02 02 2011 by Street Sense Media

Volume 8: Issue 7 February 2 - 15, 2011

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TRIMMING DOWN VETERAN HOMELESSNESS VA Hosts Annual Winterhaven for Homeless Veterans Page 6

Down f D.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or the Cou H nt: Censu omeless s Page 4

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.

From the Executive Director

News in Brief

Washington’s Eleventh Annual Homeless Count

5 Creating a Healthier Ward 7 6

Helping Homeless Veterans Pics & Poems

8-9 online

Read all stories online at www.streetsense.org

The Mannequin Keeper: Part 1

Our News

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Read our blog at streetsense.org/blog Why Sarah Palin May Get Elected

Last Word: Homelessness, the Universal Phenomenon

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day! /streetsense @streetsensedc /streetsensedc

Change Starts at Home

By Douglas Knight Executive Director

“You may say I’m a dreamer/But I’m not the only one.” John Lennon wrote those words 40 years ago, and yet I still believe their impact is as important today as it was back in 1971. Recently the president of the United States challenged the country during his State of the Union address to remember the power of American resolve. He encouraged us all to think about our challenges and address them with vision, hope and community strength. He said all this, and more, in just five simple words: “We do big things.” Oh yes we do, Mr. President. Now, don’t get me wrong. I know the realities that face each and every one of us during what feels like years of bad news, endless bills, and ongoing thoughts of “will this ever end?” But here’s what I know about our community here in Washington, D.C. that some people who live elsewhere don’t know: We are a community of neighborhoods, families and friends, not just a place where politicians from around the country come to work and debate about the challenges that face our nation. Our challenge? Not to forget that some of those challenges are right here in our city. Our city. Washington, D.C. So I would like for us to take on the challenge of our president, and make it real here in Washington. As executive director of Street Sense, I am focusing this energy on our mission and impact. I would like to ask you to join in this with me and our super staff, volunteers, and board. Let’s address the challenge of homelessness head on. We here at Street Sense know our program is effective. Let’s find a way to grow it, allow for more vendors to participate, expand our “impact footprint”, and increase the help that we provide to the residents and communities of Washington, D.C. Six thousand of our fellow community members are homeless.

With your help, in the form of a little financial support plus a little elbow grease, we can begin to reduce that number. We move our vendors closer to financial independence by first grounding them in the core belief that working with an entrepreneurial spirit is better for them financially, gives them greater confidence, and provides a service by educating the community about homelessness and poverty issues. Imagine our community taking a collective stand against homelessness and saying, “This should not happen anywhere in America, and especially here in our nation’s capital.” But how do we do this? Help us build our capacity. Ask your employer to consider partnering with our organization. Look to advertise in our paper. Create a day where a percentage of your sales go to support our mission. Trust me, we will be sure to shout from the rooftops how impactful our partnerships are, and we will be grateful for your willingness to “do big things.” “You may say I’m a dreamer/But I’m not the only one.” I know you’re out there. And I know you want to “do big things” too. Let’s go. That’s my two cents.

E-mail Doug at Doug@ streetsense.org

ADDRESS 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 PHONE (202) 347 - 2006 FAX (202) 347 - 2166 E-MAIL info@streetsense.org WEB streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Estrada, Ted Henson, Brad Scriber, Michael Stoops, Manas Mohapatra, Sommer Mathis, Kristal Dekleer, Robin Heller, Jeffery McNeil, Jordan Rummel, John Snellgrove, Dameon Philpotts EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Doug Knight EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mary Otto MANAGING EDITOR/NEW MEDIA DIRECTOR Lisa V. Gillespie COMM. DEVELOPMENT & PROGRAM MANAGER Amy Vokes INTERNS Kelsey Osterman, Gretchen Grant, Mehreen Rasheed, Kelby Miller, Holly Ceasar, Craig Hudson VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Rhonda Brown, Jane Cave, Margaret Chapman, Tracie Ching, Nikki Conyers, Bobby Corrigan, Carol Cummings, Adam Dangelo, Sara Dimmitt, Joe Duffy, Ashley Edwards, Rachel Estabrook, Robert Fulton, Andrew Gena, Steve Gilberg, Jane Goforth, Rhonda Green, Melissa Hough, Adam Kampe, Roberta Haber, Elia Herman, Trisha Knisely, Vicki Ann Lancaster, Elle Leech-Black, Lisa Leona, Sean Lishansky, Elsie Oldaker, Katinka Podmaniczky, Mike Plunkett, Willie Schatz, Kate Sheppard, Jesse Smith, Lilly Smith, Mandy Toomey, Brett Topping, Evan Trowbridge VENDORS Michael Anderson, Charles Armstrong, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, John Bayne, Kenneth Belkosky, Patricia Benjamin, Tommy Bennett, Jimmy Bigelow, Deana Elder , Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Debora Brantley, Andre Brinson, Floarea Caldaras, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Simona Ciurar, Virginia Clegg, Aaron Conner, Theresa Corbino, Avram Cornel, Anthony Crawford, Kwayera Dakari, Louise Davenport, Charles Davis, James Davis, Devon Dawkins, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Charles Eatmon, Richard Embden, Joshua Faison, James Featherson, Tanya Franklin, Samuel Fullwood, Larry Garner, David Ger, R. George, Marcus Green, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Shawn Herring, Derian Hickman, Philliip Howard, James Hughes, Richard Hutson, Margaret Jenkins, Donald Johnson, Alicia Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Hope Lassiter, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Mary Lisenko, James Lott, Michael Lyons, Johnnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, John C. Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Lee Mayse, Robert McCray, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, L. Morrow, Saleem Muhammad, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Douglas Pangburn, Franklin Payne, Michael Pennycook, Edward Perry, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Frank Pruden, AshShaheed Rabbil, Michael Reardon, Clifford Ringwald, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Ronald Simms, J. Simpson, Veda Simpson, Gwynette Smith, Patty Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Leroy Studevant, Beverly Sutton, Paul Taylor Sybil, Taylor, Steve Thomas, Larissa Thompson, Louise Thundercloud, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Jacqueline Turner, Ronald Turner, Christopher Walker, Jeanette Walker, Martin Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Michael J. Welsh, Edna Williams, Sherle Williams, Wendell Williams, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, Mark Wolf, Charles Woods, Tina Wright

STREET SENSE February 2 - 15, 2011

NEWS IN BRIEF

Canada to Open Low-income School A Niagara-area school scheduled to open this fall will only admit students from lowincome families. The school, which will be the first of its kind in the Ontario province, will target the needs of poor students with free busing, tutoring and after-school programs, in an attempt to provide stability and quality education for middle- and highschool-level students, the Hamilton Spectator reports. The Niagara district school board hopes to be able to send the school’s graduates to colleges and universities. Some critics worry that such an institution will isolate and stigmatize low-income children. Supporters say the school will not recruit students but accept them through an application process.

LA Theater Group Recreates Prison Experience An audience was immersed in a prison environment with 60 bunks filling the performance space for the Los Angeles Poverty Department’s debut of State of Incarceration. LAPD, a performance art group dedicated to showing the causes and effects of poverty, is unique in that it is principally comprised of homeless people. The group debuted the original piece to show conse-

quences of the prison system on individuals as well as their families and communities, drawing attention to California’s high prison population rate.

Unique San Diego School Serves Homeless The Monarch School in San Diego, Calif., serves homeless children exclusively. Besides educational programs, the school provides showers and a health clinic. “I think that this past year at Monarch has really shown us that anyone can become homeless,” said Tara Barrows, a school volunteer and event coordinator in an interview with the ABC News show “20/20.” Recently, enrollment in the school increased from 100 students to 170. “Our numbers just skyrocketed, and I think that is really a testament to how families are being impacted by the economy,” said Barrows. The public school, run by the San Diego County Office of Education, must meet the same standards as any other school. But since all the students are homeless, a nonprofit component supplements regular school activities with art therapy, after-school programs, clothing and other necessities. “We just provide a lot of services that are beyond the scope of a traditional pub-

lic school so that our kids can really focus on academics and do well,” said Barrows.

Homeless Veteran Receives Military Funeral After Army Pfc. Harold M. Lewis died homeless in Chicago with no family to speak for him, he was set to be buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave. But other veterans stepped in, giving the Korean War veteran a military funeral. Vietnam War veteran Jack Picciolo first met Lewis while serving sandwiches to the homeless with former Marine Jim Proffitt, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. After discovering that Lewis had committed suicide, they contacted funeral home director and Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary member Ted Tylka. Tylka was able to provide free service through the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program.

Homeless Teen Denied Bail The 19-year-old homeless man accused of stabbing a Lowell, Mass., shelter worker to death is being held without bail until a March 8 probable cause hearing, the Boston Herald reports. In a brief bail hearing in Lowell District Court, Middlesex assistant district attorney Thomas O’Reilly said shelter worker

Jose Rafael Roldan was trying to calm an agitated Pericles Clergeau on Saturday when “he sticks him once in the neck.” The prosecutor also said Clergeau was a flight risk because “he has no firm roots.”

Homeless Woman Wins Trip to Super Bowl Ouida Wright, who lives in a Wisconsin homeless shelter has won the chance to jet off to Dallas with her boyfriend to catch the Super Bowl. Wright, of Green Bay, Wis., won two tickets, hotel accommodations and travel expenses from the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau in a contest that involved uttering a secret phrase, “Have you been to Dallas lately?” to a “mystery man” walking around Green Bay, according to Fox 11 of Green Bay. Wright said she and her boyfriend, Aaron, had “lost everything” and have been at a shelter for two months. She learned about the contest when people began to ask the couple if they had been to Dallas. Wright decided to give it a try, and on her fourth query, she’d found the mystery man. “I thought it was a joke,” she told Fox 11. “I’m homeless. Let’s face it. I thought he was just messing with me.” Compiled by Mehreen Rasheed

Every homeless person has a name, a story and a hope for something better. David came to Street Sense in March 2009 to work, write and support the homeless.

David

writes poems regularly in Street Sense about love and his experiences being homeless. He hopes to one day get a job that pays a living wage so he can afford his own apartment.

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The Metropolitan Counsel of Governments website provides the most recent statistics for homeless people the Washington, D.C. area. Visit them at wmcog.org

Above, gathered at NY Avenue Presbyterian Church, volunteers for the homeless count prepare to go out in search of homeless people. Right, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan (right) pauses to talk to Cornell Chapelle of Community Parternship for the Prevention of Homelessness. COURTESY OF HUD

On the Count Federal officials join volunteers to conduct annual homeless count

By Mary Otto Editor

U.S Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan paused with his clipboard to fill out a form for a man settling down for the night in icy Franklin Square Park. U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Director Barbara Poppe questioned a weathered fellow wrapped in a gray blanket, sheltered in the d o o r w a y o f a b a n k o n K S t r e e t . U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Scott Gould interviewed a homeless man wandering the snowy night, who spoke about his failure to graduate high school. “He seemed embarrassed about it to this day,” Gould observed. The high-ranking federal officials joined the army of volunteers who headed out on Jan. 27 to patrol the District’s streets, alleys and parks to gather data for the Washington metropolitan region’s 11th annual homeless count.

The effort, officially known as a pointin-time enumeration, is meant to capture a one-day snapshot of the region’s homeless population within nine Washington metropolitan jurisdictions. Meanwhile, the same process is going on nationwide. For a single day and night each year, volunteers in virtually every community in the United States pitch in to interview homeless individuals and families in soup kitchens, emergency and day shelters, campsites and transitional and permanent supportive housing programs. The responses they collect are then compiled and assembled into local and national annual reports. According to HUD, 643,000 homeless people were included in the 2009 count. Over the years, the information gathered has begun to give a clearer idea about the needs of America’s homeless people, the causes of their homelessness and even solutions to homelessness, said Donovan, speaking to volunteers as they headed out from the New York Avenue Presbyterian

Church in Northwest Washington, with clipboards and questionnaires in hand to start their night of counting and interviewing. “These things just look like clipboards. But they can change the world,” said Donovan. “When I got out of college, most people thought that homelessness was a problem that could not be solved. That the chronically homeless would never get off the streets,” he said. But local and national efforts geared toward placing physically and mentally disabled homeless people into supportive housing programs that address their needs have started to have an impact, said Donovan.

“We have reduced chronic homelessness by one third in the past five years.” According to HUD, the number of chronically homeless people in the country dropped from nearly 176,000 in 2005 to roughly 111,000 in 2009. In the District, more than 1,000 homeless people and families were placed in permanent supportive housing. In spite of such efforts, according to the 2010 count, the District experienced an increase in homelessness last year, although homelessness regionwide declined. Last year’s count found 6,539 homeless men, women and children. ReContinue on Page 5

STREET SENSE February 2 - 15, 2011

D.C. has the highest rate of racial disparities in the nation with regard to obesity, according to the D.C. Department of Health.

Continued from Page 4 gionally, 11,774 homeless people were counted. Federal officials including Donovan say that in spite of the lingering effects of the housing crisis and recession, they hope to end homelessness completely. Last June, 19 federal agencies and offices that form the US Interagency Council on Homelessness submitted a plan to the President and Congress that aims to put the nation on a path to end veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015 and end family homelessness by 2020. Such a pledge takes “a lot of courage,” said Gould, who acknowledged the complexity of needs that contribute to veterans’ homelessness. But Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki has strongly backed the effort Gould said. The information gathered on the count will help reach the goal he added. “I’m glad we’re here.” Poppe, who served as executive director of the Columbus, Ohio-based Community Shelter Board for years before she took over as head of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has been a longtime participant in the counts. She said she always finds the event bittersweet-comforting in its human contact, but also sobering and sad in its findings. “I confront the fact that I have been unsuccessful in my mission to end homelessness,” she said. Near the end of the evening Poppe spotted a man, huddled in the frigid doorway of the bank, near the automatic teller machine. He looked old and tired. He said he was resting his feet, waiting for the nightclubs to close so he could go out and shake his cup and beg for change. He said he was on a list for housing. “I hope you get off the streets real soon,” she told him before she left him. Back out on the street she remembered the McDonald’s gift card in her pocket. Count organizers had given them out to volunteers before they left the church, to pass along to some of the homeless people they met for helping with the survey. Poppe paused in the cold, then turned around and went back into the bank. She gave the card to man trying to stay warm there. He thanked her and tucked it into his ragged grey blanket.

LOCAL NEWS

Getting Fit in the City Councilmember Yvette Alexander encourages Ward 7 to take their health into their own hands By Lawrence Howard Volunteer reporter D.C. City Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander is getting fit this year and she doesn’t want to do it alone. “I am encouraging all of Ward 7, young and old, to stand up to the challenge and join me as I strive to create a healthier Ward 7!” the councilwoman declared, launching her “Let’s Get Fit and Healthy Ward 7” campaign. Obesity, which is linked to a host of devastating illnesses including diabetes and heart disease, hits poor neighborhoods the hardest. Wards 7 and 8 have the highest rates of poverty and obesity in the District at 36 percent, according to D.C. Hunger Solutions, a nonprofit agency that specializes in food and nutrition issues. Only eight percent of white D.C. residents are obese, compared to 31 percent of black residents. The two wards have also long suffered from a serious shortage of fullservice grocery stores and other places to shop for healthy food. The longawaited arrival of a new Giant Food supermarket last year in Southeast, near the Congress Heights Metro Station was widely praised as a step in the right direction. And a new ‘Yes! Organic Market’ at 2323 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. helped Alexander launch her commitment to a strict diet and rigorous fitness program in this new year. “Along with Yes! Organic Market, I issued a challenge to every resident of Ward 7 to lead a healthier lifestyle by exercising and eating better,” said Alexander at her recent announcement. “The challenge wasn’t easy at first, but my personal trainer is guiding me on a path to fitness and better health.” She said her attention to her own health began paying off right away.

Councilmember Yvette Alexander works up a sweat as part of her new health and fitness campaign for Ward 7. LAWRENCE HOWARD, STREET SENSE

“I am already experiencing the benefits and have no problem falling to sleep at night,” reported the councilmember. “And my last meal of the day, dinner is much lighter than it used to be which definitely helps me sleep better.” Alexander is getting assistance in her Get Fit campaign from area fitness professionals and organizations eager to increase access to wellness programs in Ward 7. And even for those without access to a personal trainer, there will be plenty of help available. Clarence Duhart, a boot camp fitness instructor has donated a week of free training to those who are interested. Sarianne Leigh at the Benning Road Library will help provide fitness

information in planning a personal program. And the city’s new Deanwood Recreation Center, located at 1350 49th St. NE offers a state of the art, 63,000-square foot facility a swimming pool, fitness center and athletic courts. “I want people to know that we can maximize the use of the new facility at Deanwood,” said Alexander. The Councilmember’s own workout routine includes but is not limited to 200 bicycle crunches, three sets of side shoulder lifts and walking 10 minutes on the treadmill. She is also doing an hour of cardio, daily, with each session comprised of 20 minutes on the bike; 20 on the treadmill; and 20 on the elliptical machine.

On any night given night, there are between 130,000 and 200,000 homeless vets in America, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Bringing them Home

VA hosts annual event for homeless veterans in the D.C. area By Gretchen Grant Editorial Intern

Robert Plummer’s days without a place to call home may finally be coming to an end. After 13 years of waiting, Plummer, a veteran of the United States Army, recently received a housing voucher to help him rent an apartment. While he is currently staying at a District shelter, Community for Creative NonViolence (CCNV), he hopes to be moving into an affordable place sometime in the near future. Plummer’s story of hardship and hope is not unique among veterans; 107,000 are currently on the streets and five times that number are at risk of becoming homeless on any given day, according to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. But after many years, the crisis of homelessness among veterans may be abating. In 2009, Shinseki unveiled the department’s plan to end homelessness among veterans by 2015 by marshalling the resources of the government, business and the private sector. And last year, the number of veterans homeless on a typical night dropped 18 percent, the VA announced. But until all veterans have homes, efforts such as the Washington VA Medical Center’s annual Winterhaven Homeless Stand Down provide links to basic services. For this year’s event, held Jan. 22, the local VA hospital partnered with more than 70 community agencies, service organizations and national and local businesses to provide an assortment of services to homeless veterans. Doctors and dentists were there, as well as job and benefits counselors; even barbers showed up to care for the hundreds of vets who came. A coat drive and a festive meal were also features of the day. Shinseki himself showed up.

Veterans take a break from routine health checkups and housing questions to get a free haircut from community barbershops. JANE CAVE, STREET SENSE

“We think in the next five years we can go from rescue to prevention,” he said. “And if we get to prevention, wonderful events like this, as good as they are, will become a thing of the past.” According to Shinseki, ending homelessness begins with health care, checking mental health, jobs, education and dignity for those who have done tremendous work for our country through the military. “After all they’ve done,” he asked, “why are they homeless?” Plummer, who was at Winterhaven, had a life story that asked the same question. He served in Vietnam and was wounded during combat when his unit stumbled upon the North Vietnamese Army; his unit fought through the night and was finally evacuated by choppers Continue on Page 7

Above, the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness by 2015, which begins with health care, mental health, jobs and education for veterans. KELBY MILLER, STREET SENSE

STREET SENSE February 2 - 15, 2011 31 percent of the male homeless population are veterans.

My dream is to go out and do the kitchens and do the parks and do all the shelters and find no veterans. That’s the day I look forward to.

kitchens and do the parks and do all the shelters and find no veterans,” said Barnum. “That’s the day I look forward to.” In addition to services, the hospital offers a compensated work therapy program, which provides veterans with six months of work at the hospital at $8.25 an hour for maintenance, housekeeping or grounds work. Army veteran Frank Addison also came for Winterhaven, and looked appreciatively around him at all the services being provided. “It’s good to see them giving veterans help, warm clothes and food,” Addison said. Addison himself is no stranger to the VA hospital, in fact he is there on a daily basis. He is a participant in the job program, which he hopes might lead to a permanent position. And while he is currently living in a veteran’s transitional home, he is on a list for a housing voucher. While transitional housing slots are nearly always full, according to Barnum, additional funding has made housing vouchers more readily available. “There are a lot of different places we can call on to get people what they need,” said Barnum. The help is having an impact. From 2009 to 2010, while the number of homeless people in the District rose, the number of homeless veterans fell. The annual homeless enumeration sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments found 497 homeless individuals who identified themselves as veterans, a 13 percent decrease from 2009. Advocates are encouraged by such news. For his part, Shinseki gave credit to President Obama for his role in the effort to end homelessness among veterans. “He’s provided resources in the form of a budget that’s probably the largest budget in the last thirty years, that enabled us to do this,” Shinseki said. But the VA secretary also gave credit to all the agencies and organizations dedicated to working with veterans every day, including those who came out to help at Winterhaven. “We couldn’t do this on our own. We rely so much on the people who show up at these events,” said Shinseki. “The creative geniuses are all these folks from Kisha Cunningham receives a free manicure from a student at Dudley Beauty School. the various agencies who know those Women received vouchers for free haircuts at the school. veterans, know where they live, what JANE CAVE, STREET SENSE their needs are, so we can go to work.”

-Kenneth Barnum, outreach social worker at the VA

Each dot represents 10 homeless Veterans living in various cities around the United States. Statistics gathered from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. KELBY MILLER, STREET SENSE

Continued on Page 6 the next morning. Although Plummer told his story with pride, he said he doesn’t see himself as a hero. “I walked with some heroes, but the heroes are the ones we left behind,” said Plummer, who has plans to return to school. “God has something in store for me, I just have to wait it out,” he said. Kenneth Barnum, an outreach social worker at the VA, said his work focuses on veterans like Plummer. His goal is to provide them with the help and resources that they need to rebuild their lives. But the first step in reaching homeless veterans is finding them and engaging with them, said Barnum. He, together with other outreach social workers travels to parks, soup kitchens and shelters making sure that homeless veterans in the area are aware of all the services that are available to them through the hospital. “My dream is to go out and do the

NEWS

8 The Story of Makhadeva

(A poem by Paul Lee Taylor based on the storybook from India, The Jataka Tales Revisited)

The Buddha Sakyamuni once sat in a hall with some of his disciples. He said that he had practiced renunciation in a previous lifetime all to well. Saying so to his followers, the story now he began to tell: “In Mithila, the realm of Videha, Makhadeva was the king who ruled, A righteous king who lived 84,000 years yet still vigorous and youthful. One day when he got a haircut, his barber found a gray hair on his head. ‘Don’t just look at it; pull it out and hand it to me instead! I am indeed a foolish man; I have wasted so much time and insight.’ In the hair, he had seen to welcome him Death dancing in delight! ‘This day, I will renounce this world; to the life of a monk I am driven.’ To the barber, he gave a village; the kingdom to his eldest son he had given. Making the decision known to his ministers, who did not know why he would give such a luxury, Getting himself ordained as a monk, he went and lived a hermit’s life in the forestry. After years of cultivation and attaining an exalted level, he ascended to Heaven. Here Shakyamuni added, “Oh, it is I that was that king o’ brethren! Lo, these gray hairs are Death’s messengers who come to rob the life of me! ’Tis time I turned away from worldly things and in a hermit’s path sought the saving peace.”

STREET SENSE February 2 - 15, 2011

Pics & Poems

When Peace Comes By Robert Warren

When peace comes to the land: No more mothers weeping eyes, No more hollowing little children’s cries. No more soldiers left to die,

No more hate before you love when peace comes, No more asking the Lord ‘forgive me please,’ No more not wanting to live with me, No more words of who is right or wrong, No more sad and unhappy songs, No more sisters missing or lost brothers, No more fathers needed or new mothers, No more lonely, so lonely nights, No more getting high, to come up from feeling so low, No more loved ones who will never know, When peace comes to the land: Paradise will be and the greeting will be peace.

CRAIG HUDSON | STREET SENSE

10 10

Fiction

The Mannequin Keeper: Part One By Ivory Wilson Vendor

Patrick worked at Macy’s, a major department store at the corner of 12th and G Streets NW in Washington, D.C. His wife passed away years ago, and all his kids grew up and moved away. Patrick’s job was to set up mannequins on different floors throughout the store to be dressed for display. Occasionally he took some of the child-size mannequins to his home to be fixed. He never missed a day of work in 25 years. Mrs. Baker was the store owner, but she had a board of investors to help her manage the company. Times were changing. The store needed a new look inside to attract younger shoppers. Out with the old and in with the new! Mrs. Baker’s grandson, Hudson, had just arrived from New York City to serve on the board. He walked up and down all the floors, eventually going to the cellar. Patrick didn’t see him right away. Hudson heard Patrick talking to a mannequin as if it were alive. “How long have you been working here?” Hudson asked. Patrick looked up. He had never met Hudson before today. “Twenty-five years,” Patrick answered. Hudson put his hands on his hips and turned to walk back up the stairs. “There’s going to be some changes here soon,” he said. “This store has too many mannequins. I’m getting rid of them all.”

KELSEY OSTERMAN, STREET SENSE

That can’t happen, Patrick thought. These are my friends. They must not be harmed. “Oh, 25 years; that’s too long,” Hudson said. “I’m going to put together a retirement package with all the benefits.”

Patrick asked what would happen to the mannequins. Hudson grinned and said, “They will be sent back to the manufacturer to be destroyed. Burned, I guess.” “Did Mrs. Baker say this?”

“No, not yet. My grandmother is old in her ways. But she will see it my way.” Hudson walked off into the board meeting, where Mrs. Baker and the staff were discussing layoffs and changes that were needed to bring new customers. “Hello, Grandmother,” Hudson said. “Sorry I’m late. I just saw that old fool Patrick talking to a mannequin. I told him that I’m making changes and he will be let go with his full retirement package.” “You did what?” Mrs. Baker shouted. “Hudson, I own this store; it is not yours yet. That decision is mine and only mine to make.” “But Grandmother, he’s crazy. He must be let go.” “I must think about that for a few days, and then I’ll give you my decision,” Mrs. Baker said. The board members agreed, and the meeting was over. That same day, Patrick left the store depressed. He took the Metro to a market, walked around looking at different things, and found himself standing in front of a statue of a fallen angel. How I wish I could get rid of that Hudson, he thought. He’s causing problems. The statue opened its eyes and said to Patrick, “I can make him go away for you.” Patrick’s eyes almost burst out of his head. I’m really losing it, he thought. TO BE CONTINUED...

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: www.streetsense.org/ give-support/donate/

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.

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STREET SENSE February 2- 15, 2011

Our News

Street Sense Poets Lend Voices to a Movement On Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, Street Sense partnered with One Common Unity for an evening of poetry and discussion for a great cause. In the inaugural Open Mic Night of One Common Unity’s Voices of a Movement series, poets, artists and community activists braved the snow and gathered at Busboys and Poets to discuss the topic of the evening: poverty and homelessness. Street Sense vendors Jeffery McNeil, Franklin Sterling and Chris Shaw presented original poetry as part of an event to promote discussion and discourse around issues of poverty alleviation. Special guest Joel Segal, a legislative aide in Congressman John Conyers Jr’s office and a tireless advocate for the homeless, shared his personal experience with homelessness, as well as his perspectives on how public policy can affect changeeither negatively or positively. One Common Unity’s HawaH hosted the event and talked extensively about his experiences backpacking across Africa, a journey that shaped his views on peace, equality and

the human experience. The evening was concluded with a call to action- a wish list for Congress developed by the audience and participants that One Common Unity will develop and share with elected officials. One Common Unity is a D.C.-based organization whose mission is to create and nurture sustainable communities through innovative peace education, arts and media. They are an international and intergenerational network of peacemakers, artists, educators and planetary stewards. It was founded in 2001 following a series of violent incidents in the D.C. area. What began as a peaceful response to violent activity has grown into a much larger arts-driven movement that is gaining visibility and making a difference in the D.C. community, especially in the lives of the youth. The “Voices of a Movement” events take place the last Sunday of each month at Busboys and Poets at 5th & K NW location from 7 to 9 p.m.

Top left, Franklin Sterling at the Busboys and Poets reading his poetry. Left, Chris Shaw reciting his poetry at the poetry event. Above, Amy Vokes and other audience members listen to poetry from around the city. EVAN TROWBRIDGE, STREET SENSE

Memories of the Cold During the Storm By Tommy Bennett Vendor The snowstorm on January 26 reminded me of last winter, with all that snow. Like so many other people, I was homeless. Unless it was really freezing, we had to leave the shelters early in the morning. We had to find some warm place to go, sometimes the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library or other times a soup kitchen. Sometimes we tried McDonald’s, but they would put you out, saying you were loitering. Only when it was really cold and there was a blizzard did we get to stay inside the shelter during the day. I went out anyway to sell my papers.

This winter, on the night of January 26, when it started to snow so hard, I was out selling my papers at the subway. And I found myself thinking, “God is good!” I have my own place now. I don’t have to go back to the shelter when it’s snowing. I can go home now, watch TV, cook what I want to eat and lay down in my own bed. I can’t ask for more than that except to keep God in my life. Next time you see a homeless person in the cold weather, don’t look at them as if they were homeless. Try to help them. You could be in the same predicament. God bless everyone. CRAIG HUDSON, STREET SENSE

Unemployment Assurance

Post-Incarceration Employment By Robert Corrigan Volunteer Writer Hidden behind America’s harrowing unemployment statistics lies a portion of the population that isn’t even accounted for in unemployment numbers, namely those in prison. Currently, 2.3 million Americans, or about 1 out of every 100 citizens, are locked behind bars. The skyrocketing prison population has been well documented. However, the effect on the economic mobility and wellbeing of these individuals once they are released has received less attention. Indeed, many of these ex-convicts inflate our nation’s unemployment numbers, and their job prospects upon release are dim. A recent study released by the Pew Charitable Trusts explores the very real problems posed by America’s bloated prison population as well as the longterm effects that serving time has on an individual’s economic mobility or, for that matter, economic solvency. On average, serving time reduces hourly wages for men by approximately 11 percent, annual employment by 9 weeks and annual earnings by 40 percent. By age 48, the typical former inmate will have earned $179,000 less than if he had never been incarcerated. Statistics like these shed some light on the economic reality for individuals like Diann and Curtis, two D.C. natives struggling to make ends meet with felonies on their rap sheet. “Once you go in for over a year, your life changes forever,” Diann, 40, explains. “People look at you totally different on the outside.” From 1996 to 2006, Diann was in and out of prison for a variety of misdemeanors, culminating in a felony that landed her in prison for 18 months. Since his release in 2007 after serving seven years, Curtis, 25, has struggled financially. “My life changed a lot- I mean a lot,” he says about his experiences after prison. Two factors contribute greatly to the difficulties experienced by returning citizens. The first is a failure by federal and local government agencies to pro-

vide adequate support to prisoners being released. Reflecting on her experience after being released in 2006, Diann observes, “It was up to me. There was no plan to help me when I left. They should at least help you determine an outline and plan for when you get out instead of giving you $75 and putting you on a bus, because all you’re going to do is what you know best: drinking, drugs and sex. Fortunately for me, I wanted to change.” Curtis had a similar experience. “They gave me $50 and put me on a bus. They didn’t give me any job information on what to look for or how to find jobs or anything. Basically, if you don’t ask, they won’t tell you. People are coming home and don’t know about where to go for help.” When talking about the frustrations that come along with a lack of economic opportunity upon release, Curtis mentioned that of the 19 people he was released with, he is the only one who remains out of prison. “A lot of these guys have families and say, ‘I gotta do what I gotta do.’ So they’ll go out on the streets hustling and selling drugs, because you can take $50 and flip it into $300 within a day or two,” he said. Recidivism statistics show how important it is to meaningfully engage and connect ex-convicts with social services and employment programs. According to a 2009 article in the Nashville Bar Journal, the recidivism rate for inmates released from prison within a year is 44.1 percent. The impact of incarceration on both the income and relationships of families and their children is significant. According to the Pew study, 54 percent of inmates are parents with minor children, including 120,000 mothers- one of whom was Diann- and 1.1 million fathers. The family income average over the years in which a father is incarcerated is 22 percent lower than the year before a father is incarcerated. Additionally, children with fathers who have been incarcerated are five times more likely to be expelled or suspended from school.

A major obstacle for ex-convicts is discriminatory hiring practices by companies wary of employing people with a record. “There should be parenting classes and programs to help reentering parents connect with their kids and families. Kids need to understand what happened to their mom,” Diann observes. Another major obstacle for ex-convicts is discriminatory hiring practices by companies wary of employing people with a record. Diann had worked as a certified nursing assistant prior to incarceration. Upon being released, she quickly found that employers were no longer interested in her skills. Ironic, “because companies are being funded by Medicare and the federal government, many are stressing about hiring people with felonies,” Diann says. When asked about how many jobs he’s missed out on due to his record, Curtis answers, “A lot, especially when I had to go get a police clearance. I know I had no chance. My record might not be that good, but that doesn’t mean I’m the same person you’re reading about in that record.” He goes on to acknowledge, “Giant and Safeway will pull you in. All they ask is if you’re a worker, and if you want to work, they will work with you.” Fortunately, the D.C. government is taking steps to address this issue. At a symposium in December hosted by the Urban Institute, representatives from the D.C. Department of Corrections, Department of Employment Services, Office on Ex-Offender Affairs and Court Services and

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Join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 5:30 pm Homeless Outreach Hospitality Fridays at 9:00 _____________________________

Foundry United Methodist Church A Reconciling Congregation

1500 16th Street NW | Washington DC | 20036 202.332.4010 | foundryumc.@foundryumc.org

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Offender Supervision Agency all gathered to discuss the housing and employment challenges for returning citizens. These officials expressed a commitment to improving the economic opportunities for ex-convicts. They heard presentations about the measurable success of employment training and job placement programs in other cities. D.C. has many of its own programs too; however, to be effective, prisoners must be informed about them upon release. Furthermore, many, such as D.C. Central Kitchen, have a capped enrollment so the supply of quality reentry programs does not necessarily meet demand. “I’m afraid to be that person I was before incarceration,” Diann reflects. All that she, Curtis and other ex-offenders are asking for is a chance. Let’s hope that the D.C. government, local businesses and social services agencies take a closer look at this issue, because in America, individuals should be able to climb the economic ladder through diligence and hard work. People should not have to spend their lives paying extra for crimes that have already frayed familial bonds and taken years away from their life. Robert Corrigan is the program director at the district-based Jobs Have Priority, or JHP, Inc., which helps homeless people become self-sufficient through education, job development and support.

STREET SENSE February 2- 15, 2011

Op-Ed

SPEAKING OUT

The Marilyn Monroe of Politics By Jeffery McNeil Vendor Will Sarah Palin get elected? I hope not, but looking at history, it’s entirely plausible. In contrast with Tea Party extremism, Obama has acted like the adult in the room, improving his chances of reelection. The right has been taken over by fanatics like Michele Bachmann- and Sarah Palin. While this should be cause for giddiness, the Democrats should hold off on the cartwheels. They should be careful to avoid the traps that have undermined Democrats in recent history. The liberal establishment has played this Abbott and Costello act from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. The Democrats act like academic know-italls, while the Republicans do the slapstick lovable stooge far removed from Washington. This plays well in the toss-up states, where voters already distrust Washington. And America moves further to the right because of this. Media pundits like Ed Shultz and Rachel Maddow cannot use restraint or composure whenever Palin or Bachmann are mentioned. Some go completely over the top, like Chris Matthews, who called Bachmann a “balloon head.” These left-wing pundits mock every erroneous statement in their broadcasts and op-eds, quoting constitutional scholars and lecturing on historical events. This style may appeal to the liberal elite in New York and Washington, but it turns off many swing voters who are annoyed by partisan politics. Still, comics will be recession-proof as long as Bachmann and Palin continue in politics. They both have been a standup comedian’s dream, creating a revival for late night host David Letterman and providing “Saturday Night Live” with materials for enough skits to last for a generation. But whether you love them or hate them, Palin and Bachmann are the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor of politics. America’s fascination with polarizing figures makes them unique. And the power of uniqueness should not be underestimated.

J o h n F. Ke n nedy once said “Do you realize the responsibility I carry? I’m the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House.” Barack Obama is facing the same responsibility with the far-right extremists. And there are reasons why someone like Palin or Bachmann could actually win the White House. The American People: While other countries such as Egypt have revolutions to overthrow the party in power, we have ballot boxes. While our elections are civilized, Americans have a talent for voting against their own interests. It would help if they were better informed but Americans spend more time researching who Snooki is making out with than the presidential election. Memory Loss: America’s attention span is miniscule- the reason Obama’s election was exciting was because everyone felt like they were part of history. But once he became president, the Tea Party became the next big thing because being anti–government was the new fad. Now that the midterms are over, Bachmann and Palin are the media darlings. They have TV shows, fundraisers, speaking engagements and book deals worth millions. News Misinformation: With the advent of Fox News, fair and objective news went the way of eight-track tapes. No longer is there accurate news reporting. Instead you get commentary by a leggy blonde or a pundit with opinions that are slanted to their audience. The only news worth watching is Comedy Central and Al Jazeera. Whenever Palin and Bachmann need interviews, Sean Hannity and Fox News are there to throw softball questions. Press conferences and tough questions from reporters never catch up in the 24-hour spin cycle.

Comics will be recession-proof as long as Bachmann and Palin continue in politics. They both have been a stand-up comedian’s dream, creating a revival for late ngiht host David Letterman

Street Sense wishes to thank our corporate sponsor

CAMRIS is a dynamic international development consulting firm with more than 50 years of experience designing and managing complex, large-‐scale projects in all regions of the world.

CAMRIS joined Street Sense at the 2010 Help the Homeless Walkathon in Washington, DC

6931 Arlington Road, Suite 575, Bethesda, MD 20814. T: 301.770.6000. F: 301.770.6030. camris.com

Vendor Leroy Studevant celebrated five months of sobriety last week and was accepted into an Oxford House, an independent living home where residents pay rent in an alcohol/drug-free enviroment.

Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than $1 or to solicit donations for Street Sense by 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 and other vendors – respectfully. 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 Street Sense. 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. 9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing newspapers. I will 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.

Vendor of the Month Congratulations to David Ger, December’s Vendor of the Month! David is a Nairobi, Kenya native, who moved to the United States in 1997 and has been selling Street Sense for nearly two years. He volunteers regularly at George Washington University Hospital and creates the Sudoku puzzles that appear in many issues of Street Sense. He also volunteers regularly to lead student groups in Vendor for a Day, using his unique experiences and perspectives to help them learn about poverty and homelessness in a personal way. David was nominated by a volunteer who worked with him during a Vendor for a Day recently. “I was really impressed by his professionalism and responsibility,” the volunteer wrote. An avid writer and poet, David is currently writing his first book.

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Elsie Oldaker, December’s Volunteer of the Month. Elsie is our social director who coordinates logistics for our new volunteer orientation sessions each month. In October, she put together a vendor picnic at Yards Park in Southwest Washington, D.C. and last month she took the lead in planning our vendor holiday party. Her work has been very valuable in building community and camaraderie for our vendors. Elsie graduated from George Mason University in 2007 with a BA in Communications and is currently working for a government contractor at the State Dapartment. She is a gymnast who enjoys good food and movies, volunteering, spending time with family and friends and, of course, reading Street Sense!

THE STORY OF STREET SENSE Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C., as a means of empowering the area’s poor and homeless. A street paper is a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues which provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. More than 30 street papers operate in the United States and Canada,

65%

Directly aids the vendor

including in cities like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston. Dozens more exist throughout the world. After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. About a dozen vendors sold the first issue of the paper. For the next three years, it published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network. Street Sense initially operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless. In

October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization. In October 2005, Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November, the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director. A year later, Street Sense hired its first vendor coordinator and began partnering with several service providers. In February 2007, the paper increased the frequency of publication to twice a month.

35%

Supports printing costs

In order to support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first full-time editor-in-chief in April. To d a y, S t r e e t S e n s e h a s f o u r professionals, more than 100 active vendors and nearly 30,000 copies in circulation each month. The newspaper has become a major source of news for Washingtonians, providing content on issues which often go uncovered by the mainstream media. Street Sense is a member of the National Association of Street Newspapers (NASNA).

YOUR DOLLAR Every vendor makes a personal investment in Street Sense by purchasing issues at a rate of 35 cents per copy. This money helps cover our production and printing costs for the paper, while still enabling the vendors to sell the paper at a low price and substantial profit.

STREET SENSE February 2-15, 2011

Service Spotlight: Central Union Mission By Mehreen Rasheed Editorial Intern Central Union Mission is a nonprofit that provides shelter, food and education for the homeless and low-income throughout the D.C. area. Founded in 1884, it is the city’s oldest social service agency, beginning as an emergency shelter for homeless men, namely Civil War veterans. Today, Central Union Mission’s free programs reach out to homeless men as well as underprivileged women, children, seniors, veterans and Hispanic families. Aside from emergency shelter, it distributes groceries and furniture and serves three meals a day. There are also ESL and GED prep classes, and medical and legal consultations and services. Mission’s 12- to 18-month Spiritual Transformation rehabilitation program combines biblical counseling and study with drug testing and work therapy, aiming to help overcome addictions and

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS HOTLINE 1-888-7WE HELP (1-888-793-4357) www.dcfoodfinder.org

SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org

similar issues. “Spirituality gives you hope, and a lot of these people have lost hope,” said Deborah Chambers, director of communications and outreach. “We do this work to show the love of God, and if someone else wants to know him, we provide opportunities for that.” Central Union Mission also owns Camp Bennett, a 220-acre retreat and conference center in Brookeville, Md., which offers a summer camp for lowincome children, as well as recreational facilities for the community. Aside from the main facility, which houses the shelter, there are two additional locations in D.C.: their food distribution center and Mount Gilead Baptist Church. However, Mission is quickly outgrowing it 82 bed shelter. “We need more beds, we’re full every night,” said Chambers. “It’s our toughest challenge with the shelter.” However, they are working to relocate to a new facility that will be able to shelter 200 men. My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596, Washington, DC 20017 (202) 529-5261 (office) (202) 529-5991 (24-hour hotline)

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 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 www.newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html

FOOD

Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE (202) 610–9600, www.covenanthousedc.org John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469, www.catholiccharitiesdc.org

Community Service St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311, www.thrivedc.org

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608, www.marthastable.org

Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277, www.foodandfriends.org

Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005, www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089, www.miriamskitchen.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340, www.sashabruce.org

The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635, http://www.epiphanydc. org/ministry/welcometbl.htm

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St., NE 202-269-6623, www.aohdc.org Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300, www.ccs–dc.org D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW (202) 347–8870, www.dccfh.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511, www.cflsdc.org

OUTREACH CENTERS N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org

Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118, www.missiondc.org

Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356,www.communityofhopedc.org

Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplac Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612, www.churchofthepilgrims.org Thrive DC Breakfast served Mon.-Fri., 9:30-11 a.m. Dinner for women and children, Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.

Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587, www.breadforthecity.org Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419, www.cchfp.org Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050, www.friendshiphouse.net Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org

Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010, www.foundryumc.org Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731, www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ JHP, Inc. 425 2nd St, NW (202) 544–9126, www.jobshavepriority.org Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202) 889–7702, www.samaritanministry.org

SHELTER HOTLINE: 1–800–535–7252

THE LAST WORD

Government of the District of Columbia • Department of Human Services

Homelessness, the Universal Phenomenon By Jessie Smith Office Volunteer For years now, I’ve been working to eliminate homelessness. I was homeless once, and because of it, I’ve learned that the stereotypes of surrounding homelessness: drug and alcohol addiction, poor education and a willingness to rely upon government handouts are all easily challenged and disputed. They can also ring true for many, but many times it’s not the case. Homelessness can happen to anyone. There are no set factors that determine how or why a person might become homeless. Through my work as a counselor at the National Caucus for Black Aging, I meet many people who just need a little help. We offer a variety of work experiences to low-income people considered difficult to employ, 55 years and older, placing our clients in what are called “host agencies” that help them hone existing talents and develop new skills geared towards alternate career opportunities. The hope is that we will ultimately be able to place these people into private-sector jobs before their tenure in the program expires. For reasons of confidentiality, I will not give the name of client that touched my heart, but I will tell her story. She arrived for the program’s intake procedure a few weeks ago with all the qualifiers to proceed in the program:

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