07 08 2009 by Street Sense Media

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Where the poor and homeless

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G S U N AT I DO

Volume 6 Issue 18

July 8 to July 21, 2009

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

Homeless Veterans: A National Dilemma SOME Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Ode to Homeless Page 6

Volunteerism on the Rise Across the City Page 7

Status Report:

Organizations Struggle to Meet Needs of a Changing Demographic

Homeless Artists and Poets Reflect on Hardships and Dreams Pages 8 and 9

July 8 - July 21, 2009

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristal DeKleer Lisa Estrada Ted Henson Mary Lynn Jones Sommer Mathis Brad Scriber John Snellgrove Michael Stoops Martin Walker David Walker Kathy Whelpley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Laura Thompson Osuri EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Mary Otto VENDOR MANAGER Gregory Martin ASSOCIATE EDITOR David S. Hammond (volunteer) VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS

Sherry Antoine, Laura Arico, Robert Basler, Robert Blair, John Brandt, Jane Cave, Carol Cummings, Rebecca Curry, Katie Edson, Andy Freeze, Lisa Gillespie, Cassandra Good, Joanne Goodwin, Roberta Haber, Erica Hall, Carol Hannaford, Justin Herman, Annie Hill, Dan Horner, Phillip Hoying, Kayne Karnbach, Michael Kelly, Maurice King, Geof Koss, Brenda K. Lee-Wilson, Starlett McNeill, Kim O’Connor, Gabriel Okolski, Robert Orifici, Michael O’Neill, Jon Pattee, Katinka Podmankzy, Sarah Pope, Diane Rusignola, Cara Schmidt, Jamie Schuman, Jesse Smith, Christna Studivant, Matthew Taylor, Robert Trautman, Eugene Versluysen, Linda Wang, Denise Wilkins, Marian Wiseman, Corrine Yu

VENDORS

Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Glenn Baldwin, Daniel Ball, Carlie Banks, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Corey Bridges, Michael Brown, Bobby Buggs, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Conner, Pamela Cooper, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, James Davis, Chino Dean, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Jerome Douglas, Charles Eatmon, Eric Ellis, Randy Evans, Tanya Franklin, Samuel Fullwood, Roger Garner, Robert Gregory, Barron Hall, David Harris, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shawn Herring, Michael Higgs, Philip Howard, Lester Irby, Joanna Jackson, Patricia Jefferson, Jewell Johnson, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, DeRutter Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Virginia Moore, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Larry Olds, Moyo Onibuje, Gregory Phillips, Thomas Queen, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Michael Reardon, Jeanette Richardson, Tyrone Rogers, Ed Ross, Chris Shaw, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gerald Smith, Yvette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Sybil Taylor, Steve Thomas, Eric Thompson, Francine Triplett, Carl Turner, Patsy Uzzell, Martin Walker, Joseph Walker, Lawless Watson, Gregory Wells, Michael J. Welsh, Darrell Whitmyer, Edna Williams, Ivory Wilson, Charles Woods

Our Mission

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Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

The Story of Street Sense

Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 25 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world. After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network.

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization. In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a fulltime executive director. A year later in November 2006 , the organization hired its first vendor coordinator, and began partnering with several service providers. In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production, Street Sense brought on its first fulltime editor–in–chief in April. As of January 2009 the paper has 80 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

IN OTHER NEWS Compiled from published reports by Vanessa Voigt High Unemployment in Mauritius Causes Poverty On the island Republic of Mauritius, thousands of workers have been laid off and sent into poverty in the last few months as a result of the global economic crisis. The economy of Mauritius, one of the most successful in Africa, depends on textile exports to the United States and Europe, as well as tourism, sugar and financial services. The Central Statistic Office said that textile exports decreased by 10.5% from 2007 to 2008. In the first quarter of 2009 alone, 5,000 people in the textile and manufacturing work force, about 7%, were laid off, said finance minister Ramakrishna Sithanen. The economy is projected to worsen and many more are expected to lose their jobs, due to the fact that Mauritius factories are expected to continue to export less, said Eric Mangar, manager of Movement for Food Security, a local organization working against poverty and hunger. Sithanen warned that the longer the duration of this crisis, the more difficult it will be for Mauritius to rebuild. The lay-offs and poverty affect women the most, as they make up 60% of the textile and manufacturing workforce. In March, it was mostly women who protested in front of the Government House in Port-Louis, primarily for unpaid wages from factories. Tourism has suffered greatly. Mauritius does not

have a national unemployment program. The government’s National Empowerment Foundation is providing work training for textile workers in areas such as agriculture, fishing and technology. The Mauritian government also announced they will reduce the salaries of the president and ministers. To create employment opportunities, nongovernmental organizations have launched projects, such as poultry farming to help Mauritians maintain some income. They have also taught the unemployed how to garden their own food. Police Burn Down Homes in India Indian State Police set the village of Jamauili, Chitrakoot, in flames after they ordered an evacuation in the midst of an attack by a gang of bandits, known in India as dacoits. Police said that for the safety of residents, they decided to evacuate the village. The following day they set the entire village on fire, a strategy to entrap the dreaded dacoit leader Ghanshyam Kewat. The Jamauili villagers watched from a distance as all their possessions went into flames. Most of the villagers had only a small amount of money in their pockets. All Jamauili villagers are now homeless and are uncertain of how they will rebuild their homes. Ghanshyam was reportedly killed after he battled 400 policemen for more than 50 hours. Four policemen were also killed, according to published reports.

Homeless Teens Cause Concern in Ireland Residents of Portane, in County Dublin, Ireland, have asked authorities to relocate homeless teenagers living in Grove House, a shelter for the ages of 12 to 17, due to recent incidents of violence and delinquency. Grove House, opened last January on the grounds of the sprawling St. Ita’s Psychiatric Hospital, is a 10bed facility for both teenage boys and girls, and was established in the place of a teenage homeless shelter in Dublin’s city center. Members of the Portane community council have complained about the youths, saying that aggressive and threatening behavior has been aimed at the elderly residents at St. Ita’s and there has been an increase of vandalism. The council’s chairwoman, Ita White, said not only is the Grove House not conducive for the community, but the location is ill-fitted for the teenagers. “These vulnerable young people are being placed in an isolated area with limited services and activities, away from their families, friends and own communities, which is not in their best interests,” White said. Fr. Peter McVerry, a young homeless activist, agreed with White when he said the teenagers want to be closer to the city where their communities are. The Health Safety Executive said misconduct by the homeless teenagers will be met with sanctions, such as a loss of privileges, pocket money and participation of activities.

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

After War, Homeless Vets Continue to Fight By Marcus Williams Amongst the ranks of the homeless, veterans loom large. Instead of returning home from active duty abroad, many veterans find themselves returning homeless. “I learned in the Marine Corps how to survive. Survival is good but now I wanna live,” explains Alfred, a veteran of the Vietnam era who did not want to use his last name, and who has been periodically homeless for twenty years. As Congress weighs new legislation directed at veterans this summer, the perennial needs of homeless veterans continue to go unmet and new needs are emerging. One problem for Congress and the administration is deciphering why veterans are at risk of becoming and remaining homeless. Although they are less likely than the general population to live in poverty, veterans are significantly more likely to be homeless than non-veterans. In fact, roughly one in four of the homeless are veterans. As Cheryl Beversdorf, director of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans explained in her Congressional testimony in March, veterans are more likely to become homeless because they hold “uniquely military skills” and often suffer from “combat-related health issues”. “Yes I’m homeless, but I’m not helpless,” says Jawara Pittman. Pittman finds himself homeless after fourteen years in the U.S. Navy. A force drawdown in 2006 meant he was honorably discharged only a few years before he could have retired. “Now we’re looking to get back to where we were before, having a place of our own,” said Pittman. After numerous active-duty tours abroad, including the Persian Gulf, Pittman said that employers outside the military are not looking for his skills as an aircraft mechanic. There is little doubt that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) further complicates veterans’ lives. According to a recent study by the RAND Corporation, 300,000, or one in five, veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have reported symptoms of PTSD. Meanwhile less than half of those have sought any treatment. Fortunately, there is an infrastructure of support for veterans suffering from PTSD. Assistance with emotional and psychiatric problems as well as medical services rank amongst the needs that are most likely to be met by

existing service providers, according to a 2008 national survey of homeless veterans conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The existing supports for veterans are poorly prepared for a changing military. In fact, child care and legal assistance for child support issues are the least likely to be met. “There seem to be more homeless female vets, especially single mothers with kids,” explained David Autry, the national communications director for Disabled Veterans of America. Autry attributes this to the increasing female representation in the military, especially in combat roles. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, female veterans are 3.6 times more likely to become homeless than non-veteran females. In addition to regularly having children, women are more likely to report symptoms of PTSD, not always from combat. “Woman veterans report serious trauma histories and episodes of physical harassment and/or sexual assault while in the military,” says Beversdorf. Female veterans with children require different types of support. Most shelters use bunk-style dormitories that are ill-suited to women with children. As a result women typically stay in civilian shelters, where the support is not tailored towards veterans’ unique needs. “There is a camaraderie amongst veterans that isn’t shared with civilians and this is very important to adjusting,” explains Autry. Homeless male veterans still outnumber female veterans by more than nine to one, but for service providers, the choice between which population to serve can be difficult. “The female veteran is probably the most underserved veteran,” says Raymond O’Pharrow, the Chief Operating Officer for the All Faith Consortium, which recently opened a 56-bed shelter for male veterans in D.C. “We had to go either or. Whatever you do, the need is still overwhelming.” Fortunately, some projects are adapting to the changing needs of female veterans. At a Veterans Medical Center event in January, the center responded to a spike in female attendance by holding a special female clinic. “We realized we had to expand our continuum of care because female veterans had never been included in previous programs,” says Roslyn Hannibal-Booker, the Director of Development and Administration for the Maryland Center for Veterans

Photo By Marcus Williams

Jawara Pittman, who served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years, now finds himself homeless and, due to his military specific skills, unable to find work.

Education and Training (MCVET). MCVET recently expanded to include 17 single-occupancy rooms available for women, but is still unable to house homeless women and their children. President Obama and Congress may be keen on finding additional funding for veterans’ programs. On June 18, before the first meeting of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, Obama said, “It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families, and our nation’s veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country.” To advocates, this may be more than political posturing, one of the first bills he introduced as a U.S. senator was to reauthorize and expand funding for homeless veterans projects, the Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act. Projects like the new All Faiths Consortium shelter are supported by federal grants. New legislation that has passed in the House in mid-June and is awaiting action in the Senate is likely to expand access to housing and funding for veterans projects. Part of the policy debate surrounds estimating the number of homeless veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, recent efforts may have led to a decline in the number of homeless veterans, however the numbers are hotly contested. Autry with Disabled Veterans of America says the Department of Veterans Affairs recently changed the way they counted the homeless, making it difficult to interpret the changes

compared to older estimates. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates 63,000 homeless veterans while the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates range from 131,000 to 154,000 on any given night. Unfortunately, even with additional funding, it will still be difficult to reach many of the nation’s homeless veterans, according to HannibalBooker. “The biggest obstacle we face is getting information to those who need it,” she said. Even geography can be an obstacle as travel distances between services for homeless veterans limit access. A significant proportion of homeless veterans live outside of large urban areas, where there is less support infrastructure. And even when the people they serve are veterans, homeless programs often carry a stigma. “We find that people are supportive of homeless veterans, but that they adopt a not-in-my-backyard mentality that says, ‘yeah, build a shelter, but not in my neighborhood,’” explained Autry. Hannibal-Booker agreed, but said that her program was eventually able to overcome neighborhood resistance. “Initially there were concerns about a veterans’ shelter,” she said, “but, now that it is in use, we’re a sought after location because people have observed that we make good neighbors.”

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Local Groups Offer Assistance to Veterans By Vanessa Voigt Veterans made up one-quarter of the nation’s homeless population, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in. To provide some relief to this large group of homeless people, several organizations in the D.C. area provide education, housing and guidance to homeless veterans, in hopes that veterans may live well, even in the aftermath of war. AMVETS National Service Foundation is a nonprofit organization for American veterans, which is most well known for its National Service Officer Program (NSOP), Jay Agg, national communication director at AMVETS said.“Our most visible service is our NSOP, which is a network of service officers helping veterans from all wars file claims and appeals to veterans affairs ,” Agg said Agg said that AMVETS is proud of the number of claims filed and the money recovered in 2008. “Last year in 2008, our officers did 65,000 claims and recovered $410 million for veterans and their families,” Agg said. These service officers are accredited by the VA and paid through AMVETS, but the service they provide for veterans is free of charge, Agg said. “A trained service officer can identify areas of disability or need that a vet may not realize,” said Agg. “It is often a confusing and difficult process, and this service can really lighten your load.” A vast majority of these service officers are veterans themselves, Agg said. AMVETS pays its officers with the revenue made at the thrift stores it owns all over the country. AMVETS takes donations, Agg said. Call (800)810-7148 to schedule an AMVETS donation pickup at your home. To look up your local Service Officer to file a claim or appeal, go to www. amvets.org or call (877)726-8387. Another nonprofit organization for homeless veterans, Wishing Well, Inc. (WW), also collects donations. The organization’s Operation Warm Hearts program provides blankets, sleeping bags, coats, and educational information to homeless veterans in the Maryland and D.C. area, said Judith McDonald, presi-

dent of WW. Education is stressed at WW, McDonald said, especially to help veterans learn job and life skills. This commonly means learning how to cope with PTSD. “Our technique is a holistic approach, which identifies triggers in the mind, body and spirit,” McDonald said. WW teaches these life skills at workshops that have a focus on preparing the homeless veterans to return home and have a healthy family life, McDonald said. The workshops are held at partnering facilities in the Hyattsville area, but WW is planning to hold future workshops in D.C. “Homeless veterans come to WW for our hands on, compassionate care that we provide,” McDonald said. “We take them step-by-step in action to make sure connected to the right resources For information on volunteering, donating, receiving donations, or attending Wishing Well’s workshops, please visit them online at www.wishingwelloutreach. org, or call, at (301) 980-4262. According to The nonprofit organization US VETS is is also dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans, providing housing, clinical counseling and employment assistance. Stephanie Buckley, Regional Director of the D.C. region of US VETS, said that US VETS provides housing across the country, including at sites in Washington,D.C. “We currently house 64 veterans in D.C. in permanent supportive housing, and by November we will have 85 more transitional units, which will house 170 veterans,” Buckley said If you are interested in volunteering at US VETS, or are a veteran interested in US VETS’ services, call Stephanie Buckley at (213) 542-2600, or email sbuckley@ usvetsinc.org. Ve t e r a n s i n t e r e s t e d i n U S V E T S ’ s e r v i c e s c a n v i s i t D. C . o f fice at 3700 North Capitol Street, NW and fill out an application.

Citizens Deliver Declaration of Interdependence With family homelessness up 25% since last year, dozens of concerned citizens gathered at the D.C. City Council offices on Thursday, July 2, to deliver a letter to Mayor Adrian Fenty and council members regarding the District of Columbia’s shelter space shortage. Protesters, which represented a coalition of 50 signatory organizations and hundreds of citizens and shelter residents, delivered the coalition’s independent research on unmet shelter need to council members and staff before reconvening to deliver their letter to the mayor. Shelters “are seeing more people than ever before” and “the entire system is at capacity,” said the Homelessness Emergency Response Workgroup, which authored the letter. As one solution, protesters suggest reopening emergency beds that are available during the colder months, when the District is legally obliged to offer emergency housing to those who need it. Unlike past years, demand for shelters is not declining as the weather warms. Shelter quality is also a concern raised by pro-

testers. “They are extremely unsafe and unsanitary,” reported one shelter resident. According to the coalition’s report on unmet shelter need, 20% of homeless shelter users refuse to use shelters because of unsanitary conditions and 16% refuse to use shelters because of their affiliated violence and crime. Clarence H. Carter, Director of the Department of Human Services, said the District has a strategy to address homelessness that emphasizes housing instead of shelter space. “More emergency shelter is not the most humane or enlightened way of ending homelessness,” said Carter, though he said he recognizes that shelter capacity continues to be an issue. City Council staff said they understood the protesters concerns but also had to worry about the city’s budget shortfall. “You’re preaching to the choir,” said Adam Maier, director to the Committee on Human Services, told the protesters. His committee must develop the budget for shelter programs for submission to the mayor. One member of the coalition pointed out the potential savings to the city if it invested more in shelters

and could avoid emergency medical costs. A recent study of the homeless in Massachusetts revealed a per person annual savings of $17,625 on Medicaid claims if an individual did not have to sleep on the street. Unfortunately, Maier said he would be “extremely surprised” if new shelters were created as the city struggles to maintain existing ones.. “Are we going to be able to hold onto what we’ve got? I don’t know.”

lee davis

By Marcus Williams

Outside city hall, protesters demand more shelter space.

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

How a Helpless Situation Becomes Helpful Action

A Thrive DC volunteer talks with a Sunday Supper recipient.

By Jessica Harper After James found a permanent home in 2005, he decided not to leave homelessness completely behind. Instead, the 62-year-old Vietnam veteran did what a growing number of formerly homeless men and women are doing in the wake of the economic downturn -- volunteering their time to those living on the streets they once called home. “I love doing this, and I would do it even if I were still homeless,” James said. “These volunteers could be anywhere in the world doing anything else, but they chose to be here.” According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, 60.8 million volunteers dedicated 8.1 billion hours of service to community organizations in 2007. That number has continued to rise. Much like the rest of the nation, D.C. area nonprofits are now seeing a rise in their volunteer pool, especially at homeless organizations. The District annually sees 1.3 million volunteers serving 188.1 million hours. Outreach operations like Sunday Suppers, Thrive DC, DC Central Kitchen and FareShare say the floundering economy has contributed to an increase. But if you ask James, outreach should result from an innate yearning to serve, not a reflection of the nation’s financial turmoil. “It’s something you do because it’s in you to do it,” James said. “It shouldn’t be a fad. Only bumper sticker people do this to be seen.” Sunday Suppers’ Executive Director Philip Starling, who counts James as one of his most loyal helpers, admitted to a slight rise in volunteer inquiries. “There’s been a little uptick,” Starling said. “I haven’t really had anyone cite the economic crisis as a reason why they want to volunteer, but I can certainly say that it hasn’t kept anyone away either.” Sunday Suppers is an organization that reaches homeless locals with a mix of Motown music, conversation, food, clothing and hugs. Starling, who inherited the organization from

founder Wayne Merrill in 2006, says that people want to volunteer anyway, but the crisis sheds light on experiences that would otherwise fall “under the radar.” “The crisis highlights different stories and rekindles an impulse that people may have had but not acted on earlier,” he said. “When people see all the coverage on the news, they are reminded of that impulse.” Like Starling, Thrive DC’s Community and Volunteer Resources point person Nathan Mishler has also noted a heightened interest in community service opportunities available through his nonprofit. “Our Sundays are completely full,” Mishler said, “We’ve served 1,000 more meals on average from 2007-2008 than in years past.” Thrive DC opens its doors to anyone in need. Apart from homeless people, their clients include victims of domestic and sexual violence. Almost 80 percent of their female clients currently live with HIV/AIDS or other serious health problems. Open nearly 30 years, Thrive DC is what Mishler terms, “a wrap-around services nonprofit” that offers emergency services, case management, referrals, peer support, intensive employment training and therapeutic wellness workshops to over 350 men and women each day. Similarly, DC Central Kitchen’s chief executive officer Michael Curtin, Jr. pointed to the fact that his volunteers have filled the kitchen’s weeknight shift schedule to the brim. There is hardly room for newcomers. “If we opened up two other nights, they’d be full too,” he said. Curtin noted that in addition to the failing economy, President Barack Obama’s community service initiatives have also triggered a volunteer boom. “It began with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of National Service,” he said. “The new administration is about this sense of shared responsibility and participation. We don’t just need volunteers during the holiday season. We need them in August as well.” DC Central Kitchen opened on January 20, 1989, redistributing excess food from President George H.W. Bush’s presidential inauguration to homeless people throughout the city. Today, the nonprofit offers food recycling and meal distribution programs. FareShare helps in a different way. This nonprofit works with Ignatia House -- an organization that relies on AmeriCorps members to serve homeless veterans -- by leaving small plastic boxes at hotels, Metro stops and other participating locations for people passing by to donate their leftover fare cards. Volunteers then visit the participating locations every month to collect and count the donated cards. The cards are then consolidated into SmartTrip cards worth $100 each. FareShare Associate Director Elizabeth Boughrum said of the economy’s impact, “There’s an increasing population of people who are community-minded. That motivates people who wouldn’t do it naturally.”

On The HIll

Homes for Heroes Moves Forward By Street Sense Staff On June 16, the United States House of Representatives passed the Homes for Heroes Act (H.R. 403) by a vote of 417-2. This legislation was designed to provide housing assistance for homeless and very low-income veterans. According to Rep. Al Green (TX-09), an original sponsor of the legislation along with Rep. Michael Michaud (ME-02), on any given night in the United States, over 130,000 of the 500,000 Americans living on the streets, in shelters or in community-based organizations are homeless veterans. Moreover, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 45% of homeless veterans have a mental illness and over 50% have an addiction. “This bill does more than merely bring to light the struggles that many veterans face,” said Rep. Michaud when the bill passed the House. “It provides tangible solutions so that veterans can get off the streets and get into sustainable housing.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. If it is passed by the full Senate, it can be signed into law by President Barack Obama. The House version of the Homes for Heroes Act: • Establishes a $200 million program for housing assistance and services for low-income veterans; • Expands the successful Department of Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually and making the program permanent; • Authorizes $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and service providers with the execution of housing projects for veterans; • Establishes the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD to coordinate services to homeless veterans and serve as a liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs, state and local officials, and nonprofit service organizations; and • Requires HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD has taken under the programs provided for in the bill.

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Adventures for Dentures Project Helps Homeless COLUMBUS, OH - “I think I’m the richest person in the world right now because of this,” Raymond Allen said to the group of third graders sitting on the floor in front of him. While most people in Columbus, Ohio know Raymond as the homeless valet who helps people find parking spots in one of the Short North lots, to the third grade students at St. Matthew School in Gahanna, he is the first veteran they are helping as part of their Adventures for Dentures service learning project. The project was created when Cathy Mojzisik and Carol Spellacy talked about their jobs over dinner one evening. Mojzisik, Senior Research Nurse at the Ohio State University Medical Center, told the others about Raymond. She got to know him through an unpaid clinical trial for people with kidney masses, and Mojzisik said she was struck by his generosity and kindness. “He has a good soul, a good heart,” Mojzisik said. “He didn’t have to do this [clinical trial], but he did because he saw the need to help people in the future.” At the end of the trial, Allen mentioned to Mojzisik that he needed dentures. “I told him I don’t know how, but we’ll get you dentures,” Mojzisik said, adding that she assumed that they would go through the OSU Dental Clinic. When Mojzisik finished explaining the situation to her fellow diners, Spellacy, a third grade teacher at St. Matthew, asked if Allen was a veteran and explained that her class was doing a project and needed a veteran to help. “They took on Raymond as their project and called it Adventures for Dentures,” Mojzisik said. According to Spellacy, the students raised money to cover Allen’s cab fares to Dr. Barry P. Backiewicz’s office in Gahanna. They collected most of the money through a project called Deeds for Dentures, where they did chores for relatives in exchange for a donation. The students were very excited to aid a veteran after they heard several former service members speak at the beginning of the school year. “It kind of became their year-long quest to help someone,” Spellacy said. Spellacy said that the students’ parents also became very involved with Adventures for Dentures. Backiewicz, whose daughter is in Spellacy’s class, volunteered his services and is making the dentures for free. Allen met the students on May 29, shortly before

These kids . . . came up with a solution to a problem that has existed for 20 years.

school let out for the summer. The students had prepared questions in advance, which they asked eagerly. Allen answered all of their questions with a smile. He told them that he had spent 13 years in the military, working at a hospital in Hawaii. Although the draft for the Vietnam War was going on at the time, he volunteered to serve. He explained that unless a veteran is disabled or has spent 20 years in the military, he or she is not eligible for dentures. When one third-grader asked him about his work in the Short North, he told the class that he enjoys his job. “I like talking to different people and helping people,” he said. While Allen’s efforts to create a safe place for homeless individuals to store their identification papers demonstrated to the children that he still Raymond Allen shares his thoughts about his new dentures to a group of third graders. devotes time and energy to the needs of others, Allen said that he is overwhelmed by the students’ kindness. Now Providing Quality Dental Services for D.C. “I don’t have the words to describe how I Medically underserved and homeless persons emotionally feel about this,” he said. Allen said that getting his dentures will ….We treat you well mean a lot to him. “I’m reconnecting with my daughter who I haven’t seen in years,” he said. “Because first impressions are so important, I want to look my best.” He added that he is amazed by the Adventures for Dentures project. “These kids reached down and came up with a solution to a problem that has existed for 20 years,” Allen said. “They made me feel like I was truly an American person.” Allen said that the students at St. Matthew made him feel proud of his military service. “When we go to war, that’s what we fight for—so our young people can have that freedom, and they exemplify that,” he For one of Unity Health Care’s Medical said. “They made it all worthwhile—those Homeless Service Sites Call (202) 255-3469 13 years in the military. They made up for all those bad [experiences].” PHOTO courtesy of street speech

by Shea Davis

Reprinted from Street Speech © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

For an appointment at any of our Community Health Centers Call 1(866) 388388-6489

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Liberty was concieved in art by the Great LA DALE

Shattered Existence (A true story)

By Eugene Sanford The first time began in the mid 1990s A sudden eviction from a family home Not knowing the cause or why it occurred After two or more years of a stable existence Dismantling things belonging to us This method of hate is truly absurd. In 2002, this ordeal resurfaced But in such a way that was wrongful, you see Being placed in the dark about a scheduling error Taking four days off unwanted thereafter And avoiding the truth without telling me. I moved out of a home that would break any bank A home that was small but expensive in rent Moving everything I had, and selling a few things, While dealing with a landlord financially hell bent. He didn’t even care about what had happened Just asked me to move all my things out of there Even mentioning police, and of all things, the sheriff I suddenly know that he really did not care.

A turbulent chain of events was unfolding Starting with a hotel a few miles down the road Then two months at a friend’s house with problems galore And then back to the hotel for ten days of support Followed by an illegal campout in Oxon Hill At a friend’s condominium with hot water and heat The most horrible story to ever be told. Over one year later, this happened again But this time with a home up for sale And a schizo landlady living in her own world My room was invaded, things throw in the trash Then the locks and alarm were changed overnight After fighting to stay until December The time had appeared when I had to bail. A week before Christmas was a horrible time I had two different people helping me to move Until the time came when my home was no more My inner soul had departed as I left that house And then reminisced as I closed the door.

This painting is by Anne Marie Holloway, an artist who participates in Miriam's Kitchen's studio

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Washington D.C.

o. She is a new vendor for Street Sense.

July 8 - July 21, 2009

Driving da Bomb by Chris Sky Eagle Bear Shaw How does it feel to be “yea” old? Old enuf to feel the wind blowing thru And You didn’t even have The top down? (Power windows-working!) The ride in question was my first -- mi primo. Not chopped not channeled just a Galaxie Ford 500 Electric blue, with all the chrome. Cops stopped me once at dusk. On my way to History 102 Class. And I was class, cause they had to let me go Eventually. What perv would own a 500 Galaxie Ford Electric blue, with all the chrome? The news reader said 1979 was the biggest year of production. For me, ’72 was big enough, “wiide enuf,” 390 under the hood, metallic dark green with black vinyl top. Mean. Green. Chev’ Impala after CHRISTINE hit the screen I changed her name to CHRISTEEL! Man, we flew! The beautiful 1964 Galaxie was nuthin Compared to CHRISTEEL! Could she fly, round the corner to Peoples’ Drug, Or up the Jersey Turnpike on Washington’s B-Day at 80 all the way (Hey, not a cop in sight!) back to the Apple. By now, some ‘kids’ had coasted my Galaxie Ford Down the parents’ hill, slowly silently, and AFLAME, But that was OK, I was a GM man for real, Shooting the chutes to Pimlico out of 95, With a six-pack on the seat with me -Never to be caught – except when the tags on Christeel Died. (Oh to have a two-tone ultra green and hardshell white sleek Buick Electra…Fins, skirts, spokes, rods, flash, lotsa glass… Will this be my latest Ride?)

photo by Vic Brincat

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

gREGORY’S gREAT gAME Vendor Gregory Martin loves to create seek-and-find puzzles and drive the Street Sense staff crazy trying to find their answers. Below is his latest puzzle. Good Luck!

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Who's Who Of the Homeless By Marcus Williams Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail Both the young stars of Slumdog Millionaire became homeless in May after each of their homes outside Mumbai were bulldozed. For, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, who played Salim in the film, this was the second time his home was bulldozed, the first occurring while the film was in production and film crews found him sleeping on top of a car. Ismail said all his belongings were damaged or had to be thrown out after police forced his family to abandon their things. The young actors’ homes were in unregistered, and therefore illegal, slums and were demolished along with dozens of others. The film director, Danny Boyle, has since found permanent housing for Ismail’s family and hopes to do so for Rubina Ali, 9, as well. Ali is reportedly staying with relatives. Harland Sanders, a.k.a Colonel Sanders Harland Sanders, original spokesman and founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, was homeless twice in his life. At the age of 10, in 1900, Sanders was briefly homeless while holding several jobs to support himself and later his family. Sanders was then in the U.S. Army and earned a law degree. After practicing law for five years, Sanders opened a service station and began selling fried chicken to customers. By 1952, the state of Kentucky built a highway that bypassed Sanders’s store and sales plummeted. Forced to live off of social security, Sanders slept in his car and traveled around the country to sell his chicken recipe to restaurants in exchange for a small fee for every chicken sold. After being rejected by over 1,000 restaurants, Sanders sold his company in 1964 for $2 million.

FOUNDRY A Reconciling Congregation Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010

www.foundryumc.org

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Will write for food: Writer’s Group

Writer’s Group meets Wednesdays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Street Sense office. A poetry after party is 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Honoring Vets

I know you Veterans out there will be impressed with our insight. Please take you time with these articles

Hope for the Hopeless by Sean-Christopher Riley

When words become reality your eyes are wide-open but you still aren’t able to see. The man in the mirror actually had a resemblance or semblance to what use to be me. It wasn’t until words like despair, depression, lust, obsession,dereliction, irresponsibility, addiction, affliction, dirty, untrustworthy, liar, thief, product of the street, soapless, unworthy, and hopeless becoming actual and factual when used to describe me and my behaviors. When loved ones on several occasions made comments to the effect your livin so trife you need Jesus in your life!!!! Only he can save you. Sitting alone thinking I’m finally on my own. Only to realize couldn’t exist with myself without over indulging in alchol and weed until I’m beyond stoned. The mirror didn ’t lie, it revealed the inner pains I couldn’t hide, no longer able to take life on life’s terms in stride. Lacking any and all coping skills, myself is the only thing I wanted to kill. However, my desire to my former glory, wouldn’t let my body stay still, sleepless nights and hung over days. Walking aimlessly in our non-functioning haze, speaking in parables convincing those who knew me that I must be deranged and crazed. Institutionalized detoxification lead to an epiphany like manifestation. After returning from my knees begging every higher for merciful relief from what I realized was a fatal disease, ending every sentence with god please please... replace the words that will become my future. Reality, the room was silent and the only word that came to mind was sobriety. Now l love my reality, words that saved a wretch like me. Sean is new to the Writer’s Group. contact sean.riley@rocketmail. com

The South Carolina Line? by James Fetherson

The extraordinary challenge and struggle to overcome a physical human experience, I was a young talented gifted 16-year-old high school ball player who could permanently run only up and down the court at the school’s gym? I had promised myself that I was going to run South Carolina state line from house in North Carolina- a lonely hot dirt road that cut across the main highway. A ten mile run? One way? Perhaps that was what Charles Darwin realized in his natural selection? It is not the strongest of the species that survives it is one that is the most adaptable to change, the theory of living things evolve. Frequently I attempt that run. It became important to be focused on the challenge to run and survive that distance several times I began only to make it half way? And turn around until 17 and with god’s blessing some discipline and motivated, I master the run 10 mile non-stop in to the sough Carolina line. That was a proud fascinating moment for me. I am amazing a superior runner now, who overcame the human physical experience James is a new vendor, contact: James_Fethersen @yahoo.com

The Soldier’s MyOpia The valiant soldier readies, for death encompassed in a cubicle with cowards, kneeling like a unmagdalene begging with their guile hymms for mercy -Patrick Azarius Patrick is new to the Writers group, contact: PatrickPierre39@yahoo.com

A Soldier’s Service A soldier and his service, a country made free, a soldier and his tears, the life of a soldier lost, that will always be. A soldier helping saving a life. With a child in his arms. That is victory. A soldier and his rank. It’s up to god you see, A soldier soldiering for you and me. A soldier may he win the peace. Yes peace is every soldier’s dream. Peace and independence is every what every true solider seeks. -Robert Warren Robert is also an advocate contact: Robertwarren47@yahoo.com

Reggie’s Reflections- NewDay!!!! By Reginald Black I was desperate. My crush did nothing. My homelessness began to enter its’ sixth month. I was just laid of a temporay job and my day labor jobs equipment broke down prematurely ending the season. What was interesting to me was seeing someone consumed by desire. She (the consumed friend) was trying to win me over. I didn’t mean to ignore her sometimes, but I had to find a way out of homelessness. It was a sunny Monday afternoon. To this day I do not know how or why I was at Eastern Market Station in Southeast. All I can remember was him saying 'Help a hard working homeless man give and earn his two cents.' I turned to the gentlemen and asked how could I get invoved. I told him that I was homeless and that hearing you say earn meant some sort of job. He gave me a free newspaper. Three days later I walked into the offices here at Street Sense. I was trained as a vendor and introduced to the family. I was nervous but I knew that I may be able to cope with homelessness and eventually get out by using the newspaper. I didn’t know how a newspaper would help with relationships, I was just glad I was looking at a new day. Reggie cohosts The Writers group contact: roninworrior@yahoo.com

Our Nations History by Reginald Black

Our nation's history is filled with stories of war heroes. They range from mechanic to infantry, performing many jobs that contribute to the overall protection of our country. After recently reviewing a study of homelessness among veterans, I learned a great lesson. The article stated that veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are ending up in shelters quicker than those that returned form the Vietnam War. Phil Landis, Chairman of Veterans Village of San Diego, stated “we anticipate that it’s going to be a tsunami.' Dougherty also stated that sexual abuse is a risk factor for homelessness. The study went on to say that special traits of the current wars contribute to homelessness including high rates post-traumatic distress disorder. Over all there is a level of disrespect for our vets war heroes, who started with nothing return home to the same thing. they return worse off than they left . As Americans we should support our homeless vets because many of them fought and support our freedom in America and answer the call with out question. Reggie cohosts The Writers group:see Reggie's Reflections for contact information

Homeless Veterans by David Rubin

My experience with the veterans begins in a military hospital,psychiatry unit where mentally insane veterans provide a clue to the nature of homelessness. One that surpassed my understanding was the fear of their personal hygiene. Many homeless people I have come across truly have problems staying physically clean with myself doing laundry. In my volunteer rotations at CCNV infirmary, I crossed paths with homeless veterans seeking medical help at Unity Health Care. They helped me understand the nature of the problem, when I had to take a cold shower everyday in the winter and contend with dirty clothes, since the washing machine was broken. It was a terrible feeling to drive one into mental insanity and homelessness. The writer's group film training by Naomi Alfini is thus important,especially when one views on film the few remaining natural habitats and streets famous to Street Sense. It helps clear the mind and feel clean.In acquiescence, the essays inspired by the French general Jacques Puysegur (16551743), on the origins of military thought, mentions the importance of geography over history. The general. who shows how a good soldier thinks, found history to place more value on theoretical ideals. He saw the community judiciary branch less useful and citizens verbose. On the other hand corrective action can be taken when our physical aspects contribute to homelessness, as proven by our practical homeless veterans. This, according to General Puysegur begins with geography and filming our surroundings. In turn we use mathematical geometry to analyze our community in order to find ourselves practical in solving our problems with homelessness. David is new to the Writer's Group contact: Stonepotts2000@yahoo.com

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Cara Schmidt, Carlton Johnson, David Hammond, Patty Smith, Reginald Black

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

The Rise and Fall of Stinky: Part I A Morality Tale from the Street

Another Disappointment

By Jeffery McNeil

By Maurice King

he Street is a place of triumph – and the scene of many tragedies. While there are some successes, there are more failures. Many people on the Street have gifts and talents. Many of them could have been poets, musicians, doctors, lawyers – maybe even president. However, the temptations of life suck them in rapidly, like fast money, power, women and drugs. These things are like an irresistible minnow on a fishhook. They bite the baited line and they are caught. No matter how much they fight, they fall into the abyss. These hard lessons of the street can be painful and lead you to ruin. Stinky’s is one such tale. He is the drunk you see today, stumbling around mumbling with a bag of liquor. Stinky has lost everything, including his sanity. He can be found on a park bench, at the bus station, or hanging around any liquor store. Many see Stinky as a low-life crud ball, and some tolerate him by giving him a few dollars so he will just leave the corner. Stinky is comfortable on the Street. He can’t wait for the soup truck to come and feed him. He no longer wants responsibility; he has the freedom to be lazy and trifling. He no longer bathes. He doesn’t groom himself or brush his teeth. Sometimes he gets so hungry he eats out of trash cans. He doesn’t want help because it messes with his drunkenness. Stinky’s case isn’t uncommon. He is a drunk who doesn’t know what the bottom is. His family has turned their backs on Stinky. His wife left him and sent divorce papers, his kids are ashamed of him, and he is currently unemployable. The Street life has grabbed a hold of another soul. Stinky didn’t start off in this condition. He wasn’t even called Stinky, once upon a time. He came from a loving family. The father was a stockbroker, the mother a nurse. The parents taught their children the importance of education, hard work and self-reliance. But Stinky was a rebellious child who hated discipline and instruction. He was born the middle child, so he got lost in the competition for his parents’ affection. They would neglect their son, who was shy and had low self-esteem. One day they went on a trip and left the boy in the house all by himself. He noticed the old record player in the living room. Underneath was a bottle of Night Train and some albums like Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “Take You Higher.” The ten-year-old took a swig of Night Train straight. He gagged and thought adults were weird for drinking alcohol. But within a few minutes he became intoxicated. He started feeling confident and brave, his shyness went away. He had a feeling he never felt before. He thought drinking touched his inner core being, and he started drinking more. He got twisted for the first time and started vomiting. When he woke up his head started pounding. He had his first hangover and started looking for more liquor. Soon he learned how to drink without vomiting. Sometimes he would black out but he loved listening to blues and drinking alcohol. He loved being buzzed and drunk. Drinking changed him from a shy person to someone who was gregarious and affable. He would find ways to buy the 12-pack for his crew. So everyone loved him, because he supplied the alcohol. He graduated from high school and went to college and instantly was the big man on campus. He was the leader of frat parties and hazing, and alcohol still made him popular. And even though he drank a lot he graduated from college. He moved to New York. He was nervous and scared but he soon noticed all the bars in Manhattan. He found one just like his hometown and it became his watering hole. Coming Soon: Part II:The Fall of Stinky. Jeffery has been a vendor for nearly two years and is originally from New Jersey.

bout a year ago, I wrote here that I had gotten a job. It was a major change for me, and although I had my fears, I approached it with eager anticipation. It gave me something to write about other than the gloom and doom of being homeless. I had quite an adjustment to make. Suddenly I had to acquire a suitable wardrobe ample enough to enable me to attend a job five days a week. I had to accustom myself to getting up in the morning to travel to work and to sustain a pace for close to nine hours per day. Then there was the work itself, which was not the greatest challenge, as it was work in which I had been proficient previously; that was, after all, why I was hired. Still, I had to file reports each week relating what I had done -- detailing what progress I had made, what problems I had encountered, what steps I had taken to deal with the problems, and whether I had involved other personnel in the problem solving – quite a few things to enter into a weekly progress report. Somehow in all of this, I had to grab my meals and get in a reasonable amount of sleep every night. Notice that in this description I am not including any time for anything that could be classified as fun. Weekends were never meant to be for rest. I had an obligation to work as a staff member at the Community for Creative Non-Violence, and that took my weekends from me. In effect, I worked seven days a week with no down time. It should come as little surprise that when a federal holiday came around, I slept like a baby from sheer exhaustion. In May, our team at work had to participate in a re-compete for a new contract at the federal government agency at which I worked. We worked night and day – literally – to prepare a presentation that we gave for the government on May 5. It was not until the day before our current one was to end that we received notice that we had been awarded the new five-year contract. It would have seemed that this news would have given me reason to rejoice. However, such rejoicing would have been premature, because as I was to discover two weeks later, the government incorporated cutbacks into the contract and eliminated positions – one of which was mine. I was told that I could work until the end of the month, during which time I should wrap up the projects that I was working on and document them so that someone else could take them over. That did not change the fact that I was going to become another statistic: one more unemployed person in this recession. It is true that I can always look for another job. However, I need not point out that finding a job is not such an easy thing to do. I have many reasons to regret having lost this job. It is on record that I was not fired but released because of budgetary cuts, and this may entitle me to unemployment compensation, but everybody knows how inadequate that is. Just the day before I was given the news, I had spoken before a group and said that I had hopes that soon I would be able to find a place of my own. We have a saying in Hebrew that says that a pessimist is an optimist with experience. I guess this is just one more experience that should teach me not to get my hopes up so quickly when job stability simply does not exist in the United States. Maurice has been writing for Street Sense since the second issue and hopes to publish a book soon.

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

JOnathan Rubin

By Vanessa Voigt The nonprofit organization SOME (So Others May Eat) celebrated its 40th anniversary of serving the poor on July 1 with a heavenly concert, Beatitude Mass (For the Homeless), by members of the Georgetown Chorus, San Jose Symphonic Choir and Monterey Symphony Chorus. To match the breathtaking sounds of strings and voices, the concert was hosted within the magnificent crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine, where the music echoed off the arched walls of mica, emerald, ivory and stained glass. In the first portion of the concert, the symphony and choir performed traditional hymns, mostly in Latin. The chorus created a chilling but beautiful sound, as if they were angels singing of the sadness of the human condition.Soothng yet powerful, the full-bodied voices evoked emotion yet comforted the soul. The only interruption from enchanting bliss was when Kathryn Hearden, soprano soloist, sang. Highly trained, she could touch the high notes but failed to touch the heart of this reviewer. Her voice lacked sincerity and emotion. Rather, it felt empty as she sang the words, “I’ve cried myself to sleep with tears of agony.” The second half of the concert opened with a solo performance by Hall Conductor and composer Henry Mollicone leads the Georgetown Chorale at SOME’s 40th Johnson, who sang “Hold anniversary concert at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Out Your Light” and “City Called Heaven” in a gospel-meets-classical music style that was truly meaningful in the moments when he belted it out in a display of thorough emotion. The highlight of the concert was when the chorus resumed its singing with numbers from Les Misérables. It was then that the chorus transformed from distant angels into breathing humans, expressing the living hope of the future of heaven, and reminiscing of the bright pieces of the past, despite the hardships. The notes cast a dream over the audience, in an almost enduring desperation, for a better life. Volunteers from SOME celebrate 40 years of service to DC. JOnathan Rubin

Seafood with Style By Carlton Johnson fter leaving Street Sense offices, vendor manager Greg Martin and I were on assignment with the hope of having a great lunch. We made a mad dash down G Street, towards downtown Chinatown and its myriad of restaurants, which, on first sight, are mouth-watering to the point of no return. The destination for the afternoon was across from the Verizon Center, the home of the Washington Wizards. We headed to the trademark of Legal Sea Foods - “the big golden fish,” hoping all would go well. First under the microscope was the atmosphere. We keyed in on the details, with an eye on cleanliness. Right then we were greeted by our host for the afternoon and seated at our table. Next came the greeting of our waiter who, unaware of our mission at hand, handed us two menus and asked if we were ready to order or wished to have something to drink at that time. After some small talk, we picked up our menus , ready to decide what we wished to have for lunch. Within a few minutes, our waiter returned with two glasses - one filled with icy cold lemonade and the other with cold iced tea. Starting the meal off with appetizers, I chose a bowl of New England clam chowder, while Greg had the spicy and crispy Montauk Calamari. By that point, we were taken by the timely service and the food presentation before our eyes. Next up came the entrees and we were presented with Legal Sea Foods' award-winning crab cake. As far as eye could see, it looked good but, the first thing that came to mind (per Greg ) was: “where is the crab meat?" Then, I was presented with the grilled salmon, at which point I came to believe that looks could be deceiving. I do know that you grill salmon two turns per side, at two minutes per turn, but I did not want to tell the chef how to cook his salmon. That salmon would have been great for breakfast with some eggs over easy, but in the end, it all went well; after giving it a second chance, I can say we had a great and fulfilling meal! Thanks to our donors here at Street Sense for the lunch on the town.

Lee Davis

Carlton has been selling Street Sense for 18 months and has his own flooring business.

photo courtesy of s.o.m.e.

“Heavenly Music” Celebrates 40 years of SOME

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July 8 - July 21, 2009

Food, Fun and Festivities at the Street Sense Community Picnic

WHAT OUR READERS ARE SAYING...

A Needed Perspective & Authentic Voice Dear Editor: I wanted to say how much I enjoy reading Street Sense. I seldom miss an issue and appreciate each of your street vendors I have purchased from. They all seem to have their own style, but get the job done. The writing is such a thoughtful combination of issue articles and compelling story telling – truly the publication provides an authentic voice to people living on D.C.’s streets, bringing a needed perspective for those of us who mostly spend our working days behind computer screens and in meetings. Really, I find each issue a breath of fresh air compared to the other heavily politicized D.C. media. With best regards, Tom Austin

Street Sense Vendor Helps Lost Child July 2 marked the first – of hopefully many – Street Sense Community Picnics. Dozens of vendors attended and dozens more volunteers and downtown neighbors stopped by to say hello; eat some hotdogs, hamburgers and other tasty treats; and listen to some great music and fabulous poetry. Even Clarence Carter, the head of the Department of Human Services stopped by for some rousing debate. Entertainment included vendor Greg Phillips performing his original new hit “Rockin’ for Street Sense,” whose catchy chorus: “Street Sense, one dollar. On the corner is where you hear me holler” stuck in everyone’s head for the rest of the day. Wonderful street musician violinist also performed some wonderful classical tunes for the crowd and vendor Richard Embden also gave his ode to Street Sense playing of a Stevie Wonder song. All in all it was a great success and everyone had a great time and really showed the community what Street Sense is all about.We would like to thank vendor Lawless Watson for MC-ing the festivities; Cafe Cantina for donating pizza; Au Bon Pain for donating ice; volunteers Roberta Haber, Annie Hill, Eugene Versluysen, Swinitha Osuri for donating food and drink; interns Vanessa Voigt, Marcus Williams, Talia Roth and Liane Schmersahl for making food and helping with set up; and volunteer Lee Davis for taking pictures. Top photo: Street sense vendors and guests enjoy some great food and conversation in the Church of the Epiphany parking lot. Middle photo: A guest violinist play some classical tunes for all the picnic guests. Bottom photo: Vendor Greg Phillip jams to his soon-to-befamous hit song “Rockin’ for Street Sense. All photographs were taken by Lee Davis.

Hi All -While working outside Eastern Market one Saturday last month, I saw a Street Sense vendor provide a happy ending to a story that could have gone badly wrong. Looking out at 7th Street SE (which was then undergoing construction) from my booth, I saw a small boy of about 4 or 5 years old walking next to a gentleman in a Street Sense vest. The little boy was looking up at the vendor and the vendor was talking to him in a soothing tone, though I couldn't hear any of the words he used. As I watched, they reached the end of the block, where the vendor sought a police officer's attention. In a minute or two, the officer, the child, and the Street Sense vendor were walking back toward North Carolina Avenue, where I snapped the attached picture. In a few moments I saw the little boy happily reunite with his mother. I wanted to find the vendor and thank him for taking such good care of the lost little boy, but he'd disappeared before I got a chance to do so. However, I did get to talk to the police officer, who praised the vendor for getting the situation under immediate control. Turns out that the child had been taught to seek a person in uniform if he got lost or separated from his parents, and that the Street Sense vendor was that nearest "person in uniform." The vendor quickly took the child directly to the police officer, and made sure en route that the child didn't panic. I was struck by the vendor's kind manner as I watched this small drama unfold. I'd like to thank this vendor for his kindness to the child and for his good sense and quick thinking in resolving a potentially scary situation. Are you able to identify him from the photo? To me. this incident was a demonstration not only of the vendor's good nature and smarts, but also of the way in which the Street Sense vendors are an important and welcome part of our community. I often see Street Sense vendors offer commuters a smile or joke, or help tourists with directions. Thanks and kudos to this extra-helpful vendor, and to the whole team. Zoey March

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C. SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 928 5th Street, NW (202) 783–6651 www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731 www.grm.org John Young Center (Women) 117 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-529-5991 shelter and other services for domestic violence victims N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612

July 8 - July 21, 2009 www.churchofthepilgrims.org

mental health services

Dinner Program for Homeless Women AND the “9:30 Club” Breakfast 309 E Street, NW (202) 737–9311 www.dphw.org

Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing

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

Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter. org laundry, counseling, psych care

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

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

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child and family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 Washington DC 20001 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870; www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511

www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

SHELTER

Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs

Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.communityministrymc. org

Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239

Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/ services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Mass. Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/ dc.html emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

The Samaritan Group P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564 Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org

FOOD Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Church, Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, ilver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda (301) 493–8553 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, housewares Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless 600–B East Gude Dri Rockville (301) 217–0314; www.mcch.net emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportiveservices

Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 Ninth Road North, Arlington (703) 525–7177 www.aachhomeless.org

FOOD Alive, Inc. 2723 King Street, Alexandria (703) 836–2723; www.alive–inc. org Our Daily Bread 10777 Main Street, Ste. 320, Fairfax (703) 273–8829 www.our–daily–bread.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Arlington Free Clinic 3833 N Fairfax Drive, #400, Arlington (703) 979–1400 www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Abundant Life Christian Outreach, 5154 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria (703) 823–4100 www.anchor–of–hope.net food, clothing, youth development, and medicines David’s Place Day Shelter 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org laundry, shower, workshops, hypothermia shelter Legal Services of Northern Virginia 6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 500 (703) 778–6800; www.lsnv.org civil legal services

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

July 8 - July 21, 2009

VENDOR PROFILE

James Featherson

THE LAST WORD By Tommy Bennett

By Vanessa Voigt

BY VANESSA VOIGT

James, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Purple Heart and a Silver Star recipient, for acts of bravery in the first Gulf War. He spent one year in Iraq in the Army Special Forces where he did secret missions in enemy territory. How did you become homeless? I have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and I medicated myself. It is hard getting over the fact of people dying. But I got help for it, and now I am pretty much where I can walk on my own two feet. The dark period is pretty much over.

S treetS ense.org

So what are your plans now that you are in a better place? I would like to be a great writer, and earn an associates or bachelors degree in journalism. I am looking at Liberty University Online. I have a lot to talk about. I’m writing an autobiography about the war. God has been blessing me. I see myself as being law enforcement, and they are working with me. I have a good record. I see myself a supervisor in a law enforcement security type agency. I’m also a personal trainer.

Sometimes what I see here on the streets of D.C. reminds me of the things I saw in 'Nam. Like many other homeless in D.C. and across America, I am a Vietnam War veteran. During my time in the war, I saw a lot of things; some of it I can talk about, and some of it I can’t. I can say, though, that back then I saw a lot of homelessness. I saw villagers living in shacks, with no food, water, or medical help. Today, I’m homeless myself, and even though it’s different, I see those same problems here in America. It makes it especially hard to deal with my homelessness when it reminds me of Vietnam. During the war I would always ask myself, “Why, God, do I have to do this?” The war was real hard because the same people we were trying to watch over, we’d also have to fight against. It was like, one day, I’d go into the bar, and the next day, we’d have to kill the man who served us our drinks. There’s a lot I can’t talk about because what I saw was just so bad. Even though I still talk on and off with some guys from the war, we don’t talk about what happened then. We can only talk about what’s going on today because we’re always trying to forget the war. It’s been hard to cope with sometimes. For years I tried to medicate myself, like lots of other veterans do. We try to forget what we’ve done over there, because like I said, what we did was real sad. It doesn’t affect me like it used to anymore, but sometimes I still get depressed and need to talk to my therapist. The difference now is I’m six years sober, and part of that is because I’ve learned that I can’t let what I did back then keep me down today. I got help and I think other veterans should, too. Even groups like AA and NA have helped me deal with it because they keep me focused on what I have to do. I know all that drugging and stuff isn’t where it’s at if you want to get better. I have to move on with my life, and so does every other homeless veteran. To all the veterans around the world, be strong. Stick in there and do what you’ve got to do for yourself by God’s grace.

How do you like being a vendor for Street Sense? It helped me as far as writing. I have been bitten by the writing bug now. Reaching out to a lot of people that don’t understand homelessness is good too. Most people I talk to say, "I didn’t know that homeless people are like this, until I started reading the paper, and now I buy Street Sense everyday.”

caramel