earlier this month, Mayor Adrian Fenty re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to the Homeless No More Plan, designed to improve the quality of life of District residents by preventing and ending homelessness within 10 years. The city plans to provide $117 million annually to create housing for the city’s homeless and to preserve affordable housing across the District.

“We are facing a real crisis of affordability in this city,” Mayor Fenty said. “And we are facing the challenge head on. We need to address the housing needs for all residents – at all levels of need – from the chronically homeless, to those struggling with monthly rent payments, to those scrimping to come up with a down payment for their first house.”

For Ricardo Whitted, who works as a chef and is a resident at Community Council, things are improving. But he needed help to make the change. “I had to learn everything from staying drug free to spending my money on my needs and to do something good for myself,” Whitted said. “Things are improving for me but I know some people are struggling.”

8 NEWS 8 LOCAL PHOTOS & POETRY

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Trying to get into heaven is like missing the forest for the trees.

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Street Sense vendor Cliff “the Moose� Carle waxes philosophical and takes photos of icons of faith around to

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Street Sense . December 12 – 25, 2007

PHOTOS & POETRY 9

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Do I Love God? Does God Love Me? I love God and I love life But why He had to take my mother and father’s life?

I thought God was a personal savior and blessed people And I thought he loved them as they come But why He had to take them and leave me with no one?

No one except my heart and loving myself No one else I love God because I believe in myself — D.G., age 17 An inmate at the D.C. Jail

Get a Job Some folks tell me to get a job, but they don’t understand.

With all the psychic meds I take, I do the best I can.

It takes a lot of energy and perseverance, too, To educate the public and bring the facts to you For example: Did you know that people die each day Chronic mentally ill homeless folks, They slowly fade away.

Mental illness plays a part in what the public sees So now when you see them acting out, consider their disease.

Again, my friend, I want to say we do the best we can As long as we sell Street Sense news I don’t beg, don’t steal, or rob We’ll always hold our head up high And we’ll always have a job. — Alvin Dixon-El

10 FEATURES

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

PRETTY RED’S FICTION

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By Ivory Wilson

The Street Healer

homas was a con man, taking his con game on the road by traveling from city to city and to small towns in between, pretending to be a street healer with magic potions and a touch that could heal your sickness and pain.

Thomas mixed his magic fake potion of vodka, V8 juice, pineapple juice and a pinch of hot sauce, shaken up in a little bottle. He rode the bus because it stopped in little towns.

Thomas would get off the bus when it stopped in one and would go down into homeless areas where there was no hope.

Thomas, who was a sinner, never went to church and never ever prayed. He used women all his life. He didn’t believe in the power of God because he’d never seen him or talked to him.

Thomas got off the bus in a North Carolina country town and went down toward a group of homeless people.

He opened up his briefcase, took out a tambourine and harmonica and began to sing, saying, “I’ve just talked to God, and he sent me here to heal your sickness.”

He played his harmonica, hitting his tambourine on his knee. People started gathering around him. Thomas stopped playing and said he could heal them for a donation. He reached in his pocket, pulled out a small bottle of his potion and said, “Take one sip of this and feel my touch. Go home, sleep, and when you wake, you will be healed.”

The poor people started giving what they had in their pockets. Thomas made a small bankroll. Thomas told them he would be right there at the same time tomorrow.

Thomas went back to the bus station. He sat on a bench, smiling, counting his dough and waiting for the next bus leaving town.

Out of nowhere, an old man wearing a long white robe and hood walked over, sat beside him and asked, “Have you talked to God today?”

Thomas thought, how in the hell did he know that, and who was this fool? Thomas knew he was a church fool because he had a Bible in his hand. Thomas looked at the old man’s face and saw a bright glow he had never seen before in anyone. He could tell there was something different about this old man.

COURTESY OF ISTOCKPHOTO

to get them. Those things were out of my reach in society. I didn’t see many black men in big business on television shows. There was no success in the corporate life.”

As Thomas was talking, his feelings and thoughts about using women for money were changing. He knew God was healing him from his evil ways. Thomas looked into the members’ eyes. They were listening to him, looking at him – not out of hate for him, but out of understanding and forgiveness.

Thomas’ eyes began to fill with tears. He stopped talking and said, “Oh God, I have sinned.”

He walked off the podium, down the aisle.

The pastor stopped him and said, “Don’t leave, brother. We all sin in our lives. That’s why we are here, so God can forgive us for our sins. You can stop running. There’s a place here with us.”

Thomas never felt like that before, and he didn’t understand why the pastor did that. As Thomas was walking out, the old man appeared. Thomas asked, “Where were you? I didn’t see you in there.”

The old man put his hand on Thomas’ shoulder and said, “I’m with you every day, Thomas.”

The door closed. Thomas quickly turned around and opened the door and a snow white dove flew out, flying for the heavens.

Thomas watched it until it disappeared in the stars.

He walked inside and Pastor Jones was standing there at the door. Thomas asked, “Where is the old man in the white robe?”

Pastor Jones said, “Brother, there’s no one in here like that. Brother, you walked in here alone.”

Thomas’ tears were starting again. He walked back out the door, closing it behind him. He sat on the steps, held his head in the palms of his hands and began to cry and pray.

When he stopped, he got up, walked back in, took out his bankroll, put it in the church donation box and walked out the door.

Thomas, who was a sinner, never went to church and never ever prayed. He used women all his life. He didn’t believe in the power of God. The man asked, “Have you ever been in a church before, son? It’s magic that can happen for those who really believe in God. There’s a small church one block away where people’s prayin’ for their day–by–day sins. If you give me 10 minutes and come with me there, I will touch your heart, and you will release your sins.”

Thomas couldn’t size up this old man, wondering, who is this person?

The old man said, “Don’t you know me?

You talk to me.”

That flipped Thomas’ thoughts. His mind was racing. He looked at his watch and said, “Okay, I have an hour before the bus leaves.”

Thomas thought that there might be church members there for him to con.

Walking with the old man to the church, he thought, “This old man knew my words – how?”

Inside the church, a pastor stood at the podium, asking, “Is there someone who would like to give a testimony? Please walk forth.”

Thomas looked all round the room, looking at its members. Under a strange feeling, like he was in a trance, he walked down the aisle to the podium.

The pastor said, “Speak, brother.”

Thomas started talking, telling about his sins, saying that he drank, smoked dope, used so many women in his life that he couldn’t remember their names or see their faces. Saying he had money-making skills, but not money management skills.

Saying he used women, telling them the right things at the right time in their lives; getting them to sin for him, not having a conscience.

Thomas said, “When I was a young man, we people played the sidewalk game to get what we wanted – and that was making dough and lots, fast, in street life. My role models were con men, pimps and drug dealers. The movies on television gave me no choice. ‘Kojak,’ ‘Barretta,’ ‘Streets of San Francisco’ – all the black stars’ roles were pimps, con men, drug dealers and crooks.

Resources like education, I didn’t know how

Ivory Wilson is from Texas and sells Street Sense at 7th and E streets, NW.

Street Sense . December 12 – 25, 2007

Cryptogram

by Kenneth Brewster

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

A Lesson in Loyalty “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is an incredibly powerful book. Hosseini’s depiction of Afghanistan takes the reader into a world of tradition, religion and politics and a diverse people that I never knew existed.

The story begins in Afghanistan in the 1970s and moves through to modern times. Hosseini’s description of the political situations that transformed a bright, tradition– and festival–filled Afghanistan into a dark and violent country are vivid enough to make you cry. It is real, believable, raw literature, or better yet, a work of art.

Amir, a young boy from a well–off household in Kabul, is the narrator. He tells the story of Hassan, his best friend and the son of his family’s servant, Baba, his fastidious and valiant father, and the insecurity that fuels his own attempts to make Baba proud. The betrayal that follows is so severe and unexpected, it will leave you asking “Why?” Amir struggles with his guilt over the betrayal and tries to forget and hide it.

The revelation of secrets keeps the story alive and leads the reader deeper into the plot.

Hosseini did a great job harnessing the concept of struggle and the effect it has on everyday life. His story captures the meaning of loyalty, love, betrayal, guilt and redemption. I view the story as an analogy of the struggle the Afghan people have been through. Where I come from, struggle is very common and the effect of it is apparent in the faces, eyes and actions of my people.

Hosseini also brings to life in “The Kite Runner” a true example of loyalty and redemption. Amir’s childhood friend, Hassan, displayed a level of loyalty so strong for Amir that it is beyond understanding, even though it is not revealed until later in Hassan’s life.

Hassan would do anything to make his friend happy.

Betrayal hurts, but the type of betrayal Hosseini describes in the story hurts for a lifetime. Only through a task that will take courage, determination, loyalty and love will Amir be able to rectify a mighty wrong and redeem himself.

But can a man truly redeem himself?

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November solution: “The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all your time.”

– Willem de Kooning

Street Su-Do-Ku November Solution

BOOK REVIEW

FEATURES & GAMES 11

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

The Kite Runner

By Khaled Hosseini Penguin, 2004

I mean, what good can it do the victim when the damage is already done?

Somehow, Amir makes his redemption count for something. He makes it meaningful.

Where I’m at and where I’m from, I base friendships on loyalty. That’s why I can truly say I have only a few friends. I don’t need a whole hand to count them.

I associate with a number of people, but I wouldn’t call them friends.

I’ve learned the hard way that everybody with kind words and a smile from time to time isn’t a friend. So trusting people becomes a difficult and stressful task.

I think that individuals should read “The Kite Runner” and evaluate the book for themselves. The loyalty Hassan possessed can only teach people by example what being loyal really means.

“The Kite Runner” is a story with a lesson for life.

Kenneth Brewster contributes book reviews to Street Sense through the Free Minds Book Club, a program for incarcerated youth.

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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.

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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 . December 12 – 26, 2007

12 EDITORIALS

What is Prayer?

By Moyo Onibuje

By Your Own Bootstraps

By Jeffery McNeil

I

f one were to ask me what is the greatest of all God’s gifts, I would have to say prayer. How often have we taken a month off from work a n d p l a y, t o pray and meditate? The truth is that our life begins in this world with prayer and invocation, and ends likewise.

Throughout the history of civilizations, those nations whose peoples have not prayed have fallen victim to harsh penalties. What were we in certain parts of the world before the advent of sacred religions? We were barbaric and practiced hideous and irrepressible acts against ourselves and our neighbors.

If one believes in predestination it is only natural that God communicates with us. What is prayer? It is an expression of faith, a source of hope, and a key to spiritual fulfillment and happiness.

Prayer is talking to God in a spirit of love, and is indispensable to our inner spiritual fulfillment. Just like the cleanliness of our physical bodies is dependent on our daily washing, so too, our spiritual reality and purpose is dependent on the depths of the ocean of God’s love. It requires training to include prayer in our daily routine.

Service is prayer, and it is through our actions that prayer takes on power and life. It is impossible to receive blessings if we don’t seek our higher power. In fact, the way in which we respond to any given situation, the control we exercise, is dependent on the transformation we receive from Him. Our best approach to the expression of love we have for God needs to be untainted and impartial. It is impossible to seek truth with a closed mind. The impulse to pray is really a natural one, inspired by the love of God. When we communicate with God we feel watched and protected, we tend to do a better job at school or work, we have fewer unpleasant thoughts, and we help others.

This journey is up to us and it has to be undertaken. Our peace of mind depends on it.

The mere fact of feeling better about yourself after you’ve prayed is in itself a miracle.

We seem to know when our prayers are answered when we or someone we love is clinging onto life as a result of accident, disease or natural causes, and without a scientific explanation. Through prayer and prayer alone, they are brought to life. Do we need further proof?

When we pray we need to prioritize our requests to God. If we list our priorities, we should pray for the most important things first. If you have a variety of needs but the most important is a home of your own, pray first for the house and then the others, in that order.

I can think of so many times when I was forced to remember God. I can only implore readers not to wait until the last minute, not to wait until we are chronically ill or something terrible happens, but to start praying now.

A good question to ask new friends is: do you like to pray? What are some of the things you pray for? That way, we make prayer a part of our breathing, waking and living life. When prayer becomes part of our life, improvement begins.

It’s essential we find a prayer that works for us. The fact is, all people know when they feel the need for prayer. The problem is that we don’t duplicate those feelings long enough to make them a habit. Good habits save lives.

As children bring a smile to our face, prayer should do the same. I ask you; who but a saint prays for more prayer? Prayer is at first a spontaneous emotional discharge, a free outpouring of the spirit and in the course of development it becomes a fixed formula.

While mysteries are best left to God, it is impossible to rid our heart of prayer, whether we pray or not. Rare is the person who evades prayer.

In closing, prayer confers power, but should power confer prayer? We cannot reconstruct the intimate relationship between God and our soul because it is beyond human perception. In the words of George Herbert, from “The Temper”: “Whether I fly with angels, fall with dust, Thy hands made them both.”

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

WHAT OUR READERS ARE SAYING ...

Dear Editor, I am upset that your food critics never review restaurants where low–income people may eat. For example, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill on 19th St., NW, opposite the Dupont Circle Metro station, sells a plate of rice and beans sprinkled with cheese (unless you say, “no cheese”) with corn chips on the side and a side salad with extra onion, tomato and cilantro (free upon request) for $4.51 total, including tax.

I add heaping mounds of tomatoes and jalapeno peppers from the fixings bar, plus salsa and hot sauce, and I have a full meal.

Both regular and seltzer water are refillable and free. With an extra large beverage, refillable from the soda bar, my total cost is less than $7.00.

Raymond Avrutis Washington, D.C.

M

y

journey into homelessness began about 2005.

I was a pretty stable person but became mentally ill and got depressed, which led to my addictions to gambling, alcohol and prostitutes.

I had a well–paying job making about $60,000 a year, I had pretty good friendships but I had no one I could share with the depression I was in. This led to heavy drinking and suicidal feelings that sent me to institutions numerous times. I felt isolated, withdrawn and became a loner.

My only outlet for the time was playing poker and shooting pool in Atlantic City, N.J. I entered the dangerous world of high stakes poker. It began innocently but my progression downhill was rapid.

I began missing days at work, then gambling with my rent money and borrowing from relatives to pay off debts. The criticism and the pain made me keep to myself. Since I don’t like to be alone, I began picking up prostitutes to fill my void, often using my gambling winnings to pay the bills.

I remember how dangerously I lived in this stage of my life. I lived from paycheck to paycheck. My attitude toward homeless people was arrogance. I hated them and didn’t want to be like them. I had a nice warm apartment and couldn’t fathom spending a night out on a street.

Money management was a foreign language to me. I dabbled in the stock market, played poker and amassed some small fortunes but mainly I lived for the day and said let the miserable worry about the future, I might not live that long to see it.

My gambling spiraled out of control.

Eventually I lost my job, lost all my money and began sleeping in a gazebo in Toms River, N.J. Eventually, I got into a rehab center and they transferred me to the Salvation Army in Philadelphia, Pa. I began going through shelter programs and started growing up.

I didn’t want to make excuses for the mistakes in my life. I couldn’t blame my family, my friends, the politicians. I hated not having the things I was used to. I tried to make friends with some of the people at the shelters, but many individuals lacked motivation to find income, so I began to

withdraw.

Eventually, I found the poker circuit in Philly and got into gambling, which led me back to Atlantic City. I would find jobs to fuel my addictions. I would get a job, get a couple of paychecks and lose all my money at the casinos.

I remember vividly my last encounter in Atlantic City on July 3 this year. I was playing poker in a midnight tournament about to go broke, saying to myself if I lose this time I’m going to Washington, D.C. The reason I thought Washington was because I was gambling with people from Washington and they told me all the opportunities here. The seed was planted. I lost the next hand and got a bus ticket with the clothes on my back and $30.

When I first arrived, it was hot, humid and unbearable. I slept on a park bench next to Franklin Shelter. I was dirty, ugly and nasty, so no one would take a chance and hire me even though I was a qualified chef.

For a month, I slept on the street, eating shelter food. I was mentally burned out. I had no ambition nor motivation and just wanted to sleep my life away.

One day, I saw a man picking up soda cans and he showed me how to make money picking up cans.

I walked all the way from K Street, NW, to Deanwood and made the astonishing sum of $20. I realized I had to do something to make money or I was going to sleeping outside for a long time.

I was at the shelter in Franklin and saw someone wearing a Street Sense vest and asked how he sells newspapers. He briefed me and I went to the Street Sense office and the first day I made $5. I said to myself that it was better than being broke, so I went back and made $9. But I was robbed and left with one paper and 10 cents.

From there, I began a transformation with my life. From that one newspaper, I bought a dollar’s worth of newspapers and started learning how to become a salesman.

At first people would walk by me, ignore me and I felt hurt. I started reading sales books, learned about marketing and advertising. Since coming to Washington, D.C., I found skills I never knew I had, like writing food articles, greeting new customers and meeting many friendly people.

I’m transforming my life. As I move on to the next phase of my life, I can’t thank Street Sense enough for giving me hope in life and helping me out of the homeless system to become an entrepreneur.

“I didn’t want to make excuses for the mistakes in my life.”

Jeffery McNeil regularly puts on a suit to sell Street Sense. He’s been a vendor since August.

Street Sense . December 12 – 25, 2007

MAURICE SPEAKS

EDITORIALS 13

By Maurice King

Think Positive

D

uring our staff training at the nonprofit Community for Creative Non–Violence, we saw a film entitled “The Secret,” which emphasized people’s potential for control over their lives provided they focus exclusively on positive thoughts.

I have heard many lectures and read many books about the power of positive thinking, and there is much to be said for their power.

However, they all tend to be a bit too simplistic, because there is this rather elusive element in life called Destiny, which seems not to want to comply with the theory upon which the power of positive thinking is founded.

Advocates of the power of positive thinking would agree that Destiny should not be used as an excuse for negative thinking and nay–saying, as a negative outlook is frequently the reason for failure. However, sometimes Destiny does take a hand.

Certainly, to apply the principle of positive thinking to the experience of the homeless is quite difficult, as it is not easy to find reasons to feel positive. Yet, it remains all the more important because it is so difficult not to get caught into a vortex of negative energy. That will only drag a person under until the person drowns.

Positive thinking, though easier said than done, is essential if a person wants to have any future at all. There will be enough challenges in the future without creating additional roadblocks with a negative attitude.

It goes without saying that a person must maintain good health, as well. A positive attitude cannot reverse the effects of ill health.

The bureaucratic demon of health insurance is a problem everywhere in the United

ON THE ROAD

By David Pirtle

A Yearly Milestone

N

States. Here, in the District of Columbia, the availability of D.C. Alliance to persons of low– or no–income does make health care somewhat more accessible to many who would otherwise go without proper medical attention. Though a number of clinics do accept this insurance, not all do. But D.C. Alliance is not a panacea, as I discovered on more than one occasion.

The thought of facing numerous government offices in the hopes of getting benefits or resolving problems does not sound like fun, but quite often I have been pleasantly surprised by the demeanor of the employees.

In addition, there are a number of volunteer organizations which render assistance to the homeless – and their assistance is genuine, not pimping the poor. It is a matter of locating good sources of help, which is a difficult task, but if a person looks at the task positively, the person will make considerably more progress more quickly and will be better off for it.

It also helps to have someone who has already experienced the system who can act as a guide or mentor, because just looking at a directory of services tells you very little.

If one hits a snag – and I know I certainly have – one should not hesitate to file a grievance as soon as possible. Such an act is not a negative act; it is a way of making sure that the irregularity does not occur again. From there, one should move on.

As I indicated previously, sometimes Destiny does interfere, and that can’t be avoided.

However, Destiny should not become the excuse for repeated failures. That’s why remaining positive is a true effort; there’s nothing easy about it. For one who manages to do it, the rewards are significant.

ational Hunger and Homelessness Week in November is always the busiest time of the year for the Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau. This year has been no exception, with entire weeks in November being double– or triple–booked. I’ve been speaking with the bureau for just over a year, and though I certainly don’t mind the travel, it’s good to be back in the District for more than 24 hours at a stretch.

My recent odyssey began with a road trip to Virginia with Michael Stoops, the executive director of the National Coalition of the Homeless, and Street Sense vendor Robin Denegal. This was my first time traveling with either of them, and I enjoyed getting to know them better over the two days we spent together.

The engagement itself was at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, and the students there were very receptive. They participate in nighttime handouts to the homeless in the District, called “Midnight Runs,” though they seldom take place at midnight. As Bureau Director Michael O’Neill is fond of saying, “Midnight Run sounds catchier than 8 p.m. Run.” No sooner had we returned to D.C. than I had to make my way in a rental car with Michael O’Neill and another vendor, David Harris, to New England. We were to speak at six locations in five days, including Holy Cross College, UConn., Quinnipiac University, Yale Medical School and Loomis Chaffee High in Connecticut, as well as a library in Worcester.

Every one of those gigs had incredible turnout (except Yale, but who’s counting). The students had a lot of questions for our panel, which included vendor John Harrison for the middle of the trip, and the weather was surprisingly mild. The only downside was the four-and-a-half hours it took to cross the George Washington Bridge on the way home.

Then Michael O’Neill was off to Central Michigan, and I rejoined Michael Stoops and veteran speaker Terry Snead for a trip to Pennsylvania, where we spoke with students at Gettysburg College (where Michael told the kids to drop out and get arrested for the cause) and Messiah College (where I had to sneak into the forest in order to smoke, because of a campus–wide ban on cigarettes).

However, the highlight of the experience was Thurmont Middle School in northern Maryland. Terry was great with the kids, who were wonderful. One of them even suggested opening up the school during the summer so that homeless kids could stay there.

All in all it was quite an adventure, albeit an exhausting one. It’s good to be home, and I’m glad that I can say that I celebrated my first anniversary off the streets on Nov. 17.

Happy holidays, everyone, from the speakers at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

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

David Pirtle is formerly homeless and a founding member of Until We’re Home, an advocacy group for preserving shelter space and giving shelter residents their rights.

Gift, from page 1 tables and chairs have been bought, along with a new refrigerator.

Until We’re Home has played a major role in affecting these and other positive changes. Various service providers have done their part as well. We’ve won the respect of the D.C. government, which has proven to be invaluable. This has enabled me to e-mail them each time the hot water goes out and have it fixed in a timely manner.

The new administration has focused its energy on dealing with poverty and homelessness.

According to Ram Uppuluri, Tommy Wells’ counsel on human services, they’ve learned their lesson from the D.C. Village fiasco, which Mayor Fenty has taken a personal interest in.

The Department of Human Services is moving forward with a new and improved sense of

The Department of Human Services is moving forward with a new and improved sense of good principles. good principle.

Formerly, the government would allow a building to go into disrepair if they planned to repurpose it. The people living in that building would, in effect, be subjected to inhumane conditions until the closing of the building. Such was the case with D.C. Village. According to Mr. Uppuluri, the new plan involves maintaining a building until it is closed, so that residents are not subjected to sub-standard conditions.

I complained about the Interagency Council on Homelessness in my April 1 article. They too have come a long way. They are meeting more

frequently. They are bringing more service providers and homeless people to the table.

The meetings are more productive. Their attitudes toward the people that they serve have improved. They even plan to resume the hearings that they had in October and November of last year. See story on page 4.

Franklin School now has a new program director named Rodney Savoy. He has proven to be quite innovative and full of energy. He is quite sensitive to the plight of the homeless.

He even goes beyond the call of duty and attends meetings of Until We’re Home. Whereas

we previously had one caseworker for 300 men, we now have four.

Since a meeting Until We’re Home had with Deputy Mayor Neil Albert on Feb. 6, Franklin School Shelter has served as a daytime shelter during cold weather. Previously, the men were moved to a different shelter at 7 a.m. They also had to wait in freezing temperatures for the hypothermia van to transport them to these other shelters.

I’ve mentioned more than a dozen gifts that the residents of Franklin have been receiving throughout the year, not the least of which is warmth – a warm place to stay as well as a warm, welcoming attitude from their local government.

If their increased attendance at meetings that pertain to them is any indication, I’d have to say that the homeless in general and Franklin residents in particular are feeling all of this warmth and are beginning to warm up to the people that serve them.

This is indicative of the greatest gifts yet – their renewed sense of hope and of feeling a part of their society. These are indeed the gifts that keep on giving.

Street Sense . December 12 – 26, 2007

14 STREET SENSE NEWS

VendorNotes

By Laura Thompson Osuri

Ivory’s 15 Minutes Vendor and resident fiction writer Ivory Wilson will soon be getting his 15 minutes of fame through a new AARP commercial.

At the end of November, Ivory and several people from other walks of life were involved in the taping of a new AARP commercial under its new advertising campaign: Divided We Fall. In the commercial Ivory said he is representing the poor and homeless community but added that he made sure to mention Street Sense.

Ivory said the commercial will be airing on all the major networks and is expected after the first of the year.

We can’t wait to see Ivory’s shining face – often seen at the corner of 7th and E streets, NW, right next to the AARP headquarters – on national television.

Martin in the Driver’s Seat Long-time vendor Martin Walker finally has his own set of wheels. At the beginning of December, Martin acquired a 1994 Mercury Sable that one of his customers at Farragut North sold to him for a very discounted price. Martin had been looking for a reasonably priced car for the past few months so he could drive to a job he really wants out in Forestville, Md. Martin came into the office the other day shaking his keys, saying how excited he was to finally not have to rely on the buses and Metro. And with a car in his possession, he said he hopes to soon start a new job.

On the Road with Richard And speaking of driving, new vendor Richard Gerald just got his driver’s license after being without one for more than a decade. On his second attempt, Richard passed his written and road test with flying colors.

Richard said that with his regular driver’s license in hand, he now plans to apply for a CDL driver’s license so he can get a job driving for Metro or driving large trucks. (You can read more about Richard on the back page.)

INTERN INSIGHT

November: Top Vendor Sales Jeffery McNeil ............................................................... 1,323 Conrad Cheek Jr............................................................ 1,125 Mark Jones ...................................................................... 988 James Davis .................................................................... 620 Allen Jones ...................................................................... 591 Jake Ashford ................................................................... 562 Moyo Onibuje ................................................................ 523 Leonard Cannedy ........................................................... 455 Phillip Howard ................................................................ 446 Congratulations to all vendors for making November 2007 the best month ever for paper sales!

WANTED Street Sense Vendor Manager :H DUH ORRNLQJ IRU D IXOOWLPH VWDII PHPEHU WR UHFUXLW DQG WUDLQ YHQGRUV H[SDQG YHQGRU VDOHV WHUULWRU\ KHOS YHQGRUV FRQQHFW WR VHUYLFH SURYLGHUV DQG WUDFN YHQGRUV¡ SURJUHVV 7KH SRVLWLRQ LV SDLG WKURXJK $PHULFRUSV 9,67$ IRU WKH ÀUVW \HDU DQG ZLOO EH VDODULHG DIWHU WKDW ,I \RX DUH LQWHUHVWHG SOHDVH FRQWDFW /DXUD Thompson Osuri at laura@streetsense.org or

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKH $PHULFRUSV 9,67$ program, visit www.americorps.gov.

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By Desiree Perez

Taking Stock

E

ighteen’s the number that thrills and kills me.

Dec. 18 is the day I get on an airplane and go home to sunny southern California.

While life in D.C. has had its ups and downs, I’ve picked up a few life lessons since I’ve been here. Though it might take a while to recognize the extent of my personal growth, a few things already stand out in my mind.

For one, this semester has given me educational and professional experience that will really make a difference in my life and career. After a semester at Georgetown University, I will be able to say that I can survive the rigors of an Ivy League education. Furthermore, I’ve been thrown into a work environment that’s much different from what I’m used to.

Back home, I was the editor of the Opinions section of my school paper. I got to write what I wanted write about, and I only really knew an op–ed writing style. There were no set newsroom hours I had to abide by, and while I usually spent all day there anyway, there were only a handful of days where I actually had to show up at a certain time.

Coming out here, I had to adapt. I have a real boss now, a legitimate nine–to–five schedule and strict deadlines to follow. I’m writing news stories, feature stories and I’m doing a lot of Web producing, which are things I’ve never really done before. While I won’t say that I’m pro at any of these tasks yet, I feel a sense of accomplishment in adding them to my repertoire.

It hasn’t been easy either. There have been times when I questioned my abilities, the value of the skills I was learning and whether this trip was even worth it. Looking back, even though it’s not quite over, I can see it definitely was worth it.

Through my work at Street Sense, I’ve met and formed friendships with an array of interesting people I probably would have never talked to otherwise. Not only that, but every experience, positive and negative, has instilled in me an idea of what working in the journalism field at the professional level, or at a small and hectic nonprofit organization, can bring. Now it’s up to me to keep pushing my limits and building my working knowledge.

What wisdom I have gained was a great asset to me in becoming my college paper’s next editor–in–chief. The work portfolio I’ve built at Street Sense has impressed my advisers back home, and I hope to bring those skills to the team when I return.

Also, largely in part to my endeavors here in D.C., I’ve recently been accepted to a campus editor’s mission to Israel and Poland. This program, put on by the Anti–Defamation League, will give me a chance to travel overseas and encounter the history and tumultuous present of one of the world’s most war torn nations.

My family jokes that I’m becoming a “woman of the world.� For a girl who is about to receive the first stamps in her passport, I would like to agree. It’s no longer a dream to travel. My world isn’t just Riverside and Corona anymore, and my idea of a journey isn’t a car ride to Anaheim for a Friday night concert.

While I’ve always wanted to see the world, meeting so many wonderful people from all over makes me feel more inclined to do so. When I go to Poland, I’ll be able to visit at least one good friend. And my friends from the Middle East have demanded that I drop by when I’m in Israel. On a professional level, I hope that by visiting foreign nations I can get an expanded perspective of the States to put into my understanding of current events and the media.

This semester has been a trip, in one sense or another.

It’s bittersweet to see it end, but at the same time, this feels like the beginning of something good.

Desiree Perez is from Corona, Calif., and interned with Street Sense through The Fund for American Studies.

FEATURES 15 SERVICE PROVIDERS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Street Sense . December 12 – 25, 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

Hypothermia 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

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

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

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 . December 12 – 26, 2007

PHOTO FINISH

VENDOR PROFILE

Catch as Catch Can

By Desiree Perez

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StreetFact Nearly 27,000 more people live in poverty in Washington, D.C., than in the late 1990s.

See story on page 1.

By Desiree Perez

Richard Gerald

Richard Gerald was born in Washington, D.C., in 1953. He lived with his mother, father, two older brothers and an older sister on Third Street in the Edgewood area. During the 1950s, the racial make–up of the neighborhood was mixed, and though Richard experienced some prejudice from people in that neighborhood, the community was like family. Across the street, there was a field and playground where he practiced football and basketball. He became a skilled player.

Richard graduated from Langley Jr. High School and McKinley Technology High School.

After graduation, he went to Washington Technical Institute where he learned to run a printing press and lay out publications. He worked for the General Services Administration and transferred to the Treasury Department.

He had been with his girlfriend since high school and had two daughters, one born in 1977 and the other in 1985. Soon after their births, Richard lost his job with the federal government. The financial strain forced his family apart.

Richard found himself involved with drugs.

After living on the streets for a while, Richard was incarcerated in Petersburg, Va. In prison, he took courses and received certificates in parenting, carpentry, basic principles of construction, money management and real estate. That’s also when Richard met a substance abuse coordinator with Serenity, Inc., a program that helped Richard find a stabilizing force through God. Now Richard is certified to train troubled youth in peacemaking circles, a form of group therapy, and works at a children’s hospital as a food service worker. He enjoys talking to kids. “I like people, I’m a people person. That comes as a result of loving God,� Richard said. “It took the better half of my life, nearly 20 years, to find help and a program that will benefit me and my family and now that I found that new way of life I won’t ever go back to that low situation.�

Richard will travel to Wilminton, N.C., to reunite with his daughters after10 years on Dec. 21.

How did you become homeless?

I got RIFfed from the government, due to Reagan’s budget cuts. The mother of my children took our kids and moved to North Carolina. From there I was struggling. I met the wrong people and started selling and using drugs.

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Why do you sell Street Sense?

It seems like Street Sense found me, because I was looking for a job or some way to be selfsupporting to help continue my path to a new way of life. :KHUH GR \RX VHH \RXUVHOI LQ ÀYH \HDUV" I just got my driver’s license and I’m trying to get my commercial driver’s license. I’m enrolled in this carpentry apprenticeship program, but I needed a driver’s license before I began.

If I can start this, in five years I should have my master carpentry degree.

SOURCE: D.C. FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE, 2007

Due to the Christmas holiday, the next issue of Street Sense will be coming out a day late on Thursday, Dec. 27.

(Then it’s back to every other Wednesday.)

What’s your favorite music?

I’m from the old school. I go for variety, from the Isley Brothers to Black Oak Arkansas.

What is your favorite food?

Macaroni and cheese, string beans, hamburgers, porterhouse steak and crab.

What is your favorite movie? “Pirates of the Caribbean,� all the series, “The Langoliers,� and “The Crow.�

Favorite Author Stephen King. I like “Storm of the Century.�

December 12 – December 26, 2007 • Volume 5 • Issue 3

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