03.23.2022

VOL. 19 ISSUE 18

$2

MARCH 23 - 29, 2022

Real Stories

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

@ STREETSENSEDC

Real People

suggested donation goes directly to your vendor

Real Change

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BUSINESS MODEL

© STREET SENSE MEDIA 2003 - 2021 1317 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347 - 2006 streetsensemedia.org info@streetsensemedia.org

How It Works

Street Sense Media publishes the newspaper

Each vendor functions as an independent contractor for Street Sense Media, managing their own business to earn an income and increase stability in their life.

$2.00

YOUR SUGGESTED

$.50 Vendors pay

DONATION

per newspaper copy

goes directly to your vendor, empowering them to overcome homelessness and poverty

VENDORS Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Amia Walker, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Anthony Pratt, Archie Thomas, August Mallory, Betty Everett, Beverly Sutton, Brianna Butler, Carlos Carolina, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Christina “Chris” Cole, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Cortney Signor, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Don Gardner, ‘Donte’ Julius Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Eric Thompson-Bey, Evelyn Nnam, Floyd Carter, Franklin Sterling, Frederic John, Fredrick Jewell, Gerald Anderson, Gracias Garcias, Henry Johnson, Ivory Wilson, Jacqueline “Jackie” Turner, Jacquelyn Portee, James Davis, Jeanette Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Jeffery McNeil, Jeffrey Carter, Jemel Fleming, Jenkins Daltton, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jermale McKnight, Jet Flegette, Jewel Lewis, John Littlejohn, Joseph Walker, Joshua Faison, Juliene Kengnie, Justin Blakey, Katrina Arninge, Kenneth Middleton, Kym Parker, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Malcolm Scott Jr, Marcus Green, Marcus McCall, Mark Jones, Melody Byrd, Michael Warner, Michele Rochon, Mildred M. Hall, Morgan Jones, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Redbook Mango, Reggie Jones, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Sasha Williams, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Susan Westmoreland, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM.

Pay vendors with the Street Sense Media app!

S EARCH “S TREET S ENSE ” IN YOUR APP STORE .

Mary Coller Albert, Blake Androff, Jonquilyn Hill, Greg Jaffe, Stanley Keeve, Clare Krupin, Ashley McMaster, Matt Perra, Michael Phillips, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson, Corrine Yu

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AVA I L A B L E

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT

Doris Warrell

As self-employed contractors, our vendors follow a code of conduct.

1.

2.

I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.

I will treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and fellow vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making donations, or engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.

3.

I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.

4.

While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $2 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.

5.

Brian Carome

I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.

6.

7.

“I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.”

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR PROGRAMS

Darick Brown

CASE MANAGER

Leo Grayburn

I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.

Thomas Ratliff

8.

I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”

Aida Peery, Clifford Samuels

9.

I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Jeff Barger, Haley Gallagher, Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Kevin Jaatinen, Jacob Kuba, Eva Reeves, Mauricio Reyes

10. I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Will Schick

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kaela Roeder

INTERNS

INTERESTED IN BEING A VENDOR? New vendor training: every Tuesday and Thursday // 2 p.m. // 1317 G St., NW

Hajira Fuad, Nate Kral, Jem Dyson, Nick Pasion, Ashleigh Fields, Ingrid Holmquist

The Cover

Willie Schatz (Writing), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration)

500th Issue!

COVER DESIGN

BY JEFFERY MURRAY

The Street Sense Media Story, #MoreThanANewspaper Originally founded as a street newspaper in 2003, Street Sense Media has evolved into a multimedia center using a range of creative platforms to spotlight solutions to homelessness and empower people in need. The men and women who work with us do much more than sell this paper: They use film, photography, theatre, illustration, and more to share their stories with our community.

Our media channels elevate voices, our newspaper vendor and digital marketing programs provide economic independence. And our in-house case-management services move people forward along the path toward permanent supportive housing.

At Street Sense Media, we define ourselves through our work, talents, and character, not through our housing situation.

WRITERS GROUP ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

ARTS EDITOR (VOLUNTEER)

Austine Model

OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER)

Rebecca Koenig, Emily Kopp, Lydia DePillis

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS

Ryan Bacic, Katie Bemb, Megan Boyanton, Lilah Burke, Lenika Cruz, Roberta Haber, Allison Hageman, Alison Henry, Kathryn Owens, Priya Rhoehit, Nick Shedd, Andrew Siddons, Jenny-lin Smith, Rebecca Stekol,

DESIGN VOLUNTEERS

Dylan Presman (Graphic Design), Julie Mazur (Graphic Design)

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

EVENTS

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AT A GLANCE VENDOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS • The next Vendor Meeting is this Friday, March 25, at 2 p.m. Enjoy free food and drinks, and get to know your fellow vendors.

• 500th Issue stickers are available now at the office. Wear them!

Give them to your customers!

Photo by Ray Reyes // Unsplash.com

Committee on Human Services Budget Oversight Hearing March 24, 9 a.m.

Virtual

BIRTHDAYS

The Child and Family Services Agency will testify.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

UPDATES ONLINE AT ICH.DC.GOV

Ward 7 Community Affairs Meet and Greet 10 a.m.

4923 50th Street SE Ward 7 meet and greet with Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Offices of Community Affairs and Community Relations and Services. Meet community partners, ask questions and share ideas. Entertainment and light refreshments will be provided.

D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness Meetings Emergency Response and Shelter Operations March 23, 1 p.m. // Virtual Youth Committee March 24, 10 a.m. // Virtual ***For call-in information, as well as meeting info for unlisted working groups, contact: ich.dmhhs@dc.gov

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

D.C. Council Chair and Mayoral Candidate Forum 7 p.m.

640 Rhode Island Ave NE The Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Greater Greater Washington are hosting a D.C. council chair and mayoral candidate forum to dicuss transportation issues. Robert White, James Butler, Erin Palmer, Phil Mendelson and Andre Davis will be in attendance.

Submit your event for publication by emailing editor@streetsensemedia.org

AUDIENCE EXCHANGE Will Schick

@schick_will

We’re seeking applicants for our Michael Stoops Diversity Fellowship for our summer semester here @streetsensedc. The fellowship pays $2K to one candidate in three career tracks: graphic design, audience engagement, and editorial to work in our newsroom.

10:35 AM · MAR 17, 2022

• “Beat the Streets” will be every Tuesday. Meet at Street Sense at 3 p.m. to level up your sales!

Kaela Roeder @RoederKaela

Happy happy new paper day from @streetsensedc!

Joe Jackson March 24 ARTIST/VENDOR

Charles Armstrong March 26 ARTIST/VENDOR

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Wendell Williams ARTIST/VENDOR

Wendell will be a guest on Takoma Radio, WOWD-LP, 94.3 FM, on Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m.

Levester Green ARTIST/VENDOR

Levester made it to the second round in a contest hosted by the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that provides teens and young adults with mental health resources and support. Vote for him at tinyurl.com/LevesterJedFoundation Follow more headlines at StreetSenseMedia.org/news

1:19 PM · MAR 16, 2022

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REFLECTIONS

A milestone for Street Sense at 500 editions WENDELL WILLIAMS Artist/Vendor

W

hen I was informed we'd be publishing our 500th edition, I was amazed that this experiment in journalism, employment and empowerment of the poor and homeless had lasted this long. Needless to say, this milestone snuck up on me. I’ve been connected with Street Sense for so long that I'd lost count of the years, let alone the number of editions.

I proudly carry badge #64, and about 700 vendors have received a badge in Street Sense’s history. I was around as we hit the streets trying to sell those early editions and remember the first interactions with the public who knew little about the street newspaper movement. The crusade had its start in New York City after the publishing of Lee Stringer's book, "Grand Central Winter," which chronicles his experiences living on the streets. Instead of panhandling, Stringer pushed for selling papers to gain an income.

As a monthly publication, we had to constantly resell folks with each new edition. It was almost like the movie "Groundhog Day" sales-wise. But I had some experiences to draw on because of my work with the Cincinnati street paper Streetvibes. Because of that, unlike a lot of struggling vendors, I was able to weather the storms as we got traction with a caring public.

In 2003 when Street Sense kicked off as a monthly publication, there were already stable street newspaper outlets all over the country and Canada as part of the North American Street Newspaper Association. The National Coalition for the Homeless’ Donald Whitehead and Michael Stoops were a part of its early leadership. I got my start with the movement in 1997 with Streetvibes and was mentored by some of the movement's early leaders. When Donald told me there'd be a paper starting in D.C., I knew I wanted in.

At the time, I was personally dealing with multiple issues that prevented me from making any progress on ending my homelessness. The thought of being able to work for myself was exciting because I couldn't for the life of me keep a steady job. I needed the freedom of being my own boss with the ability to set my own schedule. Like the lead character in "Apocalypse Now," I needed a mission to save myself from the self-inflicted abyss I found myself in.

Getting that first issue on the streets must have been a Herculean task with a staff of Ted Henson and Laura Thompson Osuri, plus a dedicated group of volunteers later joined by the likes of Mary Otto and David Hammond. They spent so many hours doing what needed to be done to get those early issues out for us to sell. The National Coalition for the Homeless provided office space, initial seed money and guidance from street paper veterans on staff. That team's work and help from donors is the real behind-the-scenes reason for the present-day miracle of Street Sense. The paper's staff established a solid foundation for the future with expectations of excellence that shaped the paper's ability to reach this milestone and the 20th anniversary later this year. Without these events, there'd be no present stable employment vehicle for me, other writers and vendors to fully or partially support ourselves in a way that gives us the dignity and respect that may have been missing in our lives because of our housing challenges.

But I shouldn't have been surprised. Street Sense got off to a great start as a result of these great individuals who cared deeply about the plight of those experiencing homelessness.

Together, they were able to create a street newspaper that has stayed true to the original mission, unlike some others. Over the following years, it was able to help close the income gap

Wendell Williams has been a long time contributor and vendor with Street Sense Media. Photo by Rodney Choice.

Wendell Williams keeps a framed copy of the first issue. Photo by Wendell Williams.

between vendors experiencing homelessness and those who are employed and housed. They were now truly self-employed and due to their own efforts earn a decent income. This paper is about the American Dream.

I had no idea when I started with Street Sense that one day we'd stand here at edition number 500 almost 20 years later.

I sometimes wonder what the odds were then that we'd last so long at a time when print media has rapidly disappeared.

It's said you can bet on anything in Las Vegas. My guess is

those odds were at least 1,000 to one or higher at the start of Street Sense, yet here we are today celebrating this awesome achievement. It’s a testimony to all the hard work from a group of wonderfully committed people. I am proud to be counted among them.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

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Congratulations to Street Sense JEFFERY MCNEIL Artist/Vendor

I

like to congratulate Street Sense on its 500th edition.

I feel like I have been part of something tremendous, for there were many attempts to start homeless newspapers before Street Sense arrived.

I want to thank the original vendors: August Mallory, James Davis, Conrad Cheeks, and – God rest his soul– Anthony Crawford. They all represented Street Sense and changed perceptions about homelessness.

I remember when I became a member in 2008. I was broke, homeless, and an alcoholic, and I was uneducated with poor writing skills. Thank God, I had a forum to vent my frustration with homelessness.

When life gets better we sometimes get swept away from the basic cause of Street Sense.

When you see homelessness, it makes you put things in perspective. Next time you are upset that you had to wait in line an extra 15 minutes for your king salmon, remember there are homeless people waiting two hours in a soup kitchen to get a bologna sandwich.

I thought I would never wind up in the street. However, there are unforeseen consequences where you need someone to lift you up. Street Sense has helped more people become self-sustaining than any other organization I know.

I apologize to former customers that I have offended, I regret that we could never patch up old wounds. My door is open to chat. And I appreciate customers that still buy from me while I have said some of the most outrageous things.

Because Street Sense leads to opportunities, we can stray from the ultimate cause which is not making money but changing perceptions around homelessness, not reinforcing them.

No newspaper comes close to expressing what it’s like being homeless, relying on the shelter system and social services.

What I loved about Street Sense was that it taught me entrepreneurship. I learned that if you expect politicians,

Jeffery McNeil carries badge number 133 and has been with Street Sense Media for years. Photo by Will Schick.

presidents or social workers to lead you to an easy life, you are better off buying a lottery ticket. It’s not good to wait and pray.

You need to knock on doors and ask people to help you write resumes, and go to a writing workshop to publish articles.You should attend free workshops. These things may be trivial but the more you contribute, the more it helps you better withstand the good times and bad.

Writing helped me to learn to speak the ugly truth about

homelessness, the good people vs. the out of touch and condescending.

Nobody lives forever, but I hope when I pass on, this organization will issue another 500 papers so people that need help can pass them on to other people.

The 500th issue milestone LAURA THOMPSON OSURI

One Voice Common Voice Common Change Shared Change One Step Forward Loud and Clear People’s Press Street Press Progressive Ink These were some of the first names we toyed with just seven weeks before the first issue launch of the DC Street Newspaper project nearly 19 years ago. The name “Street Sense” wasn’t even in the running until a month before the first issue. A volunteer named Brad McCormick came upon it, and much like selecting the name for your child, Ted and I and the other founding volunteers immediately knew it was the one. And thus Street Sense was born.

Despite not actually having a name for the paper until a few weeks out, we worked for months on issue 1. We planned and designed and made everything look perfect with our high tech

digital camera of the early 2000s, top-of-the-line Pagemaker software, and J-school rules freshly hammered in our brains.

And it really did look sharp.

And then there was issue 2. And as we had promised monthly issues to this newly named Street Sense, we only had four short weeks to get the next issue together, which seems like a few short hours by today’s standards. It was not the best-looking design or cleanest copy but it did establish an important precedent – a consistent frequency. That precedent – we WILL come out every month – definitely pushed us through issue 9 and 10 as well. In the heat of July and August when volunteers and the workers in the city (the main Street Sense customers) thinned out, Ted and I were just about ready to call it quits.

And here we today, 19 years later hitting issue 500. Five– freakin’- hundred!! And during those 19 years all 500 issues – from monthly to semi-monthly to weekly – Street Sense always came out on time. And not only on time, but packed full of quality journalism and interesting perspectives on homelessness and poverty. That one thing that has also never wavered during 500 issues and tens of thousands of pages –

journalistic integrity. I am so proud of Street Sense for staying strong yet feisty and bewing the first to report on several big stories, always scoring interviews with major public figures and eventually winning real journalism awards.

I am also equally proud that what we started so many years ago has made the difference in the lives of so many homeless individuals, and the consistent frequency definitely helped.

This is really the greatest accomplishment from issue 1 to 500, and I am so humbled to be part of its origin story. Street Sense (and I can’t imagine calling it anything else at this point) has given hundreds – if not thousands – of homeless individuals a voice, self-confidence and an income. Or as our original tag line said a place “to earn and give their two cents.”

Laura Thompson Osuri, Street Sense Co-founder

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NEWS

D.C. benefits program hacked; recertifications restarting soon ATHIYAH AZEEM Volunteer

A

Washington, D.C. electronic benefits program was hacked, taking a still unidentified amount of cash away from lowincome families.

D.C. residents who receive benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program found cash missing from their Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT cards on March 1. The D.C. Department of Human Services, which distributes these benefits, said in a press release that they have identified this issue, and are working to reimburse victims and find the perpetrators.

“We understand how crucial benefits assistance is for our residents and theft of these essential supports is unconscionable,” said Laura Zeilinger, director of DHS. DHS is still in the process of collecting data about the incident, and chose not to give further comment to Street Sense.

If you detect suspicious activity with your DHS-distributed benefits, you should change the PIN number on your EBT card and call 311 to report a crime. You can also call the DHS Office of Program Review, Monitoring, and Investigation or OPRMI at (202) 673-4464, or email them at OPRMI@dc.gov. Lastly, you can fill in the DHS Fraud Allegation Form at https://dhs. dc.gov/page/fraud.

If DHS does not follow up on your case, you can contact a number of organizations including the Legal Aid Society for the District of Columbia who can guide you through the process.

An Electronic Benefits Card or EBT card, which stores benefits like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and more. Image by the D.C. Department of Human Services.

The District Direct App, where D.C. residents can apply for public benefits like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families online.

Photo by Athiyah Azeem.

TANF Recertifications Restarting TANF is a federal and state-funded welfare program that provides needy families with monthly cash assistance, employment training and child care. The amount of cash a family can receive changes based on the number of people in the household, their monthly income, the number and age of their children and other factors. A family of four with two children below the age of 2 may receive a maximum of $1,266 in benefits per month.

The size of the household can determine how much you receive in benefits. For every child a household has, DHS adds $175 to a household’s monthly income, and if a child is younger than 2-years-old, that amount is increased to $200.

Households can certify for TANF through a private interview and an orientation program with DHS. While TANF has a federal time-limit of 60 months per household, D.C. is one of two U.S. territories that will provide this assistance in perpetuity. That being said, TANF receivers need to recertify, or again prove their need for benefits once a year.

In the pandemic, Congress extended the Continuing Appropriations Act, which applied a six month waiver for anyone who needed to recertify TANF until September 2021.

D.C. DHS complies with this amendment, and will restart recertifications on April 1, 2022. TANF receivers should check if they received mail from DHS determining their new recertification date. Those who do not renew TANF before their recertification date may have their benefits terminated.

Assistance with TANF

The size of the household can determine how much you receive in benefits. For every child a household has, DHS adds $175 to a household’s monthly income, and if a child is younger than 2-years-old, that amount is increased to $200. Chart from the Department of Human Services website.

DHS reactivated TANF for those who had their benefits terminated, for reasons other than being ineligible. This isn’t uncommon — Satcha Robinson, staff attorney at Legal Aid, said in testimony to the Committee of Human Services that multiple residents had their benefits dropped without notice and with no reason provided. In one case, Robinson said Legal Aid only had to call an oversight agency, and DHS reinstated their defendant’s benefits without having to go to court.

There are also obstacles in place — District Direct, where people can apply for benefits, is only partially translated to Spanish or other non-English languages. Applicants who need housing do not necessarily have smart phones to use the app.

There’s also a wesbite, but that requires an internet connection.

The only alternative is a 68-pages-long benefits paper application with no non-English translations. Since the launch of the District Direct app, DHS service centers no longer help people fill out the paper application, and may not even accept it.

Alexis Christensen, an attorney at Legal Aid, says there are

multiple avenues available for people who need help with the certification and recertification process, or need to defend their right to receiving or continuing their benefits.

“Something we don’t talk about a lot, if the process doesn’t work the way that it should, people have appeal rights,” said Christensen. “You don’t need an attorney to go through that process.”

If unable to receive help from DHS, people can file for a fair hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings, using English, Spanish or Amharic forms. People can also call the OAH Legal Assistance Network or OLAN at 202-301-1646 to get advice or an attorney at said hearings — this network is formed by multiple legal organizations that are not working for DHS or OAH. Legal Aid’s case load is at capacity at the moment, but Christensen says OAH should be able to connect you to an attorney if necessary.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

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D.C. Circulator employees protest for equal pay NATE KRAL AND HAJIRA FUAD Editorial Interns

A

small crowd of employees from WMATA and DC Circulator gathered in the heavy rain in downtown D.C. on March 17 to demand equal pay and benefits for all the city’s transit workers.

The protestors donned neon yellow work vests and held umbrellas and union signs as they chanted outside a hotel near Metro Center, while members and representatives from their union negotiated with the private contractor that sets the wages for employees of the DC Circulator bus system.

Even as most of the city’s transit workers are members of a local chapter of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), known as Local 689, they receive different pay and benefits depending on the agency operating the transit service. For instance, an interstate compact between the D.C. municipal government, and the Maryland and Virginia state governments determines the wages for WMATA workers. By contrast a private contractor sets the pay and benefits DC Circulator workers.

Shameka Harris, a train operator for WMATA said she helped organize the protest as an act of solidarity with her fellow transit workers not receiving the same compensation plan.

“They don’t get paid enough to keep them out of poverty,” Harris told Street Sense Media.

According to a DC Circulator recruiter who spoke with Street Sense Media, the starting pay for DC Circulator drivers is $18.54 per hour. Health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan is included in their benefits package.

The starting pay for a Metro bus driver is $25 per hour.

Included in the benefits package for Metro workers is medical and dental insurance, paid time off, life insurance and a retirement plan.

In 2018, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) awarded the DC Circulator bus system contract to RAPT Dev, a multinational company based in France. The contract replaced the city’s previous contract with First Transit, another multinational transit corporation.

Harris believes that the contract is inherently unfair, since it pays workers less than other Metro transit workers would earn for the same job.

Patricia Conner, an organizer who led the chants at the event, also works for WMATA. She stood with a megaphone in the middle of the workers leading them in a call and response: “Who runs this city?”

“We run this city!”

After the protestors had been chanting for around half an hour outside, one of the members from the hotel staff demanded that the workers move out from under the awning, where they were seeking temporary cover from the rain.

Brian Wivell, the political and communications director of ATU Local 689 spoke with the hotel staff briefly and the protesters agreed to move down the block.

When Street Sense Media asked Wivell about the protest, he emphasized the broader implications of the demonstration for workers in the region.

“We’re all in one union, this is all one struggle across the entire region and we’re trying to make it so that everyone has equal pay for equal work,” Wivell said.

Kenneth Hall has been a DC Circulator bus driver for the past five years. Before that, he was a Metro employee for 15 years, working at different times as a bus driver, mechanic

A group of transit workers gathered in downtown D.C. last week to demand higher pay for DC Circulator employees. Photo by Nate Kral.

DC Circulator bus driver Kenneth Hall (left) stands next to a fellow protestor. Photo by Nate Kral.

and station manager.

Hall said he was not happy with his benefits or his wages as a DC Circulator worker. He also expressed frustration with the conditions of buses. “(The buses) cut off multiple times during the day, we have breaker problems on the bus, we have cracked windshields, we have air leaks, we have hot buses in the summertime, cold buses in the winter, no defrosters, windshield wipers not working properly, the list just goes on and on,” Hall said in an interview with Street Sense Media.

In 2016, DDOT published a 45-page audit of the DC Circulator bus system conducted by Transit Resource Center that reported “an exceptionally high number of defects” and general maintenance and safety neglect. Out of the 42 buses that the audit evaluated, they found 40 to contain at least one critical defect “that should render the bus out of service until repaired.”

The protest notably comes only a day after D.C. Mayor

Muriel Bowser presented her budget proposal for the 2023 fiscal year. The budget included $102 million over the next six years to “continue a transformative plan to make bus transit faster and more reliable.”

The union that organized Thursday’s protest criticized the proposal in a tweet.

“D.C. Mayor’s FY2023 budget proposal calls for modernizing non-auto mobility, with large investments in bus infrastructure. That’s all important, but [the] proposal doesn’t list any expanded investments in DC Circulator workforce!

Circulator workers are demanding equal pay for equal work,” the tweet said.

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FEATURES

How the House of Ruth helps women, children and families JACQUELINE TURNER Artist/Vendor

Sandra Jackson (left) meets with Jacqueline Turner (right) over Zoom to talk about House of Ruth. Screenshot by Will Schick.

I

had the pleasure of interviewing Sandra Jackson, president and CEO of the House of Ruth last week.

House of Ruth has various programs to help families as well as women and children.

They help people support themselves and find stable housing. I learned that the House of Ruth has a 90% success rate, according to Jackson. Their programs are known to work and help families move on to better lives.

I wanted to do this because people were recently talking about different programs that help people experiencing homelessness.

House of Ruth came to mind because they helped me with therapy years ago. After two years of counseling, I have been free, strong and happy for over ten years.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

And she was teaching sociology students at Georgetown and she brought them for a tour of what homelessness really looked like in the city. And she said that on her way back to her car, this gentleman just fell down in front of her. Not thinking, she just stepped over him and kept going to her car.

But she said when she got home that night she could not sleep.

She was wrestling all night long thinking about that gentleman, not knowing what was going on with him and the fact that she did not stop to help him. And so she started looking at homelessness a little bit more seriously. She then realized while there were shelters for men, there were no shelters for women at the time. She went on to found not only House of Ruth, but Martha's Table and SOME (So Others Might Eat).

How has House of Ruth changed over the years?

Can you tell me how long House of Ruth has been in existence?

It has changed considerably because back in 1976, we were only serving women. But of course, as women started to come, they started coming with their children. Of course, when they came with their children we needed to provide services for those children. So we expanded to support women and their children.

30 years ago, we started offering Child Development Services.

We have our own child development center. We just built a brand new center over in Ward 7 called “Kidspace.” We serve the children of our clients. And not only the children of our clients but the children of clients from other housing programs as well.

And of course, you know, we not only address homelessness, but we also address domestic violence.

We offer a range of supportive services as well in all of our programs. And we have our own counseling center for anyone who is a survivor of domestic violence. In sum, we have seven housing programs that address single women and we have six housing programs now that address families as a whole.

House of Ruth has been around for 45 years now. It started in 1976, housing eight women in one location. The founder, Veronica Maz, was responding to homelessness in the city for women. At that time, she was a Georgetown University professor.

How does someone get involved with the programs and services at the House of Ruth?

Jacqueline Turner: Now, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your role at the House of Ruth?

My name is Sandra Jackson and I'm the president and CEO for House of Ruth. I've been in social services for 30 plus years.

I started working with families at another nonprofit in the city right after graduate school: Catholic Charities. Then from there, I went to work with the District government. And now I'm back at a nonprofit. I've always been interested in women and children and families. I'm a clinical social worker by training. And that has been my passion for all of my life.

They can be referred by any other social service agency. We get a lot of referrals that way. We also have our own centralized intake that any individual can call and inquire for themselves.

We are also funded by a number of agencies in the District and through those funding agencies, we get referrals as well.

Is there any kind of circumstance where you wouldn't help a family?

Basically, if we cannot provide an adequate amount of space to accommodate large families, we will work with our partner agencies that may have additional space for them. We also have a scattered site model, where we work with a number of landlords in the community for additional housing. These are some other ways we work to accommodate larger families.

The programs we run are in our own buildings. We own all of our property. The women that are in those housing programs are in their own individual apartments. These are not shelters, you know, communal services. We’re talking about individual apartments that are decorated and furnished with everything that they need. They walk in the door and everything is there that they would need: clothing, furnishings, household items.

It’s important because sometimes women are fleeing domestic violence and they only have the clothes on their back.

I know the House of Ruth is not a shelter system. But in some shelters, the organizations have mandatory requirements. For example, many places require participants to save money or get a job or enroll in a rehabilitation program as a precondition for receiving services. Do you have anything like that at the House of Ruth?

Nothing that we do is mandatory. We work with our clients

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

so that they can empower themselves. We work with them to develop a case plan on the areas that they want to work on.

But it's not mandatory. We may make suggestions and we may make recommendations, but it is their case plan. And we help them to achieve their goals.

never have had work experience. So, we're having to help them to find the careers and jobs that they can get involved in. We don't have a time limit that says “this is our goal.” Our goal is to make sure that families can be successful. We want them

to be successful with us, but more importantly, we want them to be successful when they leave us.

What do you see in the future for the House of Ruth that our readers ought to know about?

I’m very excited to tell you that we just purchased our first affordable housing building. One of the things that happens when our families leave us is they want independent housing.

But because it’s so expensive to live in the District, they can’t afford to. Once the new building is renovated, our families will be able to move from our program housing into their own independent affordable housing.

What are some other things you would like to share with our readers about the House of Ruth?

There are a lot of opportunities for people at the House of Ruth, not only for our clients and those who need our services but also for individuals that would like to volunteer and make donations as well. We go way above the services that are needed for our families. As a matter of fact, this summer we are providing an opportunity for our children to go to summer camp. As we know, virtual school has caused some of our kids to really suffer in the mental health area. We're paying for that.

We're also providing an opportunity for our families to take their children on a weekend trip out of town. We’re going to be taking care of that. We make sure that these families have everything they need to be successful.

And then I think the second thing that I want to say is that we're also working with our families to move them on to homeownership. That is important.

We're also connected with a lot of first-time homebuyer programs, and we're educating our women about and how to get into homeownership. We work with them already in our programs about budgeting, household management savings, and all of that. And of note, they don't pay anything to be in our housing. These are all free services. This is what we raise money to do. They're not paying so we encourage them to save while they're with us. So, they're with us for a couple of years, and they're able to save. Most of them have been able to put down deposits and down payments for homes. Then, with the first-time homebuyers program, they support them in a number of different ways. They're able to then move on to homeownership.

An outside view of Kidspace, a new House of Ruth facility for children. Image courtesy of House of Ruth.

The playground outside of Kidspace. Image courtesy of House of Ruth.

Does anybody ever fail from House of Ruth’s programs? What’s the longest anybody has ever stayed in one of House of Ruth’s programs?

Well, different programs provide for different timeframes.

So we have short term programs anywhere from six to nine months. We have programs anywhere from up to 12 months, up to 24 months, and sometimes even longer than that. It is very individualized just like anything else. People come in at different levels and may need more support than others. And so, we have to work with them where they are.

Some families come in and they have work experience and so their time with us is short. But others may come in that

An indoor view of Kidspace. Image courtesy of House of Ruth.

// 9

1 0 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A // M A R C H 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 2 2

OPINION

Students reflect on poverty in their neighborhoods Seniors at Gonzaga College High School were given an assignment to take a “pilgrimage” walk in the area surrounding the campus. Here are their reflections.

Power and poverty are juxtaposed at Union Station CHRIS LAFRANKIE

At Union Station, the Capitol stood out most to me, looming over the tents in front of the transportation center. What really struck me was the juxtaposition of the two. The Capitol is a symbol of the power, wealth, and strength of the United States, yet it’s merely blocks away from people who live in tents.

How can the center of our great nation be so close to people who are forced to live in tents? I’m sure countless numbers of politicians and lawmakers pass by these tents every day on the way to the Capitol. They all have the power and ability to change these people’s lives via direct advocacy and policy, yet they do not.

It’s just sad that the building where change is enacted is so close to these people experiencing homelessness. I’m sure they feel upset and probably a little betrayed by a government that is supposed to work for its people. This fact makes me mad. Every day, I see government dollars in action repairing potholes and unnecessarily redoing sidewalks. Why don’t we house those who are suffering day in and day out and do the sidewalks second?

Another thing that stood out to me was the bitter cold. After just 5 minutes, I was ready to go inside, and I was wearing a puffy jacket. While I will never know what it’s like to be out

in the cold like that for days on end, I just have a glimpse of the awful conditions that people experiencing homelessness go through. Winter in our area can get really cold, yet I often overlook the weather when thinking about those on the streets. Cold air, rain, snow, and even really hot days present miserable conditions for those outside, and this area always seems to involve one of those conditions in the forecast. I have a newfound respect and empathy for those without homes, as they brave these conditions with strength, while I complain after a mere 5 minutes.

Does the city care about people, or just optics?

JAMES MILLER

I used to feel pity and sadness when I saw people experiencing homelessness in D.C., but now I feel angry. Angry at the city, the nation and myself for my blindness to the issue on my doorstep.

The most striking things I notice are not the areas with encampments, but the areas devoid of them. Obviously, the spectacle of seeing a tent with a sign reading “civil rights lawyer needed” not 40 feet from a statue of Christopher Columbus and a scorched circle from a book-burning pile is enough to put anyone on edge. But what I find more unsettling are the thousands of benches in D.C. that are sloped, segmented, or “artistically” made to not allow people to sleep or rest on them.

What I found also unsettling was the bridge where the city had placed cement K-rail barriers to block people from sleeping in shelter from the rain. How backwards does a city government have to be to spend no doubt thousands of dollars to put tons of concrete under a bridge only for that area's inhabitants to move to an area that is less protected from the elements.

For a moment on my walk I tried to justify it, as a thought experiment, from the point of view of someone who cared nothing for human life and only about the city budget, profit, and tourism. Even then, it was impossible to make sense of the decision. From where I stand, forcing encampments out of a safer area through expensive removal procedures into the

lawn of the largest train station in the city is a downright idiotic idea from every perspective. This is part of the reason why I get frustrated when people praise D.C. for being a safehaven of equality because of its decisions to decriminalize drugs, support Black Lives Matter, and do community outreach from police departments. As good as such policies are, D.C. can be hypocritical in its actions. I would go so far as to say the D.C. legislature does not actually care about the people of the city, and instead only cares about optics and making D.C. richer.

Urban design is hostile to people experiencing homelessness SEBASTIAN LARSEN

The experience of observing homelessness near my high school was profound, revealing and insightful. It was really nice to just practice “being” in the areas that I had previously only walked through to get to somewhere else.

I saw many things that I normally don’t notice because I just completely pass by them, such as the barriers and structures that are put in place on ledges and railings to prevent people from resting there. Especially enraging was a simple railing surrounding a small patch of trees, where someone installed another narrow piece of metal so it would be extremely uncomfortable to sit on, thus preventing any people experiencing homelessness from sitting on it. I was really taken

aback by how intentional, and threatening, features like this were. They weren’t just stopping people from sitting; they had spikes and sharp edges, and it seemed as if they were actively threatening people experiencing homelessness.

Another thing that I was really struck by was that I had never even seen some of the areas that I walked to, especially the tent encampments by the Columbus statue in front of Union Station. Whenever I go to the train station, I cut through the side entrance, and I am ashamed that I never knew about my brothers and sisters who were experiencing homelessness who were living just a couple steps away from where I used to walk every single day.

One more thing that really shocked me was the gentrification and the new developments that were going on in NoMa. Of course, nice new buildings are not inherently a bad thing, but for the first time, I thought about who or what had to be moved or cleared in order to make space for that kind of building.

Someone’s home, or maybe even a tent encampment, had to be cleared, and it taints the image of any new development in the area.

In the future, I hope to practice being more observant and present in my surroundings, and thus be in more solidarity with my brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness.

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// 11

From prosperity to poverty: how my life changed JEFF TAYLOR Artist/Vendor

I used to have a relatively normal life. I had a decent job as meetings manager for a highly exclusive annual medical conference on HIV/AIDS research. It only paid $40K a year but even in D.C. I managed to get by on that low salary. My life wasn't exactly prosperous but I paid my bills and went to movies and out to eat on a fairly regular basis. I was satisfied enough with my life.

However, that job — due to no fault of my own — went away. I was jobless and eventually became homeless. I was introduced to a whole different life; a life of poverty I am still in today some 10 years later.

Although at least I'm no longer homeless I'm still dirt poor.

I'm almost 60 and have physical and mental health issues that make getting a job like I had before difficult if not impossible. I'm not necessarily bitter about the new road life put me on. My eyes have seen much that I otherwise would not have seen. I've learned things, meaningful things I wouldn't have learned had it not been for taking this walk on the other side of the tracks.

I've seen and experienced first hand the plight of the

poor. The deck is most definitely stacked against us.

Even for those of us who are blessed with a higher intellect and or other gifts and abilities we face an uphill climb out of our situations.

I've seen how poverty affects nearly every aspect of life. I've seen how poverty and lack of decent education lead to substance abuse and criminal activity, mainly habitual thievery just to survive. I don't fault poor folks for this. Substance abuse is simply an attempt to make the pain of poverty go away even if but for a short time. And petty thievery is but a means of supporting the substance abuse.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all poor people steal or have substance abuse problems. That would be a false and foolish over generalization. But many of my fellow poor folks do and I can understand why. Our lives are hard and miserable. And most people not in our situation don't care nor do they wish to understand or care. Oh sure there are programs to help. But if those programs were all that great or effective then why are there so many of us still suffering and struggling?

Reflections

To Bonnie

DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor

QUEENIE FEATHERSTONE Artist/Vendor

This is a response to the poem “Boyishly” by Tanya Olson

First, Tanya Olson talked about the word summer three times. Next, she talked about the word prevent. So, I ask some of the Street Sense vendors what does prevented mean and some of them said they don’t know. Next, she spoke about her two eyes being matted shut.

Then, she talked about how she used warm water and a washcloth to gain her eyesight back again. Next thing she speaks about are these two words and they are (1) lot of water now that summer and the word (2) sun too. So now have a lot of fun this summer, Brother Thomas.

If today was the last day REDBOOK MANGO Artist/Vendor

If today was the last day that I Could write a script OMG who would have predicted I’d wind up like this?

My current only source of income is occasionally getting an article printed in Street Sense and for singing church songs at Pentagon City Metro station. I've tried several times to get disability benefits but I always get turned down. They say even with my disabilities there must be some kind of work I can find. I'd like for the system that tells me that to do more to help me find what that work is. But the system doesn't care. The system just wants me to give up and leave it alone. The system is designed to turn people away in hope that they give up and go away.

I would love to return to the life I once had but I don't know if that's a realistic dream. Maybe poverty is my destiny. If it is I suppose I'll just have to accept it. But that's okay because I feel I'm a better person on the inside now than I ever would have been if the bottom hadn't fallen out on my old life of relative prosperity.

Poverty has been a powerful teacher. And I'm overall thankful for the experience.

I’m not a psychic Who can type this shit Copyright me.

Redbook Momma

Cults

This acrostic poem is going out to one special lady: Bonnie Naradzay. Bonnie has faithfully been a poetry workshop facilitator for several months here at Street Street Media. She also served as a poetry facilitator at Miriam’s Kitchen. Well, before this ugly Covid-19 virus appeared, Naradzay would hold classes with clients each week at Miriam’s Kitchen (many were from the homeless population). Poetry classes are no longer held at Miriam’s Kitchen. However, her knowledge of poetry, her ways of teaching poetry, her years of study in this field of poetry have really paid off here. I’m just so elated that she has now given her skills and knowledge over to us vendors and artists here at Street Sense Media.

This will be such a special surprise to her as she reads this. So with all said and done (she will also be presented with flowers, as well) to the one and only best poetry teacher: Bonnie Naradzay.

B=BEAUTIFUL O=OPTIMIST N=NATURAL N=NICE I=IMPRESSIVE E=EASY TO CONVERSE WITH

MICHELE ROCHON Artist/Vendor

I always thought of a cult as a group you volunteered to be a member of I have been inducted into a cult How does it feel? Extremely uncomfortable How does it feel for children? Like they are unwanted Why would anyone start a cult?

A human being who needs to control everyone

around them would have a predisposition to this type of environment Or an ex-lover who controls all of the resources and everyone’s life Please don’t squeeze me too tight My Christianity may not be displayed as normal Why? Because cults are not normal - they are

abusive, hitting, punching and abusing all members including children Please I beg you, never ever join a cult What type of person would want to induce suicide, ride past you and smile while we work 24/7 destroying your life?

1 2 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A // M A R C H 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 2 2

ART

Food for Thought!

Hello Spring?

MARCUS MCCALL Artist/Vendor

EVELYN NNAM Artist/Vendor

Denzel Washington once said: “Your own family will talk shit about you when you’re in the process of breaking all their generational curses. This ain’t for the weak.”

Spring is here, we think, right? Through the fall and winter of snowstorms and cold days, spring days are coming. We know we are in the stage of cold and warm days now, but we are in March and those spring days are coming. We can’t wait for those bright cool days, where the trees become full with flowers blossoming, especially those pretty cherry blossoms sprouting into life, becoming their own and drawing us into their awe. We can’t wait for warmer weather, wearing our spring clothes and our sandals and flip-flops. Those nice walks to the park, exercising through the nice winds, bright skies stay out longer, birds chirping from out yonder, seeing more and more beautiful days, filled with the sun rays and white clouds. Spring is here and even though it may not feel like it. It will be changing into its full beauty overtime with rainy days, cold nights into beautiful mornings and warm nights. We thank the winter for what it has brought because those bare trees and cold days will change into full vibratious trees and beautiful warm skies. So, let’s get ready for Spring to come because we can’t wait for what’s in store!

Some of you don’t even realize how you light up rooms and inspire people just by being you. You’re literally magnetic and you don’t even realize it.

A woman’s world

KYM PARKER Artist/Vendor

We all understand beauty, strength, wisdom. We also understand how breathtaking we are. What works, she gives us all life. She loved us all equally. She told us to love all. So, I did.

MACROVECTOR // FREEPIK.COM

Spring time

The power of love

ANTHONY CARNEY Artist/Vendor

JACQUELINE TURNER Artist/Vendor

Spring time is a time to move forward and clean up your mistakes of the past.

Clear your mind of unwanted thoughts. Get rid of the weeds in your mind and plant flowers of good. Leap forward into the sunshine and dance to the beat of happiness. Let the sun shine on one another. Spread love.

Love can make you think you are the most important person in the world. Love can make you think you are not worthy of life. All the negative things are in your thoughts. But, when you’re in the emotion of feeling love, you believe you’re the only one that could ever feel this way. You enjoy sharing the same planet, because you know you will be drawn to where love is. Not just man and woman, sometimes family, too, like children, mothers, fathers, even pets and plants. People say love is an emotion that cannot be explained.

Yet, it’s the thing that makes life go. All people, unless they have some emotional or mental problems, want to be loved. Don’t you?

City style LEVESTER GREEN Artist/Vendor

I’ve been rotating my Shooter brand sweatpants given to me by one of my supporters. We got to know one another when he started donating my shoe size when my usual spots stopped carrying my size. I had a pretty fly wardrobe being homeless up until that point. I used to always carry around a change of clothes and clean underwear when I was on the streets.

Friendship Place offered brand spanking new underclothes every Monday. The schedule has changed since then.

I had a storage bin I would keep all of my acquired and accumulated clothes and belongings in. I would go and wash clothes at different spots around town. I started out in Suitland

near my storage bin. Later, I gradually took to saving myself the trip out to Maryland by washing in the city. The last spot I would frequent a lot was the Park laundromat, close to the D.C., Silver Spring borderline. That was the spot where they got me for my clothes one day. They had me stuck in strictly one pair of used sweats in replacement. I was in shock! There were other occasions where my stashed bags would come up missing until eventually all I had left was whatever was left in my storage bin.

By the time I got housed, they didn’t fit quite the same anymore so I ended up donating those jeans and stuff too. I

was clearly outstanding in my wardrobe and dressed pretty acceptably for being a homeless guy. For that, I’m thankful.

I’ve even noticed the new HBCU collegiate line by Ralph Lauren has just come out and I’m wondering if we’ll get an SCSU version? It’s funny how I started my college career with the urban wear of HBCUs as well as local fashion brands such as long-standing DDTP World and Rugged Wear. I got to meet the owner back when I was researching as a would-be illustrator and designer with my poetry.

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// 1 3

A Saint Patrick’s Day story ROCHELLE WALKER Artist/Vendor

Let’s celebrate the heritage and culture of the Irish people. I learned that March 17 is the feast day of Ireland. They told me a man was kidnapped in Britain and he was 16 years old and was taken to Ireland as slave. So, Saint Patrick prayed and prayed. And he had a dream that one day he would return to his homeland.

a

He was born in Roman Britain. You don’t have to be Irish to believe this story.

Saint Patrick worked for years telling people about God: and he picked some shamrocks, one, two, three and God let him become free.

Maybe he would find a three-leaf clover.

He loved his country.

He loved his family.

He died on March 17.

He loved to eat corned beef and cabbage.

He became a priest, He preached as a bishop.

Green is the color of Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17.

D.C. holding elections for Mayor MICHAEL WARNER Artist/Vendor

These major issues must be debated: * City budget that contains enough funding for affordable housing. * Address the ownership of homes and how home owning can impact future living. * I support Robert White as mayor. Why? Robert has defended the rights of the poor. Robert has the mindset to incorporate housing for all. Plus, Robert White submitted a bill to equalize the ownership of medical marijuana dispensaries in D.C to be equitable. * I’m looking for a candidate that has empathy and passion, plus perseverance. * Knock on doors and holds quality conversation at the door.

Big things are coming GERALD ANDERSON Artist/Vendor

First, I’d like to say hello to all my customers, friends and family. Everybody, I know you’re wondering how I’m doing. I’m getting along. I’m coming along better now. I’m getting stronger day by day.

I’m going to work on another book. I know you’re wondering what the book gonna be. It’s gonna be about how I became a vendor, how I turned my life over and how things changed for me. And I know y’all would love the book. So, that’s gonna be my new book. As a matter of fact, you can come back. I’ll be out on back in my spot. Every now and then I come out. when the weather good I’ll be out, when the weather bad, I can’t be out. But I miss everyone. I hope everyone come back to work and everything and I hope everyone being safe. Take care, be safe and I miss ya’ll.

A letter to Street Sense Media WARREN STEVENS Artist/Vendor

Dear Street Sense Media, Spring and summer is around the corner. The children and everybody cannot wait to go out and enjoy the weather. My arm is back to normal now. I can do activities like I used to do. I hope Eric, who used to be an editor, enjoys his new job. We miss him. My son and family are doing fine. Stay safe until our masks are removed.

Love you all.

Yours sincerely, Warren Stevens

This is what I wanted CARLOS CAROLINA Artist/Vendor

As we rise high with open Eyes, we come together, or At least we try, One day, or someday soon, We’ll all be proud of the Work we do, as we Walk around with our Heads high, no surprise We still alive, we fought A good fight, it was all Worthwhile, This is what I wanted.

OnlineCrosswords.net

1 4 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A // M A R C H 2 3 - 29, 2022

FUN & GAMES

1. Certain sandwiches

5 3 4 8 6 2 4 1 7 1 2 6 8 7 9 © 2013 KrazyDad.com

Novice Sudoku Puzzles, Volume 1, Book 2

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain Sudoku #2 all of the digits 1 thru 9.

If you guesswork.

5 use 7 logic 8 you 1 can4 solve 9 the6 puzzle 3 without 2

Need 2 a 6little 9help?8 The3 hints 5 page 1 shows 4 7a logical order to solve the puzzle.

Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page if you really get stuck.

3 1 4 7 6 2 9 5 8 >> This crossword

6

4 4 5 1 7 8 9 2 8 7 3 6 5 3 2 6 4 9 1 9 7 8 5 2 3 5 1 4 8 7 6 9

3 2

1

Sudoku #4 8 5 4 3 7 1 2 6 9 9 2 1 6 8 5 4 3 7 6 7 3 4 9 2 8 5 1 1 9 2 7 3 8 5 4 6 5 8 6 2 1 4 9 7 3 3 4 7 5 6 9 1 8 2 2 3 8 1 4 7 6 9 5 7 1 9 8 5 6 3 2 4 4 6 5 9 2 3 7 1 8 Sudoku #6 6 7 2 1 9 1 8 6 3 4 5 7 7 2 6 3 5 8 3 2 4 9 1 8 2 6 7 4 1 3 9 5 8 5 4 9 Sudoku #8 3 9 2 1 8 7 1 6

4 2 8

8 5 4 7 9 1 6 9 1 8 5 4 7 4 1 6 9 5 6 7 3 2 3 8 5 9 1 6 2 4 7 8 1 7 6 2 3

8 9

3 5

9

3 2

5 6 4 7 4 2 5 3

puzzle’s answers: tinyurl.com/SSMcross-03-23-2022

<< LAST EDITION’S PUZZLE SOLUTION

The bogosity meter just pegged.

9 1 7 8 1 6 3 7 5 7 2 4

1. Certain sandwiches 6. Southampton stirs 6. Southampton stirs 11. Experienced office 11.holder Experienced office holder 14.14.

Whirlpool alternative Whirlpool alternative 15.15.

White heron White heron 16.16.

--- Lanka --- Lanka 17.17.

Study of “Dianetics” by by L. Study of "Dianetics" Ron Hubbard L. Ron Hubbard 19.19.

Edible tuber Edible tuber 20.20.

Slender cigarcigar Slender 21.21.

Betting-window option Betting-window option 23.23.

Idolizer Idolizer 25.25.

“The"The LinerLiner --- a Lady” (Kipling) --- a Lady" 26.(Kipling) King’s land 30.26.

Cat’s-eye King's land 31.30.

--- Paulo, Brazil Cat's-eye 32.31.

“So--soon?”

Paulo, Brazil 34.32.

Booze "Sohound soon?"

36.34.

Geneticist’s workplace Booze hound 39.36.

Master of Latin prose Geneticist's workplace 40.39.

Tranquility Master of Latin prose 42.40.

Word repeated in “Fargo” Tranquility 43.42.

Brooklyn ending Word repeated in 45."Fargo" Gasconaded 46.43.

Greek “H” ending Brooklyn 48.45.

Singer DiFranco Gasconaded 50.46.

Yucatec speakers Greek "H" 51.48.

Bustling commotions Singer DiFranco 53.50.

Melodic pieces Yucatec speakers 55.51.

Balm of --- (fragrant resin) Bustling commotions 57.53.

Type of errorpieces Melodic 62.55.

Avant-garde prefix Balm of --(fragrant 63.resin) Study of weather 65.57.

Horton’s Type worry of error 66.62.

Hurled Avant-garde prefix 67.63.

Frisco footballer Study of weather 68.65.

High-protein bean Horton's worry 69.66.

Brit’s buddy Hurled 70.67.

Sixth follower Frisco footballer

Down 68. High-protein bean 69. Brit's buddy

1. Huff and puff 70. Sixth follower 2. 1978 disco hit

© ONLINECROSSWORDS.NET

Novice Sudoku Puzzles, Volume 1, Book 2

2 8 9

5 7 6 3 2 4 9 1 7 8 5 1 4 6 9 2 3

Find the solution at https://onlinecrosswords.net/6593

Across Across

Sudoku #3

8

This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle #2 for Jan 21, 2022

3. Dance that may affect the weather 33. Part of a semicolon 4. Good for drafting 35. Hockey legend Bobby 1.Historic Huff and puff 22. Simile words 5. ship 37. Not ashore 47. A fly, when doubled 2.

1978 disco hit 49. creed 24.

Printing widths 6. Study of earth history 38.

Some of them areChristian twins 3.

Dance that may 51.

"--of God" (play and 26.

Risqué 7. Blazing, as a look 41. Important letters for Els affect the weather movie) 27.

Lamb alias 8. Acapulco gold 44. Lendable organ 4. Good for drafting 28. Study of45. past 9.

French cubist Study of life 52. San follower 5. Historic ship 53. "A Passage to India" human culture 10. Charon’s crossing 47. A fly, when doubled 6. Study of earth history 29. Spike in production? woman 11. Study of the mind 49. Christian creed 54. Sun. message 31. Wrinkle fighters 7. Blazing, as a look 12.

Speak from a soapbox 51. “--- of God” (play and movie) 56. Most radios 33.

Part of a semicolon 8.

Acapulco gold 13. Some beans 52. San follower Nastase of tennis legend 9. French cubist in “Cheers”35. Hockey 53.

18.

Rhea’s co-star “A Passage to58.

India” woman Bobby 59. NY neighbor 10.

Charon's crossing 22. Simile words 54. Sun. message 37. Not ashore 11.Printing Study of the mind 24. widths 56. Most radios 60. Grows up 38. Some of them are 61. Greek harp 12.

Speak from a 26. Risqué 58. Nastase of tennis twins soapbox 64. Well-preserved king 27. Lamb alias 59. NY neighbor 41. Important letters for 13. Some beans 28.

Study of past human culture 60. Grows up Els 18. Rhea's co-star in 29.

Spike in production?

61. Greek harp 44. Lendable organ "Cheers" 31. Wrinkle fighters 64. Well-preserved king

Down

45. Study of life

Author Gene Weingarten is a college dropout and a nationally syndicated humor columnist for The Washington Post. Author Dan Weingarten is a former college dropout and a current college student majoring in information technology. Many thanks to Gene Weingarten and The Washington Post Writers Group for allowing Street Sense to run Barney & Clyde.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

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Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org

Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW ID (Friday 9am–12pm only) foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities

Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9128 425 2nd St., NW jobshavepriority.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Road SE 2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2060 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-888-793-4357

Laundry Lavandería

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

JOB BOARD Dishwasher and Utility Team Member Farmers, Fishers, Bakers// 3000 K St NW. Washington Harbour

Full-time // $600-$700 per week Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-333-4949 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699 1500 Galen Street SE, 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 555 L Street SE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place, NE, 810 5th Street NW

Dishwashers maintain clean tableware and

dishes for the dining room and kitchen, supporting a safe and sanitary workplace and assisting with occasional food preparation.

REQUIRED: Ability to stand for extended periods of time and lift up to 50 pounds.

APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/DishwasherFFB

General Labor Express Employment Professionals // 101 Independence Ave SE,

Full-time // Monday-Friday // $18 an hour General laborers will assist in construction

work at the Library of Congress building in Washington, DC. REQUIRED: US work authorization and full vaccination required.

APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ LaborerLibraryOfCongress

To Go Specialists PF Chang’s, Dupont Circle // 1120 20th St NW

Part-time // Hours: 9am to 6pm (Monday thru Saturday

To Go Specialists help guests, both in person and on the phone, place orders and understand the menu.

REQUIRED: Flexible hours APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ PFChangsDupontCircle

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org

// 1 5

For further information and listings, gs, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org

Photo by Frederic John

Woman on the steps

FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor

Where Houdini once Flapped his cloak aloud, Entering the Earle (in triumph).

Now it’s the Warner, and More than a girl, a bent lady (in destitute), huddles beneath A plastic shroud beseeching Passers-by, of her quiet take of woe…

Photo by Frederic John

B.B.’s upraised palms

FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor

There was a golden moment When I knelt at B.B.King’s knee – he’d deigned to allow an interview– I was the rep For my college paper. He wound up showing me his ‘sustain,’ and some sharp licks.

B.B. sported his platinum jacket The night he set his wide hands In wet cement outside the Warner in 1985.

Now, we can high (or low) five The greatest artist any old time!

Thank you for reading Street Sense!

From your vendor, MARCH 23 - 29, 2022 | VOLUME 19 ISSUE 18 NO CASH? NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE AN APP! SEARCH “STREET SENSE” IN THE APP STORE

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