Valentine’s Special: The Street Sense team on romance, dating and Feb. 14, page 7
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Where the Washington area's poor and homeless earn and give their two cents February 6, 2008 – February 19, 2008 • Volume 5, Issue 7
VENDOR VOICES
www.streetsense.org
Childless Couples Lack a Spot in Shelters
Street count
Being in a Relationship While Being Homeless By Jeffery McNeil
See
Voices, page 13
Courtesy of Pathways to housing
My editor asked me what it is like to have a relationship while being out on the street. To me this topic is very difficult because someone who wants to date you has to be willing to see the potential you might have. That significant other can’t be judgmental and must keep an open mind about your situation. To be honest, I really don’t approach many people about dating because I really wouldn’t want to do that to another woman. I’m an independent person who likes to take care of myself, and I don’t feel comfortable asking for things I don’t work for. My only income now is selling newspapers. I know in my relationships I like to be the provider and I couldn’t feel good if my girlfriend was paying the bills until I found myself. Another reason I don’t really date is the quality of women you have to choose from. When you are in the shelter system, the only people you usually encounter are from shelters and they bring baggage from their past addictions, children, abuse, STDs, and neglect of their bodies – all the drama of being in the homeless environment. My dad used to say that two dead batteries can’t jump start a car and two people that are homeless aren’t going to do anything but satisfy short-term needs and lust. Right now, I’m content not having
By Brittany Aubin
From Jan. 24 to 27, communities across the country conducted regional homelessness surveys. Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County were among them. Above: Each team of three working on the Washington, D.C. street count gets a clipboard, a tally sheet with columns for age, gender, medical condition and location, and a map showing the area to cover. See stories on pages 4 and 5.
Deadline Approaches for Purge of Housing Assistance Waiting List By Noelle Wood More than 10% of the population of Washington, D.C. may be waiting for public or subsidized housing. In January, the D.C. Housing Authority sent out letters to everyone on the waiting list. Anyone who does not respond by March 11 will be removed from the list. “We know that people have m ov e d o u t o f t h e a re a , h a v e changed addresses without contacting DCHA or have passed away during that period. We want to ensure that we have accurate records and can reach people who need housing assistance when we have openings,”
said DCHA Deputy Executive Director Karen Moone. But homeless advocates are worried that people who are homeless, who move often, who are illiterate or have health problems, may not receive the letters or respond in time. The homeless, who are given preference on the list, often wait four to five years before they get housing assistance. For a person who has been on the list for five years, being removed because of the update “could mean another five years of your life,” said Anne Smetak, a staff attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
The waiting list was last updated in 2001. WLCH outreach worker Mary Ann Luby and her colleagues said they have met many people who joined the waiting list in the 1990s and were removed in 2001, but didn’t find out they were removed until years later. Luby said she was concerned that the DCHA’s desire for efficiency would mean that many people would fall through the cracks. She and her colleagues said that there should be an extension of the deadline and a more concerted effort to reach those who don’t receive or
See
Purge, page 6
PHOTOGRAPHY
POLITICS
A new feature debuts as vendor Bobby Buggs takes us through his travels in D.C., page 8
The Economic Stimulus bill being debated in Congress may help the poor, page 6
Stacy from Malibu
EDITORIAL
PROFILE
Part 1 of Ivory Wilson’s latest story features a private detective getting more than he bargained for, page 10
Vendor Jeffery McNeil talks about what we can learn from The Patriots, page 13
A local group uses theater, dance and music to talk about addiction, page 3
Inside This Issue FICTION
A Day in the Life
Sports as a Metaphor for Life
On the Hill
Acting Out
February is the season of love. Convenience stores peddle chocolates, greeting cards whisper sweet nothings, furry stuffed toys croon Sinatra in electronic notes. Outside, frigid winds howl and gray skies threaten. Yet a heart in love is always warm. Except perhaps a homeless one. For many D.C. homeless couples, cold winter weather means a choice between life alone in the shelters or together on the street. Homeless residents seeking services fall into two groups – those with children and those without, said Andy Silver, a staff attorney at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Couples or single parents with children are considered family, eligible to apply for shelter as a unit. Childless couples are classified as individuals, and regardless of marital status, must apply to shelters separately. The Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 dictates the current definition of a family, said Darlene Matthews, a policy analyst at the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. Without a change to the legislation, publicly funded shelters must follow the categories set forth by the District. As of January 2007, there were 6,911 homeless individuals in the greater Washington region and 4,851 homeless residents classified as members of families. No one knows how many of those individuals are childless couples searching for shelter in the city. “The law prescribes how we count that,” Matthews said. Lacking data, advocates and outreach workers cannot estimate the extent of the need. The Community for Creative Non-Violence, the only publicly funded shelter for individual men and women in the District, allows
See
Couples, page 7
ALL ABOUT US
Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
Our Mission
1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347-2006 Fax: (202) 347-2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Davis Robert Egger Ted Henson Barbara Kagan Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Francine Triplett David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri EDITOR IN CHIEF Kaukab Jhumra Smith ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) INTERNS Brittany Aubin and Jessica Elliott VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Mary Pat Abraham, Matt Allee, Robert Basler, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Jason Corum, Diana Cosgrove, Rebecca Curry, Rick Dahnke, Colleen Dolan, Jessica Gaitan, Joshua Gardner, Genevieve Gill, Joanne Goodwin, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Brooke Howell, Aimee Hyzy, Jo Ann Jackson, Patricia Jefferson, Mary Lynn Jones, Maurice King, Geof Koss, Jessica LaGarde, Karin Lee, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Katie Leitch, Claire Markgraf, Kellie Marsh, Mandy McAnally, Sam McCormally, Jeffery McNeil, Kent Mitchell, Swinitha Osuri, Katinka Podmaniczky, Mara Schechter, Jamie Schuman, Dan Seligson, Kat Shiffler, Bo Sims, Jennifer Singleton, Katie Smith, Kathryn Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Robert Trautman, Margaret Thomas, Francine Triplett, Eugene Versluysen, Linda Wang, Dan Weingarten, Dan Whittier, Kelly Wilson, Marian Wiseman, Noelle Wood, Corrine Yu VENDORS Willie Alexander, Michael Anderson, Katrina Anige, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Tommy Bennett, Lorpu Borsay, Emily Bowe, Corey Bridges, Bobby Buggs, Leonard Cannady, Conrad Cheek Jr., Walter Crawley, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Bernard Dean, Jeffery Dennis, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Ronald Franklin, Barron Hall, David Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Phillip Howard, Jo Ann Jackson, Michael Jefferson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Gregory Martin, L. Morrow, Charles Mayfield, Lee Mayse, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer Mclaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Charles Nelson, Moyo Onibuje, Therese Onyemenon, Thomas Queen, Frank Reddick, Kevin Robinson, Ed Ross, Dennis Rutledge, Gerald Smith, Patty Smith, James Stewart, Gary Stoddard, Ingrid Thomas, Francine Triplett, Carl Turner, Jerry W., Martin Walker, Mary Wanyama, Lawless Watson, Ivory Wilson
We are proud members of:
Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.
Our Editorial Policy
Editorials and features in Street Sense reflect the perspectives of the authors. We invite the submission of news, opinion, fiction and poetry, hoping to create a means in which a multitude of perspectives on poverty and homelessness can find expression. Street Sense reserves the right to edit any material.
North American Street Newspaper Association
The Story of Street Sense Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 25 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world. After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published consistently on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network.
For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming an independent nonprofit organization. In October 2005, Street Sense formed a board of directors, and in November, the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director. A year later, in November 2006, the organization hired its first vendor coordinator. In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month as the network of vendors expanded to more than 50 homeless men and women. To support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first fulltime editor in chief in April 2007.
Feb. 6 – 19 Donors Sarah C. Clark Naomi Dass Coralie Farlee Annisha Hayes Steven and Debbie Hegedus
Amanda Joseph-Little Justin and Rebecca Nichols Rabbi Robert Saks Lynn and David Sheridan
And a special thanks to: Marie Bass and Kathleen Tilford
Thank You!
International Network of Street Papers
Street Sense 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 vendors – 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. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge when selling papers. 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.
WANNA HELP? If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or have a great article or feature idea, please contact Koki Smith at 202-347-2006 or e-mail editor@streetsense.org If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact Laura Thompson Osuri at the same number or come to a vendor training session on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. at our office (1317 G Street, NW - near Metro Center).
Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
PROFILE
Service Profile
Talking About Addiction Through Theater, Dance and Song By Daniel Horner
Courtesy of Kathy Creek-Vann
Halloween is long gone, but Count Crackula lives. Crackula is a character in a piece of theater called “The Process,” the signature work of Str8-N-Up Productions, Inc. The theater company and the play were both created by Kathy Creek-Vann, who heads the company. One of the company’s goals, according to its Web site, is “to present addiction as a physio-chemical illness” rather than as “a result of human failure.” The group aims to “dispel the stigma within communities of color toward seeking treatment for psychological issues,” the site says. Creek-Vann knows about addiction. In 1998, she kicked a 10-year cocaine habit, she said in an interview. She later worked as an addictions counselor, and some of her clients were homeless families. She has cast her clients’ children in Str8-N-Up productions, and, because of that experience, some of them are thinking about theater careers. The idea for “The Process” was born in 1999, Creek-Vann said, when a friend from her drug treatment program asked her to come up with a theatrical work for the winter holidays. The show is a series of linked musical and dance performances built on the theme of struggling with addiction to alcohol and other drugs. The role of Crackula is played by CreekVann’s husband, Roger Wright, whom CreekVann met through Alcoholics Anonymous, she said. According to Creek-Vann, 85% of the company’s 35 members are in recovery from
Scenes from “The Process,” a show created by Kathy Creek-Vann for her theater group, Str8-N-Up Productions: above is “Warfare of Spiritual Forces” and pictured above right is “The Sensation.”
some sort of addiction. Crackula’s segment begins with campy horror-movie sound effects. Then Crackula introduces himself and describes his addiction: “When I take to the flavor, I self-destruct/Because one is too many and ten’s not enough.” He tells of the drug’s effect on him: “Now my brain is fried, so I cannot stop/Too busy ducking illusions and invisible cops.” And lat-
er: “On my face, there’s a deadly grin/When I tell the sweet honeys, ‘Please let me in.’” According to the Web site, Howard and Virginia State universities have made the show part of their freshman orientation, and it has been performed at several “12-step” conventions. When the show played at the District’s Lincoln Theater, it was sold out. Str8-N-Up includes actors, stage managers, costume designers and others. They are paid
for their work, but it is not a full-time job. “We wish it were,” Creek-Vann said. So far, the company has relied mostly on word of mouth for publicity, though it has bought advertising in Washington newspapers such as the City Paper, the Informer, the Afro-American and the Hilltop. But one of her goals for the company is to advertise on a larger scale. “If we do, it will take off,” she said. Str8-N-Up does not do regular performances of “The Process,” because the company cannot find ample “creative space” for the performances, Creek-Van said. The next scheduled performance is not until March. But the company has other projects described on its Web site, www.str8-n-up.org. The site also includes audio and video clips.
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LOCAL NEWS
Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
Enumeration 2008
Volunteers Cover 500 Square Miles for Street Count By Robert Blair
The street homeless tend to live in tent camps in wooded areas, or in squats near public buildings or under bridges.
Recent Point-in-Time Counts for Montgomery County, Md. Year of Count
Homeless Persons in Families
Homeless Individuals
Unsheltered Homeless Individuals
Percentage of Individuals Unsheltered
2007
499 (151 families)
640
123
19%
2006
471 (149 families)
693
173
25%
2005
452 (141 families)
616
115
19%
Courtesy of Pathways to Housing
Mary Johnson, Michelle Wood and Denise Price can usually be found at the Volunteers of America Chesapeake (VOAC) homeless outreach office in Silver Spring, Md. VOAC provides outreach services and case management for homeless adult men and women suffering from serious mental illness and/or substance abuse who are living in Montgomery County. But in late January, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s pointin-time enumeration of America’s homeless population is conducted, Johnson, Wood and Price hit the streets to count the county’s homeless. On Jan. 24, the three-woman team collected their survey questionnaires and “engagement tools” (the bus tokens and McDonald’s cards they offer to survey participants), climbed into their minivan, and began this year’s four-day search. Their efforts represent the third prong in Montgomery County’s three-part process for counting the homeless, explains Alexander Wertheim, the program manager for Montgomery County’s Homeless Services. County officials combine the results of three tabulations: the “shelter count”; the unsheltered “service user count” — those who regularly use soup kitchens or day-center facilities but do not sleep overnight in shelters; and the “street count.” The data from the three different counts are then cross-checked to eliminate duplicate counting. The first two counts occurred on the designated point-in-time enumeration day, Jan. 24. But given Montgomery County’s total land area of roughly 500 square miles — more than eight times larger than the District’s land mass — the county’s street count can take up to a week. It took VOAC four days in late January to track down and interview the county’s street homeless. In addition to conducting the actual head count, the VOAC team has a 17-item questionnaire about each person they find. It includes information such as the person’s last name, date of birth, gender, last fixed address,
employment status, income sources, housing needs, special needs, language, length of time homeless, and other questions. The survey questions for all three counts – shelters, service users, and street – are identical. According to Wertheim, the count of those spending the night in an emergency shelter or in transitional housing identifies the bulk of Montgomery County’s homeless individuals and families. However, there are homeless men and women who do not sleep in emergency or hypothermia shelters or live in transitional housing. These “unsheltered” homeless are harder to identify and collect data on. Wertheim noted that Montgomery County’s unsheltered homeless population varies from year to year. In recent years, unsheltered homeless have accounted for 20 to 25% of the county’s homeless adult individuals (see accompanying table). Most are identified and surveyed at the various service facilities they use. But a small fraction of the county’s unsheltered homeless don’t regularly use homeless services and can be identified only via the street count. The street homeless – men and women who do not stay at shelters, live in transitional housing, or make regular use of non-shelter service facilities – are the people for whom Johnson, Wood and Price search. Because the VOAC team regularly engages in outreach efforts, they are already familiar with many of the areas where the county’s street homeless can be found. The street homeless tend to live in tent camps in wooded areas, or in squats near public buildings or under bridges, Johnson explained. On winter days, they can often be found at shopping malls, McDonald’s, and libraries where they go for warmth. These were the areas where the VOAC team conducted their search. The counting team’s first stop was an encampment on a wooded hillside behind the U-Haul Center across from Loehman’s Plaza. The campsite is located at the end of a steep, narrow path littered with beer cans. The camp itself, uninhabited at the time of the VOAC visit, consisted of several blue tarps
Downtown Business Improvement District’s Director of Homeless Services Chet Grey instructs the teams before they head out for the D.C. enumeration. See story on next page.
strung between trees, two or three well-worn tents, and a weathered table with four chairs. There was a kerosene heater at the site along with several full bins of discarded cans and bottles. Johnson explained that six homeless adults previously had inhabited the campsite, but five of them were now staying at hypothermia shelters. The single holdout, Johnson said, claims to have been living on the street for 20 years. The team’s second stop was at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Randolph Road. Approaching the crossroads, the outreach workers spotted two men walking up and down the median strip, carrying cardboard signs and soliciting donations. Johnson noted that this particular intersection was a popular panhandling spot. “I once did a survey of who’s on the [median] strip,” she said, “and most were veterans from D.C. who come out here to panhandle. They call it their ‘job.’” After the van turned onto the Pike, Wood hopped out and went to interview the men, while Price and Johnson continued north along the Pike to look for other panhandlers. Finding none, they returned to the intersection and spotted a third panhandler, a woman. Johnson left the van to interview her. The woman told Johnson she was married and living in a small wooded area within sight of the intersection. Her husband, who until recently had been living with her there, was in the hospital for medical and addiction problems, she said. However, she didn’t want to move to an emergency shelter “because of the crazy people there.” The VOAC team then headed south on the Pike and found a fourth panhandler with a cardboard sign walking the median strip near the White Flint Metro station. Wood went onto the median strip to talk with the 45-year-old man. He was wearing a fatigue-green parka and blue knit cap and carrying a notebook-sized, bent cardboard sign that read: “Homeless
Vietnam Vet, Please Help. Thank you.” Wood introduced herself, explained why she was there, and asked if he would be willing to answer some questions. She explained that the information was only for the survey, and said she was offering a $5 McDonald’s card for participation. After giving him her business card, and telling him that he could get in touch with her outreach office if he needed any help getting assistance, she asked about his contact with a local representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs and whether he was aware of the VA’s homeless program. Then Wood went through the survey questions with him. The man said he had been homeless for four years. The VOAC team’s next stops were at public libraries in Bethesda and the Twinbrook section of Rockville. In both cases, the women first approached the library managers to identify themselves, explain what they were doing, and assure the librarians that the survey was voluntary. If any homeless patrons of the library didn’t want to be interviewed, Johnson, Wood and Price would not bother them. Arriving at the Bethesda library, Johnson pointed out a squat site alongside the building. It included several long flattened sections of cardboard, a stack of old newspapers, and a shopping cart. Johnson said that the man who slept there usually stayed in the library until it closed and then went to sleep alongside the building. Inside the library, Johnson and Wood found three homeless men. Two were willing to answer the survey questions, but the third became agitated and refused to talk to Wood. She left him alone and filled in the survey sheet with the information that could be determined visually. Wood also recognized another library patron as one of her previous homeless clients. He reported to her that he now had housing and was employed. “It’s nice to see there are
See
Montgomery page 5
Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
LOCAL NEWS
Enumeration 2008
Chilled to the Core: A Night Spent Counting the Forgotten By Brittany Aubin I am so cold. Fingers can barely hold a pen. Nose can’t stop dripping. Extremities may be frost-bitten. Intrepid intern though I may be, I wasn’t yet prepared to sacrifice my toes for the Street Sense cause. Journalists need toes, I think, as I rack my mind for an excuse to turn home to a warm bed, steaming shower and central heat. Be safe, my editor had cautioned. Happy hunting, an outreach worker had said. Alleys will be filled tonight, Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District’s director of homeless services Chet Grey had promised. Throughout the city on this particular night, outreach workers, government officials and police are participating in the point-intime homelessness enumeration, separating the city into chunks of blocks and searching for those seeking shelter on the street. Armed with a flashlight, clipboard and plastic badge, I join Mike O’Neill of the National Coalition for the Homeless and Denise Macklin of the BID’s Street and Maintenance team for an evening of homeless tracking. With a tummy full of hot chocolate and a conversation weaving from homeless policy to Macklin’s Yorkshire terrier Mr. T, the excitement of novelty is wearing down as the bitter chill of 28 degrees sets in. Twenty minutes in and our team’s tally sheet is still empty.
Then I see her, down cement stairs in an alley off of 16th Street, where she lies under boxes and blankets. A lit votive to the Virgin Mary flickers near her hand. “Black female,” says Macklin. “I’d say about mid-forties.” O’Neill scribbles on the tally sheet. There are columns for name, race, age, medical conditions, and locations. Be as specific as possible, Grey had said, in the warmth of the Downtown BID’s H Street lobby. From Jan. 24 to 27, communities across the country conducted regional homelessness surveys. These counts document people living in permanent supportive housing, in transitional and emergency shelters, and on the streets, with the numbers serving as benchmarks for the receipt of federal funds. While shelter staff conduct counts for their residents, outreach workers are responsible for those living outside of the shelter system. Street counts are done at night after shelter curfews, and teams record distinguishing details to ensure accuracy and prevent overlaps. Last year, 11,762 people were counted
in the nine jurisdictions of metropolitan Washington. Of those, 1,367 were considered unsheltered or living on the streets. In the District alone, 340 unsheltered residents were counted. People on the street are often reluctant to go into the shelter system, said Jill Eckart, a former outreach worker with First Helping. “They think it’s going to not be safe and not be sanitary,” says Eckart, part of the team that covered Northeast H Street. It was her third year participating in the survey. Although many believe those on the street are unapproachable, most are eager to talk, Eckart said. Combing the area between 16th and M streets and 12th and H streets NW, there is little opportunity for talking. Walking until 2 a.m. the next morning, most of the 19 homeless residents we count are already asleep, bundled under blankets and curled into cubbies to protect against the cold. For most, we write no more than “Unknown” into our tally sheet. Nondescript piles of gray cloth eliminate signs of age, race, and gender.
To those we talk to, O’Neill offers business cards, referring them to services available. Steve, a 51-year-old with a camouflage jacket and a runny nose, asks if we were giving away apartments. Disappointed, he takes a card and returns to his post, the front door of Capital Hilton. In a park, a man with a lollipop wants hot chocolate. Martin, a Street Sense vendor, points us to favorite places, smoking a cigarette and selling the papers to late-night partiers and night owls at the 24-hour CVS. “Tell them I need a blanket,” says a heavyset man with a guitar, lying inside a small service entrance in a 15th Street building. “That’s all I need.” O’Neill and Macklin recognize the guitarplayer. As they compare notes, I step into a doorway a few feet away. It’s cramped for my 5 foot, 3 inch frame. I try to spread my arms and find the granite hits my elbows. My runny nose still senses the odor of urine and waste. I blow my nose and think of the warm bed and clean room waiting for me. The heavyset man catches the corner of my eye as I step from the doorway, my attempt at solidarity over. “We’ve stopped engaging,” Eckart tells me the next day, after I had a night in a warm bed and two hot showers. “We started ignoring,” she says, referring to society in general. “And we left some people behind.”
Montgomery, from page 4
es, the VOAC team decided not to wake them, but instead recorded the visually available information, including gender and race. The third man was awake and busily writing something at a library carrel in the rear of the reading area. He spoke briefly with Wood and asked to see the survey form. After looking it over, he declined to be interviewed. The street count proceeded until 5 p.m., when day four of the project officially ended. The VOAC team’s final street count for the four days – the raw figure – was 48 persons. The survey information on those 48 persons will be coded and entered into an electronic spreadsheet by Feb. 15. The VOAC’s street count spreadsheet – like the data collected from the various shelters and service facilities – will then be sent to Wertheim at Montgomery County Homeless Services. The complete information set will then be cross-checked, and data on unsheltered homeless will be included in the Montgomery County report. Last year, once duplicate responses were eliminated, the county’s final street count figure, for those homeless individuals who neither sleep at shelters nor regularly use homeless services, was 12 persons.
“Tell them I need a blanket,” says a heavyset man with a guitar, lying inside a small service entrance in a 15th Street building. “That’s all I need.”
some success stories,” Wood commented to the others when she returned to the van. Twinbrook Library, the next stop, had three homeless men that day, identifiable by their large collection of plastic bags filled with clothing and other belongings. One was asleep under a blanket in the magazine reading area. A second was asleep, with a book open in front of him, at one of the large tables in the central reading area. In both those cas-
Help Bring the Homeless in from the Cold
Foundry
United Methodist Church
A Reconciling Congregation
CALL THE
Shelter Hotline 1 800 535-7252 Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia
Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Sign Interpretation at 11:00 Homeless Outreach Hospitality Fridays 9 AM
Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org
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Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
6 POLITICS
Purge, from page 1
On the Hill
Economic Stimulus Package May Include a Boost for the Poor By Street Sense staff As you read this, the details of an economic stimulus package are being negotiated between Congress and the White House as the United States’ financial downturn continues to affect all Americans and others across the globe. Although it remains unclear what specific projects, programs or tax rebates will be included in the final package, the goal of the legislation is clear: To boost the failing economy by putting money back in taxpayers’ pockets and to provide help to low-income Americans who suffer the most from the effects of a poor economy. The proposed measures to help the economy rebound include everything from tax cuts for companies, to rebate checks for individuals, to help for the failing housing market. Additionally, there may also be important programs included that could affect the lives of the homeless and low-income families. Although congressional negotiators will continue to amend the economic stimulus package until the president signs it into law, below are a few proposals being considered. Unemployment benefits. The stimulus package may include temporary benefits for workers who have lost their jobs, in the form of additional or supplemental income. Currently, the Unemployment Compensation program provides these benefits to eligible workers for a maximum of 26 weeks, but this legislation could potentially extend benefits beyond that time, allowing workers additional weeks to find a new job. Food stamps. Some negotiators have proposed extra
money in the stimulus package to increase the value of food stamps given out, perhaps equal to an additional 10 cents per meal, according to some accounts. Because more than 25 million Americans receive food stamps, this increase could help a large number of people. The LIHEAP program. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides one-time financial assistance to help low-income families afford their heating and cooling bills. This program is especially important now as the price of home heating oil is up nearly 40% from this time last year. Some negotiators support expanding and increasing this program in the economic stimulus package. The legislation may also expand a similar program known as the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which provides funding to improve the energy efficiency of lowincome homes. Medicaid. Medicaid benefits, a need-based program designed to help low-income Americans afford health care, may also be extended through the economic stimulus legislation. Some negotiators, however, disagree that such a program would benefit the economy. In a bipartisan effort that reflects the seriousness of the current economic trend, both Democrats and Republicans are working together to create legislation to boost the sinking economy and provide help to low-income Americans and workers who have lost their jobs. Negotiations between Congress and the White House continue and sources report that the completed legislation could be signed into law by the president around mid-February. Rebate checks will be mailed to taxpayers about 60 days after this stimulus package becomes law.
Want to help the homeless with your writing talents?
don’t understand the letters. DCHA has run radio and television ads and will run newspaper ads in February, said DCHA spokesman Cymando Henley. He said the DCHA has also sent letters to some shelters and other programs frequented by the homeless. Right now, there are 57,000 heads of households on the waiting list, but that number will likely shrink after the update. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there were 588,292 people living in the District in 2007. Considering that some of the households on the list include children or other relatives, it is likely that more than 10% of the population of D.C. is waiting for public housing. A DCHA spokesman said there is no way of knowing the number of total people waiting for housing, only the number of heads of households. Nydra Allen is homeless with four young children. When she first joined the waiting list in 2001, she had a place to live but was paying more than 50% of her income in rent. She has moved four times since then, and has become homeless while waiting for public housing. She now lives in a shelter with her children. Allen updates her information with the DCHA every time she moves. The DCHA does not tell people their position on the waiting list, so she does not know how long she will have to remain in the shelter. She said she knows people who have been on the list for 10 or 15 years. The waiting period for those who are homeless is often four or five years, but for people who are not homeless, the wait “could be forever,” Luby said. Each year, the Authority takes about 5,000 people off its list, according to Henley. Some no longer qualify, some reject the housing units they are offered, and others receive housing. Last year, nearly 200 people were housed in public housing, and 720 families moved into housing under the voucher program, Henley said. The responses to the update are due March 11. Anyone who is on the waiting list but has not received a letter can download a form at the DCHA Web site.
It is likely that more than 10% of the population of D.C. is waiting for public housing.
We
care.
We
help.
We
heal.
Quality Primary Care Services for D.C. Medically Underserved and homeless Individuals……
Then participate in the Street Sense Write for Poverty fundraiser Who: Journalists and professional writers in the Washington area. What: Write an essay (600 to 1,000 words) on a pre-assigned topic related to poverty and/or homelessness. And collect a few donations to support Street Sense on a per-word basis (like in a walk-a-thon). Select essays will run in the April and May issues of Street Sense, DC’s newspaper about poverty and homeless issues. When: Writing Week: Saturday, April 5 to Friday, April 11 Award Presentation and Reception: Thursday, May 1 Where: The writing is done from wherever you choose. Awards Presentation and Reception: TBA How: If you are interested or need more information please send an email with the subject “Write for Poverty” to info@streetsense.org or call Laura at 202-347-2006.
**All proceeds from this fundraiser will support Street Sense, a nonprofit 501(c)3, and its mission to help empower the homeless men and women who sell the paper and improve their lives.
For information on medical services in homeless shelters call 202-255-3469. For an appointment at any of our community health centers call 1-866-388-6489
We want to help. We want to help you.
VALENTINE’S DAY
Street Sense . February 6 – 19, 2008
One Couple’s Story
MY Two Cents
Childless Pair Receives Unequal Valentine’s Day for Vendors Treatment in DC Shelter System The Street Sense Team on Romance, Dating and Feb. 14 By Brittany Aubin In the winter of 2004, Robert Smith was diagnosed with diabetes. He stopped working. Then he was evicted from his apartment in Southwest Washington. He and his wife, Jane, moved into a motel until their savings ran out.* A shelter was one of the only options left for the couple, but there was a problem. The D.C. Department of Human Services told Robert he would be unable to stay with his wife in a shelter. “We would rather be on the street than be separated in a shelter,” Robert said. Faced with the couple’s resolve, and the dedicated advocacy of Amber Harding, a staff attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, the Department of Human Services agreed to pay the couple’s motel bill for a week, and then pushed the Community for Creative Non-Violence to house the Smiths in an unused office room where they could be sheltered together. The couple’s stay extended to three weeks, despite their intent to remain only a few days. Robert’s diabetes offered a legal right under the American with Disabilities Act, said Harding. Jane’s status as Robert’s caregiver meant they would need to be together if they stayed in the shelter, she said. Still, other couples living on CCNV’s gender-segregated floors took notice of their treatment, Robert said. When the shelter needed the office space, he said, the Department of Human Services moved the pair to St. Elizabeth’s in Anacostia, a men’s shelter. The couple was given joint accommodations not offered to the general homeless population. Jane was the only female homeless resident there. Finally, Robert said, the Department of Human Services agreed to pay the security deposit and a month’s rent for the couple to move out of the shelter system. This type of exit assistance is available to all people in the shelter system, but few actually receive it, and those who do are often part of families with children, Harding said. D.C. legislation does not recognize the Smiths – a childless couple – as a family, and thus, they are ineligible to receive homeless assistance as a unit. “We were bought out,” said Robert, from
Couples, from page 1 couples to live there, but there is limited contact permitted between the women’s and men’s floors. If a couple meets in the lobby, they have to make it quick since loitering is not allowed, said Street Sense vendor Michael Knight, a resident at CCNV. “There is no real lounge area for a couple to sit down and talk,” said Knight, who knows of two couples who live in the shelter. The director of CCNV did not return repeated
the beige couch in his Naylor Road living room. He believes the city removed him and his wife from the shelter because the case was drawing too much attention to the District’s policies towards childless couples. “If that’s not an acknowledgment that we are a family, I don’t know what is,” he said. Yet, throughout the couple’s year-long stint in the homeless shelter system, the D.C. government repeatedly denied they were a family, even while offering services that the majority of homeless couples do not receive. Under the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, a family is defined as “a group of individuals with at least one minor or dependent child,” or a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy. Childless couples are classified as individuals, and regardless of marital status, must apply to shelters separately. (See main story on page 1.) For the Smiths, Robert’s diabetes helped make the case for the couple to stay together. Jane was able to care for him during the night, in case his blood sugar dropped, she said. Still, the city’s denial of their status as a family brought the Smiths and Harding in front of the D.C. courts for repeated administrative hearings. A panel of five judges could not decide the pair’s status, Robert said. After that came the offer from the Department of Human Services for a security deposit and one month’s rent. Now secure in an apartment, the Smiths feel their exceptional treatment proves the city’s policy is misguided. “They know that they are doing something wrong,” Robert said. “They helped us, but there are others out there who need the help.” The city’s current treatment of childless couples threatens families and eliminates a vital support system, Robert said. He credits their relationship with providing the incentive to get out of homelessness. “It has made us stronger,” Jane said, looking at her husband of seven years. “When you are homeless,” started Robert. Jane picked it up: “All you got is each other.” * The Smiths’ names have been changed.
calls from Street Sense. The Washington Legal Clinic tried to address couples’ shelter this winter, lobbying the city to make space for couples in D.C. General’s hypothermia center. Despite the clinic’s advocacy, the talks fell through. Silver cites an unwillingness to change, along with the complications of defining a family, as the main roadblocks to establishing couples’ shelters. A shelter with family-style efficiency units or semi-private rooms
“It’s a day out of the year that people show love more abundantly, not realizing that they should show it every day. Especially considering it’s a holiday that is not legitimate.” – Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson “At the present time I have no Valentine only the Lord. I have nothing but the Lord right now.” – Ronald Franklin
“Valentine’s Day is for anybody. Valentine’s Day is for everybody. Not no special person. Let’s say I get some candy. I’ll give it to this guy or a little kid. I don’t have no special person. I love everyone. It’s Valentine’s Day every day.” – Mark Jones
“Valentine Day this year I’m going to make it special for me and my wife. And do something special in memory of my grandfather – my mother’s father – because it was his birthday. Valentine’s Day is very special. He loved his birthday, that it was on Valentine’s Day.” – Barron Hall “I remember about 70 years ago we tried to draw Valentines in school. I was about four or five. It was a long time ago.” – Charlie Mayfield
“The only time I had a Valentine was when I was pregnant and the baby’s father gave me a whole lot of stuffed animals and balloons and champagne and stuff. That was in 2004.” – Katrina Anige
What’s your favorite thing to do on a date? “Probably go to the movies. Go to the museum. Go out to eat.” – Leonard Cannedy
“Oh that’s a good one. Probably go to dinner. ESPN Zone, that’s the restaurant on L and 3rd streets NW.” – Gerald Smith
“I haven’t been on a date in 20 years. I like to go to a nice restaurant and have a nice candlelit dinner. I give her the choice what she wants to do afterwards. I used to like to go down to the airport and watch the planes take off.” – Edward Ross
“I go to the movies. I go to have some fun with my fiancée. He’s not around now so I don’t know and I am not in a position to do anything.” – Lorpu Borsay
“I haven’t been on a date in so doggone long I don’t even know what they do anymore. Talk, I guess, so you get to know someone. My favorite thing to do is talk. If I don’t know you, I’m going to talk to you.” – Kevin Robinson
could easily serve childless couples, said Silver. Yet a decision to open shelters to couples requires proof and qualifications, and controversies are sure to follow, he said. Restricting shelters to married couples would leave out couples in long-term relationships. However, granting unmarried couples space in the system would raise questions of legitimacy, creating a need for the city to request evidence of the relationship’s validity, and things could get tricky fast.
“I like to go to the movies. Play cards – poker. Have a few drinks, play cards, keep it simple.” – Jeffery McNeil “Dinner and a movie. Hip-hop movies.” – Katrina Anige “Go to a jazz concert. Eat dinner. Stuff like that.” – Ronald Franklin
In February 2007, New York City began a program allowing couples with marriage or domestic partnership certificates to stay in the Adult Family Intake Center. Couples who have lived together 180 days before applying for shelter are eligible for couples shelter, according to the New York Department of Homeless Services Web site. Street outreach workers can also recommend that couples be housed together. Any arrangement will inevitably leave some deserving couples out,
and perhaps lead some homeless pairs to cheat the system, Silver said. But the shelter system should be structured to best fit the needs of the residents who need it, and the current District policy is not structured that way, he said. “People who are homeless are often dealing with a crisis” and entering an intimidating shelter system without their significant other makes a difficult period worse, Silver said. “A lot of times couples will decide to stay out on the street.”
NEWS LOCAL PHOTOS & POETRY
February Dream Last night I dreamt of peering through a window of a gray stone cottage, the room within, suffused with warm glowing light. Along the walls, pastel ballerinas stretched and twisted their lithe bodies. A fieldstone fireplace held a nest of crackling, dancing flames.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
Bobby Buggs
A Day In The Life In this new photo feature, a Street Sense vendor takes a disposable camera for a day, snapping pictures of scenes, objects and people that represent his life or that he just finds interesting. This month, veteran vendor Bobby Buggs takes us through his travels in D.C.
I stood, paralyzed by indecision and desire just before the welcome mat, surrounded by a swirl of snowflakes. My left front pocket was weighted down with a jangly fistful of shiny keys. A numb paw yanked them forth and I tried them, one by one, each one an eager tongue that might fit the lock... The silver one slipped in but did not turn; a copper one was rejected, as sparks flew against cold metal. I twisted and tugged keys time and time again as warmth within beckoned... I tried a final key, shiny and black; it caught, slowly turned and the thick oak door creaked open lazily at my gentle prod...
Every day, all day, distinguished people help the world go ’round when it comes to Street Sense vendors and contributing as readers.
Then I woke and brushed a frosty three-inch drift from the rough bench that formed my bed, from my icy body. I reached into my left front pocket for my ring of keys; I found them all, except the one, so black and shiny that opened the door to warmth.
— David Harris
This fits the to–do list for most homeless recipients, especially vendors, because it is all they usually get in a day’s work.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
PHOTOS & POETRY
You Are Appreciated For my mother
This is my sales pitch: “Street Sense, get your Street Sense, $1. Remember on these streets you’ve got to have Street Sense, $1.”
Now here’s a very interesting contributor; she had numerous questions about how Street Sense works, and she ended up buying a paper.
I see confidence in your walk Struggle in your eyes Hardness in your voice Honesty in your lies I know they were to protect my feelings So I won’t get hurt You always gave me advice And it always seemed it worked I took heed to all your words for what and what not it was worth And the one thing you taught me If I didn’t learn anything else on this earth Is to struggle for my family And after me put my loved ones first I see bags under your eyes Corns on your feet Scars on your hands As the result from the struggle you’re in for me I’m thankful for your integrity, love and support You should be at work Instead I have you in court I apologize and beg for your forgiveness I’m a changed A changed man As God is my witness.
Welcome to D.C. Here is one place – a runway – where fashion speaks for itself. Someday I hope to have my fashions on the runway.
— D.K., age 16, an inmate at D.C. Jail.
10 FEATURES
Pretty Red’s Fiction
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
By Ivory Wilson
Stacy from Malibu S
tacy was a cop on the Malibu police force and did things his way – the old way. A tough guy and ladies’ man, he realized he wasn’t cut out for “cops and robbers” action so he decided to go into business for himself, as a private eye. Stacy moved to Washington, D.C., and found that office space was too pricey for his bank roll. But he eventually found a sweet office space overlooking the Anacostia River in Southeast, D.C., the upperclass southside portion. And needing a secretary, he ran a classified ad in the local newspaper. After Stacy cleaned his office one day, he sat in his desk chair to close his eyes and take a rest. Stacy, the ladies man, smelled a woman’s perfume, heard gum popping and sensed a woman standing over him. He opened his eyes and saw a tall, butter pecan-skinned sexy young woman. She had juicy lips, sexy brown bedroom eyes, a slim waist, big thighs, braids, and wore a sun-dress. With her hands pushing up her breasts, she asked, “You Stacy?”, still popping her gum. He grinned and replied, “Yes, I’m Stacy. What’s your name?” “Tamika.” She opened her purse, pulled out finger nail polish and put it on Stacy’s desk. “Have you ever worked as a secretary for anyone before?” he asked. “Have you ever been a private eye before?” she answered. Stacy laughed and told her she was hired. “Now take that finger nail polish off my desk before you’re fired,” he added. “Tamika, the phone people will be here today to put in the phones. Hold my calls, I’ll be back.” “When do I get paid? And how much?” she asked. Stacy, walking out the door, replied, “When I do and when you start doing some work around here.” He closed the door behind him. Tamika couldn’t answer the phone and hold his calls because he didn’t have a phone. Stacy went back to the local newspaper and placed another ad, one that would read Stacy Investigations, Southeast D.C. along with his contact information. When he got back to his office Tamika was on the phone. “Who are you talking to?” he asked. “Tyronn, my boyfriend.” “Okay, Tamika, hang up the phone and go get a broom and finish cleaning this office.” Tamika told Tyronn ’bye and hung up. “You got an apartment?” she asked him. Stacy began rubbing his chin, “Yes, right here. Now get to sweeping.” While Tamika swept, she continued questioning him. “You not from around here. Where you from?” as she popped her gum. “Malibu.” Then Stacy asked if there was a local cleaners. “Yea. Down the street.” “When you finish sweeping, I have some suits and shirts to be cleaned.” Tamika, put her hands on her hips, and bobbing her head back and forth like a chicken, exclaimed, “You want me to sweep, clean, answer the phone, take your clothes to the cleaners?! I’m a secretary!” Stacy walked over to his desk and sat in the chair. He pulled open his desk drawer, took out a shot glass and a bottle of gin and took a drink. He then reared back in his chair with his hands crossed behind his head, crossed his legs on his desk and asked, “Are you working anywhere?” “I’m going,” Tamika said. Stacy just laughed as she left for the cleaners. Stacy sat at his desk thinking about how he needed clients and turned on the TV. Looking at the local news, he
“Stacy, the ladies man, smelled a woman’s perfume, heard gum popping and sensed a woman standing over him. He opened his eyes and saw a tall, butter pecan-skinned sexy young woman.” saw that a very expensive rare breed poodle had been stolen from the Starbucks at 7th and E streets in the northwest part of the city. Stacy was cleaning his Colt .45 making sure he had his gun permits and PI license in order and put the gun back in his shoulder holster. The phone rang and Stacy answered “Stacy Investigations.” The caller hung up. Tamika returned and said flatly, “Stacy, it’s 6 o’clock. I got to go. I’m going to see Chuck Brown, go-go.” “I’ll see you in the morning, Tamika. And leave the gun.” As Tamika turned to walk away, Stacy looked at her backside and thought, look at all that tail on that whale! He turned on the soft sounds of his stereo to WHUR. Quiet storm sounds of the late night set in, the city keeping everybody fresh, safe and dry. Stacy smoked a cigarette and sipped on a drink while standing at his window. Looking out on the mean streets of D.C., he thought, There’s money to be made here. The phone rang again. “Stacy Investigations.” No answer. Stacy then heard a soft sexy voice moaning and gasping, “Ahh … Ohh … Huu,” and then the caller hung up. I know I’m handsome and all that, Stacy thought. She shouldn’t have. I would like to thank her for that moment. After Stacy hung up, the phone rang yet again. “Stacy Investigations.” “I’m sorry. I left my phone on when I should have cut it off. Sorry if you heard me in a few moments of passionate release,” the voice apologized. Stacy’s street wits thought that this sounded like fresh money. Stacy asked how he could help.
“I’m Barbar Brooks. Mr. Stacy I would like to hire you. I will pay you $10,000 and all of your damages that may occur.” Stacy thought, Damages? This kind of woman means danger. He asked what the job was. Barbar said that she would like him to find her Fluffie. Stacy thought, with a name like that there’s no danger. I’ll take the risk. “Mr. Stacy, I would like to come to your office.” He said that was okay. “Look out your window at my limo.” Stacy looked and replied, “I’ll be down.” He put on his shoulder holster, his suit coat, straightened his tie and went downstairs. The limo driver opened the door to reveal a blonde bombshell with teeth so pearly white, she looked like she should be doing Colgate commercials. She had blue eyes, wore a skin–tight silk dress, had big breasts and candy–licking lips. I must confess, I’m impressed, Stacy thought. “Mr. Stacy, I presume. Get in,” she said. The driver closed the door behind him. They drove off and cruised the streets of Southeast. Stacy had left the door to his office open thinking Barbar was going to come up. He didn’t know that when he got in the car someone got out of the trunk. “Mr. Stacy, would you like a drink?” “No. I don’t drink.” Barbar gave Stacy an envelope with $10,000 in it and a picture of a white poodle. Stacy looked at the picture and saw that there was no collar on Fluffie. He thought, Ten grand for Fluffie? She got old money and is a rich mommy. “How did it happen?” “I was walking to Starbucks when a woman in a car pulled up beside me. A man jumped out of the car and grabbed Fluffie.” The limo driver pulled back in front of Stacy’s office and came to a stop. “Mr. Stacy, I will be in touch,” Barbar said as she fixed her hair, showing him another look at her cleavage. “If you find Fluffie before the police, I will give you a secret bonus that you will never forget.” She licked her lips. Stacy got out of the car and watched it pull away thinking, a broad paying that kind of dough for a poodle. If I was Fluffie, I would never want to leave home. Stacy began walking back up stairs and noticed that his office door was closed. He pulled out his .45 and cocked it when he remembered he didn’t leave it closed. He walked in slowly and found two dead bodies, one behind the sofa and the other in the bathroom. They both had been shot. Stacy took pictures of the bodies and found a card in the sofa that read “Waterfront Pier 1.” Stacy got on the phone with the Metropolitan Police Department. “How may I help you?” “I would like to report a double shooting at Stacy Investigations, Southeast, D.C.” “We’re on our way, sir.” MPD detectives, after checking that Stacy’s gun permits and PI license were in order, asked if he knew the two people. “I’ve never seen them before.” “Well, we’ve got a tip from the streets that these two were the last two seen with some poodle,” the detective said. Stacy thought about Fluffie and thought, don’t forget to start wearing your bulletproof vest. Read part 2 of “Stacy from Malibu” in the next issue of Street Sense. Ivory Wilson has been a vendor for a year and has written dozens of short stories. You may find him selling Street Sense at the corner of 11th and E streets, NW.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
Movie rEVIEW
FEATURES & GAMES 11
By Maurice King
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Cryptogram Solve the message below to discover a famous, meaningful quote on poverty and homelessness.
BA NZM RBTMLJ UA NZM SUUL IM HYOTMV CUN IJ NZM GYFT UA CYNOLM, ION IJ UOL BCTNBNONBUCT, DLMYN BT UOL TBC. – HZYLGMT VYLFBC Hint: N = C
Street Su-Do-Ku
One thing is for certain: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is not a story for everyone’s tastes. A story redolent with blood, cannibalism and gore, set to music that borders on opera, it enjoyed a short run on Broadway and an abortive run in London, but it still won numerous Tony awards in 1979. The original stage production was so very operatic that it was difficult to imagine how director Tim Burton could transfer the play onto the screen without losing a significant amount of the character of the work. After seeing the film, I concluded that my suspicions were accurate because quite a bit of the spirit of the original died in the transition to the screen, leaving the viewers to see an overly tragic result. People who never saw the stage version are not likely to notice the omission of the many choral passages that tell the story nor are they likely to feel shortchanged when some of the major musical numbers are left out. However, some of the deletions result in obscure story lines, such as the romance between Anthony and Johanna. In the stage version, musical numbers sung between the couple explain the development of the relationship; in the film, the two exchange not a word, and the audience is expected to believe that Johanna is ready to run away with a sailor who stood outside her window one day. Plausible the situation isn’t, and Tim Burton should have known better when he was putting his movie together. Johnny Depp’s performance as Sweeney Todd is as brooding and morose as
the part requires, and he sings adequately for his role. Helena Bonham Carter comes across as a rather melancholy Mrs. Lovett, at no point in the film is her hair presentable, and her singing leaves something to be desired. Alan Rickman plays the evil Judge Turpin most convincingly. Sasha Baron Cohen gives a most entertaining performance as the charlatan Adolfo Pirelli; he is one of the few actors whose voice is dubbed, and that fact is indicated in the final credits. The performances of the other actors are forgettable for the most part. Perhaps Burton was trying to create a film that seemed less theatrical and more realistic by omitting the chorus, but he went much too far with his omissions. Some critics have even lamented that the film was made into a musical at all. In a way, I can understand their feelings. Sweeney Todd is unquestionably a musical, and any attempt to hide the fact is ludicrous. It would have been wiser to have included all the musical numbers and to have found creative ways to handle them. My recommendation? The Entertainment Channel’s version of Sweeney Todd is available on DVD. It won three Emmy awards in 1985, and it delivers most of the original stage version. What is more, all the actors sing their own parts. It’s a real performance and is worth the money paid. Maurice King has been writing for Street Sense since January 2004. He is also a musician who last played in a stage production of Sweeney Todd. E–mail him at benadam@ cyberdude.com him for details.
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January 9th Solution
January’s solution: Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. – Norman Vincent Peale
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PLACE YOUR AD HERE! With Street Sense now coming out twice a month and reaching nearly 11,000 people each issue, now is the perfect time to promote your business with us. DEMOGRAPHICS And who your business will be reaching can’t be beat. Our typical reader is a 35year old woman who lives in D.C. and works for the government or a nonprofit earning $70,000 a year.
RATES Rates are about half the cost of the neighborhood monthlies and are as low as $57 for a 1/16 page ad that runs multiple times. DISCOUNTS Discounts offered to nonprofits and to those that prepay for multiple ads.
Call Laura at 202-347-2006 or email info@streetsense.org for more information and to get a copy of our new advertising brochure. Or ask your local vendor, who can earn 20% commission from ads sales.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
12 EDITORIALS
My Turn At the Table
By Patricia Jefferson
A Cozy Meal at M&S Grill
Jane Cave
Patricia Jefferson tried the Idaho Rainbow Trout during her recent visit to M&S Grill.
I
had the pleasure of dining at the M&S Grill, which is an old classic restaurant from over a century ago, according to a report by the restaurant. The restaurant is located in the downtown area, and serves American-style grilled food such as prime steak, roasted chicken and seafood specialties. The initials M&S stand for McCormick and Schmick’s. I was accompanied by Jane Cave, a Street Sense volunteer. When we entered the restaurant, it was crowded and there was a line to be seated, but since we had reservations we were seated quickly. It is suggested that reservations be made, especially during the lunch hour. The restaurant is relatively large, with a bar. It appears to be a business–oriented restaurant because professionals dine often and perhaps conduct business meetings. Jane commented that the restaurant looks like a “gentlemen’s club, quite cozy.” In addition, there are private rooms for small and large groups of people, according to Stephen Briggs, general manager of the restaurant. The atmosphere was comfortable and serene, but the lighting was somewhat dim.
Jane began her meal with a cup of Maryland crab soup and as her main course ordered a big salad, the southwestern blackened salmon, which came on a bed of lettuce, accompanied by jicama, red peppers, shredded Parmesan cheese and roasted corn. Jane said the crab soup was very spicy, but it was to her liking. She described the salmon as good, but found the fried croutons that came along with it very greasy and said there was too much lettuce. But, overall the meal was good. I started my own meal with an appetizer. One of my favorite kinds of seafood is shrimp. Therefore, I ordered the bacon–wrapped shrimp, which came with a chili–lime vinaigrette and roasted corn salsa. The bacon–wrapped shrimp were a little spicy, which was good, so that you could taste the texture of the shrimp and savor the flavor. The vinaigrette was good and the roasted corn salsa was just right and complementary. As my entree, I ordered the Idaho rainbow trout, which was grilled with a maple baste and apple chutney. It was cooked somewhat tender, but just right. The maple baste and apple chutney gave the fish a sweet and exciting taste. The amount was adequate. In addition, I ordered iced tea with lemon and had toasted sesame rolls. For dessert, I was reluctant, but couldn’t resist the array of lovely desserts that was presented on a tray. I finally decided to choose the upside–down apple pie with caramel sauce. It was very delicious, with a bunch of chunks of apples. I recommend the M&S Grill if you want a traditional American meal at reasonable prices. I recommend the restaurant for business meetings and small gatherings as well. The restaurant is located at 600 13th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20005. The telephone number is (202) 347–1500. Please call ahead for reservations.
What our REaders are Saying... Dear Editor: I was particularly happy to read your article, “Hearing Voices,” in the Jan. 23 issue of Street Sense because I have schizophrenia myself and the author’s experience with the one–hour simulated experience with voices is exactly how I feel myself when I am hearing voices: distracted, depressed by their negative messages, unable to function effectively. If people could understand how hard it is to hold a job when you are bombarded by hostile voices, maybe it would be easier to get on the federal disability rolls without a lawyer and homelessness would drop significantly. I applaud your bringing this hands–on experience to your readers. A grateful reader with schizophrenia
Dear Street Sense, It has been a pleasure seeing this newspaper flourish over the years – thank you for giving your vendors opportunities and a voice, and thank you for educating me on the plight of the homeless here in D.C. and across the country. I have never encountered a vendor who has been anything by friendly and professional. Purchasing Street Sense is always a bright spot in my day. Thank you! Amanda Joseph–Little
Wishing for a Family Valentine By Eldridge “Bo” Sims
S
ometimes our greatest fear is change – it was for me. When I w a s yo u n g e r I thought I was a gangster. I once pulled a gun on a guy who told me I wasn’t a gangster; I told him I would kill him if he ever said it again. I thought the lifestyle of guns, money, women, and cars was what it was all about. After spending 20 years in federal penitentiaries, I realized that I had to change my situation, or I would surely die in jail. Now, I have a stable job, am in a great relationship with someone who cares about me and have a 4-year-old son – I cannot imagine my life without him. I want to share my life story so that people who are in tough places know they too can change. I first got high off dope when I was 12 years old. Nobody knew I was dipping so I was able to blend in. However, one day at school my teacher invaded my space so I broke his nose. That was the beginning of my demise. They kicked me out and eventually I was sent to the Cedar Knoll Children’s Center in Laurel, Md., and continued on to Oak Hill Youth Center and Wilson High School. I got kicked out of high school one fateful night in November at the fall dance. The assistant principal was guarding the money box at the door when my crew and I walked into the building without pausing to pay the entrance fee. He yelled for us to stop, but we did not falter because we were so anxious to get inside. Suddenly, I heard a shot and knew right away it had something to do with my crew – we always carried guns. I immediately turned around and saw my man running towards the exit, so I followed to cover his tracks. We piled into the car and, although a couple of our boys were missing, we sped off. They were picked up by the school officials and to this day I do not know what happened to them. As it turned out, the moneybox contained less than $500, which meant nothing to me at the time. Tragically, someone was dead, and I was charged with first-degree murder. My partner and I fled, running from state to state while being hotly pursued by the FBI. We robbed banks, fearing nothing; in fact, when my mother told me about the Feds, I declared they would never take me alive! I ran crazy, robbing banks and using dope. My partner and I were a team and we were mean! Sadly, he is currently in jail, perhaps for the rest of his life, because he was arrested for an alleged kidnapping and asking for a $200,000 ransom. The details
are shaky, but I just thank God I got high that day or I too could be in his situation. Even though I thought I would never get caught, the Feds got all of my youth and then some. After being released in 1990, I got high for the next 10 years and was in and out of jail. I will never allow myself to forget the time I spent locked up, because I am still on parole and can get caught for any minor infraction. After I got out in 2003, I was fortunate to end up in a shelter and learn about the D.C. Central Kitchen, a community kitchen that recovers 4,000 pounds of food a day and turns it into 4,500 meals for direct service agencies. Soon after, I graduated from the Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training program and was hired as a production staff member. My employment at the Kitchen is the best thing that ever happened to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to cook, which is something I have always enjoyed, and earn real money, as opposed to getting paid $150 a month in jail. I am happy to make a difference in the community by working at an organization that does wonderful work for populations in need. I can’t put in words how I feel about the direction my life has taken. I don’t want to ever go back to jail or use drugs again. And the beauty of it is that I don’t have to because I have a choice. Although my life has changed dramatically, I currently face another huge challenge. I am applying to be a foster parent. There is a tremendous need for foster parents in the D.C. area, but the process is very difficult. The Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) has denied my application, refusing to believe that people like me can change. The CFSA thinks that I am not a suitable foster parent because of my parole status; however, government officials routinely visit my home and agree that it complies with child safety standards. If I was not a fit parent, the state would take my son away from me. I cannot believe that I am required to pay taxes while on probation but cannot exercise my right to become a foster parent. I hope that soon I can find people to help me navigate the legal process of becoming a foster parent. Although I am extremely frustrated, this experience has allowed me to see how my life has changed from being a gangster to wanting to make a difference in another child’s life. For all those who think life is over, I urge you to seek help and believe in yourself. If you don’t believe, you make it very hard for others to believe – just give yourself a chance. Kelly Cooper of D.C. Central Kitchen helped Bo tell his story.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
EDITORIALS 13
What We Can Learn From The Patriots By Jeffery McNeil
S
ports are a metaphor for life. In life, as in sports, there are obstacles to climb, achievements that are attained, and opponents that block your path to success. The reason I’m writing about the Patriots is because everyone raves about how superior to other teams they are, but let’s see what we can learn from their history. The Patriots played their first game Sept. 9, 1960, and had moderate success in the 1960s when they were owned by Billy Sullivan. They lost the 1963 championship game to the San Diego Chargers, 51 to 10. Billy Sullivan bought the Patriots in 1959 for $25,000. He wanted to join the NFL but was denied and joined the AFL. He was instrumental in merging the AFL and the NFL. During his 28 seasons owning the franchise, he had 14 winning seasons with one AFL championship and one Super Bowl appearance. He sold his team to avoid bankruptcy to Victor Kiam for $83 million and remained the team president until the 1992 season. In addition, he filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL for $116 million but settled for $11.5 million in 1996. There is also one other little known fact I’d like to point out: He helped broker the first AFL television contract in 1964 for about $30 million. Victor Kiam was the Remington shavers mogul. During his ownership from 1988–1991, they narrowly missed the playoffs in 1988, but from 1989–93 they were one of the worst teams in the NFL. He eventually sold the team to James Orthwien, who wanted to move the team to St. Louis. He later sold to current owner Robert Kraft. Kraft’s ownership tenure is pretty amazing. He bought the franchise for the highest price ever at the time – $175 million – because of the speculation about the team moving to St. Louis – and they were the lowest valued franchise at the time. Furthermore, he had to pay the lease at Foxborough Stadium. It didn’t seem like a good investment at the time. Upon his purchase, he told New England fans he would bring a championship to New England. The Patriot fans responded by selling 6,000 tickets and selling out every game for the first time in 34 years. But the greatest change was hiring Bill Parcells in 1994 and going from the old Patriots uniforms to their current silver uniforms. Within two years of Coach Parcells signing on, they reached the Super Bowl, but lost to the Green Bay Packers, 35 to 21, in 1996. Parcells left because of his lack of input in player personnel, especially after the drafting of Terry Glenn in which he wanted a defensive player. His most famous quote: “If you want someone to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.” It would be hard to believe that the Patriots dynasty would come under the helm of Bill Belichick. Belichick, son of a former football player and assistant coach at the Naval Academy, graduated from Wesleyan University. After graduating,
he took a $25-a-week job with the Baltimore Colts under then-head coach Ted Marchibroda in 1975. Eventually, by 1979, he began a 12-year stint with the New York Giants, where he became defensive coordinator in 1985, serving under Parcells. During his time there, the Giants won two Super Bowls and the 1986 Giants rank as one of the greatest teams of all time. In 1991, he became head coach of the Cleveland Browns, made questionable decisions like cutting Bernie Kosar for Vinnie Testaverde (Kosar eventually won a ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1995 as a backup quarterback). When owner Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore, that killed the morale around Cleveland and Belichick eventually wound up back with Parcells, this time with the Patriots. He was defensive coordinator of the 1995 Patriots, who lost to Green Bay in the Super Bowl that season. When Parcells left for the Jets, Belichick followed him there also and when Parcells resigned, Belichick was named his successor as the Jets head coach. He resigned one day later and received much criticism for his bolting to the Patriots, which resulted in the Patriots giving a first round draft choice to the Jets. This wouldn’t be the last time there would be controversy surrounding the Jets in Belichick’s tenure. Belichick began his second coaching stint with a record of 5and-11 and his only losing season as coach of the Patriots. In his second year, if you had predicted the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, you would have been the lone wolf. They went 5-and-11 the year before, they lost their quarterback coach, Dick Rehbein, to a heart attack, their starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was lost due to an injury. His replacement was Tom Brady, who only threw three passes the year before and was a backup to Drew Henson and Brian Griese at Michigan. From this ho-hum background, who would think he would turn out to be maybe the greatest quarterback ever? The Patriots went 11-and-5 that year and won their first Super Bowl against the Rams in the first Super Bowl in which the winning points were scored on the final play, just as the time expired. The next year, they missed the playoffs with a 9-and-7 record before rebounding to 14-and-2 in 2003. In 2003, they started off 2-and-2, then went on to go undefeated the remainder of the season and to cap off with a Super Bowl victory. This victory made the football world take notice that the Patriots are for real. The next year, they defeated the Eagles to win three Super Bowls in four years. And even though they lost this year’s Super Bowl, the game was neck-and-neck until the end. The Patriots have become a dynasty without the fanfare of high profile coaches, of going after big-name free agents with plush contracts and little to show for it. They seem to win going with the team and unity concept, focusing on short-term goals to achieve long-term results. Maybe corporations can adopt the same methods the Patriots use by taking chances on damaged goods (aka Randy Moss, Corey Dillon) and apply those methods to the homeless community and help cure what’s ailing America.
Voices, from page 1
To have a relationship, you have to bring something to offer – maybe not a roof, but some kind of talent, skill, stability and means of providing. If you’re considering dating you have to set up criteria and a plan on who fits your category. I know I want someone who’s going to make me better than I am today, and I don’t see another homeless woman making me happy. That is my opinion.
“The Patriots have become a dynasty without the fanfare of high-profile coaches, of going after big-name free agents with plush contracts ...”
someone, because I know my future is brighter than my past. I’m getting educated and trying to become an entrepreneur and I don’t need the powerful emotion of romance clouding my focus right now. I’ll have plenty of time to find someone compatible.
Jeffery McNeil regularly puts on a suit to sell Street Sense.
MAURICE SPEAKS
By Maurice King
No Surprises for the Homeless
T
he 2008 election campaign is now in full swing, with all the candidates vying for the No. 1 office in the land. Only in November will we know the winner of that contest. Meanwhile, we will be bombarded with advertisements trying to convince us that one or another is the better candidate and that it is not worth wasting a vote on the opposition candidate on Election Day. The one thing we can all say without hesitation is that there are no real surprises in the procedure. It runs true to form every four years. The primaries, the campaign ads, the conventions, and the clamor that precedes the elections up to the last minute will be totally formulaic. The only surprise that we’re likely to get may be the outcome, and that is anybody’s guess at this point. But whatever the outcome, one thing seems fairly certain: the homeless have little reason to rejoice regardless of who wins, unless John Edwards surprises us all and comes back into the presidential race to win the nomination and the election; that would be a surprise indeed. Before he dropped out of the race Jan. 30, Edwards was the only candidate who had taken a clear stand against poverty. The same cannot be said of any other candidates. They have failed to address the issue at all, a clear indication that none of them considers eliminating poverty a priority for the United States. The notion that very wealthy persons cannot truly represent the poor and/or middle class is hardly new. The country is run by a very rich elite that cannot easily relate to the problems that persons who struggle for their very existence must face daily. This situation calls into question the whole concept of democracy, which by definition is supposed to mean that the people rule, not just people of significant means. Of course, the meanings of words often undergo significant changes over time. It seems rather tragic and ironic that the concept upon which the nation was founded has undergone such a radical change over time. The assumption that most of the homeless are alcoholics or drug users might be used as a defense by the gentry in their attempt to explain their apathy toward the problem of homelessness. However, this is a myth that has been disproven many times over and should by now no longer be used by any person of intelligence to justify a lack of concern for the plight of the homeless. A large population that is less visible is equally needy and faces a life struggle without substance abuse of any sort. It is an error to judge all homeless people based on the sightings of a few. Unfortunately, ignorance still prevails. And the fact that the United States is both involved in an unpopular foreign war and edging dangerously toward a recession makes it likely that any large–scale plans to improve the plight of the poor and homeless will have to wait until these other problems are addressed. Maurice King has been writing for Street Sense since January 2004 and is in the process of publishing his own book. E–mail him at benadam@cyberdude.com.
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
14 STREET SENSE NEWS
VendorNotes
INteRn Insight
By Laura Thompson Osuri
Dennis’s Own Place I am happy to report that vendor Dennis Rutledge moved into his own apartment at the beginning of January. The apartment is a single room occupancy (SRO) unit at the McKenna House in Columbia Heights. He was able to move into the place through a transitional housing program that helped him after he came out of rehab. To celebrate his new living situation, Dennis decided to take a few weeks off to enjoy his new room. He also did a little fishing around the Tidal Basin with the new fishing rod he got at the Street Sense holiday party. “I haven’t caught anything yet,” Dennis said. “But it’s still fun!” Congrats, Grandpa Gregory We just wanted to congratulate new vendor Gregory Martin on becoming a grandfather for the fourth time. On Jan. 19, his newest granddaughter Aryin was born weighing 6 lbs 4.8 oz. He said he took a week off to spend time with the newest addition to his family, but now is back in action selling Street Sense, prouder than ever. Street Sense Baby Shower And speaking of babies, I just wanted to personally thank all the Street Sense vendors, volunteers, board and staff, and the Church of the Epiphany staff, for throwing me a surprise baby shower on Jan. 29. I was completely surprised and touched by the event. Apparently everyone was in on the surprise, including the vendors I yelled at all day for using
the back staircase, and even the reporter for the GW Hatchet, who was told to keep me occupied in the office for as long as possible. From what they told me, Koki, our editor, arranged the shower and then everyone chipped in to bring food and help decorate. What was really sweet and unexpected was that vendors and volunteers also chipped in to buy a present: a wonderful McLaren rocker/bouncy-seat for my babyto-be. Koki said that many vendors gladly contributed a couple dollars to the gift fund, and that vendors also helped to meticulously decorate the church conference room with balloons, streamers and miniature baby bottles. Thanks again to everyone for their generosity and kindness. Baby–to–be Isaac (due to arrive March 29) has a wonderful family awaiting him at Street Sense and I am sure he will be using his rocker in the office in the not-too-distant future. Patty the Scholar Longtime vendor and occasional writer Patty Smith has decided to further her education and is now taking classes at Strayer University. She is working toward her associate degree in communications. Patty is currently in class two days a week taking the fundamentals of writing and business mathematics. She says the work is tough but that she enjoys learning and is looking forward to getting employment with her new skills and knowledge. Top Vendor Sales: January Jeffery McNeil.........................1302 Conrad Cheek...........................766 Mark Jones................................708 Bobby G. Buggs.........................587 Moyo Onibuje...........................556 James Davis...............................450 Kevin Robinson........................434 Edward Ross.............................404 Top vendor Jeffery McNeil
Martin Walker...........................378 Leonard Cannady.....................365
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By Jessica Elliot
Why I’m Here
F
or many people, the process of doing an internship can be tedious and boring. A lot of times it involves nothing more than sitting at a desk, answering phone calls, and doing research. This was exactly what I did not want. I was looking for a way to get my hands dirty and get involved in something bigger. I wanted to be a part of something that would make me question societal beliefs about what is and is not acceptable. I wanted to leave my internship every Monday and Tuesday having learned something new about both myself and the people with whom I worked. One thing I have already learned is that no two people are alike; every person has a different story. It is up to us whether or not we care enough to want to know that story. I remember walking down the streets of New York when I was younger and wondering why there were people living on the streets. My parents attempted to explain, but the meaning of homelessness was still hard for me to grasp. I didn’t understand how people ended up with nowhere to go. I wanted answers. As I got older and continued to see homelessness everywhere I went, I realized that homelessness and poverty were major problems that too many people ignore, until it directly affects them. Since then my dream has been to own and operate my own non-profit organization dedicated to homelessness and poverty; to provide a place that will give people the tools to get back on their feet. To fulfill that dream, I went to college, put together an interdisciplinary major in human rights, and came to Washington, D.C., to spend a semester learning more about the issue. I also talked with my professor here about exactly what I was looking for in an internship. She referred me to the Street Sense Web site. Reading through the different links, I became immediately intrigued. Then, when I met with Laura (executive director of Street Sense) about the possibility of interning and the ways in which I could help, I became overwhelmed with excitement, thinking back to one of my favorite quotes, “be the change you want to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi). I left the office ready to be that change. I absolutely love every minute I spend working with the Street Sense staff, volunteers and vendors. I have learned more in the last two weeks than I could have hoped. Since getting to know many of the vendors, I have found myself getting frustrated, watching people just walk by them without any form of acknowledgement. Last week, before heading into the office, I stopped to talk with one of the vendors. As I was talking with him, he held the paper up, attempting to sell it. A man in a suit noticed he was there and immediately put his head down and continued to walk. The vendor turned to me and said, “It wouldn’t have cost him anything to just look up at me and acknowledge that I was standing here.” Many of the vendors just want to be recognized and want the same human interaction that anyone else hopes to have. Every vendor has a unique story that should be heard. I hope that when I leave Street Sense I am able to spread those stories, along with information about homelessness and poverty.
FEATURES 15 SERVICE PROVIDERS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
Community Service Index WASHINGTON, D.C. SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 928 5th Street, NW (202) 783-6651 www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745-7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393-1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232-7356 www.communityofhopedc.org DC Village (Family) 2-A DC Village Lane, SW (202) 561-8090 www.dccfh.org/DCVillage.html Franklin School (Men) 13th and K streets, NW (202) 638-7424 Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842-1731 www.grm.org John Young Center (Women) 117 D Street, NW (202) 639-8469 http://www.ccs-dc.org/find/services/ La Casa Bilingual Shelter (Men) 1436 Irving Street, NW (202) 673-3592 N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939-2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeth Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561-4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men) 1355-57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832-2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639-8093
FOOD Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232-3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387-6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Dinner Program for Homeless Women AND the “9:30 Club” Breakfast 309 E Street, NW (202) 737-9311 www.dphw.org Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842-1112
Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269-2277 www.foodandfriends.org Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452-8926 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347-2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ministry/ welcometbl.htm
MEDICAL RESOURCES Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328-1100 www.christhouse.org Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745-4300 www.unityhealthcare.org Whitman-Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797-3500 www.wwc.org
OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265-2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561-8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364-1419 www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939-2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Green Door (202) 464-9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675-9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling and mentoring, education, youth services, clothing Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338-8301 www.georgetownministrycenter.org laundry, counseling, psych care Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328-6608
Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252
www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682-1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social activities Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675-9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797-8806 www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842-9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services of D.C. 924 G Street, NW (202) 772-4300 www.ccs-dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347-8870 www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347-0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332-4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332-2874 http://www.ccs-dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544-9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667-8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462-4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau available
Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889-7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667-4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347-3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371-1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html national emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328-5500 www.legalclinic.org legal services
MARYLAND SHELTER Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762-8682 www.communityministrymc.org The Samaritan Group P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480-3564 Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499-2319 www.cmpgc.org
FOOD Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Church, Bethesda (301) 907-9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499-2319 www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614-618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424-1130 www.mannafood.org
MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring (301) 585-1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda (301) 493-8553 www.mobilemedicalcare.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942-1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org
shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue Capitol Heights (301)333-4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600-B East Gude Drive, Rockville (301) 217-0314 www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportiveservices
VIRGINIA SHELTER Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838-4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548-7500 www.carpentersshelter.org Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 Ninth Road North, Arlington (703) 525-7177 www.aachhomeless.org
FOOD Alive, Inc. 2723 King Street, Alexandria (703) 836-2723 www.alive-inc.org Our Daily Bread 10777 Main Street, Ste. 320, Fairfax (703) 273-8829 www.our-daily-bread.org
MEDICAL RESOURCES Arlington Free Clinic 3833 N Fairfax Drive, #400, Arlington (703) 979-1400 www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823-4100 www.anchor-of-hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548-7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter Legal Services of Northern Virginia 6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 500 (703) 778-6800 www.lsnv.org civil legal services Samaritan Ministry 2924 Columbia Pike, Arlington (703) 271-0938 www.samaritanministry.com social services, employment services, HIV/AIDS services
Street Sense . February 6 - 19, 2008
PHOTO FINISH
By Jane Cave
A Welcome Surprise
Vendors Francine Triplett and Brenda Wilson, along with executive director Laura Thompson Osuri (center), admire her baby shower cake. On Jan. 29, Street Sense staff, board, vendors and volunteers completely surprised Laura with a baby shower in the Church of the Epiphany conference room. About 30 people were in attendance, and everyone chipped in for food and to buy Laura a wonderful present. Baby Osuri is due to arrive March 29.
StreetFact
VENDOR PROFILE
Lawrence Autry III
By Mary Pat Abraham Lawrence Autry III was born in Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. Now 43, he grew up in Northeast D.C. attending many schools from Bunker Hill Elementary to Roosevelt High School. Lawrence reflects on his childhood and the people he grew up around who have passed on, many of whom died due to violence, AIDS, and old age. He said, “Sometimes I feel loss, but I understand that I must move on. So God bless them and may they rest in peace.” Lawrence attended the Computer Learning Institute and got certified in Windows 98. He worked at Reagan National Airport for Hertz for seven years part time. When Hertz was purchased by another company, Lawrence didn’t agree with the changes that were made, which eventually led to a career change. He then worked for Admiral Security Services and helped secure a public broadcasting station located in northern Virginia. Lawrence is currently working on getting his Commercial Driver’s License and during his free time he finds selling Street Sense to be a good opportunity to make money and spread awareness. Lawrence also wanted to add his own view on homelessness, “In my opinion too many homeless or displaced people are being labeled as mentally ill. Not that there aren’t legitimate cases, but to me that shows that there are people very serious about controlling others.” About one of his dreams, he said, “I’d like to ask somebody to volunteer some studio time to me – to work on a CD I made titled ‘Bone Daddy’ that will have a two-cut song. One song is called ‘Up-breed’ and the other song is called ‘I Shall be King.’ It’s just one of my dreams to make a demo CD.” How did you become homeless? I’m not homeless but on a very fixed income, Street Sense at the moment really helps me out. Why do you sell Street Sense? With a fixed income it helps me make ends meet. Also, I get to help others and at the same time I get to meet some interesting people.
The wait for housing assistance from the D.C. Housing Authority can be about five years, even for those who are homeless. See story on page 1. Source: Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
February 6 – February 19, 2008 • Volume 5 • Issue 7
Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Mail To:
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Where do you see yourself five years from now? If I’m still living I hope to have my Commercial Driver’s License by then and be driving for a good company. Hopefully I’ll still be selling Street Sense part time and I’ll have a demo CD of my own music. Your favorite music? Rap. Lately more interested in jazz such as, Kevin Tony’s “Lovescape” and Bony James’ “Sweet Thing.” Your favorite food? Lasagna, baked fish, salad, and pizza Your favorite movie? “Superfly,” “Bullet,” and “Thicker Than Water” Favorite author? Ja m e s Ba l d w i n a n d Langston Hughes
Lawrence reminds customers to only buy from badged vendors and not to give to those panhandling with one paper.
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