S treet S ense.org SUG GEST ED DON ATIO N $2,000 $4,000 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $20,000 $18,000 $16,000 $22,000 $24,000 See Page 4 Where the poor and homeless earn and give their two cents 65 cents for the Vendor 35 cents for production of the paper February 3 - February 16, 2010 Volume 7 Issue 7 February 3 - 16, 2010 Page 12 Page 6 Page 5
S treet S ense.org Bill Cosby wants you to do good Page 6 Homeless vets get a day of service Page 5 Jeffrey McNeil puts lifes woes in perspec- tive with Haiti Page 12 35 cents for production of the paper 65 cents for the Vendor February 3 - February 16, 2010 Where the poor and homeless earn and give their two cents Volume 7 Issue 7 SUGGESTED DONATION $2,000 $4,000 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $20,000 $18,000 $16,000 $22,000 $24,000 Give a Vendor a Gift That Will Last All Year, details see page 3 See Page 4 Where are they going? A historically black city sees an African American exodus, according to new Census data Seep Page 4
Transcript
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org
Bill Cosby wants you to do good
Page 6
Homeless vets get a day of service
Page 5
Jeffrey McNeil puts lifes woes in perspec-
tive with HaitiPage 12
35 cents for production
of the paper
65 cents for the Vendor
February 3 - February 16, 2010
Where the poor and homeless earn and give their two cents
Volume 7 Issue 7
SUGGESTED
DONATION
$2,0
00
$4,0
00
$14,
000
$12,
000
$10,
000
$8,0
00
$6,0
00
$20,
000
$18,
000
$16,
000
$22,
000
$24,
000
Give a Vendor a Gift That Will Last All Year, details see page 3
See Page 4
Where are they going? A historically black city
sees an African American exodus, according to new
Census data Seep Page 4
February 3 - 15, 2010 StreetSense.org
1317 G Street, NWWashington, DC 20005Phone: (202) 347–2006Fax: (202) 347–[email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORSKristal DeKleer Lisa EstradaTed Henson Mary Lynn Jones Sommer Mathis Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Martin Walker David Walker Kathy Whelpley
VOLUNTEERS/WRITERSRobert Basler, Sarah Birnie, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Carol Cummings, Rebecca Curry, Katie Edson, Andy Freeze, Robert Fulton, Jane Goforth, Joanne Goodwin, Rober-ta Haber, Erica Hall, Carol Hannaford, Dianna Heitz, Caroline Hopper, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Kayne Karnbach, Mi-chael Kelly, Maurice King, Geof Koss, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Starlett McNeill, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Robert Ori-fici, Michael O’Neill, Jon Pattee, Katinka Podmankzy, Diane Rusignola, Shivan Sarna, Cara Schmidt, Jamie Schuman, Jesse Smith, Christna Studivant, Matthew Taylor, Robert Trautman, Linda Wang, Denise Wilkins, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu.
VENDORSJake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, Cyril Belk, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Regi-nald Black, Corey Bridges, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Conner, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Jeffery Dennis, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon-El, Charles Eat-mon, Deanna Elder, Richard Embden, James Featherson, Craig Fleming, Tanya Franklin, Roger Garner, David Ger, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Shawn Herring, Phillip Howard, James Hughes, Lester Irby, Patricia Jefferson, Margaret Jenkins, Jewell Johnson, Donald Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Brenda Lee-Wilson, James Lott, Michael Lyons, Jonnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, Charlie Mayfield, John Matthews, John C. Matthews, Herman Mayse, Robert Mc-Cray, Marvin McFadden, Davie McInally, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Frank Mearns, Kenneth Middleton, Virginia Moore, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Lester Myers, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Charity Ogbonnaya, Moyo Onibuje, Franklin Payne, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Raymond Ragland, Jea-nette Richardson, Sean-Christopher Riley, Lawrence Rogers, Ed Ross, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gerald Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, Leroy Stude-vant, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Paul Taylor, Eric Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Martin Walker, Joseph Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Edna Williams, Howard Williams, Brian Wills, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods.
Our Mission Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness
in our community.
Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about start-ing a street newspaper in Washington, D.C.
A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 25 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in plac-es like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world.
After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly ex-panded its circulation and vendor network.
For the first year, Street Sense operated as a
project of the National Coalition for the Home-less, but in October 2004, the organization in-corporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 sta-tus, becoming a nonprofit organization.
In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the orga-nization hired its first employee, a fulltime ex-ecutive director. A year later in November 2006 , the organiza-tion hired its first vendor coordinator, and began partnering with several service providers. In February 2007, the paper started publish-ing twice a month and to support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first full-time editor–in–chief in April. As of January 2009 the paper had 80 active ven-dors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.
The Story of Street Sense
See Page 10
Vendor Code of Conduct
1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other ven-dors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers.4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense.5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper.7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers.10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.
Thank You!
We are proud members of:
North AmericanStreet Newspaper Association
International Network of
Street Papers
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Street Sense throughout the year?
Order a subscription today!
Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news,
poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty
in the D.C. area.
___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 is-sues.___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org 3Baltimore homeless gather
donations for Haiti
They don’t have much themselves, but several Baltimore-area homeless banded together to make a donation to the Red Cross to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, The Baltimore Sun reports.
The donation, a collection of coins and crumpled dol-lar bills that amounted to $14.64, came from the pockets of homeless individuals at a downtown Baltimore shelter.
“We were all weepy-eyed,” recalled Red Cross volunteer coordinator Bobbie Jones, who was at the front desk when the donation arrived.
“Just the thought of those people huddled together in a shelter and seeing a need beyond themselves is enough to give anybody chills,” public relations director Linnea An-derson said. “What a remarkable example of the human spirit.”
Muncie homeless figures increase
In Muncie, Ind., the number of homeless men and wom-en has ballooned 100 percent since last year, the Associated Press reports. In 2008, there were 223 homeless men, women and children; in 2009, there were 447.
“I was expecting it to be higher, but was hoping for less,” said Susan Kemp, executive director of Bridges Community Services, to the AP. “The shelters are full and we found more people on the street. I was thinking it would maybe be 300 or so. ... This is a shocker.”
Homeless advocates are concerned that the figures may
be even higher than reported, since it’s difficult to get an ac-curate count in the winter when many homeless individuals seek refuge in places open 24 hours.
Dallas shelter offers culinary classes to homeless
Family Gateway, a Dallas-area shelter, is helping its resi-dents get the job skills they need to compete in a tough job market, the Dallas Morning News reports. The shelter is teaching its residents to chop, dice and grill their way into the workplace through a 12-week program.
The shelter has a commercial kitchen and has had 19 stu-dents graduate from its culinary program, since starting it last March. Of the graduates, 16 found work in the culinary world.
Stacey Chance, a single mother of four, completed the program and received on-the-job experience at an area res-taurant.
“It was an experience I'll never forget,” said Chance, who lives in Family Gateway’s transitional apartments, to the Dal-las Morning News. “This is a wonderful program. It builds up self-esteem, and it makes you feel like you’re part of some-thing.”
Former Newark Bears mascot now homeless
Kendell Woolridge, 23, had what he said the best job he’d
ever had – acting as mascot for the minor league team the
Newark Bears. But in 2007, when the club changed owner-ship, Woolridge lost his job and his home, NJ.com reports.
Woolridge used to take care of the clubhouse, clean it, wash the players’ uniforms and then crashed in an office overnight.
“I’m 23,” he said to NJ.com. “I’m not supposed to be home-less. I shouldn’t be living like this.”
But Woolridge’s story is part of a larger homeless prob-lem in Newark, New Jersey, and it’s surrounding neighbor-hoods.
“Our food stamp program grew by 50 percent, and our Medicaid caseload grew by 31 percent in the last two years,” said Bruce Nigro, Essex County’s director of welfare.
Budget problems hurt homeless initiatives
Fairfax County, Va., officials say $10 million is needed in the next fiscal year if the county is going to make a significant dent in its goal to eradicate homelessness, the Washington Examiner reports.
But the Feb. 23 budget is anticipated to reflect a $316 mil-lion budget shortfall, and board officials say they can’t make any promises about funds going toward homeless initia-tives.
“We’ll do the best we can,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova to the Washington Examiner.
Fairfax County has 1,730 homeless, which is a 5 percent drop from the previous year.
Compiled by Dianna Heitz
Give a Vendor a Gift that Will Last All YearFor 2010 Street Sense is making a concerted effort to better assist its vendors to help them improve their lives and get off the street. New programs include:
• Sales Training Workshops: Sales professionals will host workshops that train vendors in the field of sales and help them acquire other sales jobs outside of Street Sense.
• Vendor Savings Accounts: Street Sense will save 10 cents from each 35 cents it collects from each paper and set it aside in an account that vendors can access to put towards housing, education, or starting a business once they sell 3,000 papers.
•Serial Novel & Poetry Book: Street Sense plans to publish a 24-chapter novel with each chapter written by a different vendor and another poetry book.
However, we need support from readers like you to get these programs up and running, as it will take additional resources and staffing to make them a success. We are aiming to raise an extra $2,000 a month through individual donations to specifically support vendor programs. So please help support your local vendor through these programs, and give them a gift that will last all year – and many more to come!
I want to donate:____$60 for supplies for one sales training workshop____$100 for the printing of 25 Poetry Books____$300 for the vendor savings account to match the “cashout” level ____$500 for the printing of 125 serial novels____$1000 for the space needed to hold a complete series of training workshops____$1500 for one month increase in the vendor manager’s salary to oversee all the new programs____ Another amount of _________to go towards ______________________________The amount of _________to go directly to vendor _______________________
My Information:Name:_________________________________________________________
Please make checks payable to “Street Sense” and mail to:1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
Donate online at www.streetsense.org
February 3 - 15, 2010 StreetSense.org 4
By Shivan Sarna
The Shaw neighborhood in Northwest D.C. bustled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a hub of black cultural and academic life. Today, due to the city’s gentrification efforts, the neigh-borhood, which is home to Howard University, has been transformed and its black residents priced out.
“Ten years ago there were no whites walking through here,” said Joseph Gere, Shaw resident “The houses here were built by African Americans a long time ago. Now they cannot afford to repair their house. Tax goes higher, so they have to be kicked out.”
According to the 2010 census estimate released on Jan. 7, the black population decreased every year from 2000 to 2008, while the numbers of whites and other minorities increased. The Dis-trict lost around 27,000 black residents and gained around 40,000 white residents.
D.C. may cease to be a majority black city by 2020 due to the movement of this population into
the suburbs in search of afford-able housing.
“It’s the life cycle of the econ-omy. In certain areas the prices get raised and if you can’t pay for it you have to go and those people that can, move in,” said Bukhari Jenkins, a senior at Howard University who used to live in the neighborhood. “It
just happens that the major-ity of people that are leaving are African Americans, and the majorities that are coming in are white people or people that
aren’t black that have money to do so.”Blacks are moving to more suburban settings
such as Prince George’s and Montgomery coun-ties.
“When you compare the cost of living in D.C. to the cost of living in Prince George’s County, hous-ing is clearly one of the largest factors,” said Kilin Boardman-Schroyer, legislative director for D.C. Councilmember Michael Brown. “D.C.’s cost of liv-ing is roughly 30 percent higher than living in many of the counties surrounding the District, and that includes housing, as well as just going out to eat or getting services.”
According to Elizabeth Chacko, associate profes-sor of Geography and International Affairs at the George Washington University, the problem is af-fordability, as gentrification has priced out lower income people, increasing both land values and rent exponentially. “There is a dearth of affordable housing in D.C.”
“Many of the people who are entering the Dis-trict are professionals, resulting in increased prop-erty values for long-time residents unable to afford that level of increase in housing costs,” Boardman-Schroyer said.
“We need to make sure that we do a good job
striking a balance of bringing in new people, hav-ing strong economic development that creates new condo buildings, apartment buildings and townhouses while at the same time maintaining a number of affordable housing units that will allow residents and families who have been in the District to stay in the District,” said Boardman-Schroyer.
“Finding affordable housing is an important part of keeping the people here and keeping it a family-friendly city,” according to Michael Price, press secretary for councilmember-at-large Kwame R. Brown. “We must ensure that there is an adequate, comprehensive, adult jobs creation program in the District to provide people with the skills that they need to get a well-paying job.”
If D.C. can develop a vibrant job-creating infra-structure, more residents will be able to live in the city that they work in, said Price.
In addition to protecting affordable housing, Boardman-Schroyer said that the District needs to improve its school system as well as public safety to maintain families in the District.
D.C.’s population is currently estimated to be around 600,000, which is its highest since 1991.
“According to state-level data, there has been a big population increase for 2009,” said Harriet Tre-goning, director of the office of planning for Mayor Fenty “This is a trend that is going to continue to hold true for the rest of the decade.”
Tregoning cites many reasons for population
growth. First, birth rates outpaced death rates in D.C. Second, “there has been a big increase in in-ternational migration mostly with the Ethiopians, Koreans and Hispanics.” Third, domestic migration is a major factor, as it has been since World War II. The city is “getting more diverse in terms of certain groups, as the groups that preceded them had success in the District.”
The nation’s capital has become the fifth largest immigration desti-nation in the country, according to Elizabeth Chacko.
“The increase in the white population probably reflects the movement into the city of people attracted by the amenities the city provides, including the revitaliza-tion of the downtown area,” said Hal Wolman, professor of Political Science and Public Policy at George Washington University. “It is primar-ily people without school-aged chil-dren, empty nesters, young people and gays and lesbians, as the Dis-trict is seen as a particularly welcoming place for them.”
The 2010 census will be released in December, and population estimates come from births, deaths and net migration. “It boils down to who has the money and who doesn’t,” said Bukhari Jenkins.
Local neighborhoods such as Shaw are seeing a shift in demographics due to gentrification and remodeling.
Shiiv
an S
arna
Neighborhoods’ changing demographics
Hal Wolman
Harriet Tregoning
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org
By Caroline Hopper
As veterans exited the makeshift barber shop in the basement of the Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DCVAMC), they held their heads high, their faces illuminated with wide smiles.
The annual Winterhaven Home-less Veterans Stand Down, which took place at the DCVAMC on Sat-urday, Jan. 23, offered novel services to homeless veterans this year.
The event, which was sponsored by the DCVAMCwith the support of many veterans’ service and com-munity organizations, matched veterans with services that can help them attain independent lives.
Some new services offered this y e a r i n c l u d e Google phone c a rd s , i m m e -diate housing assistance and more services for women veterans. Other services include employ-ment, rehabili-tation and social services, as well as eye screen-ing, a makeshift barbershop, nail salon and a give-away room. Ve t e r a n s a l s o received a free lunch.
“Google Voice Cards give some-o n e a p h o n e n u m b e r a n d
then they set up a voice box,” said Dale Sweetnam from Google. “This gives them the opportunity…to take this phone number and put it in their reference or give it to friends and family to stay in touch. So the idea there is that things are tough, they may be going through transi-tional periods, but we’re giving them an opportunity for everyone to get a hold of them if they need to.”
Google initially distributed these phone cards during Project Care in San Francisco two years ago. Find-ing huge success, Google distributed the cards again in smaller scale at the Winterhaven event. Any homeless veteran who attended the event was eligible for a phone card. By noon,
more than 200 veterans had received a card at the all-day event.
Another new service at this year’s stand down was housing services.
“This is crucial because we can get people into immediate housing to-day,” said an event staff member who prefers to remain anonymous. The housing services were tremendously helpful for attendees who were ready to live on their own but did not have access to available housing, according
to the staff member. This service cor-relates directly with the event’s goal to offer services to help veterans be-come self-reliant.
At past events, veteran Jon Cerry had been disappointed that this ser-
vice was not offered. “The most cru-cial aspect that this event must assist with is housing, with a capital H-O-U-S-I-N-G,” Cerry said.
The introduction of more services for women veterans was also new to the stand down this year. According to Robin Peck, a physician working at the event, not only were more services available, but more women showed up to utilize those services. “Either outreach was better or economic cir-
cumstances are worse, leaving more women veterans homeless,” said Peck.
Two physicians were available to examine women attendees, make sure their health care is up-to-date, perform Pap-smears and mammo-grams and to set up future appoint-ments. Some children attended the event with a parent, but VA benefits cover only the veteran, not the depen-dents, so children were ineligible for any care, according to Peck.
While receiving a manicure, attend-ee Vincent Wigfall praised the event. “It provides a lot of goods and services that otherwise wouldn’t be thought of to provide to veterans,” said Wigfall. “They don’t have the means or trans-portation to get to places where they can get the help they need such as clothing, housing, vocational rehab, counseling, different types of goods and services. There aren’t a lot of one-stop centers in the city that are big enough to accommodate all of DC’s veteran homeless population, and that is a big population.”
The halls of the DCVAMC were lined with smiling veterans and out-going staff members, working to-gether to accomplish the incredibly important task of assisting veterans towards independence.
Things are tough... but we’re giving them an opportunity.
-Sweetnam, Google
5
Above, Vincent Wigfall receives a mani-cure as part of the annual Winterhaven Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medi-cal Center. Left, Jon Cerry is pleased that this year’s event included housing services, which have not been offered in the past. Top right, A makeshift barbershop was constructed to serve veterans with haircuts.
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Veterans Outreach Offers Phones, Housing
This service correlates di-rectly with the event’s goal... to help veter-ans become self reliant.
-Dale Sweetnam, Google
February 3 - 15, 2010 StreetSense.org
According to the National network for Youth, an estimated 1.6 million youth between the ages of 12 and 17 ex-perience homelessness in a given year. Many are runaways who leave home because of family conflict or because of parental abuse or neglect caused by mental health issues or substance abuse.
Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that as many as 16 per-cent of the runaways reported between January 2004 to January 2009 were never entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as missing persons. Without this informa-tion, law enforcement
There are currently several bills pending in the United State Congress that hope to address the issue of youth homelessness.
The Runaway Reporting Improve-ment Act of 2009 (H.R.4129) was intro-duced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Christopher H. Smith, and John Conyers Jr. The goal of this bill is to require that law enforce-ment agencies enter all missing chil-dren into the NCIC.
“Without an NCIC entry, law en-forcement officers will not share infor-mation or resources, and are much less likely to find or protect a missing child. We simply must do better by our chil-dren,” Rep. Maloney said.
Also according to the New York Times, “Estimates of how many [run-away] children are involved in pros-titution vary wildly — ranging from thousands to tens of thousands.”
The Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2009 (S. 2925), cosponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden and John Cornyn, sets up grant projects in six states that would establish shelters and provide treatment, counseling and legal aid.
“Our nation must remain committed to ending the scourge of human traf-ficking. This legislation will provide valuable assistance to state and local governments on the front lines of bat-tling organized criminal syndicates and violent gangs that traffic humans for la-bor and sex,” said Cornyn.
6
On The hILLBy Caroline Hopper
Legendary comedian, actor, and activist Bill Cosby has a message.
"You have to give, it has to be a part of you."
Cosby teamed with The Stafford Founda-tion’s (TSF) CEO and founder, Earl Stafford, to announce the launch of a national Doing Good campaign on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Cos-by is featured in a public service announce-ment promoting the project, which was created to motivate people to help others become self-reliant, according to TSF.
“Come on. Let’s do something.” said Cosby to an intimate audience at D.C. Mar-riott for Wednesday’s breakfast event. “We’ve got to spread the word, and spread it, and spread it and spread it…It will change you. It will change you all day long, and people need to know this.”
The announcement took place on the one-year anniversary of TSF People’s In-augural Project, an endeavor that brought approximately 400 underprivileged citizens to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. “Since the inaugural event, the Stafford Foundation has engaged in new outreach activities, awarded numerous grants, and supported social entrepreneurial opportunities,” said Stafford.
Continuing its outreach, TSF launched The People’s Project Doing Good campaign. The campaign encourages “doing good” in many ways, while recognizing that many people who want to “do good” may not always know ways to do so, according to Stafford.
“America is home to the homeless, the hungry, the downtrodden and to the under-served,” said Stafford. “But America is also home to compassionate and caring people. We are helping people to understand that you don’t have to have a lot to do a lot.”
The Doing Good project focuses on pro-viding the homeless with education, training and job placements. It shows how to provide children with a nurturing environment. It empowers children from low-income fami-lies to develop ways to get the resources they need to attend college and improve their fu-tures. It offers senior citizens opportunities to become positive forces in the community, provides lowincome neighborhoods with health programs, and brings cultural en-richment opportunities like music and art to underserved communities.
The campaign also provides an online
forum where stories fea-turing good deeds done by either individuals or organizations will be showcased. These stories, according to TSF, are cen-tral to increase advocacy and inspire others to take action.
“I don’t care how small your job is, or how little you think you are,” said Cosby. “You are a leader. You are a leader. And when you lead, don’t forget to teach. It’s a sign that goes on and on and on, and it never stops healing anywhere. When you do good, you feel bet-ter.”
According to TSF, bene-ficiaries of good deeds will learn to be self-reliant, so that they may one day be capable of serv-ing someone else in need. The announce-ment also featured speeches from both Stafford and Cosby. In his speech, Cosby shared his experiences from the four years he spent working as a physical therapist in the navy. “At the end of the day, I was spent from working with people, putting part of my spirit into their mind… and as I said, at the end of the day I was spent, but I did feel good.” said Cosby.
Also at the event, the N St. Village, an or-ganization that works to empower low-in-come and homeless women, shared success stories about clients like Mary Virginia. She was fortunate to have attended the People’s Inaugural Project in 2009.
Throughout the morning, guests were reminded of the TSF motto: “Do good, do good, do good”
See www.thestaffordfoundation.org for more information on doing good.
Cosby Takes on the CapitalThe Stafford Foun-
dation kicks off Doing Good Campaign
Top: Earl Stafford (middle) talks with unnamed guests at break-fast. Bottom: Bill Cosby and Earl Stafford joined forces to promote self-reliance.
CarO
line
hOP
Per
A Reconciling Congregation Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM Foundry United Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org
FOUNDRY
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org
7
By Michael Conlon
CHICAGO - A program that gives shelter to homeless alcoholics but al-lows them to keep drinking and not be forced into treatment could save taxpayers millions in public costs, according to a study published on Tuesday.
The study also found that daily alcohol consumption fell by two percent per month for those in the shelter.
The results were based on a look at 95 people admitted to a program in Seattle called Housing First from 2005 to 2007. They were compared
with others who were still on the street and on waiting lists to get into the shelter.
"Our study suggests that homeless alcoholics who qualify to take part in Housing First can stay out of jails and (hospital) emergency rooms and cost the taxpayer a lot less money as a re-sult," said Mary Larimer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, who led the study.
"We also found that these ben-efits increase over time and that they are possible without requiring that participants stop drink-ing. And yet, the longer the participants stay in the housing program, the less they drink," Larimer said.
The report was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
After 12 months in the shelter the total public costs relat-ing to the care of the 95 individu-als was cut by more than $4 million compared to the year before, the re-
searchers said.
MORE THAN $4,000 EACH In the year before entering the
shelter, those who got in had run up more than $4,000 each per month in costs for jail, detox center use, hospi-tal-based medical services, publicly funded alcohol and drug programs, emergency medical services and the like, the study team said.
But after they entered the hous-ing arrangement, their individual monthly costs for using such services fell to $1,492 after six months and to $958 after a year -- a reduction in to-tal costs of more than $4 million, the researchers said.
"Each of them had cost state and local governments an average of $86,062 per year before being housed, compared to an average of $13,440 it costs per person per year to administer the housing program," Larimer said.
Housing First is a concept em-ployed in a number of cities across the country to address the needs of the homeless generally. Such pro-grams rely on a mix of private and public funding, according to the
National Alliance to End Homeless-ness.
The authors of the study said such programs so far have generally been used for homeless people with se-vere mental illness and concurrent substance abuse. The Seattle shelter, called 1811 Eastlake, has been con-troversial because it allows drinking on the premises, the research team said, in a program where meals, shel-ter and other costs ran $1,120 per person monthly during the study.
The study said the median num-ber of drinks for participants started at 15.7 a day but fell to 14, 12 and 10 a day after six, nine and 12 months, respectively.
William Hobson, executive direc-tor of the group that runs the Seat-tle project, said the stable housing environment is a factor in reduced drinking. He said there also were discussions of the problem with res-idents, which leads to reassessment of drinking.
U.S. study backs shelter, drink for homeless alcoholics
Our study suggests that homeless alcoholics who qualify to take part in Housing First can stay out of jails and (hospital) emergency rooms and cost the taxpayer a lot less money as a result.
Skip the roses this Valentine’s Day—give your Valentine a gift that will have a lasting impact and will touch the hearts of so many. Show your love by supporting Street Sense’s efforts to empower homeless individuals in DC:
Make a donation to Street Sense in honor of your Valentine. If you get your donation in by February 10th, we’ll send your sweetie an
acknowledgement by V-day! Donate online and be sure to tell us that it’s in honor of your Valentine in the
“comment” section.
www.streetsense.org/give-support/donate/
Give your Valentine the gift of a Street Sense subscription. You can even give half of your subscription to
a Street Sense vendor of your choice! Buy your subscription
online and be sure to tell us that it’s in honor of your Valentine in the “comment” section.
How romantic!
February 3 - 16, 2010 StreetSense.org 8
"The Bench"By S. A. Gibbins
Where to go in life, seems daunting, scary.What direction to take, a false step and disaster.Crossroads in time, turns in life's course.Could have far reaching effects. But with wild abandon, IStubbornly walk the road again. New love, maybe.New job, new town, or, same old-same old?So sitting here on this bench head in hands, staring,provides not much help. I'd call a friend and ask, if I had one.Sad to say, I'd ask God if He would listen. Why do we end up here, anyway?On a Park bench, lost in thought. Wanting oh so many answers, direction and help! Instead. Alone.But you have to do it on your own. This is the time to pull up the bootstraps.Forget depression, medication. Ok here goes.I'm homeless, penniless, With no family that cares.I've put myself here by self-indulgence. Sorry as hell, too.I was a great person at one time. At least I thought I was.But after divorce, drugs, alcohol and abandonment, I was not so sure.It does get tiring, beating yourself up, doesn't it? I did the rehab thing, even cleaned up.Got the higher power thing too. So where is He?I'm on this stupid bench. Broke, hungry, worn out from trying.Is it possible to come back from this pit? Are there not thousands of us out here?Look into our eyes. Do you see us? Do you feel us?It could be you on this bench.But it’s me. You walk past and look with disgust.I had a family once too, A good job, a big house, and all that goes with it.This could happen to you. Yes it could.So when you pass a park bench sometime, Stop and look at it and think of me.Think of us Think of you.
Photos by Lawrence Howard
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org 9
Sleeping Snow Dogs AwakeBy Chris Sky Shaw
The sleeping dogs lie dormantUnder a very thin skin of sun.Winds carry trash, and faint, ever-more dimMemories of a blizzard,Robbed by time of its ethereal beauty.In a boy’s realm,The ground was rock-firm beneathThe cobbled alleys, ice, and pink-and-blue neonOf Murphy’s five and dime.Icicles bearded the old lean-tos and add-ons,Not to tumble and break off,The way they do nowadays.Back in the woods, alongside a dirty stream,The shadows grow longer,And the snow dogs remain where the land is still cool,Only to gently awaken to gradualWarmth, and to feed the coming SpringWith its melting!
To Haiti By Jeffery McNeil
Dear Haiti, I call you brother, for you are dark like me I also struggled through poverty
The earthquake has made an impression on meSince I was too selfish and blind to see
I am fortunate to have a meal and a place to sleep While dead bodies are littered in one big heap
I have been homeless sleeping outside While you can’t leave, run, or hide
I am fortunate, yes indeedTo never feed a brother who is in need
It’s our duty to help someone who fallen For whatever you labored has been zstolen To my Haitian brothers who are dark like me
I hope we all show compassion so you’ll be free I pray from the rubble you can build
So no one else will be killed.
February 3 - 16, 2010 StreetSense.org 10
Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia
CALL THE
Shelter Hotline 1 800 535-7252
Help Bring the Homeless infrom the Cold
o r C a l l 311
Call the
A’s Wordmatch By Patrick Azrius Match the word with its definition
Adam C. AdamowiczBarbara FlotteCaroline D. GabelCorrine YuDavid A. and Roberta A.
HertzfeldtDavid MadlandDavid MartinDavid MuhlbaumEdward S. RosenthalElizabeth CullenEvert F Uy OrHazel C. MooreHeather SalkoJackie DeCarloJacqueline M. WestJane Holmes DixonJennifer HenelJoseph V. CartwrightJudith M. ParsellsJulie PreisJust GiveLara FriedmanLara Thornely HallLauren LipchakLeah ShawLee Berger
Lenore GarciaLinda Ershow-LevenbergMarcus WilliamsMargaret & Robert BlairMelani McAlisterMelissa ReeseMeredith TupperMichael MavreticPeter RientRichard R. Howes and
Joanne M. HowesRobin GorackeSharon Goodman and R.
Scott McNeillySharyn MeisterStephen Lerner and Mari-
lyn SneidermanSusan C. Burns Susan Eads RoleValorie LeeVasudha DesikanVicki RobinsonSusan K. Seyl in honor of
David and Lynda Martin-McCormick.
Angie Ketterman in honor of Michael Peccini.
Thank you to our January donors!
Wrote “The Marriage of Figaro” 1.
Wrote the influential book “The Elements”2.
Founder of the Lyceum 3.
Wrote “Theaetetus”4.
First distinguished female in mathematics5.
Hypatia A.
AristotleB.
MozartC.
Euclid D.
PlatoE.
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org 11
Match the word with its definition
I love talking to strangers at a crosswalk, bus stop, or subway. I’m interested in how they would react, even now until this day.
Are they arrogant, happy, or uncaring, or satisfied just to be through with moment?
Are some excited with new visual aspect before them? Or a longer lasting scent?
We all have things to share with each other, and we don’t have to wait to say so.
ldle chatter is pleasant no matter where you are from, and facilitating where ever you may go.
Paul is part of The People for Fairness Coalition. Contact: [email protected].
I love waking up early in the morning and standing in the open crisp night air.
upon a full moon I find myself thinking clear, with nobody talking I can focus on grasping the goal
away from homless surly only streets and a wisp.
watching the air in curly, no stinging smell like wasp.
David volunteers and is writing his own novel. Contact: [email protected].
My world my present my grace period before I get to heaven. Remembering my clueless days, a time that I didn't cherish things. Nieve to
the real world’s pain. Suddenly came a revalation,
That noone’s is safe in any nation. I got involved and extreme epidemic in this large world.
The love for it comes form above. It’s my high it’s my drug. The thing I get my fix off of. Helping other’s showing them love.
Embracing the advocate’s call Today, this day!! I tell ya’ll !!! I love working with and to help the homeless
most of all.
I was single, but had an empty apartment at my disposal. I was still affected by second thoughts. Many-a-night I prayed that I would not get caught inside. There was running water, and I had a matteress. One night I returned to the apartment and all was locked. Even the windows were nailed shut. I went into panic mode. Thinking quickly, I returned to the boiler room. It had been furnished in past weeks. After some destressing minutes, the invader showed his face. Annoyed, I went next door. I resumed my chatting looking for my crush. Once again, she didn’t show. I began to question survival. In additon, to no power this strange room lacked heat. I was still nieve to the effects of hypothermia. I only knew something about the cold could kill you. I felt sick and in agony from a brutal pain in my tooth. I started to praying again. I wanted something or someone. All was looking bleak. It was raining and I was feeling tired, but the tooth pain wouldn’t let me sleep. Completey scared I just pulled the broken sleeping bag across my body and tucked inside my jackets. I drifted off somehow not even knowing my fate or what to do next. “Has my neighborhood evicted me? I wondered. I wasn’t sure but the was nothing I could do at the time.
Reggie hosts The Writer's Group Meetings. Contact: [email protected].
Will Write For Food: Writer’s Groupmeets every Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Street Sense office.
The Writer's Group needs laptops; email: [email protected] if you can help
Reggie’s Reflections- Eviected??By Reginald Black
She was from Mogadishu Somalia. She was so amazing and beautiful. We both worked at a Best Western in Balliston, Virginia. During the 90's, her country needed food after weeks of fighting. While Somalian warlords fought against the United States in the streets of Mogadishu, we would walk together everyday at work and I helped her understand what Valentine's day is all about. I wanted to have her as my wife, but she said it was not their cutsom to get involved with African-American men. There were lots of Somail females who worked at the Best Western, but they kept to their dishes. Marcelinas and I liked each other. It was a love that could never be.
PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Patty Smith, Reginald Black
Lovey loving lovelyby Paul Lee Taylor
A Love that Could Never Be?by James Fetherson
Most of Allby Reginald Black
Early Morning Loveby David Rubin
DAYS OF LOVE by Robert Warren
We all have our Valentines, but ask yourself do you show the folks around you Never Failing Love
Never Failing Love
DAYS ARE LOVING HIM AND YOU, AND WHETHER ONE BELIEVES, AND ALL LIFE CAN ACHIEVE. DAYS ARE SUNRISES, AND SUNSETS, AND WHETHER
YOU SEE ALL THE LOVE GOD BE.
DAYS ARE THE MOON AND STARS AND PLEASANT DREAMS, LOVE OF PEOPLE OVER THINGS, DAYS ARE FIRST PRAISING MORNING NOON AND
NIGHT, DOING WHAT ONE FIRST THOUGHT SAY IS RIGHT.
DAYS ARE FLOWERS AT BLOOM WITH A SUMMER MORNING BREEZE, A RIVER FULL OF SNOWFLAKES, AND MANY MORE THINGS, OF LOVE YOU
SEE.
DAYS OF THINKING BACK HOW DAYS USED TO BE, HOW MANY DAYS WOULD I LOVE TO SEE. DAYS ARE STRUGGLE STRESS , AND STRIFE, AND
THE LOST OF FIRST AND SECOND LIFE, AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND WHETHER YOU BELIEVE .
GOD PERFECT PEACE IS EVERY MANS NEED. DAYS ARE BELIEVIENG IN A DAY TO COME WHEN GODS VOICE WILL BE THE ONLY ONE.
Robert is a member of The People for Fairness Coalition. Contact: [email protected].
February 3 - 16, 2010 StreetSense.org 12
By Jeffery McNeil
My journey into homelessness began around July 21, 2005. Addictions and gam-bling left me broke and sleeping in a gazebo on the Toms River in New Jersey. I remem-ber it vividly. I had nowhere to go, but God was watching over me. I found angels who let me sleep in their tent in the woods, even though the mos-quitoes bit me so bad I had welts all over me. I finally begged the hospi-tal nearby to send me to an institu-tion but they said I was too smart and sent me to a treat-ment center.
While I was go-ing through my storms in life, there were people deal-ing with the real thing. Hurricane De n n i s a r r i ve d in Florida and hit the Panhandle. Most people learn and get help when they’re drowning, and I wanted to swim upstream again. My motivation for gambling was guided by the lure of riches. I still had a job even though I was homeless; I tried to gamble my way out of homelessness. I won enough to get a room. I knew the weather was going to get cold soon and I didn’t want to sleep out-side. I was battening down the hatches on the mental storm in my pathetic life, while dealing with depression and loneliness.
In late August of 2005, I went back to the treatment center, they gave me a bus ticket to Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia to a Salva-tion Army treatment center. I was sad, de-pressed and feeling sorry for myself. While I was at a thrift store getting hand-me-downs and three meals a day, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, The Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations destroying ev-erything in its path. Overnight, the citizens of New Orleans became refugees, trapped in their homes and the Superdome. Ameri-cans watched in great horror, as the levies broke and flooded New Orleans.
Even though I was in my own storm, I could not ignore the dead bodies floating in a once-proud city, which overnight felt as if it was a war zone in a third world country. I felt as if I was living a plush lifestyle com-pared to the citizens of New Orleans.
I have begun rebuilding my life, working my way out of homelessness, grumbling, and complaining about how cruel and un-fair life can be. I don’t have the job, the car
or the girlfriend I desire. I still stay around people who can irritate me. Sometimes my grandiosity and arrogance make me believe I am unique and a cut above the level of my roommates.
I watch TV and play video games, and then just mingle with my roommates. I couldn’t see so much of how my actions contributed to my situation because I was
only concerned about me. I wasn’t letting God bless me because I was always com-plaining about my life. Then on Jan. 13, 2010, my whole perspective of life changed. I turned on the news and saw the images of Haiti. I saw how their country looked like a bombsite. I saw people without food, dead bodies piled up like mountains and the widespread threat of disease. I thought of many of the Haitian families I knew who had relatives there.
I also saw people risk their lives volun-teering to pull people from the rubble and doctors leave their practice to go and treat people in Haiti. I turned from feeling un-grateful to grateful, by getting on my knees and praying to God. All the worldly pos-sessions I desired became a moot point. I realized that God had me where he wanted me, but I also came to know it could have been much worse. I thought I was suffering but soon realized from seeing the suffer-ing of others, I wasn’t suffering at all. I had focused on the wrong things in life: status, wealth, beautiful women, and having a rich personable life.
Jeffery McNeil has been a Street Sense vendor for 4 years and frequently writes about his struggle with alcoholism and homelessness, and recently found housing.
Sleeping Outside Might Leave You in Jail
By Davie McInally
I have been in New York since December 22. I came to New York City to join a pilot program that lets foreign nationals join the U.S. military. I want to do two tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan, and also apply for United States citizenship. I am fluent in Czech and Slovakian, which is what the military was looking for. They also require one to have stayed in the country for two years, which posed a problem for me.
I did not think I would write for Street Sense again but New York City does not have a newspaper that gives a voice to the homeless, and I have the desire to make others aware of the conditions the homeless in New York City face. As a result, I decided to pen this article. I mentioned my intention to Frank Mearns, vendor and volunteer for Street Sense who has witnessed the New York City shelter system. He told me to share my experiences.
Early on I began to feel strongly about the homeless situation especially in regard to the way in which the homeless are treated. For example, it is illegal to sleep out-side, such as in parks. If you are caught, the police automatically lock you up. One lad spent 60 days in jail for sleeping in the park. Mark is originally from Virginia and like most other people who come to New York, he was unaware of how the homeless were treated.
There are specially designated "snatch-squads" in orange uniforms that walk around streets and parks looking for the homeless. Once the homeless are rounded up, the "snatch-squads" take them either to jail or to a shelter. I believe they are an arm of the police.
Since one is forbidden to sleep outside, there are only two options: sleep on a subway train or in a shelter.
The city's shelters are cramped, making it difficult for an individual to receive good treatment. The place where I am staying is called 30th Street Men’s Shelter, which was known as Bellevue Hospital at one point. The conditions inside are disappointing. Food is provided three times a day but the food tray resembles something less than a weight-watchers dinner. There are no seconds.
I believe the air vents are the biggest problem and that they present a fire hazard. They are definitely a health hazard, as every morning my black jacket is covered with long bits of coagulated dust.
The sign-in process takes about a day and a half, due to the utter laziness of many of the case workers. On my second day at the shelter, I was given a permanent bed. The security guards are unfriendly and abuse their authority. Most of the guards are overweight and if anything was to happen, such as a fight, they would have no option but to stand there. Back home the "animal factory" refers to jail, but it might as well be the shelter system, especially with the shelter's curfews. I have seen a few people break down here. I can’t blame them and sometimes even feel pity.
I am bewildered that the "rules" change as frequently as they do. I will never un-derstand this, but maybe this is the way it works in America. I guess I just have to play along with it and make do like everybody else. In my room there are four beds. Three of us have already seen a few people come and go. People transfer to other shelters, or they are moved to other beds in the shelter, if they, for example, break their curfew. I must admit there is always a non U.S. crowd here: there is a man from Ghana, whose name is Kuaku, a Puerto Rican man named Juan, and a man from Sierra Leone who arrived last night.
Lockers and locks are provided to all of us during registration, along with bed sheets (if we happen to get a bed). Kuaku went nine days before a bed was found. I guess I was lucky, as I only had to wait a day and a half. There is a separate wing for women and families. I’ve never been to it, so I cannot report on conditions there. I do, however, encourage anyone who is bold and has a bigger voice than I do, to dress like a homeless person and check out the conditions for themselves. I am sure that he or she will leave appalled.
Davie McInally is orignally from Scotland and has written past columns in Street
Sense. The views and experiences here are those of Davie and not Street Sense.
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Jeffery reflects on the imapct of storms literally and figuratively in his life.
Counting Blessings
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org 13
By Bryan Yannantuono
The warmth and sunniness of this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day stood in stark contrast from the usual bitterness of winter. Hoping to take advantage of the pleasant weather, my friends and I decided to embark on an adventure. Leaving the isolation of our Northwest-based campus, we decided to travel to an area that many here say to stay away from: Anacostia. The myth of Anacostia is that it’s a hot-bed for crime, extremely poor, and its infrastructure is in disrepair. Hoping to discover the truth for our-selves, we set foot on the Green Line, both nervous and intrigued.
Upon exiting the train, it was apparent that we entered into a world that was wholly different than the one we were used to. My friends and I, all white, suddenly became the minority. While none of us were upper class by any means, we came from relatively privileged suburban backgrounds. We all go to a prestigious university. Whether we stated it explicitly or not, we were clearly outside of our comfort zone. I felt uneasy as I sensed the grudging gazes of others.
Besides investigating the true nature of Anacos-tia, our other main priority was to see The Big Chair. Towering nearly 20 feet in to the air and made out of two tons of Honduras mahogany, the Big Chair is ru-mored to be the largest such chair in the world. Who would have thought that such a marvelous attrac-tion is right in Anacostia! A short walk away from the chair is the estate of the late Frederick Douglass, a Smithsonian museum, an art gallery and the historic downtown, among various other churches, restau-rants and cultural centers. I couldn’t believe it!
Beyond the tourist attraction the myth of Anacostia is largely accurate. The sidewalks are dilapidated, many buildings are boarded up and empty lots surrounded by ominous chain link fences are common. According to the 2000 census only two-thirds of the popu-lation over 25 have graduated high school and dramatically fewer have completed college. The median income is nearly 40% less than the rest of the city and approximately one-third of Ward 8 residents live under the pov-erty level. Moreover, a recent Ward 8 housing report funded by Fannie Mae revealed that nearly 80% of Anacostia’s residents rent apart-ments and that many are at risk of losing their homes due to the housing crunch. On top of this, violent crime (especially homicide) and eroding public schools are perennial concerns. It seems as if everything east of the Anacostia River is left to fester in the capital’s forgotten shadow.
Seeing the destitution, I realized that the people here are the ones who are most at risk for being homeless. Yes, many people are safe for now. Though the worst is most likely over, the recession still continues to pummel the poor. It is evident that, should a landlord not make ends meet or a family business go un-der, Anacostia residents will be left to fend for themselves...on the street. To many, it is un-fathomable that such conditions can exist in America, nevertheless in its great capital city, but I’ve seen it with my very eyes.
‘The Big Chair’ Brings Me to Anacostia
The Big Chair, located at the corner Martin Luther King Jr. Ave and V Street SE, is an Anacostia landmark that was built in 1959.
A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day:
...and, as always, find us online at www.streetsense.org.
Follow us www.facebook.com/streetsense acebook :on
On January 22 Street Sense held its first night out event: a game night at the Verizon Center in Chinatown. We had more than 75 people there, in-cluding vendors and staff who spread out to witness the Miami Heat take on the Washington Wizards. Many vendors who experience homelessness could forget their problems for a while and we raised $600!
We got a Box Suite donated to us by Mike Mullen, and a chosen few got to sit in the, let us say, more comfortable seats in a private room not far from the court. The view from Suite 203 was amazing: we were close enough to see the players but far enough to see the entire court.
The chairs were dressed up and elegant and the suite itself looked northeast over the court. We watched as the Heat pulled away by twenty points. At the half the Heat led by fifteen. As Miami pulled ahead by twelve in the third, I could sense the fans’ frustration.
After three-quarters of play, the score was 85-64. The stadium started to empty as the Heat led by eighteen in the fourth. In the end the Wizards lost 112-88.
Even Mike said, “I had a great time, but I wish the Wizards won.” Nor-mally games cost between $40 and a $100 each. Few, if any, vendors can afford to pay that for entertainment.
We arrived at the Verizon Center around 6 p.m. For some of us it was our first time seeing an NBA game, and they had a look of excitement on their faces. Some of the vendors had seats in the “nosebleeds” as we call them, which are up on the very upper level of the stadium, including our new executive director Abby Strunk, as she let the vendors go into the good seats (thanks for that, Miss Abby). You could still see the game though, so there were no problems.
The game got off to a very fast pace, as we all know the Wizards were without their star player Gilbert Arenas, who was banned from playing indefinitely for allegedly bringing guns to the Verizon Center, so they were at a disadvantage from the start.
When we got to our seats, there were about 200 people in the stadium, by the time the game started it was full. There was a great atmosphere in the place, which was great for the first-timers.
When the game started Greg Martin, the vendor manager, and I went to see the other vendors. I hope we will have more game nights and fund-raisers to help this wonderful company go from strength to strength and keep this paper going for many years to come.
phoToS By FrAn
K MEArn
S
Upper left, vendor Frank Mearns, vendor manag-er Greg Martin, donor Mike Mullens and vendor Lawless Watson gear up for the Wizards v. heat game. Above, vendor Shakayae henry enjoys her-self at the Street Sense-sponsored game, where over $600 was raised. Below, Jeffrey Mcneil watches as the heat beats the Wizards 122-88. Left below, vendor roger Dove enjoys “plush seats.” Left, executive director Abby Strunk gives a candid pose.
Game Night Brings Street Sense Family Together
February 3 - 16, 2010StreetSense.org WASHINGTON, D.C.SHELTERCalvary Women’s Services110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office)(202) 289-2111 (shelter)www.calvaryservices.org
Central Union Mission (Men)1350 R Street, NW(202) 745–7118www.missiondc.org
CCNV (Men and Women)425 2nd Street, NW(202) 393–1909users.erols.com/ccnv/
Community of Hope (Family)1413 Girard Street, NW(202) 232–7356www.communityofhopedc.org
Covenant House Washington (Youth)2001 Mississippi Ave SE(202) 610–9600www.covenanthousedc.orgHousing, education, job prep
John Young Center (Women)119 D Street, NW(202) 639–8469www,catholiccharitiesdc.org
My Sister’s PlacePO Box 29596Washington, DC 20017office (202) 529-526124-hour hotline (202)-529-5991shelter and other services for domestic violence victims
N Street Village (Women)1333 N Street, NW(202) 939–2060www.nstreetvillage.org
801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men)2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014
New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+)1355–57 New York Avenue, NE(202) 832–2359
Open Door Shelter (Women)425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW(202) 639–8093
FOODCharlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/char-liesplace
Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only)2201 P Street, NW(202) 387–6612
www.churchofthepilgrims.org
Dinner Program for Homeless Women; “9:30 Club” Breakfast Club (breakfast Mon-Fri, 9:30-11, all are welcome/dinner for women and children, Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm); and Thrive DCSt. Stephens Parish Church1625 Newton St NW(202) 737–9311www.dphw.org
Food and Friends219 Riggs Road, NE(202) 269–2277www.foodandfriends.org
Miriam’s Kitchen2401 Virginia Avenue, NW(202) 452–8089www.miriamskitchen.org
The Welcome TableChurch of the Epiphany1317 G Street, NW(202) 347–2635http://www.epiphanydc.org/ministry/welcometbl.htm MEDICAL RESOURCESChrist House 1717 Columbia Road, NW(202) 328–1100www.christhouse.org
Unity Health Care, Inc.3020 14th Street, NW(202) 745–4300www.unityhealthcare.org
Whitman–Walker Clinic1407 S Street, NW(202) 797–3500; www.wwc.orgOUTREACH CENTERSBread for the City1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND1640 Good Hope Road, SE(202) 561–8587www.breadforthecity.orgfood pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic
Community Council for the Homelessat Friendship Place4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW(202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling
Georgetown Ministry Center1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW(202) 338–8301www.georgetownministrycen-ter.orglaundry, counseling, psych care
Martha’s Table2114 14th Street, NW(202) 328–6608www.marthastable.orgdinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family ser-vices
Rachel’s Women’s Center1222 11th Street, NW(202) 682–1005http://www.ccdsd.org/howor-wc.php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events
Sasha Bruce Youthwork741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services
So Others Might Eat (SOME)71 “O” Street, NW(202) 797–8806; www.some.orglunch, medical and dental, job and housing counselingADDITIONAL RESOURCESAcademy of Hope GED Center601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623www.aohdc.org
Bright Beginnings Inc.128 M Street NW, Suite 150Washington DC 20001(202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.orgChild care, family services
Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW(202) 772–4300www.ccs–dc.orgumbrella for a variety of ser-vices
D.C. Coalition for the Home-less1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Community Place Café311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant(301) 499–2319www.cmpgc.org
Manna Food Center614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville(301) 424–1130www.mannafood.org
MEDICAL RESOURCESCommunity Clinic, Inc.8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring(301) 585–1250www.cciweb.org
Mobile Medical Care, Inc.9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda(301) 493–2400www.mobilemedicalcare.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCESCatholic Charities, Maryland12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring(301) 942–1790www.catholiccharitiesdc.orgshelter, substance abuse treat-ment, variety of other services
Mission of Love6180 Old Central Avenue,Capitol Heights(301)333–4440www.molinc.orglife skills classes, clothing, housewares
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless600–B East Gude Drive,Rockville(301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive ser-vices
VIRGINIASHELTERAlexandria Community Shelter2355 B-Mill Road, Alexandria(703) 838–4239
Carpenter’s Shelter930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria(703) 548–7500www.carpentersshelter.org
The Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless3103 9th Road, North, Arlington(703) 525–7177www.aachhomeless.orgFOODALIVE!, Inc.2723 King Street, Alexandria(703) 836–2723www.alive–inc.org
MEDICAL RESOURCESArlington Free Clinic3833 N Fairfax Drive, #400, Arlington(703) 979–1400www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
David’s Place Day Shelter930 North Henry Street, Alexandria(703) 548–7500www.carpentersshelter.orglaundry, shower, workshops, hy-pothermia shelter
Legal Services of Northern Vir-ginia6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500,Falls Church(703) 778–6800; www.lsnv.orgcivil legal services only
15
February 3 - 16, 2010 StreetSense.org
By Shivan Sarna
Edward Ross has lived in D.C. his entire life, though he was born in New York…on a bus. “I couldn’t wait. I decided to come out. I don’t know whether it was the bumpy bus ride or not,” he said.
Ross has been working at Street Sense for four years. He says that one of the best aspects about selling for this paper is that it taught him to be a people person. He be-lieves homeless individuals are character-ized as alcoholics or drug addicts. “Don’t look down on homeless people, try and help them out if anything,” he said.
Ross was in the Marine Corps for six years and later filed in the military as dis-abled, which is his source of income. It has been 20 years, and he is still anticipating the suit money from the military. “When they give me my suit money, I’ll get my ed-ucation money,” he said. Ross is currently waiting to attend The George Washington University. For every dollar that he saves, the military gives him two dollars. Edward anticipates starting school at the end of 2010.
Ross devotes time every summer teach-ing children the fundamentals of basket-
ball, baseball and football in Rosedale. He is a sports junkie, though says he is too old to play now.
He says that Street Sense has a positive influence on the homeless, as provides the opportunity to make a way for themselves. “I get to enjoy life even though I may not have everything I want, but I have the things I need,” he said. Ross, who currently lives in a work program shelter, looks forward to own-ing his own home, a car and a dog.
February 3 - 16, 2010 • Volume 7 • Issue 7
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To give or not to give?
By Abby Strunk
A question I’ve been asked frequently since taking on the role of executive director of Street Sense is, “What should I do when I see a homeless person?”
Many people reference a memory from their childhood when they were told by their mother or father not to give money because doing so enables the person. In other words giving a dollar might contribute to that individual remaining on the streets. I disagree. But, I also do not believe that giving money to a homeless person is the only action one can take.
While I’ve never been homeless myself, I don’t know anyone who wants to or likes to feel invisible. But, that’s how many of our homeless neighbors feel. I once heard a homeless man say, “I feel like a ghost…like people can see right through me.”
One of my favorite yoga authors, Judith Lasater, suggests a mantra for daily living: I will do what I can in response to what is needed here. I recommend using this man-tra as a guide when deciding how you can help someone who is struggling. Simply ask yourself, “What is it that I can do in response to what is needed here?”
Can I carry granola bars in my bag to give out to someone who needs it? Can I ask a homeless person if I can buy them a cup of coffee or tea? Can I sacrifice a half-hour of my time to buy someone lunch? Can I make a commitment to give my time, money or resources to an organization that is making a positive difference? Can I let a homeless person know that Street Sense offers Vendor Trainings every Tuesday and Thursday at 2p.m.?
All of these are incredibly noble efforts.What is almost certain is that the next time you pass someone who is living on the
streets, you can make eye contact, say “hello,” ask how he/she is doing and wait to hear a response. Give someone who is homeless the gift of being seen and heard.
I draw inspiration from the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he spoke at the National Cathedral just before his death. He said:
We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.
With that, I’ll leave you with these last words -- please do what you can in re-sponse to what is needed.
