$1 December 15, 2003 - January 14, 2004
Volume 1, Issue 2
Homeless for the Holidays By Sandra Bunch
Mural on the La Casa Shelter at 1436 Irving St., NW
La Casa to Stay Open During Redevelopment By Jennifer Cetta As the nation’s capital braces for another winter with below freezing temperatures, many of the city’s homeless residents will still be able to turn to La Casa for a place to lay their head. The shelter in the Columbia Heights neighborhood has seen many overnight tenants since it opened its doors in 1985. And thanks to the efforts of city officials, community outreach workers and many neighborhood residents, La Casa will continue to serve the District’s homeless well into the future. A board that is overseeing the redevelopment of Columbia Heights approved last month a plan to refurbish the parcel of land where La Casa is located. The plan would transform the humble building and trailers that now house 130 homeless residents on a given night into a multi-story
facility that will continue to offer overnight stays and treatment facilities to the homeless. In its new incarnation, La Casa will also provide what is known as “single resident occupancy,” or transitional apartments that will allow some residents to stay longer than a night if they agree not to drink, use drugs or possess firearms. Many of the details regarding the shelter, however, must be negotiated between the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) and the city, which will take possession from NCRC the lot on which La Casa is located. Once that occurs, city officials can begin meeting with potential architects to design a new building and consider such issues as the shelter’s size and occupancy levels, said Lynn French, senior policy advisor to
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
See LA CASA p. 4 D.C. News Gale School Shelter Remains Open, p.4
Homeless and cold, thousands of people will weather the holidays with old man winter this month in the District’s streets, shelters and parks. For those men and women who are alone, bundled in blankets and heavy coats, Christmas night will pass as most do: struggling to stay warm. But for several children who are homeless or living in shelters themselves, the night will pass with warm thoughts, dreams of glittering trees and presents, and hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there.
Dreams of St. Nick When Santa visits 9-year-old Bria at the Spring Road Family Shelter, he will find cookies and milk waiting, just like she puts out for him every year. But this time, “Santa will just have to come to the front door,” she says, because the shelter has no chimney and space is cramped. “If Santa tries to come down a chimney he’s going to get lost,” she adds. But she’s not worried about him having difficulty finding her at the shelter. Santa has special ways of figuring out these things, she confides.
Decked in tiger-striped earmuffs, Bria recites a lofty wish list: a bike, a computer, a McDonald’s McFlurry maker, a pet dog and a baby doll stroller. But she also knows that Christmas is more than receiving presents. Giving to others and being with her family are important too. The best part about the holidays, she says, is spending time with her mother, father and five brothers and sisters. Khadija, 7, lives at the Temporary Living Center on Park Road, transitional apartment-
See HOLIDAYS p. 5
Reform Act Debate Heats Up By Laura Thompson Everyone agrees that Washington, D.C., needs a law reforming homeless services, but what form this law will take still remains very much up for debate. The first hearing on the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2003 (Bill 15-241) took place late last month, and more than 50 people, including advocates, government officials, and homeless and formerly homeless residents, spoke up with their support of and concerns about this homeless services overhaul. “I think this is a good piece of legislation,” said Councilmember Sandy Allen, head of the Human Services Committee and sponsor of the bill. “It brings focus to the
Local Homeless Person Dies; Memorial, p. 5
INSIDE
D.C. Legislation, p.7 Poetry, pgs. 8-9
needs of the homeless and tries to put in place a way to better deliver services.” The proposed law would give homeless people more rights, set Councilwoman Sandy Allen speaks at a recent meting standards for service proincluding the cost of its viders, clarify the city’s legal auimplementation and certain thority in the shelter system and requirements for service improve coordination among providers. District agencies. Though it has One part of bill on which support from Allen and from everyone did agree was the the majority of the council, adcreation of a local Intervocates are wary about the bill’s agency Council on future. The District’s DepartHomelessness. The council ment of Human Services has already expressed serious reservations about several points, See REFORM p. 7
Features, p. 10 Editorials, p.11 National news, p. 13 Directory of Service Providers, pgs. 14-15
Exclusive Interview: Ohio Rep. and Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
INFORMATION
Page 2
Street Sense Mission Statement and Editorial Policy
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Homelessness in Washington, D.C., is at its highest level since 1996 and is increasing, yet the attention the media is giving the issue remains very low and inconsistent.
Editors
As a result, the main objective of Street Sense is to make the public more aware of issues related to poverty and homelessness. Its secondary goal is to provide homeless people with an economically beneficial opportunity and forum to be published.
Ted Henson Laura Thompson
Steering Committee Members Fred Anderson Renae Campbell Lisa Davis Ted Henson Vincent Indelicato Muata Jordan Langley Abbe McGray
Articles in Street Sense reflect the perspectives of the authors. We invite the submission of journalism, opinion, fiction and poetry, hoping to create a means where a multitude of perspectives on poverty and homelessness can find expression. Street Sense reserves the right to edit any material for length or style. Articles perceived to be hate speech will not be considered for publication.
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FEATURES
FACES OF THE HOMELESS
PERSONAL PROFILE: MARCELLUS DYSON By Ted Henson Though Marcellus Dyson has been homeless on and off for six years, he still has not lost his dreams: a legitimate job, affordable housing, and enough money to survive. “I would like to be making enough money legally where I wouldn’t have to live until the next paycheck,” he says in an earnest, yet weathered, voice. “I want to buy a place of my own so if I ever had children, they would have a place to lay their heads.” Currently all of these hopes seem out of reach for the 26-year-old, as he sits on one discolored plastic chair with his broken leg propped up on another at the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) shelter, his current home. He has been without a home for the past three years; without a job for several months; and without a functioning leg, broken in a hit-and-run, since early last summer. However, Dyson lived this dream in the not-too-distant past. By the age of 17, the Washington, D.C. native had moved to Denver, Colo., and had a place of his own. He was working full time for a construction company and making enough money to pay rent, clothes,
food, and other essentials. “I had a huge one-bedroom apartment with a sunroof in the bathroom, a large living room and a balcony that overlooked a courtyard and woods,” Dyson said. “It was safe.” He had moved to Colorado to be close to his mother, who was at a drug rehabilitation clinic there at the time. However, things changed for him suddenly when one day, his mother showed up at his doorstep after being released from rehab. Not wanting to send her to the streets, Dyson let her in. “Who’s going to let their mom go homeless when they have so much room,” Dyson said. When his landlord discovered that a second occupant who was not on the lease was living in the apartment, Dyson was given thirty days to find a new home. By the end of 1997, Dyson had moved out of his plush apartment with a balcony; this was the last time he truly had a permanent place to call home. Because his mother wanted to return to Washington, they moved in with her parents in the Columbia Heights area. However, Dyson did not want to further burden his grandparents, so he soon left them and became independent once again.
Volunteers Needed! Writers: Everyone is welcome to join our volunteer staff! All different levels of writing experience are welcome and appreciated. There are only two requirements: 1) you have a passion for ending economic injustices and 2) you are interested in creating social change through your writing. Editors and other volunteers: Individuals interested in gathering stories, proofing stories and helping with layout (Pagemaker) are needed. Must be available for at least five hours for every issue. Come to the next Street Sense meeting on Nov. 19th @ 6:00pm. Meetings are held at NCH headquarters (1012 14th St., NW, Suite 600). For more info contact Ted at 202-737-6444 ext. 17
Dyson was working minimum-wage jobs and was hard-pressed to find a steady job that would enable him to afford the city’s notoriously high rents. With finding an affordable place to stay on minimal wages being such a burdensome task, Dyson had to stay wherever he could. He worked during the day and at night stayed with friends, in the park, in abandoned houses. “Basically, the whole time I was on the streets,” he said, “we had jobs and went to work everyday; we just didn’t have anywhere to stay.” As with many other people on the streets, working minimum-wage jobs did not provide enough money to secure safe and affordable housing in addition to other living costs. So to make money, Dyson turned to selling drugs. He describes selling drugs at this time in his life as a way of surviving. “I did it to house and feed myself, not for cars and clothes,” said Dyson. “I can’t make more than seven dollars an hour with my experience with most jobs. The average efficiency is about $500 a month. I can make a lot more money selling drugs.” However, violence was frequent, he said, and run-ins with gang members, hustlers and the police made it extremely danger-
ous. It’s something Dyson regrets because of the way it affected his community. “Selling drugs is like the devil making us commit genocide against our own people.” Dyson sold drugs until he got back on his feet. He spent a semester enrolled in a small Virginia college but, lacking finances, was forced to drop out. Once again Dyson found himself trying to make enough money working minimum-wage jobs to find an affordable place to live. In the beginning of the summer of 2003, Dyson was hit in a hit-and-run car accident. The accident left him with legs that required surgery, and he has been either on crutches or in a wheelchair, depending on which he could find, ever since. Dyson has been living at the CCNV shelter over the past six months. When asked about where he would like to see himself in a year from now, Dyson says that he merely wants to get back on his feet, literally and figuratively. And as someone who wants to eventually return to school to study computer science, Dyson feels that the sky is the limit. “I feel like I can do so many things,” Dyson said.
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D.C. NEWS
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
Gales School Shelter Stays Open; Need For Downtown Shelter Remains By Laura Thompson Though advocates and homeless residents are relieved that the District has decided to keep the Gales School Shelter open for the duration of hypothermia season, many are still calling for more permanent downtown shelter space. “The city’s decision to keep the shelter open this winter is a real victory for Gales residents. But there will still be a need for downtown shelter if Gales closes in 90 days,” said T.J. Sutcliffe, director of advocacy and social justice for So Others Might Eat. City Administrator Robert Bobb said the District would leave Gales open until at least March 31 to provide enough beds during the cold winter months and, also, to give the Gales residents more time to transition to the new shelter locations. This last-minute change of heart came after much protest from the homeless community and advocates and just a week before Gales was scheduled to close on Dec. 19. Once March 31 comes, the city will move forward with its plan to move the more than 100 men who live at Gales School to a site at 1355-57 New York Ave., NE and provide them a shuttle service from Gales to the new site. And the more than 50 women who live at Gales would move to the John Young Center, a hypothermia shelter in the Federal City Shelter, which is a few blocks away at 2nd and D streets. Soon after this switch, construction on a new children’s advocacy center that will be housed at Gales will begin. The delay is not expected to have any major impact on the construction, which was not expected to begin until the spring. “We recognize that some period of transition will be needed as the
LA CASA from p.1
Deputy Mayor Carolyn Graham. French said the newly built facility would continue to provide the same offerings to the homeless population in
residents learn the locations of the new facilities and make arrangements for transportation to and from the new facilities,” he added. “We are all committed to doing everything we can to prevent hypothermia fatalities and improve services to those who live every day without housing,” Bobb said. Two days before this announcement, John Mayer was found dead in a Northwest park; he is the first homeless person to die of hypothermia in the District this winter. Though the facility on New York Avenue is brand new and will include places for job training and placement, healthcare, and other social services, it is also two miles away from Gales School and the downtown area where the majority of street homeless people congregate. Because it is so far from downtown, advocates are skeptical that the shelter will have a real impact on the homeless in the city. The Coalition of Homeless and Housing Organizations said that the city’s plan to bus Gales residents to New York Avenue is not a sufficient solution, since similar busing plans have lapsed before. With or without busing, many in the homeless community are upset about the move to New York Avenue because the homeless are being forced to leave the downtown area. “What the city is trying to do is get rid of all the downtown and low-barrier shelters,” said Ross Weisiger, a resident of Gales School and a homeless advocate. “They are saying that all of the business want us out of the way, but what we are saying is that we don’t want to be out of the way, we are part of the community and need a decent place to sleep and live.” He said that instead of shuttling the homeless two miles away, the city needs to create more livable downtown shelter
an improved, comprehensive facility. Councilman Jim Graham, a longtime proponent of La Casa whose ward includes Columbia Heights, hailed the thorough response to serving the city’s homeless population. Graham has been committed to keeping La Casa where it is, rather than relocating it as some have suggested during redevelopment talks. “Others and I want a place at the table”
Side view of the Gales School Shelter at 65 Masschusetts Ave., NW
space, since around Union Station and city’s business district is where most of the homeless people find work and service providers and, most importantly, go about their daily routine. “The most important thing is that they need downtown shelter space,” Weisiger said. “If they don’t keep a downtown shelter, they are going to have a lot more homeless people downtown on the streets than right now.” The call for a new accessible shelter comes as the city’s homeless population is on the rise — approaching 18,000 for all of 2003 – with the street homeless population increasing by about 20%, according to homeless advocates. Patricia Mullahy Fugere, executive director of Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said that the New York Avenue site is no replacement for downtown shelter and that the city should start looking for a new site in the city’s center. However, Fugere said that she was encouraged by City Administrator Bobb’s pledge to help all the city’s homeless. “It was very hopeful to have a city official embrace the notion that there
should be shelter in the downtown area, and he committed to working with the advocates to make that a reality,” she said. “They are going to need to find some place available in the downtown area for a new shelter, because using the New York Avenue as a replacement is not realistic,” she said. The other downtown shelter that is threatened with closure is the Franklin School at 13th and K streets. This shelter was shut down in the summer and then opened for the winter, but it is expected to close once hypothermia season is over. And Gales School Shelter has been on the chopping block in the past. At the end of the summer, DHS said that it was going to close the building on Sept. 19; in fact, a sign was even posted. However, the sign was taken down due to much protest. And ever since the Gales School Shelter opened in late 2000, its days have been numbered. The shelter opened originally as a temporary hypothermia shelter but ended up staying open year-round because of increased demand.
for Columbia Heights’ homeless population, Graham said during a recent interview. “But for the grace of God, they could be any one of us. There are many other places in America where they would have just closed this shelter. But I’m proud of what we’ve done here.” Graham credits residents, developers and homeless advocates for fighting to rebuild La Casa alongside new retail and mixed-use residential space near the Columbia Heights Metro Station. This development would include 235 apartments and 22 condominiums that NCRC has proposed for the neighborhood, and of these residential units, 20% would be earmarked as affordable housing. Once La Casa is rebuilt, Graham predicts that the “state-of-the art facility” will serve as a model for other homeless facilities in the city.
La Casa will remain open this winter for the duration of the hypothermia season, French said. But she said that developers may need to work on the La Casa site as soon as the season is over. “Part of the challenge will be to find a temporary location during the reconstruction,” French said, noting that the city hopes to relocate La Casa’s trailers to a nearby location. The relocation of the trailers that now serve as the shelter, however, would depend on what land is available. Developers predict that they will break ground on the Columbia Heights Metro Station redevelopment project in fall 2004, said Peggy Armstrong, a spokesperson for the RLA Revitalization Corporation and its parent corporation, NCRC. NCRC is responsible for the economic development of several D.C. neighborhoods.
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
HOLIDAYS from p. 1 style housing for families. But this year her family plans to celebrate Christmas at her aunt’s house, she says, because her mother does not have the time or space to put up a tree and decorations. “My favorite part about the holidays is that we get presents,” she says, grinning to reveal two missing front teeth. “But it’s also special because we celebrate Jesus’ birthday.” Still, Khadija barely contains her excitement as she thinks about what she might find this year under the Christmas tree. What has she asked Santa to bring her? Just a few “small” presents: jewelry, a make-up set, a Barbie book bag, clothes and black boots. Not every child believes in Santa. J.R., who lives with his father at the Park Road shelter, says that Santa is not real. Instead, J.R. very practically expects that his family or staff at Project Northstar, the tutoring program for homeless children that he goes to once a week, will buy his presents. Such practicality has not tempered this 7-year-old’s enthusiasm for Christmas and gift receiving, though. “I’m looking forward to Christmas because you get lots of toys,” J.R. says, his sentences punctuated every-so-often with “dawg.” And his wish list is both expensive and expansive. At the top of the list: a Play Station 2, a dirt bike, wrestling action figures and a wrestling ring, new shoes, and new clothes. Winter’s Reality In contrast, the reality of living on the streets and having to rely on others’ generosity tempers most adults’ musings about the holidays. Being homeless, “takes a lot away from your ego, your pride,” says Phoenix, 52, who has lived in an abandoned house for the past five months. Last year, Phoenix was working in the communications industry in North Carolina, earning $85,000 a year. Layoffs forced him into early retirement, and some bad luck mixed with some bad choices have him living homeless in D.C. until he can get his life back together. He considers himself lucky because he knows he has a way out once his early retirement package kicks in. But he’s always been self-reliant – was steadily employed since 19 and never without a job until last year – and having to depend on others for food and clothing is hard, he says. So hard, he has not told his three adult children that he is in D.C. and homeless. “When I think about Christmas, I think about my children,” Phoenix says. “But this year,” his comment trails off as he looks down at the uneaten pancakes left on his plate. He regularly eats breakfast at Miriam’s Kitchen. “Let’s just say that this holiday, I’ll be with myself and getting my head to-
Page 5
gether.” On Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Years Day or any other given day of the year, best estimates report that approximately 6,840 homeless people reside in D.C.’s emergency and transitional shelters, on the streets or in makeshift and illegal housing, according to The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. These numbers, when compared to the cities total population, are more than twice the rate of other large cities in the United States. Giving and Remembering Unlike the other times of the year, the holiday season, is when homeless people see others’ generosity in abundance. “I always know it’s Christmas when churches start coming to the streets and people start finding us in the parks just to help us,” says Fred, whose full salt-and pepper beard, twinkling blue eyes and robust cheeks could allow him to pass as Santa Claus himself. One night in early December, he was awoken at 1 a.m. by a group of people from a nearby church asking him if he wanted soup or hot chocolate, he says, shaking his head in bewilderment. “I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I had to be at work first thing in the morning and needed my sleep,” he chortles. Fred’s been homeless in D.C. for five years now, and Christmas has become just another day for him. “Actually, it’s a bit harder than most days,” he says, “because nothing is open so you have nowhere to go expect places where they are providing services for us.” He works fairly regularly (about 15 days a month) through a temporary employment agency, earning between $50 and $60 a day, he says. But he doesn’t earn enough money to pay the District’s steep rents. “I miss having a home,” Fred says. “Christmas was always about going to my aunt’s house and my grandma’s. It was about being with family.” Some of his best Christmas memories are from when he was a child, opening all the gifts and eating the Christmas turkey and ham and mashed potatoes. “I couldn’t wait ‘till Christmas day, I was so impatient,” he says. But the holiday no longer holds that special sense of expectation for him. His grandmother, aunt and mother are deceased, and Fred is alone and resigned to the here-and-now of being homeless. Does he miss those childhood feelings of joy, hope and anticipation? Yes and no, he says. “I do have hope that things will get better,” he says. Fred has applied for affordable housing and is looking for a permanent job in the retail industry. “But that has nothing to do with the joy of Christmas.” “As far as the spirit of Christmas goes,” he says. “That’s best to leave it in his childhood and to wish for the spirit in other children.” Laura Thompson contributed to this article.
In Memoriam: John Maher 1947-2003 First Homeless Person to Die of Hypothermia this Winter
John Maher, 56, died Dec. 9, and was found under the snow in Glover-Archibald Park in Northwest. He was the first hypothermia death in Washington, D.C. this winter. Maher had been a client of the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place since 1996. He was mainstay of the community at Friendship Place, with an infectious sense of humor, and went out of his way to express his care and concern for his family at Friendship Place and for his friends on the street. He was also in regular contact with his mother, Margaret, who was devoted to him Though, Maher stayed for long period of time in the shelters or in rooming house, he preferred to stay on the streets. As he would say “I like to walk…don’t like the walls.” The loss of Maher has left many heartbroken and will be mourned by all. -Community Council for the Homeless
We at the Homeless Voice in Florida wish STREET SENSE all the luck in the world! www.homelessvoice.org www.searchandhelpus.org Coming soon: Search via web at www.searchandhelpus.org Help the homeless without it costing you one cent.
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INTERVIEW
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
Formerly Homeless Rep. Kucinich on Housing and the Economy
Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (DOhio) was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 8, 1946, the eldest of seven children. He grew up in Cleveland’s inner city where his father was frequently unemployed and his family coped with homelessness. He earned a B.A. and M.A. at Case Western Reserve University. He began a distinguished public service career as a 21-year old Councilman and later as Cleveland’s Mayor. In 1994 Kucinich was elected to the Ohio State Senate and the U.S. Congress in 1996 (re-elected 1998, 2000, and 2002). As chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, he “advocates for a national health care system, the preservation of Social Security and higher unemployment benefits”. Public Citizen, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and the League of Conservation Voters honored him for his environmental record. He is the 2003 recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award. Kucinich is one of nine candidates vying for the Democratic nod to run for President of the United States. He was interviewed by Muata Jordan Langley for Street Sense.
be increasing homelessness due to the economy and public policy. Can you talk a bit about what you see the political landscape looking like? Kucinich: It is up to society to provide opportunities for people and to take care of its people. No one in a democratic society should be without a home. Unless you are looking at a home as being some kind of privilege, which you get according to the eco-
SS: In a speech you talked about there being two Americas – one “multinational” and one of “neighborhoods and rural areas”. What do you mean by this? And, how does it relate to democratic values, policies, and principles of the nation? Kucinich: Global corporations have one goal and that is to maximize profit. If they need to cut people’s wages to maximize profit - they’ll do it. If they need to bypass environmental regula-
Street Sense: Let me first offer congratulations to you on being named 2003 recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award. Why were you honored? Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Thank you. This is an award that is one of the major peace prizes in the country. I am grateful to have received it. The first recipient was Eleanor Roosevelt. I suppose a lot has to do with a proposal in the Congress to create a cabinet level position in the Department of Peace. The Department of Peace seeks to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society for domestic policy as well as international policy. Now, about fifty members of Congress support it. SS: I understand that in your lifetime you experienced homelessness while living with your parents. Is this true? Kucinich: My folks never owned a home. We moved around a lot and by the time I was seventeen we lived in 21 different places including a couple of cars. We experienced evictions and some of the other experiences that are not uncommon to inner-city families. Because of that, I’ve come to have a special sensitivity to the concerns of people for affordable housing and the concerns of homeless people. SS: We are in an era where there seems to
Kucinich talking to reporters on the campaign trail.
nomic value, which you represent, in the economy. I think having a roof over your head is a basic human right. The gospel of St. Matthew tells us when we shelter someone that’s a work of mercy. That identifies us with something that spiritually is very powerful. We have an obligation to see to it that people have shelter and people have opportunities for survival. That is the way I look at it. I think the government has a special role to provide affordable housing and education.
tions to enhance their profits - they’ll do it. If they need to engage in slave labor, prison labor, or child labor in order to increase their profits – they’ll do it. Global corporations are not about human dignity they are about making profit. Now, there are some people in management who have a conscious. But the overriding direction of corporate globalization is about profit at the expense of worker’s rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles. SS: There are inequities in income and living standards between the rich and poor,
We have to bring close to the bosom of America those who have suffered from a lack of housing opportunities.
and they have widened substantially. Does this explain this phenomenon of multinational corporations? Kucinich: No, actually, it does not. The multinational corporations have gained their strength through the failure of government to provide sufficient regulation of corporate activity to break up the monopolies in order to ensure more competition and to provide trade laws which give nations and people protection of their basic rights. So, there is nothing wrong with people making money. I think it is a wonderful thing and we all need to have an opportunity to have a sense of mastery over this material world. That can become a very spiritual process. But what happens when the game is rigged? What happens when someone gets a benefit because of political connections? What happens when someone can achieve a monopoly because they don’t have to worry about who is in power looking over their shoulder? And, what happens when someone can set up a corporation and export their profits offshore at the expense of the American taxpayer? What happens when you have conditions where the economy exists just to benefit a few and not the many? SS: What would be your message to the growing homeless population and the people who are their supporters and organizers? Kucinich: The same message that is on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” We have to bring close to the bosom of America those who have suffered from a lack of housing opportunities. By providing not just shelters on an interim basis but by providing affordable housing and by providing jobs for people. We need to make sure that people are paid a living wage so that they can have the opportunity to own a home and make a down payment. These are the kind of things that are essential in a democracy, and the more that people lack those opportunities- the more our democracy is in trouble. I see the level of homelessness as a gauge of how free we truly are. As wealth concentrates at the top and more people are thrown out of their homes, we really becomes less and less of a democratic nation.
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
REFORM from p.1 would be made up of about 18 government officials, a half-dozen service providers and four to 10 homeless and formerly homeless residents. They would, among other things, develop a five-year strategic plan and a yearly hypothermia plan, and regularly review services in the system. “I cannot overemphasize the contributions an Interagency Council will make by bringing the right people to the table to truly focus on the needs of homeless residents,” said T.J. Sutcliffe, director of advocacy and social justice for So Others Might Eat. The Interagency Council closely reflects the group that helped to draft the reform bill. In October 2000, government officials, advocates, attorneys, homeless and formerly homeless individuals came together to find a way to improve the current homeless services system. And after many studies, focus groups and meetings, the current bill took form and was presented to the council in April 2003. Though a few sections of the bill remain contentious, particularly the one that that gives rights to homeless people in government-funded shelters, homeless and formerly homeless unanimously supported rights to respectful treatment, an official complaint process, and protection of their privacy. William H. Wright, who, along with his 13-year-old daughters, is a resident of the Spring Road Shelter, said that during his time in the shelter, caseworkers have been uncooperative and the shelter staff demeaning. He said that he hopes that the proposed act will change all of that. “We need people to work with us and do not just make up rules as they go along,” Wright said. “We are already traumatized and feeling bad about ourselves, and we do not need to be treated disrespectfully.” However, the acting director of the Department of Human Ser vices, Yvonne Gilchrist, did not support the guaranteed rights of the homeless or the required standards for service providers. In fact, she went so far to suggest that all of the “shall”s be changed to “may”s, making these standards and rights no more than suggestions. (This issue is, in fact, what prompted the city about a year ago to end its involvement in the bill’s creation.) “I support its intent but have some
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LEGISLATION
concerns and issues about the potential of creating an entitlement structure,” Gilchrist said. “This does not address preventing homelessness but creates an industry to support it.” Gilchrist was also concerned about the fiscal impact of providing more shelter space and upholding certain standards, and insisted that a fiscal impact study be included with the proposal. However, as some of the attorneys involved in writing the act noted, DHS is making such a study impossible. It has yet to provide the city’s chief financial officer with the appropriate numbers. The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, the supervisor of the District’s shelter system, supported the bill but also had a long list of concerns similar to those of the DHS. Sue Marshall, the Partnership’s executive director, had serious issues with the unlimited length of stay and also with the absence of the 365-day rule, which would allow someone to reenter the shelter system – no matter how long he or she was in it initially – only after one year. However, Sczrina Perot, staff attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, said that the current law already puts limits on both length of stay and repeated use of the shelter system in one year, but that neither of these limits are enforced, simply because the need for shelter is too high. She also said that if the government did enforce these rules, it would be detrimental to the homeless. “Pushing someone out of shelter before they are ready is just setting them up for failure and for a return to homelessness,” Perot said. Others, though less dramatic, suggested changes to the bill included establishing more programs to help the homeless manage and save their money and programs to help them raise their self-esteem. Also, supporters wanted the bill to create more “low barrier” shelter space and hypothermia beds. The bill is now being reviewed and amended by the council’s Human Services Committee and will likely be presented to the entire council for its first reading in the next few months. In an interview in early December, Allen said that she was confident about the bill, adding that it was a priority of the council, but would not make a guess as to when and in what form it would pass.
“Pushing someone out of shelter before they are ready is just setting them up for failure and for a return to homelessness,” Perot said.
Amendement to Rental Housing Conversion and Sale Act of 1980 When a landlord sells a building in D.C., tenants are usually allowed the opportunity to purchase the building and become homeowners, or to negotiate other benefits. However, landlords are using a loophole in the tenants’ first right to purchase law under the Rental Housing Conversion and Sale Act that allows landlords to sell their buildings without allowing tenants the opportunity to buy them. The loophole exempts owners of federally subsidized buildings who are refinancing a federally subsidized mortgage from the tenants’ right to purchase law. When this happens,
tenants can be forced out of their homes by new owners who often redevelop their buildings and raise the rents. Councilman Phil Mendelson (D-At large) introduced a bill (15-133) earlier this year to close this loophole and ensure that all tenants are guaranteed the first right to purchase. The bill had its first hearing in October and is now being revised by the Consumer and Regulatory Affairs committee. If passed, this bill would be an important step in protecting tenants’ rights.
Be a vendor for Street Sense! Are you homeless or formerly homeless and do you want to work for D.C.’s newspaper for the homeless? Then write, call or stop by Street Sense! Phone: 202-737-6444 ext. 17 E-mail: streetsense@nationalhomeless.org Address: National Coalition for the Homeless 1012 14th St., NW, Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20005
POETRY FROM THE HOMELESS
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Street Sense Decemeber 2003
THE MAN ON THE STREET The season rolls around once again; fall foliage in rainbow colors consists of broadsides tacked to trees, candy-coated come-ons and smiling faces, that say “I will build you a better world if you would only cash in your tiny share of America and hand it to me.” The man on the street is bewildered by all the cotton-candy colors polluting trees and lampposts. When the big day comes, he joins the horde of blank faces, each attached to a hand that clutches a ticket to democracy In a daze, he marks his preference, then wanders back to his street to await his promised better world The next day dawns; chill autumn breezes brace his ashen skin and blow pastel scraps of cardboard along sidewalks and gutters. Somewhere, a smiling face is flushed with triumph. A voice made for radio & TV proclaims the advent of that better world. In the real world, the man on the street huddles against the cold, feeding on the scraps of yesterday’s promises, awaiting the dawn of a tomorrow just as cold as yesterday. — David Harris
NOVEMBER
28TH
i spent the day with the gray blanket crowd, each of us slouching toward rich meals provided by strangers grateful for their prosperous lives. it was a chilly thursday sitting in the eighteenth street park communing with squirrels & sparrows. sips from the daily bottle provided the necessary holiday cheer. a pink-cheeked lady in a faded fur coat brings leftovers from her family feast. bright tinkling words from her lips proclaim it was the love of jesus that brought her to my perch. i smilingly accept her meal and take another swallow of lively darkness. well-fed flesh ripples behind her as she trundles toward the next hungry soul. in church basements all over this city, the gray blanket crowd dines among bustle & warmth on this one day. colorful tablecloths provide a veneer of civilization, a hint of the normal. meanwhile, the uninformed line up for the daily battered white church van; as a silent witness, i wonder if the soup is as thin as it was on wednesday. it doesn’t matter, not to me; i’ve found my solitary celebrationthe woman in fur didn’t linger for conversation but the squirrels, the birds were there for me along with the bottle of cheer and as i took its final sip, my eyes closed on the chilly autumn thursday. — David Harris
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
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POETRY FROM THE HOMELESS
UNTITLED
THE JOURNEY let it never cease without it, purpose? what is achieved? there is always cause take no pause in the quest attaining at best for those who haven’t developed “voice” and those who shout! yet ignored at society’s choice the youth the old why allow their fate to shatter-for God’s sake so the journey continues with goals that are sent give youth a beautiful environment a life overflowing with love pride in what is considered home the elderly relearn control of society-their voice becomes quite bold get everything their years of existence are owed unstoppable irreproachable that’s right- the journey infinite dream may it come to exist -- Tami Townsend
What is race? not the verb try the noun claim one always bound don’t you “get it?” we are all one. Adam and Eve, through life achieved total mixture. if one must “go there” life began that way are you in check with the mix? it goes way backwe all are one intact. claim one or “other” give me a break dear brother! go way back you see we are created through the twoAdam and Eve and if you’d like- add King David, Noah King Solomon, Samuel, Jacob, Ruth Sarah, Tamar “get it”? so next time“race?” choose Humankind -- Tami Townsend
PRIDE I am too proud for a place in this ragged queue of weary, defeated men awaiting a daily ration of thin gruel I am too proud for a place on a downtown corner behind a jangling cup of coins I am too proud for monthly mail from a kindly government that cares for the indigent and broken. Pride prevents me from seeing wounds from which my life’s blood drips; pride causes me to refuse a bandage to bind broken parts of me Yet here I stand faceless amid a bag-laden crowd and as my turn arrives, a smiling volunteer doles out a sandwich of last week’s meat on yesterday’s bread for as this nameless day fades into a crisp cool evening hunger conquers pride. -- David Harris
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Street Sense Decemeber 2003
FEATURES
Book Reviews
Cook’s Corner
Reckoning with Homelessness by Kim Hopper “Reckoning with Homelessness” by Kim Hopper is a scholarly study of homelessness and its roots. While that may sound like a dry read, “Reckoning” is anything but. Hopper has spent time living with and documenting the experiences of the homeless since the 1970s, and his travels have taken him to well-known homeless encampments in New York such as the Bowery and the subway tunnels. Though “Reckoning” is essentially a textbook, Hopper, because of his firsthand experience, humanizes the men and women who call the streets and shelters their home. Hopper starts his book by giving some historical perspective. It may surprise many readers to learn that homelessness was illegal until a few decades ago because of a law against vagrancy. The law was overturned in 1972 when the ranks of the homeless started to explode. The author counts three major factors as contributing to the great numbers of people living without a home — unemployment, housing scarcity, and deinstitutionalization. Hopper documents each factor well and spends additional time on the issue of deinstitutionalization, which put large numbers of mentally ill patients out on the streets in the 1970s and 1980s. The book is organized into three easily readable sections. Each section and chapter includes quotes, stories and vignettes from homeless men and women the author has interviewed. The firsthand perspective, combined with Hopper’s meticulous research, creates a vivid account of life on the streets of New York. After reading the chapter on life in New York’s subway tunnels, you can almost close your eyes and visualize a homeless encampment, complete with the smells, dampness, and loneliness that must accompany it. Still, the book does not romanticize the homeless or their problems. Just as the author recounts many pleasant encounters with homeless people, he also recounts some threatening moments. Once, in a shelter in the Bowery, Hopper spent a night next to a man suffering from apparent mental illness who was brandishing a knife and mumbling about killing someone. The section on life in the shelters and “flophouses” is among the most riveting chapters. It includes photographs of several shelters and interviews with residents about the travails of such public living. Residents detail the robberies, sexual predators, and abusive staff members they encounter. The book also explores a less publicized topic: people who call the airport home who are suffering because of increased airport security measures. The millions of travelers who pass through airports every year may be surprised to find that they’re passing through someone’s home. The book explains the advantages to living in the airport, including constant temperature control, a steady source of food, and clean bathrooms. This last advantage contributes to the fact that homeless citizens who live in the airport are generally cleaner and not as unkempt as homeless people who are forced to live on the streets. The one perspective the book is missing is that of homeless families and children. Although this is certainly a growing problem, the author scarcely mentions or interviews homeless families. But that does not take away from the quality of Hopper’s work. By Becky Kellogg
Picture of the Month Fishing on the Potomac: “Bo” Catches the Big One
Carl Henry and Jean Yablon have been volunteering at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, D.C., for several years. As part of the group of volunteers who specialize in baking fresh muffins, desserts and breads for the Kitchen, they have adapted a recipe for raisin bread that is a big hit when it is used to make French toast. They hope you enjoy it, too. Raisin Bread Yield: 3 Loaves Ingredients: 2 packages active dry yeast ¼ c. sugar 1 T. salt ½ c. warm water 1½ c. warm milk 3 eggs ¼ c. soft butter (or oil) Approximately 7 c. flour 2 c. raisins 1. In the order in which they are listed, add the first three ingredients and half of the flour to the mixing bowl and combine, using a paddle mixer attachment at low speed. 2. Add the liquids and mix at low speed until smooth. 3. Change the paddle attachment to a dough hook and add the remaining flour and the raisins. Mix at low speed. After about 3 minutes of mixing, stop the mixer and scrape down the dough and flour to ensure good mixing. You may need to do this several times. Adjust for proper consistency by adding a little additional flour or water as necessary. 4. After 10 minutes of mixing, turn out into a large bowl that has been lightly sprayed with oil. Cover with plastic wrap. 5. When the dough has doubled, or nearly doubled, in bulk, divide it into 3 equal portions, form it into loaves, and place in oiled bread pans. Spray oil on the tops of the loaves and cover with plastic wrap. Place the pans on cookie sheets or on a rack in a warm location. 6. Preheat oven to 350 F. 7. When the loaves have almost doubled in bulk, bake 35 to 40 minutes. Check the color after 20 minutes and rotate tray. Bread is done when the internal temperature reaches 190 F. 8. When the loaves are done, remove them from the pans and allow them to cool on cookie sheets or on a rack. 9. Store at room temperature temporarily or freeze for longer storage. *Note that it is important to keep the liquid ingredients at 115F to ensure a rapid rise. Check with a thermometer, because a temperature that is too high can kill the yeast.
Street Sense’s HOW TO... This month: How to Approach a Homeless Person Like your or me, a person is a person homeless or not. So, as you approach anyone you meet for the first time, greet the homeless person with a kind heart and a smile. Say something nice or ask how they are doing, as not to scare him or her or make them feel intimidated or uncomfortable, since homeless are people and have feelings to. Also ask the person if they could use what you have to offer immediately or if you could go buy them something at a near by store. It could be a jacket, gloves, socks, etc. It could also be food or even a restaurant gift certificate. If you want to give a homeless person money, have it handy to give and give from the heart because when you give from your heart, you do not worry about what the money will be used for. It is up to the person you gave money to do the right thing. But when you approach a homeless person sincerely from your heart and you give sincerely from your heart, hopefully they will feel your sincerity and use the money wisely. — George Siletti is originally from Long Island, N.Y., and lived previously in Florida before moving to Washington. He has been homeless off and on for 25 years.
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
EDITORIAL AND ADVICE
Ask Fred
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Washington: The District of Haves and Have Nots
Vendor Coordinator Fred Anderson
Dear Fred, I see homeless people out on the street. A lot of times, I don’t want to give them money, but I still want to help them somehow. What should I do? - Conflicted Urbanite I understand how you feel. When I run into this situation, I follow my heart. First, I would engage in conversation with the individual and listen to what his or her needs are. If it is food, I would offer to buy that person something to eat or bring him or her some clothing if needed. This way you know where your money goes. If he or she insists that you give money, just politely say you don’t give out money on the street. Dear Fred, I recently helped serve breakfast at a local soup kitchen. There was quite a large number of men and women lined up for a warm meal that morning, and it made me wonder: Where do these people go during the day? Are there warm places to go with the weather getting colder? - A Concerned Volunteer I would like to thank you for the valuable service that you provide to people in need; I wish we had more people like you. Some homeless people seek employment during the day, and others find their way to drop-in centers, since many shelters are closed during the daytime. At these centers, they can find heat and other services such as clothing, transportation, and job listings. Dear Fred, After spending one night in the hospital after an auto accident, I was shocked to see my hospital bill. With the price of healthcare so high, where can homeless people go to receive healthcare, and what do they do when accidents occur? - In Debt in the District Most homeless people in the city have healthcare coverage through Unity Healthcare. Unity provides treatment and fills prescriptions for the homeless community at facilities throughout the city at no cost to the homeless.
The nation’s capital serves as a showcase for the United States on the whole, for better or for worse. The nation, like the city, is a collection of governmental organizations and places of historical interest, along with areas of shameful neglect and an impoverished population. The homeless persons queuing up in McPherson Square in the hopes of receiving a meal and perhaps also some clothing come as a grim reminder while at the White House, located nearby, the President and his family live in luxury. What is not as immediately visible is the overall mood of cynicism and despair that these people in the square feel as they see wealth all around them, knowing that the wealth will always be unattainable to them and that people who pass them on the streets will regard them as a plague of sorts that needs to be expunged for the well-being of society. Also invisible to the naked eye is the population of well-to-do people who feel paralyzed and embarrassed by the injustice they see before them but who see no way to can change the situation. They know that contributions of money, food, clothes and other consumer goods are little more than guilt payments on tax exemptions. They know that such contributions are only token gestures that make the homeless more dependent. They know that until these unfortunate people learn how to get themselves out of their poverty and achieve self-sufficiency, the problem will remain. Then there are some stalwart populists who argue that “these people are just lazy; they don’t even try to do anything for themselves.” These people know nothing about the needy except that they “bother” them by appearing in public places when they should be out of sight, out of mind so as not to annoy “decent people.” However, the problems of the needy will not go away by themselves. Passing the homeless panhandlers on the street while ignoring them does not make them disappear; it only makes them more predatory and more desperate. Instead of helping to make the problem vanish, it makes it worse. Rather than ignoring them or giving them token contributions, people need to help empower them. Incorporating the needy into plans that can empower them in their struggle to escape poverty and homelessness can be a win-win situation. Keeping the needy dependent on public assistance will never achieve positive results. The person who conceives of a plan that transforms the needy into self-supporting individuals will surely be lauded in history as a truly great hero, because that person will save an entire nation. — Maurice King
Editorials are encouraged. Please send them to: Street Sense 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20005 streetsense@nationalhomeless.org
The Troubles and Exploitation of Day Laborers Last year well over one million workers were employed by two of the largest day labor companies, and over 50% of them were homeless. These workers are in an industry characterized by low wages, no benefits, and often, unsafe working conditions. Day labor companies exploit the poor, and perpetuate a form of oppression that can be characterized as wage slavery. The myth is that day labor is a transitional stage that allows people to better themselves, their families and the environment in which they live. The reality is that day labor perpetuates homelessness, and punishes those who seek to rise out of poverty. The basic function of the day labor industry is to provide there is an accessible pool of labor that can be dispatched at short notice to meet the needs of a business. More and more companies are seeking to reduce their labor costs by disposing of permanent workers and replacing them with the contracted employees. Money is saved not only in the actual cost of the labor, but also in the lack of benefits, pensions, training and overtime for these workers. One of the largest users of day labor is the construction industry. Currently over 500 companies supply temporary labor to construction sites, plus it is estimated that over one million laborers are picked up from street corners and other unofficial meeting places. In certain parts of the country, like Florida, the Southwest, and New York, many of the day laborers are Latino immigrants, and in other parts of the country they are
mostly African-American citizens. But common in all ares is abject poverty, a lack of opportunity for economic advancement, and a systemic abuse of the worker’s civil rights. It is economically almost impossible to create large profit margins solely from the supply of day laborers; yet, in this highly completive industry, the largest day labor companies are reporting profits of tens of millions of dollars a year. In contrast, the average annual earnings for a day laborer are $8,800, with no benefits. This income is predicated on a 12 to 14 hour workday, not a standard eight hours, and assumes that the worker is available 52 weeks a year. The labor companies have been repeatedly charged with cheating and avoiding health and safety regulations that protects these workers, and are in a series of lawsuits brought on by labor unions. The labor companies flout these laws because they are secure in the knowledge that the Department of Labor simply does not have enough resources for enforcement. There is a need for the day labor industry, yet if we allow these policies to continue more and more American workers will find themselves at the mercy of an industry that has no qualms about abusing both the worker and the system. Day laborers need to ensure that they have a voice, and to advocate for themselves. And to those who suggest that these abuses are part of a free market should consider that without government intervention there would be no child labor laws, no environmental protection laws, and very little public transportation. — Nick Phillips
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Street Sense Decemeber 2003
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
NATION
National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day The local observance of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 in McPherson Park, 15th Street and Vermont Avenue, NW. People who have died homeless in the D.C. metro area will be remembered. This event is co-sponsored by Charlie’s Place, C.A.R.E., Coalition of Homeless & Housing Organizations, National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Since 1990, NCH has sponsored this event to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember homeless people who have paid the ultimate price for our nation’s failure to address this issue. Over 100 cities nationwide will be holding similar events on or around Dec. 21 — the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. For more information about this event, contact NCH’s Jesse White at faces@nationalhomeless.org or (202) 737-6444 x20.
NEWS...FROM AROUND THE WORLD Street Papers Print Chapter of Harry Potter Book Homeless newspapers in Germany became prime property in late October when J.K. Rawling offered them exclusive publishing rights to the opening chapter of the latest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, before it hits the stores in its German translation. The first chapter was printed in more than 20 street magazines in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, according to the German news corporation Deutsche Welle (www.dw-world.de). Rowling agreed to the early taste of the book as an effort to provided a much needed boost to the homeless services and job-training programs the street papers support. Rowling was herself an unemployed single mother living on welfare benefits before gaining success with the Harry Potter franchise., editor of, said the offer from Rowling’s publishers was a wonderful surprise and too good to refuse. “It was the greatest gift to us to be able to publish the chapter,” Birgit Müller, editor of Hinz & Kunzt, Germany’s biggest-selling street magazine, told Deutsche Welle. The offices of Hinz & Kunzt started fielding dozens of phone calls a day from impatient Potter fans as soon as the announcement was made. “The vendors are over the moon. It will give us a massive boost.”
Ohio Teenagers Shock, Urinate on Homeless CLEVELAND, Ohio- One of the four Ohio teenagers accused of kicking, urinating on, and shocking homeless people with a stun gun in downtown Cleveland this past August was sentenced to spend the rest of the year in jail, followed by 150 hours of volunteer work with homeless service organizations. “If I could order it, I’d order no Thanksgiving dinner, no Christmas dinner while you are there,” Cleveland Municipal Judge C. Ellen Connally told Joshua Langenheim, 19, at the sentencing hearing, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (www.cleveland.com). “You don’t deserve it.” Langenheim and his three accomplices were all caught when a video tape they had made of their attacks – which also showed them laughing at the people they were assaulting – was found in their car. In his tearful read of his apology in court, Langenheim said, “I don’t know if this was the downfall… or the turning point in my life. All I know is that I look at things differently.”
New Affordable Housing Plan in Tampa TAMPA, Florida- For only $10 million, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County could drastically reduce the homeless population in and around Tampa, Florida. The Coalition has put together an ambitious plan that would create thousands of new housing units and is now waiting on the local power brokers to see if they can get the financial backing to bring their plan to life, according to the Tampa Tribune (news.tbo.com). The Places for People plan would create a trust fund, modeled after the National Housing Trust Fund, supported financially from a portion of the state’s real estate tax or documented recording fees, or a possible 1 percent increase in sales tax. The money would pay for affordable housing incentives as well as a homeless customer service clearinghouse that would set up homeless people with the services they need.
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Homeless Advocate John Donahue Is Remembered By Abbe McGray John Donahue, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), died Nov. 17, 2003. Donahue known to his many friends as Juancho - was hospitalized at Illinois Masonic Medical Center after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer. Juancho, 64, was the CCH executive director since 1990. During his more than 40 years of work in Chicago and Central America, his intelligence, warmth and energy enabled him to mobilize people for change. Under his leadership, the Coalition’s work focused on finding ways to prevent and end homelessness, pushing for workable solutions that create more affordable housing and living wage jobs. Prior to joining CCH, Juancho worked for three years in Panama as project director for Agro Bia Mundi Yala, where he organized indigenous tribes to protect their habitat and crops in the Panamanian rainforest. From 1982 to 1987, Juancho founded and held the executive director position at Comité Latino. There he advocated for jobs, housing and fair immigration policies among families and religious groups in Chicago’s Uptown and Rogers Park communities. Before this, Juancho was a division director at the Association House of Chicago, overseeing youth employment and employment training programs. A former Catholic priest, Juancho was vicar of the Archdiocese of Panama from 1971 to 1979. In those years he lived in a squatters’ community, San Miguelito, near Panama City. He organized and developed a national preschool project, a credit union, a housing project and various cooperatives. Before going to Panama, Juancho also worked as a priest, administrator and teacher at Chicago’s Visitation High School. He held a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in divinity from St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein. A graduate of Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he was born John “Jack” Donahue on July 16, 1939, the son of a Chicago firefighter. Juancho is profiled in Studs Terkel’s new oral history, Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Troubled Times (October 2003). His many honors include the first Daniel Berrigan Peace Award from DePaul University, True Patriot of the Year award from The Coalition for New Priorities, and a 2003 human rights award from Casa Guatemala. Juancho held volunteer leadership posts at the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support, Jobs with Justice, the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America, Service for Popular Education in Latin America, and the Chicago Grassroots Collaborative. His presence and commitment will be missed deeply by all. ”Some people who are better off have the luxury of losing hope. But poor people never lose hope. They can’t afford to. That’s the only thing they can hold on to, and that’s where hope springs eternal. Some people say, ‘How can you continue to work with the homeless and the poor?’ That’s where I get my energy because they never lose hope…” “I’m not practicing as a priest, but my ministry, remember, is organizing. My job is organizing hope. There are people in the community who still have hope. That’s the last thing they lose. I’m organizing hope for change.” John Donahue, from Studs Terkel’s “Hope Dies Last”
Page 14 SHELTERS Calvary Women’s Center 928 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 783-6651 Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Housing, meals, storage, showers, laundry facilities, case management, psychiatric care, substance abuse services, life skills program, supported employment program. Restrictions: Wait list begins at 7:00pm daily. Central Union Mission 1350 R Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 745-7118 www.missiondc.org Hours: 24/7, check in time 3:30pm Services: Shelter, supper breakfast, clothing, social, legal, medical, pastoral counseling, GED tutoring, literacy training, computer learning center, family services, women’s ministry and Hispanic ministry. Christ House 17 Columbia Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 328-1100 www.christhouse.org Hours: 24/7 Services: Nursing care for homeless in need of recovery, social services, clothing, housing placement, meals. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-8870 www.dccfh.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Residential transitional housing, emergency shelter, substance abuse counseling, employment services, Spanish/English staff. Community for Creative Nonviolence 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 783-3254 www.erols.com/ccnv Hours: Shelter 24/7; Office: 9:00am5:00pm (M-F) Services: Shelter, clothing, dinner for residents only, medical and dental care, psychiatrist, 32 bed infirmary, legal aid, veterans services, social services, counseling, job assistance, drug and alcohol program. Dorothy Day Catholic Worker 503 Rock Creek Church Road, NW Washington, DC 20010 (202) 882-9649 Hours: 24/7 Services: Shelter for families or moms and kids, bed capacity 5 families. Restrictions: No TV, no violence. Gospel Rescue Ministries 810 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 842-1731
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES www.grm.org Hours: 24/7 Check in 3:00pm9:30pm Services: Food, shelters, clothing, showers, chapel services (if desired), Transforming Lives Recovery Ministries. Restrictions: Shelter is reserved for Samaritan’s overnight guests. House of Imagene Shelters 214 P Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 518-8488 Hours: 24/7 Services: Bed capacity: 10 Restrictions: Call first no walk-ins. House of Ruth: Madison Emergency Shelter 615 10th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 547-2600 www.houseofruth.org Hours: 24/7; intake at 4:30pm Services: Bed capacity: 64; Spanish/ English staff; comprehensive social services. N Street Village 1333 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 (202) 939-2060 Hours: 4:00pm-7:30am (Daily) Services: Shelter, breakfast/evening meal, counseling, social service, eye exams, dental care, art classes, case management. Restrictions: Intake is done weekdays only at Bethany Day Center. Community of Hope 1417 Belmont Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-9091 www.communityofhopedc.org Hours: Shelter 24/7; Office: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: 90-day shelter, medical services, counseling, supportive services, homework, tutoring, career planning clothing. Restrictions: Community Partnership referrals required for housing. New Endeavors by Women 611 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 682-5825 Hours: 24/7 Office: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Bed capacity: 38, case management, education, job training, employment referrals, budgeting and savings requirement, support for recovery, housing assistance. Restrictions: Only women over 21. SOUP KITCHENS Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-3066 www.saint-margarets.org/charlies
Hours: 6:30am-9:30am (Tu & F) Services: Hot breakfast, social service, art and language classes (ESL & Spanish), speakers bureau and bread delivery service. Church of the Pilgrims 2201 P Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 (202) 387-6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Hours: Feeding Program 1:15pm2:00pm; Outreach worker 11:30am1:30pm (Tu); Shelter program during the winter 1 to 2 week stay for families. Services: Social services, counseling. Dinner Program for Homeless Women 945 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 736-9311 www.geocities.com/ ~dphomelessworn Hours: 4:00pm-7:30pm Services: Nutritional meals, clothing, support services, case management services, legal assistance, employment training, emergency referrals and computer workshop. McKenna’s Wagon 2114 14th Street Washington, DC 20009 (202) 328-6608 Hours: 8:00am-8:00pm Services: Mobile coup kitchen at various locations in NW Washington. Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Ave, NW Washington, DC 20037 (202) 452-8926 www.miriamskitchen.org Hours: Breakfast 6:30am-8:00am (MF and by appointment) Services: Breakfast, counseling and legal assistance weekly, social worker available M-F, 6:30am-8:00am & by appointment. So Others Might Eat 71 “O” Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001 Phone: 202-797-8806 Hours: 7:30am -4pm (M-F) www.some.org Services: Meals, hot showers, clean clothing, and comprehensive medical and dental care, residential employment programs; a therapeutic day center for the mentally ill; counseling and case management for alcohol and drug addictions, affordable housing for homeless people. Washington City Church of the Brethren 337 North Carolina Ave, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-5924 www.brethren.org Hours: 12:00pm- 1:30pm Services: Hot meal, legal services; 12:15pm (W); African American
Street Sense Decemeber 2003 12:00pm (T), Medical Assistance, consultations & prescription help Thursdays 12:00pm (Thurs). Zacchaeus Community Kitchen 10th and G Streets, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 393-9144 Hours: 9:30am-11:30am, (M-Sat) EMERGENCY FOOD Bread for the City 4275 4th Street, SE Washington, DC 20032 (202) 561-5941 www.breadforthecity.org Hours: 9:00am-12:30 & 1:30pm3:45pm (M ,W, Th, F); 9:00am-12:30 & 1:30pm-2:45pm (Tu) Services: 3-day supplemental food bag, clothing, social services on request. Restrictions: Must live in SE/SW DC. Covenant House of Washington 3400 Martin Luther Ave., SE Washington, DC 20032 (202) 610-9630 www.covenanthousedc.org Hours: 8:30am-8:00pm (M-F) Services: Food, clothing, education, assessment, life skills, recreation, health and fitness, legal services, pastoral care, residential resources, case management, job training, youth opportunity center. Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 842-1112 Hours: 8:00am-2:00pm (M-F); Services: Emergency food baskets, clothing for men, night shelter (8 beds Nov. 1-April 1). Restrictions: Proof of residency required for food assistance. Food and Friends 58 L Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 488-8278 www.foodandfriends.org Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Home delivered meals for people with AIDS and cancer, affected families and nutritional counseling for HIV/ PLWA’s. Restrictions: Referrals Preferred. MEDICAL RESOURCES Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202)745-4300 Hours: Project Office 9:00am5:00pm (M-F); On site clinic hours: 8:00am-5:00pm (M, Tues, Thurs, F); 10:30 am- 7:30pm (w) Services: Medical Clinics at Federal City Shelter, Christ House, House of Ruth, Emry Shelter, Upper Cardozo Clinic, Bethlehem Clinic, Woodland
Street Sense Decemeber 2003 Terrace Clinic, HIV Day Center, Central Union Mission, Blair Shelter, East of the River Clinic, Fri. Whitman-Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202)797-3500 www.wwc.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) HIV/ STD Testing after hours by appointment, Special Services: Sliding fee scale Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid accepted, uninsured or underinsured individuals may still access services. No one is turned away because of an inability to pay for services. Restrictions: Referrals from social workers of medical professionals necessary. OUTREACH CENTERS Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 (202) 939-2060 Hours: 7:30am-4:00pm (M-F); 9:00am- 4:00pm (Sat-Sun) Services: Day shelter, breakfast, lunch, snack, activity programs, crafts, laundry, showers, clothing, counseling, referrals for other services, mental health, and substance abuse referrals. Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 20007 (202) 338-8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org Hours: 10:00am-1:00pm (M-F) walk-
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ins accepted Services: Information and referrals for a variety of services; Winter shelter from Nov. 1-April 1 Restrictions: Shelter requires screening. Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 328-6608 www.marthastable.org Hours: 8:00am-8:00pm (M-F) Children’s Program 9:00am-2:00pm (M-F) Services: Mobile soup kitchen and children’s program.
families whenever possible, or works to find a stable living situation. Friendship House 619 D Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 675-9050 www.friendshiphouse.net Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Services: Emergency food, clothing bank, employment services, crisis intervention, ABE/GED services available Restrictions: ID and proof of residency required; referrals from social service agencies preferred. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 328-4073 Hours: 7:00am-4:00pm (M, W, Th, F) 7:00am-3:00pm (Tu); 9:00am-3:00pm (Sat); NA meetings 10:00am (M-Sat) Services: Day shelter, breakfast, lunch, crisis counseling, case management, street outreach, referrals, support and education group, legal clinic, 12-step program, showers and laundry facilities. Sasha Bruce Youth Work 741 8th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 675-9340 Hours: 9:00am-5:30pm (M-F) Population: Troubled, runaway, and homeless teenagers (ages 11-24) Services: Shelter, social services, individuals and family counseling, job assistance, tutoring, transitional living program for older homeless adolescents and clothing. Reunites
Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness 801 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 543-5298 www.community-partnership.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Coordinating agency or the District’s public funded homeless services. Capital Area Food Bank 645 Taylor Street, NE Washington, DC 20017 (202) 526-5344 x223 www.capitalareafoodbank.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Face hunger, hunger awareness class, Brown Bag Program, monthly supplemental food distribution to low income senior citizens, Kids Café: after-school meal program. Restrictions: Must be a 501c3 agency providing meals or food.
Page 15 Catholic Charities Homeless Services of Washington, DC 924 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 772-4300 www.catholiccharititesdc.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Providing permanent, transitional and emergency housing, work and educational opportunities for men, women and families. Restrictions: Referrals appreciated. Proof of residency and photo ID required. JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20003 (202) 544-5300 www.jfarberjhp@netzero.net Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Help the homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless seek, obtain and retain employment and to secure permanent housing. Catholic Charities Northeast Community Services 1438 Rhode Island Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 526-4100 www.catholiccharities.org Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F) Services: Case management, intake and assessment, referrals and information.
This is by no means a complete list of service providers. If you want your organization to be included, please send all applicable information to streetsense@national honeless.org.
Provider Profile: Unity Healthcare By Anne Singleton What began as one-van operation with a small staff has grown into an expansion healthcare program with 11 community health centers and 465 employees serving the District’s homeless and low-income residents. The vision of Unity Health Care Inc. is to “increase access to quality, culturally competent and compassionate health care for all,” according to a statement from its chief executive officer, Vincent A. Keane. Once a service exclusively for the homeless, Unity’s programs now include all residents of the District who are underinsured or underserved. According to Unity’s figures, nearly 56,000 people – working poor, uninsured, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated – benefited from its services in 2002. Unity began in 1985 as Health Care for the Homeless Project, which started operations working completely out of a mobile unit called the Health Care to the Homeless Van. The van served as a health unit on wheels delivering medical services at parks, streets corners, and various areas
in the District where the homeless congregated. In the mid 1990s, the organization acquired its current location, the Upper Cardozo Health Center on 14th Street NW, and then greatly expanded when the federal government designated it as a grantee for its Community Health Care Program. In 1998 Unity acquired its name, and in 2001 it joined the D.C. HealthCare Alliance, a collaboration of local health and human services providers that work with the District’s underserved residents. Unity still operates the original mobile unit that started it all. The van still makes its nightly service stops, Monday through Thursday at designated parks and street locations, and daytime stops on Fridays. When the medical van goes on its routes, it is staffed with a driver, a physician or a physician’s assistant, and social worker/ outreach worker to provide the clients comprehensive care. The physician examines homeless patients and refers them when treatment exceeds what can be done on the van. The social worker also does assessment of patients and can refer them to temporary shelters or, if necessary,
mental health facilities. By providing continuous medical services at the same locations over the years, the mobile staff has created an environment of stability. This is important for individuals who are “disconnected from society,” according to Jose Aponte, Unity’ chief operat- A worker from Unity Healthcare checks on a patient ing officer. Aponte said that in order for homeless patients to develop or operated by Unity, but simply provide “confidence in our medical services, there space for Unity to offer its medical services to the homeless. must be consistency” of service. Unity Health Care Inc. is the largest For this reason, the physicians that staff the van and the healthcare centers nonprofit health and social services orgaare not volunteers, but permanent paid nization in Washington Its network inemployees. Volunteers, however, do serve cludes 11 community health centers – six of which were brought under Unity’s manin Unity’s mission. Each year the number of homeless that agement with the closing of D.C. General, receives services has increased, Aponte three specialized health centers, including said, and no longer can one organization one at a high school location, and 12 sites address all of the issues surrounding serving homeless people. And newest adhomelessness. He said that collaboration dition is a mobile unit, the Project Orion is necessary “to make effective use of re- Van, which is an outreach van for individusources” between providers that serve the als in Wards 7 and 8 who abuse drugs. The homeless. For example the 10 shelters that unit was funded through a grant from the house Unity medical clinics are not owned District.
Street Sense Decemeber 2003
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Street Sense Vendor Code of Conduct 1) Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree to not ask for more than $1. I understand that I keep 70 cents of each dollar collected. 2) Street Sense can only be purchased from Street Sense staff (at the National Coalition for the Homeless). 3) I agree to treat all others—customers, staff, other vendors—respectfully. 4) I will not give a “hard sell” or make someone feel threatened or pressured. 5) I agree that I will not ask for additional donations and will not vend after midnight. 6) I agree to only sell Street Sense and no additional goods or products as a vendor. 7) I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 8) There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been in a spot for a longer period of time. I will stay off of private property. 9) I will always present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge while selling papers to the public. 10) I understand that Street Sense strives to be a selfsustaining paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of money for the homeless. As a result, I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.
Where your dollar donation goes:
$0.70 TO THE VENDOR
$0.30 For printer/ production costs
Street Sense Vendor’s New Year’s Resolutions
Vendor Profile: August Mallory August Mallory is 47 years old and originally from Indianapolis. He currently lives in Baltimore and sells Street Sense both in Baltimore and in Washington, D.C. Mallory is a Navy veteran and holds in a two-year associates degree in industrial engineering. In 2002 Mallory started his own wholesale/retail mail-order business in Baltimore that serves local supermarkets and retailers. Mallory also works with a catering company for a hotel in Baltimore. He just moved into his own apartment but was previously homeless for two years.
Why do sell Street Sense? I enjoy meeting people. I like being out and being with the public and interacting with them. Not only that, but it raises awareness on the growing problem of homeless and educates the public. How did you become homeless? It started in South Carolina in 1996. I was working in a parts distribution warehouse. There were some disputes between management and their clients and it wasn’t long before the warehouse was shutdown. Myself, along with 500 other people, were given pink slips and laid off. I was out of money and couldn’t afford my apartment after about three months. I was later referred to a shelter known as the Oliver Rescue Mission and stayed there for about a year. While there I looked for employment and eventually went to Greenville, South Carolina, for work. In Greenville I went to another shelter and met a man who told me about Washington D.C. He mentioned all the services that I could get here in D.C. So I went to Washington and came to the Central Union Mission. I remember getting a lot of stares and odd looks when I would ask people for directions of the shelter. Once I got to the Mission, I could only stay there for 90 days. After Central Union Mission, I checked into the CCNV shelter where I could stay for one year. What has helped you rise out of homelessness? Having to save my income and getting advice from counseling and others forms of information of the services available and putting it to use. What advice would you give to anyone who is currently homeless? Use the services that are available to you and save your money. Don’t engage in frivolous spending such as cigarettes and alcohol. That’s expensive stuff that you don’t need and can do without. Try to use your money for the things that you really need and save your money. Apply for Section 8 housing and use the services that are at your disposal. Favorite book? The police novel “Lines and Shadows,” by Joseph Wambaugh. Favorite food? Lasagna Favorite Movie? The Final Countdown, with Kirk Douglass and Martin Sheen.
To empower myself to become economically self-sufficient and to achieve my personal goals. - AG To have goals and to do something positive with my life. I’d like to get a well paying job. - Samuel Leon Bulock To move into my own apartment in the first part of the year and to lose some weight. I also want to try and get another car in the next year. - Fred Try to have my business operating in full capacity within the next two years. - August Mallory To come closer in tune with my creator and myself. Accept no nonsense, period! Strive on! - Burwell McCree El My resolution for the New Year is to get stability here in Washington, D.C., housing and the whole kit-and-caboodle. -George Siletti
August reminds you to only buy STREET SENSE from vendors with a proper badge and ID.