VOL. 17 ISSUE 18
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JULY 1 - 14, 2020
Real Stories
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The Street Sense Media Story, #MoreThanANewspaper
Street Sense Media vendors, wearing face masks, say they’ve missed their customers and look forward to getting back to work.
Originally founded as a street newspaper in 2003, Street Sense Media has evolved into a multimedia center using a range of creative platforms to spotlight solutions to homelessness and empower people in need. The men and women who work with us do much more than sell this paper: They use film, photography, theatre, illustration, and more to share their stories with our community. Our media channels elevate voices, our newspaper vendor and digital marketing programs provide economic independence. And our in-house case-management services move people forward along the path toward permanent supportive housing. At Street Sense Media, we define ourselves through our work, talents, and character, not through our housing situation.
Director of Development and Communications
VENDORS Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Gerald Anderson, Charles Armstrong, Katrina Arninge, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Aaron Bernier-Garland, Tonya Bibbs, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Mathew Bowens, Rashawn Bowser, Debora Brantley, Laticia Brock, Lawrence Brown, Brianna Butler, Anthony Carney, Conrad Cheek, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, David Denny, Reginald Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Patricia Donaldson, Nathaniel Donaldson, Ron Dudley, Joshua Faison, Queenie Featherstone, Jemel Fleming, Samuel Fullwood, James Gartrell, Anthony Gary, Kidest Girma, Chon Gotti, Marcus Green, Levester Green, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Derian Hickman, Vennie Hill, Ibn Hipps, Dan Hooks, James Hughes, Joseph Jackson, Chad Jackson, David James, Frederic John, Henry Johnson, Mark Jones, Morgan Jones, Mathew Jones, Juliene Kengnie, Jewel Lewis, David Lindsey, John Littlejohn, Scott Lovell, Michael Lyons, William Mayer, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Ricardo Meriedy, Billy Meyer, Kenneth Middleton, Mark Monrowe, L. Morrow, Collins Mukasa, Evelyn Nnam, Earl Parker, Terrell Pearson, Aida Peery, Hubert Pegues, Marcellus Phillips, Jacquelyn Portee, Abel Putu, Ash-Shaheed Rabil, Robert Reed, Corey Sanders, Arthur Scott, Mary Sellman, Patty Smith, Ronald Smoot, David Snyder, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Steffen Stone, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Jeff Taylor, Archie Thomas, Eric Thompson-Bey, Sarah TurleyColin, Martin Walker, Michael Warner, Vincent Watts II, Sheila White, Angie Whitehurst, Wendell Williams, Christine Wong, Charles Woods, Latishia Wynn BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Mary Coller Albert, Blake Androff, Jeremy Bratt, Jennifer Park, Michael Phillips, Dan Schwartz, John Senn, Aaron Stetter, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson, Corrine Yu
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STREET SENSE MEDIA FAMILY UPDATES
We’re thrilled to return to print and again provide work opportunties for our vendors to distribute this paper across the D.C. area. This announcement comes after several months of digital-only issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This pause in print publication and distribution was the first in Street Sense Media’s 17-year history, and it negatively affected our vendors’ lives. 130 hardworking women and men sell Street Sense to earn income, secure more stable housing situations, and work towards a better future. Their grit and perseverance inspires us every day. We’re very glad our colleagues can get back to work. Even as businesses reopen across the District, we know that the threat of COVID-19 is not yet behind us. At no expense to them, we will provide all vendors with masks and hand sanitizer to make their selling experience, and your purchasing experience, as safe as possible. Cashless sales also remain an option through our mobile app, which is available in your device’s app store or at StreetSenseMedia.org/app. We hope that all of you will take the time to greet a vendor and purchase a paper next time you have a chance to do so. They have missed you. Your support truly changes lives. Sincerely, The Street Sense Media team
Cynthia Dudley and her daughter, Tosha PHOTO COURTESY OF RON DUDLEY, ARTIST/VENDOR
Artist/Vendor Ron “Pookanu” Dudley’s aunt passed away too young. A service will be held at Stewart funeral home in Southeast D.C. on July 6 at 10 a.m. before a burial at Heritage Cemetary.
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For the past year, Street Sense Media has been working strategically to better meet the information needs of the lowincome communities we most frequently write about. Now, thanks to funding from the American Press Institute, we are piloting a text-messaging service for community members to send in your questions related to getting by in the District. We’ll do our best to provide timely, direct responses to meet your information needs. We look forward to hearing from you! In the coming weeks, this number will also provide access to an automated resource directory. Please send suggestions for improvement to editor@streetsensemedia.org
BIRTHDAYS Vennie Hill July 4 ARTIST/VENDOR
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NEWS
Online learning leaves some adult students offline BY ASIA ROLLINS // asia.rollins@streetsensemedia.org
K-12 and university students were not the only people forced to transition to remote classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The digital divide between those who have access to modern technology and those who do not is even wider for students in adult education programs. Some local organizations that offer adult learning programs have created new online classes, provided students with laptops, scheduled instructors for Zoom meetings, and provided takehome packets. The resources are helpful, but without a sufficient internet connection, a student’s progress grinds to a halt. “If our students don’t have reliable internet access, in addition to a tablet, smartphone, or computer, it’s impossible to continue remote learning,” said Annette Larkin, a public relations consultant for the Washington Literacy Center. “We’re doing our best to support our students to continue their education online, but it’s a challenge for a variety of reasons.” The Washington Literacy Center’s offices are closed due to safety concerns. Roughly 200 students rely on the Washington Literacy Center for GED classes or job training. The fact that students can take advantage of online resources is great, but nothing beats in-person classes, according to Larkin. “Teaching adult learners who are not already digitally literate compounds the challenge,” said Larkin. “Some students may be unfamiliar with using computers and emails.” Almost 95% of the people who use Washington Literacy Center’s resources live in poverty due to not having access to basic education. Yet the center says many students are able to go on and secure better jobs or continue their education after completing classes. A person’s socioeconomic status can be a huge determining factor as to whether or not they have access to the internet or modern technology. Daily, more and more information is available on the internet by a quick Google search. Those living in poverty do not have equal access to information on the internet and modern technology. More than half of D.C. residents who earn less than $10,000 per year — nearly 30,000 people the year that data was collected — do not have an internet subscription, according to a 2015 report published by Connect D.C. Organizations such as the Washington Literacy Center are trying to improve digital literacy within the District. The struggles of living in poverty continue to be a roadblock for some students who are looking to receive their GED or job training classes. Life stressors can take precedence over the need to study or the need to find access to a computer so that work is completed on time. “I think motivation is a real issue for students who — like everyone else — are scared, tired of being at home, and have a host of other issues that are getting in the way of their learning,” said Evita Leonard, the interim executive director at Southeast Ministry, a social justice organization in Congress Heights. Workers at Southeast Ministry have gone to great lengths to ensure that students are staying on track despite not having in-person classes. Since March, the organization has provided students with three take-home packets, hired a tutor for oneon-one help, and communicated with students through text messages and Zoom meetings. Despite instructors’ efforts to keep teaching, some students have decided to no longer continue with their programs, according to Leonard. “We have about 50 students and we have been able to keep in
contact with about 25 of them,” said Leonard. “Some students’ phones have turned off, some students don’t respond to email messages and some have said, ‘I can’t do this. Let me know when you’re open again.’ Leonard suspects uncertainty on how to use technology is part of the reason why students have given up on virtual learning tools. “There’s not only the literary and the numeracy that’s an issue, it’s also just being comfortable with computers,” she said. “You have to work away from our officers and some people live in shelters, can’t find a quiet place to study and they’ve got kids, so it’s hard,” she said. With unemployment due to COVID-19 the highest the U.S. has seen since the Great Depression, the importance of an education is clearer than ever. 120,702 unemployment claims were filed in the District between March 13 and June 30. For some people, obtaining a GED means finally being qualified for a job that feeds their family. Education opens the door for more job opportunities, and not having an education can cause someone to be overlooked during the hiring process. In 2018, workers with no high school diploma or GED faced an unemployment rate of 5.6%, not quite double the median unemployment rate of 3.2%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Similarly, employed workers without a high school diploma or equivalent earned an average of $553 per week, roughly half of the overall median $932 that year. “Our education programs provide adults with the skills they need to reach their academic and career goals,” said Hazel Cherry, the student recruitment manager at Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School. “We support the whole learner, providing resources to fresh food, mental health services, and at the heart of our work is building community.” Since the pandemic began, Academy of Hope has offered online classes along with laptops and internet access to those in need. Starting in August, students will have the option of online or in-person classes. “Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, we've transitioned all of our classes online across a number of innovative platforms,
including Google Classroom, Zoom, and Instagram Live,” said Jamie Fragale, the director of advocacy and communications at Academy of Hope. Instructors at Academy of Hope have a well-developed remote learning program, but many students do not have the tools to take full advantage of it. “Approximately 75% of Academy of Hope learners do not have access to a computer or internet at home,” she said. “This of course makes it incredibly challenging for adult learners to continue to engage with classes.” When the District transitioned to distance learning in the middle of the school year, Mayor Bowser announced the D.C. Education Equity Fund to help provide students with mobile hotspots for internet connection along with laptops and tablets. As of April 7, $1.3 million had been distributed to D.C. Public Schools and public charter schools, including $8,292 for Academy of Hope, according to the fund’s website.
“You have to work away from our officers and some people live in shelters, can’t find a quiet place to study and they’ve got kids, so it’s hard.” Evita Leonard, Southeast Minstry Students in adult education programs are trying to set themselves up for success, but the process is delayed without proper internet connection and access to modern technology. D.C. provides more than 600 public Wi-Fi hotspots in some health clinics and parks, all public schools and libraries, many rec, and other locations. But Emily Gasoi, a member of the District’s State Board of Education wants city leaders to combine their creativity and monetary resources to create District-wide Wi-Fi so that every family within the District can stay digitally connected. “I wish D.C. would lead the way in becoming the first to offer truly universal access to internet and devices as if it were a utility,” Gasoi said. “I’m hoping that we can really put first the needs of those families and students who usually get the short end of the stick.”
A pre-pandemic classroom at Academy of Hope. PHOTO COURTESY OFJAMIE FRAGALE // ACADEMY OF HOPE
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NEWS
Marchers at the June 16 demonstration. PHOTO COURTESY OF SASHA BRUCE YOUTHWORK.
At-risk youth hold peaceful demonstration in support of Black and brown lives BY ASIA ROLLINS asia.rollins@streetsensemedia.org
A
t least 100 formerly homeless youth took to the streets of Eastern Market on June 16 for a demonstration in support of their peers and the Black Lives Matter movement. They were all members of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, which houses approximately 150 runaway and homeless youth and provides counseling, education, and life- skill services. Participants, including youth and staff, chanted the names of Black Americans who have lost their lives to police brutality. For an hour, demonstrators sang and gave speeches. “When I was growing up, I was a victim of police brutality, so I really felt the pain and the energy of the atmosphere,” said Marquise Harvey-Thorne, a Sasha Bruce client. “I wanted to go down there and demonstrate for myself.” In addition to opposing general police brutality, the organizers were motivated to call attention to the violent clearing of Lafayette Square on June 1, when President Donald Trump ordered law enforcement to clear protesters by force. Some Sasha Bruce members were injured amid the tear gas and rubber bullets. Harvey-Thorne was hit in the face with a rubber bullet at Lafayette Square while peacefully protesting. His injuries could not be cared for with a simple warm rag and rubbing alcohol. He had to receive emergency medical services. Harvey-Thorne said he feels law enforcement officers are helpful in
controlling large crowds, but violence is a weak control mechanism. Sasha Bruce strives to help young people see that their experiences matter, according to Executive Director Deborah Shore. The demonstration was meant to be a safe space for members to share thoughts on police brutality and ways to bring about future change. “It is so important in our society that people feel a sense of their citizenship, that they are permitted and encouraged to raise their voices for the things that really matter to them,” Shore said. “Our organization is devoted to helping young people find their legitimate voices in their process of becoming adults in the world.” Recent protests have highlighted injustices that impact the Black and brown youth the organization serves. Eighty-seven percent of homeless youth in the District identified as Black during the D.C. Department of Human Services’s last count. With many Americans facing financial uncertainty and questions surrounding racial equality, the demonstration’s organizers felt it was important to be a symbol of stability during chaotic times. “Whoever felt like they needed to voice their opinion could get on the mic and they did,” said Harvey-Thorne. “It’s supposed to get a certain crowd’s attention and I believe that we were doing that.” Harvey-Thorne said he hoped the demonstration sends a message to police officers. Officers who use force as a means of control can be dangerous and need to
step down until they are able to practice safe control mechanisms, he said. The Office of Police Complaints found that reported use of force incidents in the city increased by 83% between 2015 and 2018. Marcus Dade, a family support counselor at Sasha Bruce, said protests like this one are crucial to bring attention to systemic problems. “When issues arise and they get to the boiling point, it’s very important to have the ability to speak at will and act as a beacon to other people in society to let them know that there is a societal issue that needs changing,” Dade said. The event’s organizers said they wanted the protest to be peaceful and they hoped to send a message that people can come together and
rally for change without violence. “We didn’t really want anything to take away from the message that we want our Black and brown neighbors, friends and family to live in a world where they’re truly free and 100% equal,” said Heather Urban, a college and career coordinator at Sasha Bruce. Making sure youth are at the forefront of taking proactive, instead of reactive, approaches to some of life’s problems is an important part of Sasha Bruce’s work, Urban said. But the work is far from done. “We will be working daily to ensure that our young people have their voices heard,” she said, “until real change is enacted.”
Marchers at the June 16 demonstration.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SASHA BRUCE YOUTHWORK.
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NEWS
Homeless census count postponed until September due to COVID-19 concerns BY LANA GREEN lana.green@streetsensemedia.org
C
ensus workers will conduct a crucial count of people experiencing homelessness in September, the U.S. Census Bureau announced June 12. The count of people without conventional housing was initially scheduled for March but was delayed by the COVID-19 crisis. From Sept. 22 to 24, census workers will count people at emergency and transitional shelters, soup kitchens, and regularly scheduled mobile food vans, a process called “service-based enumeration” designed to include residents who would be missed by traditional methods. An accurate count of people experiencing homelessness in the District gives service providers and government agencies vital information about the needs of the homeless community, said Jocelyn Bissonnette, director of the Funders Census Initiative, which works to increase participation and engagement in democracy among marginalized communities. “Census data informs more than $1 trillion in federal resources every year,” Bissonnette said. “So if there are significant undercounts, that could result in a pretty significant misallocation of resources across states and communities.” According to Fernando E. Armstrong, director of the Census Bureau’s regional office responsible for operations in D.C ., working cl o se ly w it h service providers and homeless advocates to better understand the best time to visit a shelter, building trust with providers, and informing the homeless community about the new census timeline is essential for a successful count. “We have found through the years that if we do not have the trust and the support of the facility managers and the people that interact with this population day in and day out, we are not successful,” Armstrong said. Armstrong also said the bureau will require field staff to wear protective equipment, including face masks and gloves during field visits, and hand sanitizer will be provided. “Hopefully, by September,
both us and the facilities have a better understanding and a better handle of the challenges with COVID-19,” said Armstrong. “We have been doing preparations with the advice, counsel, and involvement from a lot of the service providers, and we are very appreciative of that.” The Census Bureau faces new challenges and a greater need for flexibility due to COVID-19. Technical practices regarding counting and interviewing respondents living outside and in temporary shelters will have to change, causing a greater need for collaboration with local service providers. “We need to be cognizant of how things have changed since COVID,” said Casey Farmer, executive director of the Alameda County Complete Count Committee in California, which acts as a watchdog for the bureau’s operations. “If the Census Bureau folks were planning to sit in the back of a soup kitchen and pass forms around and ask people to participate, they won’t be able to do that because many soup kitchens are doing grab-and-go lunches and they don’t have a dining room available anymore.”
“If the Census Bureau folks were planning to sit in the back of a soup kitchen and pass forms around and ask people to participate, they won’t be able to do that because many soup kitchens are doing grab-and-go lunches and they don’t have a dining room available anymore.” Casey Farmer, Alameda County Complete Count Committee Historically, issues in accurately counting members of the homeless community include confidentiality concerns among respondents, a general mistrust of government, and the challenge of properly counting people experiencing homelessness who are temporarily living in a household. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, Census Bureau employees must swear to protect the confidentiality of respondents. Census enumerators pass a background check and take an oath of
PHOTO COURTESY OF MJ/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
confidentiality before going into the field. The code also prevents census information from being accessed by any governmental agency for any one individual. Despite assurances of confidentiality, many still choose not to participate out of fear. “Even though census data are completely confidential — they cannot be shared with any federal agencies, law enforcement, your landlords, anyone — we still have to acknowledge that there is a real fear that people have in providing information to the government,” said Bissonnette. Advocates point out that the bureau’s methodology to count people experiencing homelessness — an outdoor overnight headcount on Sept. 23 — may act as another barrier to gaining an accurate count. Meghan Maury, policy director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, suggested that the bureau use a method similar to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which conducts a point-in-time count every two years where the department works with “cultural facilitators” who have either experienced homelessness or regularly work with the homeless community to count the homeless community in overnight counts. “There’s a logic to why they do it at night, but there’s not necessarily a logic to why a single-night headcount is the only way that they are reaching people that live on the street, or in encampments, or in outdoor living spaces,” said Maury. As COVID-19 changes the enumeration process, the bureau will continue to work with local providers to respect the confidentiality of each participant and ensure that proper safety measures are taken. Armstrong explained that, because it will be used to make decisions about health and services in the homeless community in a time of crisis, the 2020 census is “even more important than any other.”
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What does reopening look like for the homeless community in DC? BY CALLIE TANSILL-SUDDATH callie.tansillsuddath@streetesensemedia.org
D.
C. entered Phase Two of reopening on June 22 despite not officially meeting all the criteria to do so. Phase Two is the second of a 4-stage plan to reopen the District as new cases of COVID-19 decline. Gatherings of up to 50 people are now legal, as is limited indoor seating at restaurants, shopping at non-essential businesses and the use of gyms. Per D.C.’s coronavirus website, guidelines for allowing Phase Two to commence included a sustained 14-day decrease in community spread, comprehensive testing, less than 15% of tests returning positive for a week, hospital bed utilization at less than 80% for more than two weeks, and a more efficient method of contact tracing in which over 90% of people recently diagnosed with COVID-19 are contacted within a day with their test results. While D.C. has seen a decrease in positive cases, there was a spike on June 11 that derailed the desired consecutive two weeks of decreased spread. The city only counts community spread among housed residents toward its public reopening metrics. People living in congregate settings where proactive safety measures like social distancing are very hard to enact — such as homeless shelters, jails, or nursing homes — are not considered for this benchmark. For much of the city, reopening has meant a cautious return to use of restaurants and office spaces. But for those experiencing homelessness, who were always exempt from the mayor's May 30 stay-at-home order, reopening feels different. Members of the homeless community, more than half of whom have disabling conditions, are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. As of June 28, DHS reported that 315 people in shelters have tested positive for COVID-19. The 2020 point-intime count found that 4,526 people experiencing homelessness in D.C. were living in shelters in January, meaning 6.9% of shelter residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus. As of June 28 10,292 people, or 1.5% of the District’s overall population, had tested positive. Sixty-three people from shelters or who live unsheltered are in hotels for remote quarantine. Twenty homeless D.C. residents have died due to the virus. D.C.’s lockdown and subsequent reopening have brought disruptions to many of the services that people experiencing homelessness rely on. Closing public libraries meant cutting off computer and internet access for many. Closing coffee shops and stores meant shuttering bathrooms that usually supplement the city’s dearth of public restrooms. Government agencies and nonprofits were forced to rethink how they deliver human services while minimizing human contact, resulting in schedule or service changes. Many faith-based programs closed, along with the houses of worship they were affiliated with. The city’s patchwork safety net frayed and the Department of Human Services worked around the clock to navigate how best to serve its most vulnerable consumers. DHS extended the operating hours of low-barrier emergency shelters for individuals in order to reduce their residents’ need to be in public areas. All year-round emergency shelters shifted to 24-hour service and will stay that way in Phase Two, according to Dora Taylor-Lowe, the public information officer for DHS. Before the pandemic, these six emergency shelter locations, three for men and three for women, provided shelter from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. and required that residents leave during the day. Those seeking shelter would wait in line as needed to claim a bed each evening. Shelter access for families is a different story. The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, the only place in the city where a person experiencing homelessness can obtain a referral
for family shelter, had to suspend in-person meetings and conduct all business by phone. Before the public health crisis, anyone could visit the office in Brentwood without prior approval. However, since March, prospective clients have been able to contact the Virginia Williams Center only via phone or through the city’s shelter hotline (202-399-7093). For people experiencing homelessness who avoid shelters for a variety of reasons, the city installed nine porta potties and 32 handwashing stations around the city. DATA VISUALIZATION COUTESY OF THE D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES There are not many changes to services offered by the DHS during the second printers for public use will also be available shortly. Like phase of reopening, DHS Chief of Staff Larry Handerhan said restaurants and stores, the number of people allowed to enter during a June 26 COVID-19 briefing for homeless services will be limited to 50% capacity, as mandated by the mayor, providers. One exception he noted was that DHS would resume and masks will be required. full staffing for street outreach programs. Director Laura Zeilinger said during the June 26 briefing Phase Two of D.C.’s reopening plan has also brought that as DHS plans for the future the agency is preparing for changes to a number of programs designed to help lowin-person case management visits to restart on a limited basis income people in the District, not all of whom are people and will continue to streamline the process to remotely match experiencing homelessness. people with housing assistance. The city’s housing assessment As the Public Health Emergency designation in D.C. was for system single individuals, which was paused in March due extended through July 24, DHS has requested extensions on to the many in-person meetings the process entailed, restarted a number of exceptions to qualify for its programs, including in May. Zeilinger said the department resumed making housing “waiving the interview requirements at initial and recertification matches for families and youth in shared living spaces in June. and extending certification periods” for public benefits, a DHS At the present time D.C.has met four of the seven requirements staffer explained at the June 26 briefing. The DHS call center needed to proceed to Phase Three of reopening, according to (202-727-5355) for public benefits is open. Hours of operation the guide produced by the mayor’s appointed ReOpen D.C. for Economic Security Administration service centers — where Advisory Group. The District has dramatically outperformed the individuals can apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy imposed 90% minimum amount of people — and close contacts Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance of those people — that must be alerted within a day of diagnosis Program (SNAP), among other financial programs — are for contract tracing purposes. Further, the rate of transmission unchanged. DHS recently launched a mobile phone application of coronavirus cases has remained below one for more than five called D.C. Access for submitting initial ESA applications. days, and fewer than 10% of tests have returned positive over Emergency SNAP allotments, additional funds initially the last seven days. However, there has not been a sustained dispersed to existing users in April to provide access to food decrease in cases in the community or revolving utilization of during the public health emergency, will continue through the hospital beds below 80% over a period of 14 days. Data on the month of July. Free lunches continue to be distributed through seventh requirement has not been released. the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program to families DHS reports mass testing will soon begin in low-barrier who get free and reduced-price lunches when schools meet shelters in order to identify asymptomatic positive clients in person. The Good Hope Road EBT distribution center in and staff. Previously, Unity Health Care had been proactively Anacostia has reopened and will serve clients on Tuesdays and helping shelter staff screen as many people as possible for Thursdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. COVID-19-related symptoms to help prioritize those with During Phase Two, the showers at the Banneker Rec Center several primary symptoms for testing. Periodic mass testing will no longer be available to the homeless community, as the will continue until no tests return positive. Department of Parks and Recreation is now allowed to reopen The agency is also currently seeking additional low-barrier certain public pools for restricted use. shelter space in order to provide more social distancing in Per the DHS website, the Downtown Day Services Center has the fall and winter months. Metrics for returning to higher reopened and is prepared to provide showers, laundry, emergency shelter occupation are in development, but capacity remains clothing, meals and phone charging by appointment only (202decreased at present. 674-2365) for D.C. residents experiencing homelessness. Clients In an effort to curb prolonged impact by COVID-19 on must wear masks on the premises, and social distancing will be shelters, DHS says strategies to reduce movement will remain enforced. The day center had previously been closed, offering in place for now. take-away meals in a nearby park. The most up-to-date information about DHS services during the health Beginning June 29, eight D.C. Public Library locations crisis can be found at tinyURL.com/DHS-COVID reopened. According to a press release, computers and
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NEWS
Franklin Park renovations begin, leaving many homeless residents unsure where to go next BY LANA GREEN lana.green@streetsensemedia.org
P
eople experiencing homelessness, and the rest of the public, will lose access to Franklin Park due to a 12-month renovation project organized by the National Park Service and the Executive Office of the Mayor beginning July 1. The renovation began with a clean-up conducted by the National Park Service on June 30. When Street Sense went to press, fencing was planned to be constructed around the park on July 1. First proposed in 2005, the $18 million redevelopment project includes a cafe-pavilion, a new children’s garden, relocation of paths, Capital Bike Share stations, and a central flag-stone plaza with a fountain. After a partnership between the National Park Service, the District, and Downtown D.C. Bid was solidified in 2012, the organizations developed a planning effort that took into account community input, including from
public meetings with people experiencing homelessness. The partnership also had to seek Congressional approval to cooperatively manage the federal park, since Congress oversees the District’s budget. That approval was received in February 2019. Franklin Park is an unofficial home for multiple outreach services, and its residents rely on the park for a place to sleep and receive services provided by businesses and nonprofits. Now, its residents aren’t sure what comes next. Darren, a homeless resident in the park, “had no idea” where he would go after the closure and explained that he had been on a housing list for almost 12 years. “I feel that Mayor Bowser should have taken that $13 million that she added to renovate this park into housing for the homeless. You have 900 homeless families alone. You’ve got messed up shelters,” said Darren. “I have not seen one
building to get people off the street. You are building all this stuff for what? To be a part of gentrification?” The 2020 point-in-time count found that the number of homeless families in D.C. decreased to 767 households. The number of homeless individuals did increase slightly to 3,937, including 652 people living outside. The development project will require a $13.9 million investment from the Mayor’s office.The Downtown D.C. BID will invest $750,000 towards maintaining the park after renovations, according to a Washington Post report. The park was formerly neighbored by Franklin Shelter, which inhabited the national historic landmark Franklin School, on its eastern edge. The shelter opened in 2002 in response to a rise in hypothermia deaths that year. Never intended to be permanent, the facility was closed in 2008, despite providing shelter to as many as 300 people at certain points.
The June 30 cleanup of Franklin Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN BURGESS // KSTREETPHOTOGRAPHYDC.COM
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The June 30 cleanup of Franklin Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN BURGESS // KSTREETPHOTOGRAPHYDC.COM
That building has become the soon-to-open Planet Word museum of linguistics, but even in its absence the park has remained a gathering place for people experiencing homelessness in D.C. Nonprofit organizations like Martha’s Table take advantage of the concentration of people to provide food, clothes and other kinds of services. While the park is closed, at least 16 such nonprofits have been invited by the D.C. government to set up outreach services in booths along Vermont Avenue between H and I streets NW, near the McPherson Square Metro stop, on Saturdays and Sundays starting on July 11. People experiencing homelessness can also access resources at the Downtown Day Service Center, which is located in the nearby New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Due to the public health crisis, those resources are now provided in a triangle
park next to the church. The Downtown Day Service Center was open by the BID in February 2019 in collaboration with the D.C. Department of Human Services and local nonprofits Pathways to Housing and HIPS. The day center previously offered restrooms, showers, lunchtime meals, and emergency clothing between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and bagged lunches to go between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. every day. It closed in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, while still providing meals in the triangle park, and has since begun offering the other indoor resources by appointment only. DHS is also encouraging people experiencing homelessness to call the shelter hotline (202-399-7093) for help accessing services. Jassi Bindra, executive chef at the nearby restaurant Punjab Grill, said the grill will offer meals to homeless residents in the
area regardless of the change. The restaurant’s kitchen staff has been taking lunchtime meals to Franklin park since the beginning of the health crisis. After the mayor’s March 19 stay-at-home order, the restaurant switched from weekly to daily meals. “We will still be continuing bringing the meals and we will look for the Metro stations nearby” said Bindra. “Our services will not stop and we will find places to feed the homeless.” Not all outreach efforts at the park will continue, however, due to COVID-19-related financial implications. Street Church, a program started by the Church of Epiphany, served lunch and held religious services at the park every Tuesday. “We had already been making plans to relocate, we were probably going to use the New York Presbyterian Triangle,” said Rev. Glenna Huber. “With COVID, we are not able to function at capacity. Our revenue streams have been either completely shut off or severely limited.” According to Bindra, residents he talked to understood the change and will be moving to different parks. “I think it is well thought out,” said Bindra. “They are provided a sheet where all the services that will be provided are mentioned.” Still, some residents were doubtful that the renovations to the park would benefit them in the end. George Rivera, another man experiencing homelessness who had been living in Franklin Square, had been skeptical as to whether the city would really close the park after previous rumors of closure were not born out., He did not know what residents would do in response. “Where are we going to go? Where are we going to end up? You kick us out of this park and you are going to disperse us to where?” Rivera said. “That’s my concern because at least here there’s a certain amount of safety. There’s a certain amount of belonging.” Neither the D.C. Department of Human Services nor the National Park Services responded to requests for comment. The Downtown BID did not make anyone available for an interview, but provided a statement. Hear from more people in the park in our video report: StreetSenseMedia.org/franklin-closed
Rendering of Franklin Park after renovations.
COURTESY OF THE DC DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DC INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.
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OPINION
The risks of a remote workforce BY BRIAN CAROME
The presses are rolling again and for the first time since March 25, Street Sense is available in print. Our vendor corps of 130 men and women is coming back to work. Like so many others around the globe, they have been unemployed since we imposed an immediate cessation of person-to-person newspaper distribution on March 26. That’s when we temporarily switched to digital-only for the first time in 17 years in response to the public health threat of the coronavirus. Our decision to restart the presses and put vendors back to work is but one piece of the puzzle. Our decision does not bring customers back downtown. Except for those warriors for racial justice who are lifting their voices in our streets, downtown remains mostly empty. Much has been said about the personal sacrifices that citizens have made to protect public health. And much criticism has been leveled at those who have not complied with state and local stay-athome orders. Deemed essential workers by Washington’s mayor and the governors of Virginia and Maryland, most Street Sense employees have been able to skirt the ethical and moral boundaries of social distancing. That bias stated, I want to raise the possibility that we all have a responsibility to return to the normalcy of pre-pandemic business as soon as possible. I am opposed to the “we’re never going back to what was” mentality. Otherwise, the vibrant landscape and critical interconnectedness of our metropolis may be permanently lost. In Washington, D.C., and across the country, companies of all sizes are rethinking their in-office versus remote work strategies – not just for the duration of the pandemic, but permanently. We’re hearing reports about increases in remote-worker productivity. CEOs are wondering aloud about the benefits of reducing rent costs. I am not questioning the wisdom of the crisis decision-making that was necessary to slow the spread of the virus. I am, however, suggesting that it’s too soon to make permanent alterations to the way companies conduct their business. There’s been no serious consideration given to the short- and long-term negative consequences of disbursed employees. I am concerned about what a sudden and massive shift to remote work will do to our economy and the fabric of our community. Street Sense Media’s newspaper vendors’ economic viability relies on companies bringing their employees back to their downtown offices. But make no mistake, our vendors are far from the only people who depend on the downtown concentration of the local workforce. Multiple industries have arisen and expanded in support of the way we do business in the District. To
name a few: coffee shops, restaurants, and food trucks that cater to the long hours that so many Washingtonians log downtown; and hotels that cater to business travelers. A move to a remote, videoconferencing mode of business-life disrupts most of these industries and cripples the household incomes of tens of thousands of hard-working employees. Seventy-one thousand people work in D.C.’s hotel and restaurant industry – 9% of the total workforce. Limited food service establishments alone, such as coffee shops, employ over 15,000 people. White collar Washington has demanded, and received, on-demand access to high-end coffee breaks and late night dinners. These jobs support low income families, students struggling to pay for higher education, and thousands of households that rely on second and third incomes to make ends meet. My concerns go beyond economics. I believe strongly in the efficacy of collaboration. The power of universities to drive innovation and lifechanging research is a direct result of bringing highly trained and disciplined thinkers together under the same roof. Many of the great achievements of the last three centuries – the birth of democracy, ending slavery, suffrage, the civil and women’s rights movements, putting humans on the moon – were collaborations where passions and ideas were wrestled with collectively in ways that I fear will be lost on a world of videoconferencing. Lastly, our urban core downtowns are the last mixing bowls – where cultures and classes exist side by side and inequities remain visible to those with the power and resources to make change. Even before the onset of this pandemic, humankind was trending toward greater isolation. And isolation breeds “otherness.” We’re one small example, but for 17 years, Street Sense Media has created conversations between Black folks and white folks, housed people and unhoused people, CEOs and unemployed ex-cons. We’ve created a common ground on which we can build a better community. We have done that because of the diversity that exists on the sidewalks of downtown. We are in the midst of a public health crisis the likes of which none of us has ever seen beyond. Let’s continue to make decisions that will protect health in the short run. Let’s not make decisions that might alter the landscape of our economy and social compact for generations. There may be a need to transition to something new, but not without more thoughtfulness than can be mustered over a videocall during a worldwide crisis.
These jobs support low income families, students struggling to pay for higher education, and thousands of households that rely on second and third incomes to make ends meet.
Brian Carome is the chief executive officer of Street Sense Media.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VOX EFX / FLICKR
Survival means silent voices BY COLLY DENNIS
The combination of the coronavirus quarantine and the protests, including the curfews that were implemented early-on, have silenced the most vulnerable residents in the District of Columbia. Before these events, the D.C. Council and the mayor's office were prioritizing a lot of help for these communities. Affordable housing for low-income people, educational programs and opportunities for children in low-income neighborhoods, and improving the living conditions for people in homeless shelters, are just a few. Now it seems those ambitions have been put on the back burner. The mayor’s priorities have significantly changed during the last few weeks. The government already had to scramble to respond to the health crisis, which is understandable. But now, with protests rocking the city, the mayor seems preoccupied with national attention. It’s a struggle to connect with some of the essential services previously available, which pushes people into survival mode. Several people I know who are homeless and depend on local health clinics said they had no choice but to cross state lines to get their medications elsewhere. And in my own experience, there are not enough hospital beds. The hospitals are prioritizing patients who are critically ill or those with COVID-19. When I sought care at Howard Hospital two weeks ago, everyone else was put in a chair. It was surreal, to say the least, when the police brought in a suspect with a gunshot wound and gave him a nice, hard, wooden chair. The nurse in charge explained she had run out of rooms and beds. I vouched for her to the police who were insisting on a room, because I had been in my chair for over two days while getting treatment, next to other patients. I knew they had no rooms or beds. Except for COVID-19 patients. I wanted to protest because I needed a bed. But those of us who depend on these services to survive are not in a position to raise our voice. Colly Dennis is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.
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The corner of 16th and I streets NW on Saturday, June 6. The previous day, Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed a two-block stretch of 16 St. NW Black Lives Matter Plaza. PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS RATLIFF
We must make changes in America
When do we stop being hamsters on the wheel?
George Floyd is not the first unarmed Black person to be killed by police in recent years. But this moment is different. His murder by a white Minneapolis police officer, while other officers looked on, will change laws. Let me tell you why. First of all, at least 40 other countries are protesting and rioting because of Floyd's death. I never saw that coming. I’ve seen signs that read, "Japan has your back" and "Turkey is monitoring this situation." We as a nation should be embarrassed by this racist and unjust system because the world is watching. Second, people in the United States are tired of the treatment of Black people. White people are just as tired of this unjust system as Blacks people are. While attending the protests, I’ve noticed an enormous amount of white people, especially young people that appear to be in their early 20s. They are the ones on the front lines with us to lead this fight. They are the ones that are sacrificing their bodies and risking arrest. And I honor them for their sacrifice. One place that I don't want to be during a protest is on the front line. I am so happy to have them fight with us. It would be harder to fight alone. Finally, we are already seeing more police being held accountable. There were no convictions for the officers whose custody Freddie Gray died in five years ago. The officer who killed Eric Garner six years ago was only fired. And he sued to try to get his job back. That won’t fly today. Just in the month since George Floyd’s death, there have been quick responses from the justice system.
I’m still trying to make sense of all the protests and demonstrations going on around the country. As with many Americans, I was horrified seeing a police officer put his knee on the neck of a man after he told officers, “I can’t breathe.” I think everyone across the political spectrum believes that “dirty cops” should be identified and removed from ever holding a badge. And if they commit felonies — such as murder or aiding and abetting murder, in the case of George Floyd — they should be put in jail. What astonishes me is how many people seem to keep going to the well of liberalism when it comes to police brutality. Baltimore, New York, Atlanta, and Minneapolis all have one recurring theme: they are run by Democratic politicians. Places like Baltimore and Minneapolis haven’t voted for a Republican mayor in nearly a half-century. How, then, are Donald Trump, Republicans to blame when Democrats control law enforcement top to bottom? I’m upset about the killing of George Floyd. But I’m more upset at the people who seem comfortable continually voting in Marxists that do nothing but maintain their misery. When Black residents give 96% of their votes to one party, they should have better representation that reflects their community. Doubling down on more Black politicians and one-party rule has not quelled crime or poverty. These mayors have thrown their own employees, law enforcement, “under the bus” to score points with protestors and avoid blame themselves. I’m not in favor of defunding police departments, because I don’t think law enforcement is inherently racist. When I walk through our city, the nation’s capital, I see many of the police officers are African Americans (52% according to MPD’s last annual report). And as an African American, I have never had a problem with the police. George Floyd’s murder exposed the corruption of one police force. Unless we change the politicians, I see nothing improving for the Black community. I’m not saying vote Trump. But try something different than voting for a party that has failed you for generations.
BY ERIC THOMPSON-BEY
Police have lost their jobs, been arrested, and been charged with criminal offenses in cases where they’ve assaulted or killed someone. It’s not enough, but that's a start to hold all police that commit crimes accountable. When I first heard Floyd say, “Officer I can't breathe," I started to cry. I was really feeling him. I felt his pain. This is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. But sometimes I don't feel free. I feel like l'm being held hostage by the invisible restraints of a racist and unjust system. I love this country, but America has to do better by treating Black Americans fairly. It should start with our justice system, the one that was so easy for me to get into but so hard to get out of. Stop search and seizure. Stop racial profiling. Stop killing innocent unarmed Black people. This has yet to happen. Now, with the world protesting Floyd's death, I hope America can wake up, see the pain and misery it has bestowed upon Black people, and try to make it right. Retrain police and let there be standard training all over America. No chokeholds. Retraining costs money, so you may know that I am not in favor of defunding the police. We need police but we don't need bad police. 2020 started with the coronavirus pandemic shutting down jobs and killing half a million people worldwide. Now it continues with George Floyd's death forcing many to confront racism here and abroad. In this election year, what's next for America? Change? Eric Thompson-Bey is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.
BY JEFFERY MCNEIL
Unless we change the politicians, I see nothing improving for the Black community.
Jeffery McNeil is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.
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ART
Memories of my mother BY DARLESHA JOYNER Artist/Vendor
I was a minor when my guardian sold two houses I should have inherited from my mother. I should never have been homeless, sleeping in vacant property on the ground pregnant, in tents and with other people. My kid was misplaced in foster care. Children belong with their mom at the end of day. My kids need to be with their mom. As you all know my mom already died from AIDS. She died when I was 9 years old. Eventually, I am going to die the same way. You never know how things are going to go with health insurance nowadays, it can get cut off any day, nobody can afford my meds. It’s $1,000 for 30 days. At least let my kids have memories of their mom where they can say, ”Me and my mommy did this and that together.” I’ve been robbed of my memories with my mom.
People need help BY MELODY BYRD Artist/Vendor
I think the protests are fine because people are expressing their beliefs. People are getting homeless and they need help: food, housing, and jobs. That’s what we need and that’s what some people protest for. The government needs to open up churches, and stores need to open as well. The mayor and president need to give more money, like the stimulus check, to their people. They should ban the police because they are wrong when they kill people for no reason.
My life story, part 3 BY DAN HOOKS Artist/Vendor
In Parts 1 and 2, I wrote about how I started smoking weed at 10 and my life was never the same. Now I am going to enlighten you on my upbringing. I was shy for a long time. I had very good parents when it came to making sure me and my brothers had the things we needed. One of the reasons I’m writing this story is to help the parents of today understand it’s more to being a parent than just giving your kids the things they want and need. The most important thing is to always show LOVE to your kids. That’s where my parents fell short. I guess growing up in South Carolina and their parents having a lot of kids, they was not showed LOVE so they did know how to show LOVE. My father used to drink each and every day but he never missed a day of work. At one time he worked two full time jobs. Because he worked so much, I didn’t see him a lot of the time until the weekend. I think this hurt me a lot. Because if he had not been working so much, he and I could have spent more time together. Then when I was told my Dad only had a third grade education, it hurt me real bad. Coming up in the South, back then, they had to pick cotton and could only go to school on rainy days. The most important thing I feel my Dad taught me was hard work never killed no one. I was in church so much you would think I would be the best kid a parent could have. But because I had to go to church so much I would not come home on Saturday night until my parents was gone to church on Sunday morning. My life would have been so much better if I had not started getting high. I was real smart and played sports in high school. I played football and baseball. But again because of my drug use, I never went to college. My family would go on vacation each and every year. I never had to wear my brothers’ clothes because I had more than I needed. But again I didn’t feel LOVED. And that’s so important in life. What I started doing was trying to find love in all the wrong places. And what I found was trouble. Once I was in the streets, the streets became my way of life. And now when I look back on my life, the streets can and will destroy you. It sure did when it came to me. There was kids who would have loved to be in my place. But what did I do with it? I stayed in jail for one thing or another most of my life. Again, it’s so important to show your kids LOVE. And most of all make sure you always communicate with them about life and what’s going on with them. By doing so you can always know what’s going on with them. Our kids are the future and what we teach them can and will take them a long way in life.
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Everlasting Love BY REV. JOHN LITTLEJOHN Artist/Vendor
First of all what is “everlasting?” Well, one definition is “enduring forever or for eternity.” What is “love?” Well, one definition is a human love toward oneself or another person. The Holy Bible talks about love in the Book of John, 3:16, saying, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God loves us! His love is an “everlasting love” and compels him to act strongly and lovingly on our behalf. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. The Bible talks about “love” once again and it says in Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Love with everlasting love always. Jesus prayed, “I in them, and thou in me, that they made be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” The Father will never allow us to part from “Him” or our “Savior.” He drew us to himself in love having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. The Holy Bible talks about love in the Book of Roman 8:35-39. And it says “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is truly a blessing when we can give cheerfully to those in need. And receive cheerfully from those who may have more than they need. Amen! Give because God loves a cheerful giver! Amen! It’s better to give than to receive, so let’s all try to give! Amen! The Holy Bible talks about love once again and it says in Ecclesiastes 3:8,“a time to love,” and a time to hate.” Amen! Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. In his grace, we come to him, experiencing sweet forgiveness and everlasting love. Cradled in the security of his undying love, we have power. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3). As I close: The Holy Bible talks about love once again. As it says in the Book of Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Amen! Yours truly, Love always, Rev. John F. Littlejohn
Black Homes Matter BY ROBERT WARREN Artist/Vendor
I love my home, my lofty throne, Anacostia has been my home. The birthplace of Go-Go. A Black man homeless and all alone, that’s right D.C. is my home, Living in the basement of my family home, My Home. Who said it should be sold? My Mama and her big sister is gone home To where peaceful people roam In spirit. I live to never sell a Home My people can live in, and grow, And remember that great-great-grandmother who lived to love people, And died in 2020 from COVID-19. I Live heart broken, you see For family and friends and the unstably housed who can’t go into a home. It feels funny: Am I the only one who feel a sadness of heart and cries? I’ve cried so much in 2020, is this the end of days they all talk about? When the Black man is no longer a slave to the system? How many will have to die Before Black Lives Matter will Black Homes Matter too?
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FUN & Answers Sudoku #1 7 4 5 3 GAMES 6 3 8 Sudoku #6
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BY PIERRE JOHNSON Artist/Vendor The Fourth of You-Lie is recognition of the sham that is America’s Independence Day. Black people were not recognized as people in this country when independence was declared. And the deaths of unarmed Black women and men at the hands of police to this day, like Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, are a stark reminder of how far we have not come. Uncle Willie is inspired by many people I have known over the years. Cockeye Jinkins Jr. thinks he can pull one over on everybody else because he himself is very gullible. I used to get picked on when I was little. And my mom once gave me a green water pistol, like the one Cockeye Jinkins Jr. wields here, filled with watered-down ammonia to fend off the bullies.
Author Gene Weingarten is a college dropout and a nationally syndicated humor columnist for The Washington Post. Author Dan Weingarten is a former college dropout and a current college student majoring in information technology. Many thanks to Gene Weingarten and The Washington Post Writers Group for allowing Street Sense to run Barney & Clyde.
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Education Educación
Health Care Seguro
Clothing Ropa
Legal Assistance Assistencia Legal
Case Management Coordinación de Servicios
Food Comida
Employment Assistance Assitencia con Empleo
Transportation Transportación
Showers Duchas
All services listed are referral-free Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org
Bread for the City - 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 - 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org
Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Good Hope Rd., SE calvaryservices.org
Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org
Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW ID (Friday 9am–12pm only) foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities
Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org
Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org
Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9128 425 2nd St., NW jobshavepriority.org
Charlie’s Place // 202-232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org
Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org
Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org
Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org
Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org
Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org
Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org
D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org
Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento
1-888-793-4357
Laundry Lavandería
Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org
JOB BOARD Front Desk Associate Golds Gym // Southwest Waterfront, D.C. Part-time // $14/hour
Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org
Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach
// 1 5
2375 Elvans Road SE 2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE
Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org
My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
N Street Village // 202-939-2060 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org
New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE
Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW
Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org
Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org
The front desk associate will greet members and control the front door area. They will also assist with memers’ requests and do administrative duties. REQUIRED: High school diploma or equivalent.
So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org
APPLY: tinyURL.com/gym-desk-1
St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-333-4949 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org
Sales Associate
Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org
7-Eleven // 637 Pennsylvania Ave. SE All Shifts Sales associates are responsible for providing customer service, ringing out purchases, cleaning the store, and stocking merchandise. REQUIRED: High school diploma or equivalent. APPLY: tinyurl.com/711-sales-job
Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699 1500 Galen Street SE, 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 555 L Street SE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place, NE, 810 5th Street NW
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org
Cashier/Counter Chick-Fil-A // George Washington University Full-time or part-time Manages the cash register, scans items, proccesses different forms of payment, provides change. Assists with other tasks as required. APPLY: tinyurl.com/chick-fil-a-cashier
Dishwasher RPM Italian // 650 K Street NW
The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable
Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org
Flexible hours, may include nights, weekends and holidays Clean dishes, maintain dishwasher, restock items, empty garbage, and other tasks as assigned. APPLY: tinyURL.com/dishwashing-job
Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide
Black Lives Matter in D.C.
In America, some lives matter more
BY JEMEL FLEMMING // Artist/Vendor
BY MARCUS GREEN Artist/Vendor
The ongoing Black Lives Matter demonstrations: What do you think about how this has manifested in D.C.? The Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been obvious in Washington, D.C., due to the amount of people that came to the White House—on numerous occasions—to demand the downfall of racism. The initial protest started with the killing by the police of George Floyd. It then escalated on the next weekend to include protest regarding the shooting of BreonnaTaylor. She was in her apartment sleeping, and a healthcare worker. This news being shown in many places in America has made U.S. citizens aware of the many issues that can occur as a result of racism and violence!
Do I believe that All Lives Matter? Yes I do. Will I see in my life a total change? Probably not. That is my hope and prayer, that Dr. Martin Luther King’s dreams for our people, and all people, be realized in a peaceful manner. What has changed from the 60s to now is a lot of young white people are protesting right along the side of African American youth. My reaction was emotional, relieving and spiritual. Thank God for the Baltimore City Council defunding the police to the tune of $22 million. As we move forward, we as a nation need to learn to treat people the same no matter creed, color, etc. Remember what you put out comes back. Thanks for the love. God Bless
Thank you for reading Street Sense! From your vendor JULY 1 - 14 | VOLUME 17 ISSUE 18
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