ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS
n 2017, we began hosting a number of different workshops aimed at helping our vendors develop skills beyond writing for our newspaper. On any given day, our vendors are illustrating, painting, recording podcasts, taking photos, rehearsing plays, organizing advocacy groups and coming together as a community.
We ran workshops in 2024
THE TEAM
THE TEAM
VENDORS
In 2023, artists/vendors published a book of their photography, We publish vendor art and writing every week! and shared their life experiences in an oral history project!
Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Akindele Akerejah, Amia Walker, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Beverly Sutton, Brian Holsten, Brianna Butler, Cameé Lee, Carlos Carolina, Carlton Johnson, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Chris Cole, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Darlesha Joyner, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon Dovonou, Dominique Anthony, Don Gardner, Donald Davis, Donte Turner, Drake Brensul, Earl Parker, Elizabeth Bowes, Eric Thompson-Bey, Erica Downing, Evelyn Nnam, Faith Winkler, Floyd Carter, Frederic John, Frederick Walker, Gerald Anderson, George Gray, Gloria Prinz, Gracias Garcias, Greta Christian, Henrieese Roberts, Henry Johnson, Invisible
Prophet, Ibn Hipps, Ivory Wilson, Jacqueline Turner, Jacques Collier, James Davis, James Hughes, James Lyles III, Jay B. Williams, Jeanette Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Jeffery McNeil, Jeffrey Carter, Jemel Fleming, Jenkins Dalton, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jet Flegette, Jewel Lewis, John Littlejohn, Josie Brown, Juliene Kengnie, Kenneth Middleton, Kym Parker, L.Q. Peterson, Laticia Brock,
Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Marc Grier, Marcus McCall, Maurice Carter, Melody Byrd, Melveon Harp, Micheal Pennycook, Michele Modica, Morgan Jones, Nikila Smith, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Paul Martin, Peggy Jackson Whitley, Phillip Black, Qaadir El-Amin, Queenie Featherstone, Rachelle Ellison, Randall Smith, Rashawn Bowser, Reginald Black, Reginald
COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIST HOUSE, COVER DESIGN BY ANNEMARIE CUCCIA
Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Vaughn, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Ronnell Wilson, S. Smith, Sasha Williams, Shawn Fenwick, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Starchild BLK, Sureyakanti Behera, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Tasha Savoy, Tim Holt, T.K. Hancock, Tonya Williams, Vincent Watts, Warren Stevens, Wayne Hall, Wendell Williams, Wendy
Brown, William Mack, William Young, Willie Futrelle BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ashley McMaster, Blake Androff, Clare Krupin, Chris Curry, Cole Ingraham, Jonquilyn Hill, Matt Perra, Michael Vaughan Cherubin, Michael Phillips, Nana-Sentuo Bonsu, Stanley Keeve
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Brian Carome
The Cover
The Cover
PHOTO BY MADI KOESLER, COVER DESIGN BY ANNEMARIE CUCCIA
NEWS IN BRIEF
Trump executive order targets U.S. homelessness agency
KATHERINE WILKISON Editorial Intern
resident Donald Trump issued a March 14 executive order calling for the elimination of all “non-statutory components and functions” of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), an independent federal agency tasked with “preventing and ending homelessness in America.” The move threatens the country’s ability to respond to the growing homelessness crisis.
PThe order called for the elimination “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” of any activities not explicitly approved by Congress for the USICH and six other agencies, including the Voice of America and the Minority Business Development Agency. The heads of each agency were ordered to submit a report to the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by March 21, confirming their compliance with the order and explaining which, “if any,” parts of their work are statutorily required.
“The gutting of USICH would have a very negative impact on people experiencing homelessness, on communities, and on the federal government’s capacity to respond to homelessness in an effective and strategic way,” former USICH Executive Director Jeff Olivet said.
USICH works with other agencies to coordinate the federal response to homelessness at the state and local levels and is the only federal agency tasked to address homelessness. According to its bylaws, the agency works to conduct research and disseminate information regarding the status of homelessness in the U.S. It also publishes national strategic plans to end homelessness.
According to the USICH website, 13 people currently serve on its staff, though the fiscal year 2025 budget allocated funds for 18 fulltime staffers. It is unclear what specific actions the White House has deemed “unnecessary,” but the administration has already suggested rolling back other support for people experiencing homelessness.
OMB Director Russell Vought, who is tasked with determining the effectiveness and compliance of the targeted agencies, was one of the primary authors of the controversial Project 2025, a conservative governing blueprint for the second Trump administration. Project 2025 called for an end to “housing first” policies so the government instead “prioritizes mental health and substance abuse issues before jumping to permanent interventions in homelessness.”
This all-or-nothing approach worries Olivet, who began working in the homeless services field in the 1990s before the housing first policy was widely adopted, and stepped down in December. Housing first policy prioritizes quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into permanent, unconditional housing.
“What we realized as housing first came along was that if you can move people as quickly as possible into housing and provide
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Darick Brown
DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT
Thomas Ratliff
VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES
EVENTS AT SSM
ANNOUNCEMENTS
□ The March vendor meeting is Friday, March 28, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Come for pizza, business and fellowship!
really good wraparound supports, they can exit homelessness very successfully,” Olivet said.
While Olivet recognizes housing first doesn’t work for everyone experiencing homelessness, he warns against its elimination. “Instead of throwing the whole thing out and saying that doesn’t work, what we need to be more surgical about is what works for different people at different points in their journey,” he said.
The Trump administration also has repeatedly supported clearing homeless encampments, particularly in D.C. On March 6, the city cleared a large encampment next to the State Department the day after the president posted on Truth Social calling it “unsightly.” Kate Coventry, deputy director of legislative strategy for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, worries about the impact of this kind of language and the president’s ability to influence the District government.
“What we know is that clearing encampments does not end homelessness,” Coventry said. “It disrupts relationships between outreach workers and residents. Most residents do not move into housing or into shelter. They just move to another outside location, and people lose valuable things.”
Many of the Trump administration’s cuts are being done in the name of saving taxpayers money, but as agencies reduce staff and operational functions, experts worry about potential impacts on those same taxpayers. Olivet questions how cuts to USICH will make the agency more effective, especially given its already limited budget.
“This is an agency that was designed to ensure government efficiency, to eliminate duplication and waste, and so to come after this agency under the guise of government efficiency is disingenuous,” Olivet said.
Now, the administration is at an impasse, Olivet said, and must decide whether it is going to invest in evidence-based policies to end homelessness or continue stigmatizing people experiencing homelessness.
“I think there’s a fundamental question for this administration, and that is, what are you willing to do to solve homelessness? Not to strip funding away from communities, not to demonize people who are experiencing homelessness, but to really solve it,” Olivet said. “And that’s a moral question. It’s also a policy question and a budget question.”
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Queenie Featherstone ARTIST/VENDOR
Queenie was recently appointed to the advisory council of the Breadcoin corporation!
□ Accomplish something impressive? Let editorial know and you might get featured in the paper and some free copies!
□ There’s a new feedback box in the vendor lounge - let us know what you think the paper could do better! Feedback can be anonymous.
□ Find a list of vendor announcements and other useful information just for you at streetsensemedia.org/ vendor-info.
BIRTHDAYS
Charles Armstrong
March 26
ARTIST/VENDOR
VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT
Read this democratically elected code of conduct, by vendors, for vendors!
1. I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.
2. I will treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and fellow vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making donations, or engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.
3. I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.
4. While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $3 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.
5. I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.
Aida Peery, Chon Gotti, Nikila Smith
VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS Ann Herzog, Aiden Eisenschenk, Beverly Brown, Madeleine McCollough, Roberta Haber
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Annemarie Cuccia
DEPUTY EDITOR Donte Kirby
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Cara Halford, Ella Mitchell, Fiona Riley, Franziska Wild, Gabriel Zakaib, Katherine Wilkison, Madi Koesler
WEB INTERN Zachi Elias
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
Matt Corpuz
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN
Josh Hong
ARTISTS-INRESIDENCE
Alexandra Silverthorne (Photography), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration), Leslie Jacobson (Theater), Roy Barber (Theater), Willie Schatz (Writing)
EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS
Andrew Chow, Anne Eigeman, Cari Shane, David Fucillo, Dhanya Addanki, Jack Walker, Jillian Pincus, Josh Axelrod, Loren Kimmel, Mark Rose, Molly Mickela, Sarah Eccleston, Ryan Bacic, Taylor Nichols, Zach Montellaro
6. I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.
7. I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.
8. I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”
9. I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
10. I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”
Bowser has a plan to revitalize affordable housing. Opponents say it’ll stifle tenant rights
FIONA RILEY Editorial Intern
Some D.C. affordable housing providers say millions in unpaid rent is threatening their operations. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed solution could help these landlords stay in business, but tenant advocates argue it would do so at the expense of low-income residents who may face heightened evictions.
Bowser is proposing legislation to permanently reverse pandemic-era housing and eviction protections and add exceptions to the law that gives tenants the right of first refusal to purchase their homes, a move she says would sustain affordable housing amid mounting financial challenges. Critics argue the move would force residents to absorb the city’s housing failures and weaken tenants’ rights at a time when both the cost of rent and homelessness are rising.
Bowser introduced the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act on Feb. 12. If passed as is by the D.C. Council, the act would permanently restore faster pre-pandemic eviction timelines, remove some eviction protections for people applying for rental assistance, expedite the eviction process for tenants arrested or charged with a violent crime near the building, and exempt certain buildings from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).
“Our collective citywide commitment to affordable housing has made D.C. a national model for success. But that hard-won progress is at risk,” Bowser said in a Feb. 12 press release.
The percentage of occupied units in which tenants have outstanding unpaid rent rose from 4% in 2018 to an average of 15-20% in 2024, according to data from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. According to the data, tenants owed a collective $100 million in rent to affordable housing providers in 2024, and the office expects the number to rise to $147 million in 2025.
The Bowser administration argues that when people living in affordable housing units don’t pay rent, providers may have to reduce maintenance and amenities in an attempt to reduce costs and stay operational. But tenant advocates say while the legislation blames tenants for D.C.’s housing failures, people’s inability to pay rent indicates deeper issues of affordability and poverty that will only be exacerbated by increased evictions.
Rhonda Hamilton, the founder and executive director of M.I. Mother’s Keeper, a local nonprofit focused on increasing families’ access to mental health services, has been advocating for tenants’ rights over the last few years. She said the RENTAL Act is an “attack” on lowerincome residents, who are already scared of what effect President Donald Trump’s return to the White House will have on housing and shelter resources.
“Even in the face of the reality that we’re still struggling to provide habitable and safe housing for these tenants, the mayor and the council would have the audacity to actually consider reversing the TOPA understandings,” Hamilton said in an interview after a March 18 rally against the RENTAL Act.
The legislation places restrictions on TOPA, which grants tenant groups the first chance to purchase their buildings when landlords put them up for sale. Under the legislation, tenants in some properties where a majority of the units are used for affordable housing, along with certain newly constructed and renovated properties, would be exempted from TOPA rights. Leases for units the District determines TOPA will not apply to would need to include a written notice informing tenants of the exemption. Bowser’s office says the TOPA restrictions will permit landlords to sell their properties quickly without having to give their tenants notice first, which will encourage housing providers to continue buying and selling properties.
Tenants and advocates gathered outside the Wilson Building on March 18 to protest the RENTAL Act, specifically the revisions to TOPA, which they say should be expanded, not limited.
Barbara Cooper, the president of the tenants association at Marbury Plaza, said tenants have faced persistent threats to their safety and health due to property mismanagement and shifting requirements, like restrictions on certain pets. “We didn’t have an opportunity, because no one ever told us that our property was going to get sold until it was late,” Cooper said in an interview after the rally.
In addition to weakening TOPA, the bill makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants who aren’t paying rent, requiring landlords to give tenants only 10 days’ notice before filing for an eviction, down from the 30-day requirement set during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, if passed, would also lower the minimum time between when a tenant is served an official eviction notice and when they are required to appear in court from 30 business days to 14 calendar days
— effectively speeding up eviction processes.
Janine Lind, president of Enterprise Community Development, a mission-focused affordable housing provider, said at a press conference for the bill the number of people who aren’t paying rent rose significantly following COVID-19. She said in 2021, Enterprise dealt with an annual average of a “manageable” $1.3 million in unpaid rent across 17 properties in the District, but in 2024, the number rose to an “unsustainable” $7 million. The deficit makes national lenders less inclined to invest in their projects, which forces providers to consider selling or closing properties and thwarts the growth of additional affordable housing, according to Lind.
“If we don’t implement the measures that are being proposed today, more affordable housing developers will either have to sell some of their properties or actually close their doors,” said Lind. “We will reduce the access to safe and affordable housing in a place people call home.”
Joe Rojas, a political engagement committee member for Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America, which houses the Stomp Out Slumlords advocacy group, said the legislation would make it “even easier to push people out of their homes” when many in the District are already struggling to pay rent and live in poor housing conditions.
The RENTAL Act also proposes to make permanent changes to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), many of which the D.C. Council passed temporarily in September 2024. ERAP is a government program that provides one-time financial assistance to tenants who are unable to pay rent, particularly due to unforeseen circumstances. If the bill is passed, courts would be able to allow landlords to evict tenants who have applied for ERAP and may be waiting on the aid to pay past-due rent, though courts could still choose to issue a stay on evictions.
“We oppose it in the strongest possible terms; it’s a money grab for developers and landlords that Mayor Bowser is facilitating,” Rojas said in an interview after the March 18 rally.
Hamilton said the legislation would help landlords at the expense of tenants who are blamed for not paying rent when they’re living in uninhabitable conditions, and many people, particularly federal workers, are losing their jobs.
“It’s important that leaders such as myself show up to empower the tenants, to make sure that they know that they’re not alone, and to make sure that they understand that the standards are too low,” Hamilton said.
For the bill to take effect, the D.C. Council would need to pass the legislation. A spokesperson from Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s office said he doesn’t expect the council to approve the current version of the legislation in its full form. He said he expects there will be “action” on the bill after the upcoming budget season— oversight hearings for the FY2025 budget are set for between April 4 and May 2 — but before summer recess begins on July 15.
“I’m not predicting that the bill will be approved as introduced,” Mendelson wrote in a statement from his office. “But it’s important that we listen to all the issues, and I have said publicly that I think a number of those issues need to be addressed with some changes in the law.”
Tenant advocates gather in front of D.C.’s Wilson Building on March 28 for a rally against rolling back portions of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act in front of the D.C. City Council building. Photo by Fiona Riley
‘Woefully out of compliance:’ Letter says DCHA failed disabled tenants
ELLA MITCHELL Editorial Intern
Tenants with disabilities who rely on D.C.’s public housing struggle to find units that meet their needs, a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says.
The D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), which provides public housing in the city, has systematically failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to an Aug. 23, 2024 HUD report obtained by Street Sense. Under the ADA, entities that receive federal funding may not discriminate against people with disabilities and must provide them with equal access to programs or activities, including in public housing.
The letter is the result of an investigation spearheaded by HUD and the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), which began in 2021. It paints a troubling picture of DCHA’s treatment of its disabled residents. With a murky accommodation request system and delays leaving tenants unable to move into accessible units, disabled residents are left in limbo, waiting for their requested accommodations.
And those accommodations aren’t always accessible, the report says. Of the sampled units DCHA claimed were Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) compliant, the standard used by HUD, FHEO found none of them were up to standards, according to the report. Based on the units sampled, FHEO “reasonably concludes” that many, if not all, of DCHA’s accessible units fail to meet UFAS, which puts DCHA below the number of compliant units it is required to maintain, leaving disabled residents without proper accommodations.
“DCHA remains woefully out of compliance with even its most basic obligations,” the report states. “Coming into compliance will require a substantial overhaul of its operations.”
HUD’s findings of noncompliance are nothing new for DCHA. HUD previously investigated the agency several times, placing it under receivership in the 1990s. In 2022, a HUD report knocked DCHA for unlivable units in its public housing properties and poor management of its voucher programs. While DCHA said in October the agency had addressed 75% of the 113 issues, the report makes it clear there are still unaddressed problems for the agency’s most vulnerable tenants.
“Sometimes, residents, because they do not want to end up without a place to live, will accept what is offered to them,” said Empower D.C. Housing Director Daniel del Pielago, who often works with public housing residents.
One example included in the letter is A.A., a 62-year-old disabled resident living at Benning Terrace, who is identified by her initials for her privacy. In her ADA complaint from July 2021, A.A. said she could not walk or climb stairs because she had a stroke. She requested a no-step unit and grab bars because she could not climb the stairs to her third-floor unit, the letter states.
She attached a letter from her doctor, which detailed she “is not allowed to ever climb stairs … she risks falling and potentially death… She must live in a ground floor unit.” But DCHA withdrew her accommodation request seven months later, claiming they never received a response from her doctor.
A.A. then submitted an emergency transfer request for a unit without steps, with grab bars at her toilet and bathtub, and additional space for a live-in aide on April 10, 2022, saying she had two strokes, a brain disorder, fall risk, and needed 24/7 monitoring. While DCHA approved the request two weeks later,
she was placed on a transfer waiting list and still had not been provided any unit offers a year later.
Instances like A.A.’s — where DCHA failed to provide reasonable accommodations for disabilityrelated needs, issued “unnecessary” verification demands, and lost track of approved requests — are not an uncommon occurrence, the report finds.
In July 2021, the same month A.A. first requested to move, DCHA residents expressed concerns about the conditions of their homes at a public hearing.
Disability rights advocates and residents of DCHA properties said it was difficult to reach administrators for help with both routine and sudden maintenance needs, and the difficulties were exacerbated for people with disabilities because of a lack of accessible housing.
From Aug. 14 to Aug. 18, 2023, FHEO investigators conducted an onsite accessibility review of 10 DCHA properties. DCHA operates 8,033 units of federal public housing and has 1,829 project-based vouchers, according to a spreadsheet DCHA provided to FHEO in October 2023. Of those units, DCHA said over 700 were UFAS mobility units, meaning the rooms include features like accessible routes, widened doorways, and reinforced walls for grab bars.
FHEO could not identify any fully compliant designated accessible mobility unit in the 33 units it visited across the properties, and flagged thousands of architectural violations across DCHA’s portfolio. In some cases, basic accessibility features such as grab bars in bathrooms or wheelchair-friendly doorways were simply missing. In others, pathways and entrances were obstructed, making it nearly impossible for residents with mobility impairments to navigate their homes. FHEO also found some people without disabilities were living in designated accessible units, and some designated accessible units were unoccupied.
Based on the sample of units FHEO surveyed, the proportion of UFAS-compliant units does not comply with HUD regulations requiring each multifamily housing development contain no less than 5% designated mobility units and an additional 2% vision/ hearing units, the letter states.
“Public housing is not in good condition, and many people still make it work with what they have because they need a place to live,” said del Pielago. “Imagine having a disability or needing an accommodation and living in these conditions. It’s made worse. We need to do right by these folks and follow the law.”
Beyond physical accessibility failures, the report highlights severe delays and mismanagement in processing disabilityrelated transfer requests. One resident, identified as M.A.B., waited more than two years for a transfer to a building with an elevator. Another tenant, P.B., who needed a unit without stairs, waited 429 days for her request to be processed. In December 2021, HUD found that while 279 tenants were on the waiting list for an accessible unit, DCHA had 174 accessible units sitting vacant.
Del Pielago said the documentation tenants need to provide for reasonable accommodations can sometimes create issues because tenants don’t clearly understand of the process and DCHA misplaces documents, meaning the authority asks tenants to submit documentation multiple times.
“It creates a whole lot of worry and takes a toll on folks going through the process because they simply can’t live where they are,” del Pielago said.
In July 2021, Street Sense reported 255 households living in DCHA properties were waiting for ADA-compliant housing, according to the agency. A year later, the District’s Office of the Attorney General sued DCHA over accessible housing violations, putting tenants who waited years for reasonable disability accommodations at the forefront of the suit.
The report also raises concerns about DCHA’s lack of internal oversight and record-keeping. Investigators found DCHA did not adequately track its accessibility features, lacked staff training on disability accommodations, and failed to maintain proper documentation of requests and approvals.
Throughout the compliance review, DCHA’s files were “incomplete,” leaving out “critical” details in tenant and reasonable accommodation files, the report states. The report also describes a harrowing third-party verification process to verify requested accommodations. HUD said DCHA is “improperly” requesting too much information related to reasonable accommodations, which hinders fulfilling requests.
“Oftentimes people aren’t believed: people have to go through a whole lot to prove they need these accommodations,” del Pielago said.
For example, M.B., a tenant living in Harvard Towers, requested hearing-accessible features like flashing warning lights for her smoke detector and doorbell, the report says. But DCHA administratively withdrew her request because she did not submit third-party verification, despite the fact the agency should have known about her disability because her address was for Deaf-REACH, an organization that provides housing exclusively to those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
About 30% of accommodation requests are administratively withdrawn, the report says. By closing requests, DCHA delayed and denied accommodation for tenants who did not submit verifications despite known disabilities.
The report outlines corrective actions DCHA must take to ensure compliance, including conducting a news assessment, hiring an independent licensed architect and a full-time ADA/504 coordinator, and implementing regular employee training.
DCHA did not return Street Sense’s request for comment about the agency’s response to HUD’s findings or officials’ progress to remedy the agency’s missteps. A spokesperson told The Washington Post in March the agency has “already begun” taking steps to improve its compliance and services to disabled tenants. She said DCHA has moved its ADA compliance under the agency’s legal office and has begun trying to hire an architect to confirm the compliance of units with accessibility standards. Del Pielago said he recognizes bringing the units into compliance takes time and money. But he said he’d like DCHA to accept accountability for its missteps.
“The housing authority has failed its tenants for a very long time,” del Pielago said. “They need to right these wrongs that have existed in the past and take it seriously.”
Advocates call for a review of D.C.’s youth homelessness services and solutions
CARA HALFORD Editorial Intern
Advocates in D.C. are demanding the city create a new plan to fight youth homelessness, as preCOVID-19 structures begin to fall through, leaving vulnerable youth left behind.
In February, the Youth Economic Justice Coalition (YEJC) issued an open letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser demanding the District improve its approach to solving youth homelessness. According to the letter, current policies offer aid but don’t seek to end the problem, which affects more than 1,000 youth aged 18-24 across the District each year.
According to data shared at a March 18 meeting of D.C.’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), 1,114 youth in the District were either homeless or housing insecure in 2024, a 7% increase from 2023. Nearly three-quarters of youth experiencing homelessness are Black, and the majority are male. The report also showed youth who had experienced or are experiencing homelessness are more likely to struggle with mental health and substance abuse. These experiences could turn into cycles, as those who experience homelessness as youth are more likely to experience homelessness again in adulthood.
Rachel White, deputy director of youth advocacy at DC Action, which partnered with YEJC to write the letter, said that although the District launched a plan to end homelessness in 2017 called Solid Foundations, little has been done to combat youth homelessness at the city level since. The annual Point-in-Time Count, one way the city measures progress towards ending homelessness, counted 238 unaccompanied youth aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2016, and 410 in 2024.
“Despite initial progress under Solid Foundations, system-wide coordination funding for the youth homelessness system and strategic planning have stagnated,” White said, “It’s also worth noting that the latest data shows a dangerous rise in youth homelessness in the District, nearly doubling from 537 youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability in 2016 to over 1,000 in 2023.”
Now, the city is poised to make a new plan to address youth homelessness. With the city’s general plan to end homelessness, Homeward D.C. 2.0, expiring this year and Solid Foundations having expired in 2022, the ICH has been reviewing the plans and will draft a new version to go into effect by the end of the year. But it’s unclear if youth will have their own plan again, something the letter advocates for.
The first step the letter suggests is developing a new youth-specific plan, as youth face unique challenges when securing housing, according to White. Theresa Silla, the executive director of ICH, says the organization is taking these challenges into account.
“Youth homelessness often manifests differently than it does for adults. Because of stigma, a lack of developmentally appropriate and culturally competent programming, and other policy and institutional barriers, youth experiencing homelessness often remain hidden from the public eye,” Silla wrote in a statement to Street Sense.
The original plan, created in 2017, does not account for family dynamic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an overall increase in youth homelessness during the pandemic, according to the National Institutes of Health.
D.C.’s Youth Homeless Services Division currently handles homeless prevention services, such as diversion shelters and drop-in centers, as well as shelters and transitional and permanent housing.
“As we build this infrastructure, we are learning that we can more accurately count the number of youth and transitional-aged youth experiencing homelessness as the portfolio of temporary housing expands to better meet their needs,” Silla wrote.
Deborah Shore, the founder and executive director of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, said the systems of care Sasha Bruce has set up can help the District model and invest in their own plans, particularly those that aim to prevent adult homelessness later on. Sasha Bruce provides a drop-in center for youth, independent living and workforce training, street outreach, mental health services, and more. Sasha Bruce also has a youth advisory board to help give youth a chance to build leadership skills and have a role in developing and implementing new policies.
“It’s not enough to just simply provide a place to stay and a roof and maybe some food. It’s really important to have the ability to develop these relationships through which change really
happens,” Shore said.
The letter goes on to encourage the District to increase financial support and workforce opportunities for youth by partnering with housing services to deliver professional growth options and mentorships. The letter suggests the District model this approach after the state of Washington, which launched a program to provide youth stipends to help them learn how to manage money and work through homelessness. This program helped many to achieve and keep stable housing, as two-thirds of those receiving the stipends ended up renting housing independently three months into the program. Advocates who work with youth experiencing homelessness, including White, have long called on the city to expand employment support for youth experiencing homelessness.
Increasing financial support could have long-lasting impacts, according to White, because more stable housing could mean a more stable future.
“We are trying to basically show that without solving for youth homelessness, you’re going to exacerbate single adult homelessness and family homelessness because it is an intergenerational cycle,” White said.
To help disrupt this cycle, the letter also suggests the District take a “culturally competent” approach to systemic issues like poverty and inequality to ensure any policies it implements will work from the ground up to address youth homelessness.
The open letter also addresses mental health issues and suggests the District appoint traumainformed counselors through the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health to youth shelters and drop-in sites. It also suggests implementing a “continuous care model” where counselors check on youth throughout their time at a shelter.
“We need to bring mental health resources to youth where they physically congregate, so either at a drop-in center or at a housing facility or shelter. We shouldn’t put the burden on youth to navigate the behavioral health system,” White said.
Shore said the structures D.C. needs to combat youth homelessness are present, but it is up to the city to invest in them. D.C. will soon enter its fiscal year 2026 budget process and will likely have to trim its spending, meaning it may be a challenge for advocates to get more money designated to end youth homelessness in the budget.
“I think we are a successful system that deserves to be invested in, not only because we’re making a difference in individual lives, but because of that, it has an impact on the future of homelessness,” Shore said.
(Left to right) Flo White, Troy Harris, and Acree Strong work on Sasha Bruce’s Youth Advisory Council in 2022. Photo courtesy of Sasha Bruce
Art as therapy: Programs in D.C. improving mental health
GABRIEL ZAKAIB Editorial Intern
Editor’s note: This article features Street Sense vendors and volunteers. Street Sense maintains a firewall between its newsroom and other programs, and they were not involved in the production of the article.
n a sunny atrium atop G Street’s Epiphany Church, eight Street Sense vendors sang together. “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.” Away from the unforgiving stress of housing insecurity, their voices filled the empty space above their heads. These vendors gather weekly to write about their lives and share their perspectives on experiencing homelessness during Street Sense Media’s theatre workshop. Although the program was started with a focus on bringing the performing arts to vendors, participants have ended up finding unintended, but powerful, therapeutic rewards. For some participants, writing, speaking, and singing had become a form of healing.
IPeople experiencing homelessness face higher rates of traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder than the general population, studies show. Amid a lack of mental health resources for people who cannot afford to pay, free art creation programs are providing an avenue of healing for those facing the trauma and loneliness of homelessness.
Traumatic experiences take a toll on the body and can turn into hard-to-treat conditions like anger, anxiety, or depression. Treatment to address that trauma can be life-changing, but with proper care behind a paywall, that treatment can be difficult to access. Out-of-pocket cost for one therapy appointment in D.C. ranges from $100 to $350, and local mental health institutions sometimes handle patients poorly or don’t provide treatment that lasts, a Disability Rights D.C. report showed.
Small communities across D.C. are responding to that gap in care with the arts. Organizations including Street Sense, Sasha Bruce Youthworks, and the Latin American Youth Center offer free programs that facilitate self-expression, discussion, and social connection through art. Providing these basic tenets of human connection is critical to helping heal individuals who have experienced trauma, according to Jordan Potash, an associate professor at The George Washington University who has trained master’s students to become professional art therapists since 2003.
Art creation and guided intentional discussion promote imagination and flexibility, two abilities that help us navigate and cope with hardship. They also help the mind and body relax to consider larger goals than the trauma-induced focus of moment-to-moment survival. This “fight or flight” mindset, as Potash puts it, comes with the experiences of poverty and racism. Intentional art creation, abstract metaphor use, and dialogue calms us down, brings suppressed emotions to our attention, and gets us more in touch with the feelings of our bodies and stories of our lives.
“When you’re singing with people, you lose the sense of loneliness, I think. It’s a bridge
between you and other people because you hear them, and you see them singing,” said Roy Barbour, who volunteers with Street Sense to co-lead the theatre workshop with Leslie Jacobson. Barbour and Jacobson aim for the group singing they guide to create energy, community, and hope — each a basic pillar of wellness.
In the atrium above the Street Sense offices, vendors shared their hopes to wake up in a warm bed, see industrial smokestacks replaced with green gardens, and find their loved ones smiling. Guided by writing prompts that differ each week, vendors draw from their experiences to write a script they will turn into a play and perform for the public.
“It gives you a chance to focus on something that takes you completely away from what you’re worried about, what you’re thinking about, you focus in on the free expression. It helps you let go of static emotions,” participant Angie Whitehurst said.
The theater workshop is one of several Street Sense art programs that provide a safe place for people to share their experiences, emotions, and hardships with others who listen. Although vendors who attend the workshops receive Street Sense papers they can sell, Whitehurst believes the main reason people come is because they need love, kindness, and attention. Workshop participants say they feel better after the sessions.
Intentional self-expression is a release for internal anxiety, Whitehurst and Potash agree. While programs like Street Sense’s offer the opportunity for safe self-expression in a simple, group format, the clinical practice of art therapy uses one-on-one sessions and professional therapists.
The medical community first recognized the therapeutic benefits of art in 1942 with the introduction of a practice called dynamically oriented art therapy. Since then, art therapy has grown into a mainstream mental health profession capable of treating conditions including depression, trauma, and substance abuse. Clinical sessions employ specific structures, materials, and a trained therapist to guide patients through a process called “meaning making” about their art, Potash explains. But the cost of one clinical art therapy session is similar to the cost of traditional therapy and can be prohibitive.
The George Washington University offers a student art therapy clinic in Old Town, Alexandria, that offers professional services and only charges patients what they can pay.
At the Latin American Youth Center, homeless or disadvantaged youth aged 12 through 21 can take advantage of bilingual art therapy and community support programs. The center also offers medication management, group talk therapy, and case management services, according to the website.
Potash also holds open art therapy hours every Friday at Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s Eastern Market drop-in center, a resource for runaway and homeless youth. Potash reports seeing five to six people a week, although it varies. Because of the transitory nature of homelessness, following travel routines often proves difficult. Although Potash can’t do full hour-long clinical sessions because of irregular attendance and drop-in time constraints, he tries to meet participants where they are, listen to their stories, and remind them who they are. These are important steps in treating trauma, he said.
“We are used to telling very well-rehearsed stories about our lives. Telling your story with art helps create a psychological distance and understanding about the pasts of your story,” Potash said.
By using this trauma-informed approach in his therapy, Potash aims to help the brain return to its natural baseline of operation rather than expecting to face difficulty all the time.
“The nature of trauma is to constrict one’s world into ‘how do I stay safe and secure in a given moment?’” Potash said, noting it’s difficult to live life when you are always highly activated and on edge. “Imagination can help open up one’s world again — to feel the things they need to feel, to think the things they need to think.”
The people Potash sees in the drop-in center appreciate the space to express their feelings, tell their stories, and find new perspectives on their situation, he reports. Change may not always be big or immediate, but Potash said that after a session, most people feel more relaxed and have developed a skill they can continue to use.
“We don’t have to be scared of our stories,” Potash said, “so long as we know how to handle them well.”
Street Sense vendors participate in a theater workshop in the Church of the Epiphany. Photo by Gabriel Zakaib
Encampment Updates: For some encampment residents, two closures in one week cause ‘anguish’
FRANZISKA WILD Editorial Intern
As D.C. speeds the pace of encampment closures, some people experiencing homelessness in Foggy Bottom were forced to move twice in three days, the second time with little notice. Meanwhile, city officials have begun offering some encampment residents spots at the Aston, a new non-congregate shelter in the neighborhood.
In mid-March, D.C. closed six encampments throughout the city, including one of the biggest encampments, Whitehurst Hill, on March 12. Two days after the closure, on March 14, city officials displaced many of the former Whitehurst Hill residents again, this time from the spot they’d moved to across the street. Residents had less than 24 hours’ notice for the second closure, in what the office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) calls an “immediate disposition.”
Both the Whitehurst Hill closure and the immediate disposition following it were difficult for residents. Sitting on a tree stump in the early morning light, his belongings neatly packed in duffle bags, Jesse Wall was angry at being forced to move.
“Encroaching on the homelessness population is a political stance, not a human stance,” he said. Wall had printed out complaint forms for his fellow residents to fill out to record their “anguish.” He handed one of these forms to Rebecca Riley, a fellow resident of the Whitehurst Hill encampment, as she spoke to Street Sense reporters.
“My spine feels like it’s cracking right now,” Riley said as she packed the rest of her and her family’s belongings into a cart and suitcase on the morning of the closure. Riley has health problems and said the physical strain of having to move is painful.
Riley has been displaced previously, but said this closure felt particularly pointless because she now has a housing voucher, and was supposed to move into her apartment three days later. She told Street Sense a DMHHS worker offered her a spot at the Aston, but she was unsure if she should take it.
“They didn’t tell me anything about it, which scares me,” Riley said. She explained the last time she accepted an offer of shelter at an encampment closure, she ended up at a women’s shelter where other women would regularly try and engage her in fights. As of March 25, Riley said to her dismay, she hasn’t moved in because the inspection of her apartment has stalled.
Since the closure of the encampment at E Street Expressway, which came a day after President Donald Trump called for encampments to be closed throughout D.C., Street Sense has observed DMHHS and outreach staff begin to offer encampment residents shelter at the Aston. The shelter, which opened last fall, offers individual or semi-private rooms, as opposed to the congregate setting at most low-barrier shelters. While people waiting to move into housing through vouchers, like Riley, were prioritized for the first cohort at the Aston, the city said it is also open to some encampment residents facing closures.
On the day of the Whitehurst Hill closure, at least three people agreed to move into the Aston, but outreach staff from Miriam’s Kitchen told Street Sense residents could not immediately move in. Instead, Miriam’s Kitchen offered the three residents hotel rooms for a couple of days until the Aston was available to conduct an intake. Friendship Place, which runs the shelter, is hiring more staff for the Aston, according to its career website. According to a D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesperson, “participants come into The Aston through a Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement system, and
intake time is coordinated between the Provider and the client. Intake timing can vary by individual.”
Many residents who declined the offer of shelter moved across a highway median to a patch of land located between 27th Street, Virginia Avenue, and Rock Creek Parkway.
Just two days after the Whitehurst Hill closure, DMHHS conducted a chaotic immediate disposition at this location, displacing eight residents, including a number who had just moved two days prior from Whitehurst Hill or a week prior from E Street Expressway. Street Sense spoke with nearly all eight residents who were displaced during the immediate disposition, and all said they were not told the space was restricted. Most residents were under the impression the area would be closed, but not until March 25, as indicated by metal signs that had been posted for a number of weeks.
“Where are we supposed to go?” an encampment resident, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, asked. “I’m not the negligent one. They are,” she added. The same resident later called Park Police because she wanted to be sure she was not moving her tent onto National Park Service land, where camping is an arrestable offense. It took DMHHS and Park Police nearly 20 minutes of back-and-forth to clarify the property line.
DMHHS initiated the immediate disposition because the land to which residents had moved their tents is administered by the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT), which needed access to the land, according to a DMHHS spokesperson. The day of the closure, Jamal Weldon, who oversees DMMHS’s encampment team, told residents and Street Sense DDOT had only told DMHHS the day before they needed the space to be clear.
Encampment resident Miss Kim shows where she found a sticker sign from the office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services notifying her of the March 14 immediate disposition on her tent located at the D.C. Department of Transportation lot across from Whitehurst Hill. “WARNING” is handwritten on the sign, but DMHHS protocol does not outline a warning system. Photo by Madi Koesler
“We have Cherry Blossom Festival engagements for this weekend,” Weldon said, clarifying DDOT needed to access several concrete barriers stored on the land for an event. “So, they’re going to be coming in here with whatever machinery or whatever they need to do to gain access.”
Residents, who had moved to the location believing it would not be cleared until March 25, were caught off-guard by the immediate disposition. Many of them were angry and disputed DMHHS’s authority to clear the space before the scheduled date.
“You cannot break protocol,” another encampment resident, who asked not to be named to protect her privacy while living outside, said. “It has to be legal. It has to be posted — a no trespassing sign.”
Immediate dispositions, during which residents only have 24 hours to move, are legal, according to the encampment protocol, but it is highly unusual for DMHHS to conduct one at an encampment of this size.
Residents said DMHHS had not known or not informed them the space would be closed when workers watched them move there two days earlier. Weldon told Street Sense residents were notified during the Whitehurst Hill closure DDOT had full jurisdiction over the area but neither Street Sense nor outreach workers Street Sense spoke with heard DMHHS tell residents they were moving to DDOT land.
“This a DDOT space; no one should be here, period,” Weldon said the day of the immediate disposition. “That’s why the fences are here. Even if they are dilapidated in the front, this doesn’t open them for public access.”
Residents and outreach workers were further frustrated with how DMHHS notified them about the immediate disposition. Seven residents told Street Sense they were not told verbally about the closure. Rather, DMHHS stuck stickers on their tents notifying them of a “scheduled engagement.” The stickers were labeled “immediate disposition - WARNING” with that word handwritten on the stickers, and the space to write the “date and time for the above-stated cleanup” left blank. The city’s encampment protocol does not outline any kind of “warning” system, and this type of notification is unprecedented.
On the day of the immediate disposition, when asked by Street Sense if there was a specific time residents needed to be moved by, Weldon responded: “Immediately.”
“Immediate disposition – I don’t know what that means,” the resident who called Park Police said. “Nobody came in the morning, nobody said anything.”
Ultimately, all residents did manage to relocate, but none of them avoided the stress and frustration of the process. As Wall said the day he was displaced from Whitehurst Hill, “Of course, it caused mental anguish to have to move.”
Wall was among the residents who chose not to move into the Aston. He explained to Street Sense he found the rules at the facility too strict — when he went to check it out, he said he was told that he could be “written up” for cursing. He also said it reminded him of the PEP-V program, where he had a number of bad experiences.
The city only began offering spots at the Aston to encampment residents in March, based on Street Sense’s observations and conversations with encampment residents. Before that, the Aston had seemed to operate like a bridge housing facility, intended to serve people like Riley who have secured a housing voucher and are waiting to move into their apartment. But the city had always pitched the shelter as an option for people who live in encampments to avoid congregate shelter but might be open to a more private arrangement.
“Our federal funding for the Aston was premised on us being able to offer this resource for people who are living in encampments,” Sakina Thompson, a representative from DMHHS, said at a March 10 Community Action Team meeting about the Aston. “So that’s one of the reasons why we got the funding for the Aston.”
According to a DHS spokesperson, outreach teams assess
encampment residents to determine what housing might be available to them and “a placement option is offered — either during regular outreach or when there is an encampment engagement.”
But opening the Aston to encampment residents creates a conundrum about how people without vouchers are supposed to exit the Aston. At the Community Action Team meeting, during a discussion about exit plans, DHS did not outline how long people can stay. Outreach staff from several service providers voiced concerns to Street Sense — and DMHHS — about this ambiguity.
At the March 10 meeting, Anthony Newman from DHS said Friendship Place, which operates the facility, will help work with everyone at the Aston to make sure they have an exit plan, but did not provide specifics on what that looks like for people who have not been matched to housing vouchers.
“It’s just what that exit plan looks like for those people may be different than other folks who are already matched,” Newman said. He also confirmed the Aston will be expanding its capacity in the coming weeks to 100 total residents. Currently, more than 80 individuals are at the Aston, including people who moved directly from encampments, according to a DHS spokesperson.
Eleven days after the immediate disposition, DMHHS returned to the area between 27th Street, Virginia Avenue, and Rock Creek Parkway for the closure originally scheduled for the space. Five tents were left behind by residents who relocated to nearby encampments or to the Aston. Only one resident remained. They were forced to move for the third time in two weeks.
Closures across the city
Whitehurst Hill is not the only location city officials have offered encampment residents shelter at the Aston. At a closure in Brentwood at 1899 9th St., on March 11, one resident accepted the offer of the Aston, while three chose to find another spot to move their tents.
DMHHS closed this encampment due to “various health and safety concerns, inclusive of fire hazards and bulk hoarding,” a spokesperson told Street Sense.
Street Sense has previously interviewed the residents of this encampment, including Charles Williams, who accepted the offer of the Aston. In those interviews, Williams spoke at length about his bad experiences in congregate shelters.
“The last shelter I was in — 1355 New York Avenue — I was arrested twice for fighting because someone was stealing my two cell phones, tennis shoes [and] clothes,” Williams told Street Sense. “So I decided to get a tent, [and] now I have peace of mind. I don’t go to bed mad. I don’t wake up angry.”
Despite preferring encampments to shelters, Williams also expressed frustration at having to pack his belongings, move between locations, and repeat the same process over again.
“I’m going right back to my same spot against that fence [at Gallaudet]. I’ll wait for another notice and then come right back [here]. Going back and forth, that’s all I can do. That’s all I can do. That’s all I can do,” he said.
DMHHS also conducted an encampment closure at 2nd and D Streets on March 13 near the Community for Creative NonViolence, one of the city’s largest homeless shelters. At this
closure, two residents were displaced, but neither was offered housing at the Aston. One resident was offered services by a Veteran Affairs outreach worker. Street Sense also observed Department of Public Works staff seemingly taking and keeping a broom that had been left behind by a resident who angrily left the site of the closure.
The following week, the city rescheduled two encampment closures due to weather, one on March 18 in Mount Pleasant and one on March 20 near the L Street underpass.
DMHHS staff conducted a final encampment closure on New York Avenue downtown – less than a block away from the White House. At this closure, the resident was a wheelchair user who used sleeping bags to attach himself to a bench underneath some blankets. He told Street Sense he moved to the spot in late 2024.
The resident and DMHHS went back and forth on whether the encampment closure was supposed to occur on March 20 or 21, and the resident appeared confused about the current date and time. Following an hour of conversation between DMHHS staff, an outreach worker, and Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) staff, staff members decided to call an ambulance as well as the Metropolitan Police.
When EMS personnel arrived on the scene, they discovered the resident had severe medical issues with his legs, including potential decay and bleeding. The D.C. Fire Department lieutenant said DBH staff decided to involuntarily hospitalize the resident in what is known as an FD-12 due to his condition, but before that, EMS was able to coax him to accept treatment at the hospital. Once the resident was in EMS care, DMHHS cleared everything left behind from the encampment.
Each of these closures comes on the heels of comments by Trump urging Mayor Muriel Bowser to close encampments throughout the city, particularly near Foggy Bottom and the White House. In response, Bowser told reporters she had discussed encampments with the president’s staff, stating she would “take care of it.”
Wall, who is among those who relocated twice in three days, is angry about the city’s continuing increase in clearings.
“Trump said, ‘Oh we can’t have this eyesore,’ so rather than putting them in housing, let’s clear them out like squish, squash,” he said. His opinion of Bowser wasn’t more positive.
“I got an earful for her,” he said. “What has she done since 2022-2021 with the [District of Columbia Housing Authority]? I see longer lines at Miriam’s Kitchen.”
Madi Koesler and Trevor Skeen contributed reporting.
Jesse Wall poses in his tent while gathering his things to move from Whitehurst Hill to the DDOT lot across 27th Street. Wall was among the residents forced to move twice in three days. Photo by Madi Koesler
A citywide crisis: Lead contamination affects us all
JAY B. WILLIAMS
hen people think of lead contamination in Washington, D.C., they may assume the issue only affects poor communities. But that’s far from the truth. It’s a citywide crisis that affects everyone in D.C., regardless of neighborhood or income. We all share the same water system. Whether you live in a high-rise in Georgetown or a poorly managed public housing property in Anacostia, if your water pipes contain lead, the risks are the same.
WPublic safety in D.C. is often framed in terms of crime rates, policing, or infrastructure. But public safety starts with something as basic as clean drinking water. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Samuel Pastore believes clean water is a critical part of public health and crime prevention.
“We have the tools to tackle this, but if people aren’t informed, those tools are useless,” Pastore said.
When the Flint, Mich., water crisis grabbed national attention, many people didn't realize D.C. had faced an even worse crisis years earlier. Between 2001 and 2004, lead levels in the city's water were alarmingly high. Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, who helped expose Flint’s crisis, said D.C.’s water problem was devastating. He estimated 2,000 children in D.C. were never born because of high miscarriage rates due to lead exposure. An additional 200 fetal deaths were linked to the water contamination.
“The public health impact in D.C. was catastrophic, and we have the research to prove it,” Edwards said in a lecture in 2016. As of October 2024, city officials reported they were still in the process of replacing 35,000 lead service lines.
Think of lead poisoning like a slow leak in a tire — it's not immediately obvious, but over time, the damage accumulates and leads to a bigger problem. The effects of lead exposure — especially on children — are severe and long-lasting. Lead poisoning can cause cognitive impairments, lower IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, Pastore warned. Children who are exposed to lead at a young age are more likely to struggle in school, and those academic struggles raise their chances of engaging in criminal behavior later in life. This is not just a problem for low-income families — it’s an issue for all of us.
Epidemiological studies have also linked lead exposure to crime rates. Research led by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at The George Washington University has shown a positive correlation between lead exposure and higher crime rates. Studies have demonstrated communities with higher lead levels also experience higher rates of violent crime.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said there is "no safe level of lead exposure" for children. The CDC recently lowered the threshold for what’s considered dangerous, reducing the reference value for blood lead levels from five micrograms per deciliter to three and a half micrograms per deciliter, acknowledging even small amounts of lead can cause lasting harm.
But it’s not just children who are affected. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from high blood pressure, kidney damage, and neurological disorders. The damage is irreversible, making early intervention essential.
Jam’ya Shaw, a lifelong Washingtonian and a student success coach for City Year, expressed shock when she learned about the extent of lead contamination in D.C.’s water.
“I work with kids who have developmental issues every day, and some of the things I see are really extreme,” Shaw said. “It’s not crazy to think lead poisoning could be a big reason why.”
As a mother, Shaw also worries about her 22-month-old daughter, Journee.
“As a parent, it’s really scary,” Shaw said. “I keep wondering — am I poisoning my child? Did I give them lead-tainted water? It sounds silly, but as a mom, those thoughts are always in my head.”
Shaw’s concerns are shared by parents, educators, and health care professionals across D.C. Flint’s water crisis became a national story because the problem was visible. The water was brown, foul-smelling, and caused immediate health symptoms, making it impossible for residents to ignore. In D.C., however, the contamination was silent — no bad smell, no visible signs that the water was unsafe. This made it easier for officials to downplay the problem, and without a loud outcry, the issue flew under the radar. The effects of lead poisoning are lifelong, and the city must take immediate action to prevent further harm.
D.C. Water offers free lead testing kits and resources for replacing lead pipes, but the government has done very little to inform residents about these resources.
Many people in D.C. still don’t know they can get their water tested for free or receive financial help to replace lead pipes in their homes. Pastore, the ANC commissioner, is working to share the information with his neighbors.
Here’s how it works:
1. Request a free lead test kit from the D.C. Water website.
2. Once you get the kit, follow the instructions to collect a water sample.
3. Send the sample to D.C. Water for analysis.
4. If lead is detected, you’ll get information on how to replace contaminated pipes.
But without proper outreach, many people never take the steps to protect themselves and their families because they don’t know these services exist.
The lead contamination in D.C. is not just a problem for a select few — it’s a crisis that affects us all. The government needs to take immediate action to raise awareness and make sure every resident knows how to protect themselves from this dangerous, invisible threat.
For more information or to request a free lead test, visit www.dcwater.com.
Jay B. Williams is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
Government chaos
INVISIBLE PROPHET
In current events, there are many factors contribute to the irrelevant, psychotic behavior of individuals in government positions. On the other hand, someone who is not an elected official just randomly walked around the White House without security clearance.
I asked a government official why that doped-up dude was not arrested. I also said if that was a civilian, especially a minority, they would have been stopped by the Secret Service immediately. That neo-Nazi got off the presidential plane with his son, waving like he owns the place.
Maybe I am misinformed about the whole chaotic situation in the government. What’s going on among parties is called chaology (chaos theory). Every civilian believes all government parties are divided; they are not. When a student studies the history of government and war, each topic is broken down and students discuss the importance of each party’s role in government chaos. At the top of this pyramid of power, political control points to the elements of structure. A political party’s name is just a tag visualizing the wave of elections.
Standards suggest who is the most powerful and sways the element of surprise. Abraham Lincoln’s speech said “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” As the centuries passed, war began as a theory mapped to control, own, or succeed for the greater good. However, the failures molded into chaos theory: the Civil War, Trail of Tears, the Holocaust, the Tuskegee Project, Pearl Harbor and internment encampments for Japanese and others.
The first part of understanding the government is acknowledging everyone in it works as broken puppets, even elites. Each party is named differently, but they all have a part in creating mass chaos. This begins by addressing the orchestrated parts of civilians’ psychological control to prevent protest. Current events suggest segregating us, believing it will work this time. The point of chaos theory is deterministic systems of human behavior are predictable, causing an equivalent to martial law. No one in the government is accountable for their mental state and chaotic behavior. In theory, we should have cause to march and demonstrate under our constitutional rights. Chaology explores behaviors in complex systems (including the human psyche) that create random or unpredictable routines, especially governed by deterministic laws. One example are the promises every elected official makes but does not keep. Another breakdown of chaos theory would be the 173-page document released by the CIA on Project MKUltra, the CIA’s research into biological modification. This article is for humanity to acknowledge education is important when a subcommittee on Health Scientific Research of the Committee on Human Resources decided we are social experiments. This committee was to prevent the abuse of power from disrupting humanity while the CIA built this false platform of made-up circumstances. Here is a breakdown of current events and political antagonists’ change to create active chaos, detrimentally disrupting human rights.
Deterministic systems: Chaos theory focuses on systems which follow specific rules or equations, meaning their behavior is, in principle, predictable. Example: The order to demolish Black Lives Matter Plaza, assuming people would start a riot. No! This is a different generation. We are not our ancestors. We shouldn’t pick a battle with simplistic tactics.
Sensitivity to initial conditions: A key characteristic of chaotic systems is their extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. Even tiny differences in starting points can cause trajectories to diverge dramatically over time. Example: The destruction of a social system. Civil servants say “What’s yours is ours.” That’s what the forefathers said in the Constitution. The government serves us, civilians. We the people, not military or governed parties.
Non-linearity: Chaotic systems are often characterized by non-linear dynamics, where the output is not directly proportional to the input. Example: Suppose women’s rights are stripped. How do those weasels in government figure they were conceived?
Little boys in men’s bodies are too emotional to run a country. I actually feel women shouldn’t run this country either, because there is no good choice. Continuing to create chaos theory and sticking to an old, binder outdated to control a mass population is a mental illness: The military is full of unstable children who are not emotionally developed. Government officials procreate to pay off debts. Others sit around a table possibly flipping through pages of activities to create mass chaos, demanding prune juice. Do you actually have integrity?
Invisible Prophet is an artist/vendor with Street Sense Media.
Creative casualties
VINCENT WATTS
Artist/Vendor
The slow moving fog has settled over the land, and it's leaving the memories of writing creatives completely dissipated. It's the fog that says: “What level of literary creativity do you wield?” The voice of the almighty shutters the window panes as it asks: "Do you have the ability to make a new TV series that has the appeal of a confessional sitcom, and yields at least 10 seasons?" Seriously though, let's look into writer's block. Let's ask ourselves, how do we avoid this? "There's so many great writers among you, so let's make sure it doesn't happen to you!"
I'll give you few pointers, but I'll also limit some of my style so you don't jock anything I've written. Sorta like that: elipses; elipses; elipses; jock. Decipher the word: jock. Whip out your mental thesaurus, or your urban dictionary, for terms from the ‘90s. I was born in the ‘80s, so ‘90s slang is prevalent in some of my writing. "Dude if you jock me, I'm calling you out." Those phrases we used a long time ago, but they are fun to intertwine into modern stuff. I used a semi jock technique with the elipses; but it's important to note I didn't use actual elipses. I didn't jock, I swear I didn't; a ex of mine used to use the actual elipses. I thought it would be cute to write them out.
Next I'll refer to the colon, and the semicolon I used a bit ago. Learning punctuation is essential. I began using the colon back in college when I had to list numbers or ratios for certain metrics, so, math class. So it looks like: 15: 30, and it sounds like: fifteen out of thirty. Moving on to the semicolon. This one is really awesome if you speak with an accent, or broken English. This locks in certain sentence structures from your native tongue, and prevents run-on sentences. Use only when restructuring; and, I guess, from the initial structuring: all those punctuations control the flow of the article, novel, graphic novel, etc. So you may be wondering why I brought up punctuation and some terminology for the defeating conduits of creative block. That leads all to this big moment! Wait for it! That's right, you got it! Just start writing. Anything dammit, just start! It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong.
$1.1 billion
SHEILA WHITE
President Donald Trump’s attempt to take over D.C. is a joke, but if Congress lets this happen, we are in for a big downfall. I believe the economy will do badly for our country and food, rent, and gas prices will soar. Trump is trying to pass a bill to take $1.1 billion of revenue from the District and put it in the reserves, which means no one can touch it. What this will do to the District: lots of workers, such as teachers, police officers, and many others, will be out of work. This will take us into one of the biggest recessions, so many people will be without jobs.
New Year’s Day
LEVESTER GREEN
Artist/Vendor
Lost my wallet again yesterday. Had it coming up the stairs. Had too many things coming in the door… Had to relieve myself immediately, but I don't recall recovering it. Like did I kick and slide it in? I recall being about to work on some bills, then they started calling my name and talking money like they had my wallet, so I wasn't sure if they snuck in as I was washing my dishes. The locks are so smooth and quiet, they could ease in ‘cause I am outnumbered. But anyhow, the bottom line remains: it is gone yet again and I had my bill money in there in cash, like $250...
Either way, they would know whose it was because I was right by my door and in my own building, not to mention... I also told you about the $40,000 check I mailed in to my credit union and they told me it got lost in the mail!? There wasn't a receipt for the check, so what could I prove besides my name being on that check and it not being returned?
So I've been taking it as on GOD what it’s culminated into and have tried to make my peace with losing my wallet. After all, it is or was the season after all, and I wasn't completely wiped out so I'm maintaining and working on my angling. How's your end of year doing? Happy New Year to you, G!
Lack of love when homeless
DEGNON DOVONOU
Many people ask me whether the homeless deserve love and fall in love. Let me tell you, the homeless are human like everyone: They fall in love and feel love, they have a heart and emotion. The homeless hustle for love and struggle for hugs, the homeless try for love and cry for rubs.
Many people never figure out being homeless didn’t remove anything from the human’s state. Many were there, right there in the corner, just looking for someone to tell them the word. Many are silent and dying for love.
When you are homeless and never have any family members there for you, you are lost and forced to live in long-lasting silence. You remember the old times, when you mingled with good people and felt love. Sometimes, you want to express your love to someone, but don’t know how they will feel. The stigma is a heavy burden the homeless carry every day, and long is the day. The only person you are with is your shadow, but while speaking to your shadow, people think you are crazy.
The lack of love is one of the heavy loads to carry along the road. Most of the homeless are depraved because they lost someone that means something to them. Feeling family is away and old friends are avoiding you worsens the situation. Sometimes, you feel like sending a letter to someone and receiving the right word.
I know many people are crying, just feeling loveless. Many people are suffering from the lack of love since their loved one has gone, many are feeling lost when nobody is there to tell the old stories. The depression in the absence of love is a serious issue that impacts health. The deep seeking of love, alongside the gap of love, makes the homeless feel lonely.
In this time, it is required to spread love. A moment of love, even if that love is not deserved. A few moments of love showing can improve someone's health. I urge the spread of love. That’s what we need.
In the twilight of time
ROBERT WARREN Artist/Vendor
In the twilight of the outer zone, where the spirits and souls of men sleeping roam, they are now the Angels’ keepers who record the good, and the bad, of those left sad on Earth as they wait for the trumpet to be blown.
If it was only known in these times and days when men and women seem to say nothing in the face of injustice, spoken about in a cruel way from the leaders of today. People shake their heads and throw up their hands and go to bed:
“Diddy, diddy, dum, dum, the protest will come in time.”
When the injustice of the day touches you, yes it's true, all lives matter and liberty to standing up for justice, what else can we do?
To know those who voted for these unjust times and the lies, prepare for those of us everywhere in that zone of the unknown, for when will be the day when it's all swept away?
On that day, when the souls and spirits of men will take on the flesh of those old bones left in the graves, that's what the Lord's words say. For those who believe, we have no time to grieve to achieve a future for those children we love. Filled with peace and prosperity, they’re alienated in that pursuit of happiness as human beings, to protect the Lord's bounty given freely to all who work. For Keith and Ken, for the Lord's mercy, let the workers work.
Yes, for the Lord's grace and mercy, let the workers work, and the twilight of time, this too will pass on to the history books and the book of books. The Angels record the history of men and truth and the twilight of their time for the Lord. It's only a blink of an eye, your whole life will flash before your eyes, so keep the dream of forgiveness, peace, and justice alive for those in the twilight of their times. In that zone where the souls and spirits of men and women once roamed, in the twilight of time.
Artist/Vendor
Artist/Vendor
WENDY BROWN
Artist/Vendor
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) has been a very life-changing event for me. Thanks to this program, I have an apartment. But it also needs to address needs for transportation and permanent supported employment. Everyone who lives in my building is on PSH and is here for the same reasons. They opened my building in March 2023. They make you work on your mental health. It's just as important as physical health. Homelessness can lead to depression, boredom, and anxiety that can get in the way of our goals.
My special skill
A mess
NIKILA SMITH Artist/Vendor
Once seen from both sides, the attraction is so strong. Either side sees something is wrong. Happiness is “Waldo.” Nothing else matters. Can't see the unbearable pain, no red flags. Loving yourself doesn't mean it's easy to love you. Who are you? It takes half your life to find out who you are. Knowing who you are doesn't erase the memories. I hear people say they don't care, but I see a lot of tears. Pros and cons can kill.
I was the number two cable television installer for District Cablevision (now part of Comcast in D.C.). I was fortunate to be trained by Tony, our number one TV installer. He has installed systems around the country.
Tony taught me how to trouble-shoot signal problems, what to do when a customer’s signal drops out, how to hang aerial cables, how to drop wires through trees, how to climb poles, and how to crawl through crawl spaces. He covered everything about custom installation!
Tony did that so well, and I mastered that information so well, I was in demand to do custom installations. A Georgetown resident told District Cablevision she’d never seen an installer as competent as I was. She said I had a unique style, used great craftsmanship, and deserved a bonus every time I installed a system!
On heart
ANGIE WHITEHURST Artist/Vendor
A heart has heart
Beating a pulse full of red love
Touching the outside world softly, gloved
No prints, a trail of new fallen leaves
Spring flows through fall into a hearth-heated summer
Seasons to taste an exciting universe
You gotta have heart to help someone
That’s why you are a good person
You feed the hungry
House those living roofless under the sky
Help the shoes that move with pain
Lift the mind to points heavenly on top of a robust high
Bursting with the ripeness of a honeydew
Deserving of a kiss of innocence
Capturing the world one by one
Yes, in love, a heart has to be the heart of giving
To all mankind
I'm to the point where I would rather hold my back against the wall so it doesn't hurt so much being hit in the back. People are put in positions to care and get grant money to give you a position that still leaves you starving. My upset and anger come from not being able to help myself; delivering with disrespect makes it hard to see my angels to keep me moving toward my destination. I'm learning if you can't let trauma go, either don't speak of it or keep it to yourself. Also, you’re weak, so only a selective few can use these words
This is the first time I want to speak about advocates who are supposed to advocate for better and equal opportunity but can't. They have their own agenda.
Home
REGINALD BLACK Artist/Vendor
My place residence permanent the social unit's togetherness a familiar setting congeniality the focus my attention domesticated the origin of one's country an establishment providing care for people outside residents with special needs
The objective of the game the final ultimate position a goal it’s a vital, sensitive place of being my base of operations am I prepared? Done? Or designed for? your headquarters, your base to return to or to go to the place of birth move toward the landmark please proceed directly your attention to providing
Trump says he wants the city to look beautiful. Does he not understand that laying off workers makes the homeless population grow? It's sad, a lot of you voted for him to hurt others, and it backfired. He has no honor. He suffers from a lot of the deadly sins, which makes him poison.
Please search beneath the hatred, broken from unfaithful loyalty. Some still don't see the start of will being taken from a non-believer of human rights. The funny thing is, Trump's mask is off, except for his makeup or whatever is on his skin. He is a self-conscious human. Don't drink from the same fountain as contagious greed and evil behavior. He has no neighbors and his village let him down when he was young. The system keeps people in prison for half of the things this man has done. The system is a mess. We all will continue to be slaves. There are people who don't want to work, but I for one understand suffering to make others rich. Making America great is making a mess.
Color valor Black
FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor
In view of the fact that General C.Q. Brown, Colin Powell, and the Tuskegee Airmen, among others, have been recently disparaged, this is a good time to give the propers to the Buffalo Soldiers.
Calling Hill, summoning Johnson; Taking San Juan Hill, was that Jackson? Tyree, Brown, Bravo, and their elders One and all, worthy Buffalo Soldiers! Someone out there shames the holiday, Yet Black History needs honor every day. Heroes fallen know no calendar page, Bravery is not measured by fad or rage, Celebrate the republic, not the kingdom. We do not stand for serving Myrmidon.
Inside job
Be very careful who you tell your business to. They might be trying to rob you. Family, friends, make you sign something, change your will, stick you in a nursing home so they can take everything you got, knock grandma's house out of your hands, just because that house is still going up in value. And that’s supposed to be your family and friends. Most times, people on the outside can’t see it. Most times, it’s hard to prove it. And that’s why I call it an inside job. I say these things because all this stuff happened to me. Peace out.
LAWRENCE AUTRY Artist/Vendor
JEFFREY CARTER Artist/Vendor
From homes to tents. Illustrations by Nikila Smith
Lieutenant William McBrayer, Buffalo Soldier, flanked by other soldiers. Photo from public domain, illustration by Frederic John
A fresh start, embracing the spirit of spring
EVELYN NNAM Artist/Vendor
Spring is finally here! It feels like such a journey, transitioning from the crisp fall days to the cold of winter, and now we're embracing the warmth of spring. I can already see the cherry blossoms starting to bloom on the trees, and it's a beautiful sight! The weather is growing warmer, and the days are becoming longer, which is always a nice change. There's just something so magical about spring, the season when we get to step outside, feel the fresh air, and be surrounded by nature's vibrant colors and life. I love how everything comes alive again!
I adore the transformation that happens every year: how the skies clear up, the bare trees start to show buds, and new leaves become that rich, earthy green. It's like nature is waking up after a long sleep, and everything feels fresh again. I love walking outside and feeling the grass starting to sprout through the ground that was cold and barren during winter. Birds are singing and flying around, creating a beautiful melody that fills the air, and you can hear the laughter of children as they play outside. There's just an energy in the air that feels rejuvenating. The sight of all the flowers blooming and the trees turning lush and green is like nature's way of throwing a big, colorful celebration.
The cold and brown world is now alive with color, and it's such a joy to witness! I enjoy wearing lighter clothes during this time. There's nothing better than a simple t-shirt, jeans, and a light sweater. It's the perfect balance of comfort and warmth. Spring weather is truly the best. It's the kind of weather where you can step outside and feel the cool, refreshing breeze, and it's not too hot or too cold, it's just right. There's a certain calmness and peace that comes with those perfect spring days I look forward to all year long.
One of my absolute favorite moments during spring is when the cherry blossom festival takes place. I love walking through the park, admiring the beautiful pink trees, and taking pictures with my daughter. We enjoy making memories together, and those little moments of joy will stay with us for years to come. I cherish the time spent outdoors, knowing we're creating lasting memories to look back on.
As the days stretch longer, there's an undeniable sense of hope and renewal that comes with spring. It's a time when people start to feel more energized, as the warmth and sunshine encourage us to spend more time outside, reconnecting with nature. I love how the season brings people together. Families and friends gather for picnics, barbecues, and outdoor adventures. Parks are filled with people enjoying the beautiful scenery, and the atmosphere feels lighter and more fresh. Of course, spring isn't always perfect. Sometimes we have to deal with pollen, and allergies can be a real pain. But even with the occasional discomfort, I still think spring is a season full of beauty and life. It brings new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and a chance to appreciate the world around us. For me, it's a season of reflection, a time to take stock of what I've learned and how much I've grown in the past year. What about you? What are some of your favorite things about spring? Do you enjoy the weather, the blooming flowers, or maybe the clothes you get to wear? Spring remains a season that brings so much joy and excitement. It reminds us change is possible, and that after even the coldest winters, there's always a beautiful spring waiting to bloom. I hope you take the time to enjoy all that it offers, make wonderful memories with those you love, and fully embrace the beauty of this season.
Replanting daffodil bulbs
BRIAN
HOLSTEN Artist/Vendor
NASA
IVORY WILSON
Y’all. The NASA space program knows things they can’t speak to us about. One night, look out the window into space from a telescope, and you will see things your Bible can not speak on. The Bible was written before man went into space. When we die, our spirit goes back to the universe.
Working for tomorrow
The work you put in today only accounts for tomorrow, and though you work hard and well, tomorrow is never promised.
The time you spend ain’t hardly spent, so spending ain’t the problem; because today you’re working with yesterday’s earnings, and yesterday's earnings were simply borrowed.
Question: What’s the problem? Answer: You are a slave to the dollar.
Dear cherry blossoms
FREDERICK WALKER
Artist/Vendor
I love you. I really, really do.
I walk through you on weekends. You’re kinda pink, but you also have different colors. And I love those colors. It makes me feel like a kid. I’ve been walking through you since I was a little boy with my mom. But sadly, it’s not the same anymore. Ever since Trump came, it’s changed around.
My mother's favorite flower was the daffodil. They are shaped like bells. They're yellow, my mom's favorite color in the rainbow. We all remember the spring saying we learned in childhood: “April showers bring May flowers.” Last autumn, the bulbs of mom's favorite flower were planted on the grounds of the Fitzpatrick Monument.
The old monument lies in a triangle formation and is surrounded by pine trees. A mason was assigned to lay the brickwork that commemorates the lives of those lost at war. Unfortunately, the site was abused by those who disagreed with America's involvement in foreign affairs, especially the war in Vietnam. The Stars and Stripes and POW/MIA flags were pulled down. The newly planted daffodil bulbs were pulled from the ground. These acts disgraced our community's dream for clean air, antipollution, and safety for our veterans.
My mom, who valued flowers, told her son to go to the landscape department to buy a shovel and a bucket. The unearthed bulbs would be picked up and replanted on our front lawn by her living room window. I took three bulbs, used a gardener's shovel to dig five inches into the soil, and hoped for the best.
The early spring showers came. Mom was filled with life when she saw the yellow of the three that rose from the ground in unison. Mom's faith saved the lives of those three daffodil bulbs!
The dew on the grass the smell of the flowers the coming of green on the trees
The sun rising early people in the mood to move while feeling grateful about their lives
Spring is not only a growing season but it is also nature’s gift of growing a new, better year each year
JACQUELINE TURNER
Artist/Vendor
Artist/Vendor
CARLOS CAROLINA Artist/Vendor
FUN & GAMES
1. Soup scoop
6. Dads
11. Steal
14. Take ___ (travel) (2 wds.) (1,4)
15. Circumvent
16. 401(k) alternative (abbr./acron./ initialism)
17. Something a properly-working grandfather clock may do at midnight and noon (2 wds.) (5,6)
19. Zippo, on the pitch
20. Crow’s home on the range
21. Type of fine French china
23. Sit- ____ (some protests)
24. Aviators and Ray-Bans, in old slang
27. Volcano in Sicily
28. Hit musical and movie with the characters Macavity and Bombalurina
30. Type type or top tier grp.
31. Pixels
32. Try to charm with, as a pick-up line (2 wds,) (3,2) (NO USE anagram)
34. ____ Army Knife
36. “Happy ____ Year!” (answer to the Dad joke “What did one wildebeest say to the other on January 1st?”)
37. Bird-to-be
39. Photo ___ (camera sessions)
40. Drill for penetrating rock
42. “Blue ____” (classic hit covered by Roy Orbison and Linda Ronstadt)
44. Indian queen
45. Clear the blackboard
47. Drains, as one’s strength
51. Work units
52. “____ Weapon” (classic buddy cops flick)
54. Inebriated
55. Storehouse of weaponry
57. “For true?”
59. Cheer often heard repeated before “... sis boom bah!”
60. Sound that signals the start of trading at the NYSE... or a feature of the answers to 17-Across and 11-, 26- and 36-Down? (2 wds.) (7,4)
63. I problem?
64. Fur capitalist Jacob
65. Pool and aquarium problem
66. Substance that can make blades glisten
67. Hermann who penned “Siddartha” and “Steppenwolf”
68. Lecherous looks
Down
1. Milk-related
2. Greek goddess of wisdom and courage for whom the country’s capital city is named
3. Least sweet, as wine
4. ____ as a wet noodle
5. Fencing swords
6. Perch in a church
7. “___ Maria”
8. Shipping platform
9. What a mentor or counselor does
10. Appear to be
11. Yard or carnival game in which small
hoops are pitched in a effort to land them on/ around upright stakes (2 wds.) (4,4) (GROSS TIN anagram)
12. ____ oneself (adjusts to unfamiliar situations or surroundings)
13. Light woods for hobbyists and model builders
18. Giggle syllables (2-3)
22. Tragic king who’s the namesake of a psychological complex
25. Balm ingredient
26. Archie Bunker’s pet insult for wife, Edith
29. Rooster rouser (INSURES anagram)
33. Good name for a lady lawyer
35. Try to win over another - often in a romantic way
36. With “the,” a 70’s TV talent search program with horrifically bad acts being humiliated off the stage (2 wds.) (4,4) (GOWN HOGS anagram)
38. Deep cut
40. Sustained military bombardment or gunfire (EAR GRAB anagram)
41. A return of ill health after an apparent full or partial recovery
43. Pine (for)
44. Brought up
46. Rents anew
48. Assert as fact prior to formally proving
49. ____ of the community (outstanding citizen)
50. They go in and out of fashion
53. Legit, more formally
56. Genesis skipper?
58. Ready, willing and ____
61. Refusals
62. Emotion that’s readily apparent in “I really want to throttle you, man!”
This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre. It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento Case Management Coordinación de Servicios
Academy of Hope Public Charter School
202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Pl. NE
202-373-0246 // 421 Alabama Ave. SE aohdc.org
Bread for the City 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 1700 Marion Barry Ave., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org
Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Marion Barry Ave., SE calvaryservices.org
Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org
Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org
Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org
Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach
Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org
Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 4 Atlantic St., NW communityofhopedc.org
Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org
D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org
Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 North Capitol St., NW fathermckennacenter.org
Food and Friends // 202-269-2277
(home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org
Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry
Identification services
Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org
Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org
Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9096 1526 Pennslyvania Ave., SE jobshavepriority.org
Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org
Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Rd, SE
2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE
Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org
My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org
New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE
Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW
Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org
Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org
Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org
So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org
St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-363-4900 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org
Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org
Unity Health Care unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699
1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 850 Delaware Ave., SW, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 1151 Bladensburg Rd., NE, 4515 Edson Pl., NE
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org
The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable
Whitman-Walker Health 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 1201 Sycamore Dr., SE whitman-walker.org
Woodley House // 202-830-3508 2711 Connecticut Ave., NW
For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide
AM Busser
Osteria Mozza // Georgetown
Full-time
The busser position will aid the kitchen by washing dishing, clearing tables for new customers, and assisting servers and kitchen staff to maintain an organized and clean kitchen.
REQUIRED: Able to lift 40 lbs or more and able to stand for long periods.
APPLY: tinyurl.com/BusserMozza
Service Desk Overnight
Planet Fitness // 122 New York Ave. Ivy City
Part-time
The service desk associate is responsible for service desk administration, membership sales, and overall cleanliness of the facility and equipment. This person will provide excellent customer service to both members and nonmembers as they will frequently communicate and interact with both members and guests as well as management and staff and must maintain excellent relationships.
REQUIRED: Able to lift 60 pounds.
APPLY: tinyurl.com/ServiceDeskPFitness
Overnight Janitorial
G-Sida General Services LLC // Washington D.C.
Full-time
We are seeking a diligent and responsible overnight janitorial staff member to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment at our facility in Washington, D.C.
REQUIRED: Must pass a background check and adhere to safety policies.
APPLY: tinyurl.com/OvernightJanitorial
My customers
JAMES HUGHES
Artist/Vendor
What I feel about the customers is: I go out there to try to do my darndest every day, selling them papers. They treat me with love, respect, and dignity. It's about the Street Sense community and bringing them together. We're just trying to get the news out about homelessness, where you can get the paper, and basically just telling them about the customers and their stories. And some of the vendors are artists or poets. Thank you very much for buying the paper and hopefully I'll see you next time.
MAURICE CARTER Artist/Vendor
SHAWN FENWICK Artist/Vendor