08 05 2009

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

Where the poor and homeless August 5- August 18, 2009

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G S U N AT I DO

Volume 6 Issue 20

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

Coming Full Circle: An Interview With HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan

Save our Safety Net Coalition Protests D.C. Budget Cuts Page 6

San Francisco wins the Homeless Street Soccer USA Cup Pages 8 and 9

Former National Coalition for the Homeless Intern and new HUD Secretary outlines his plans to address homelessness and affordable housing and reflects on the past, page 4 and 5.

Tips for holistic mental health care Page 13

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August 5 - August 18, 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) Interns Talia Roth, Lianne Schmersahl, Vanessa Voigt, Marcus Williams 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. LeeWilson, 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

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Our Mission

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

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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 ven-

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1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).

3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not threaten or pressure customers.

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5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.

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Last Month’s Donors Sanjana Ahmad William P. Butz Jean Campo Christina M. Cartwright Carol Cook Sylva Etian David Fowler Christopher E. Goldthwait Robin Goracke Angela Han Robin Ropar Heller Eileen Lavelle Valerie Lee Michael Mavretic Shayrn Meister David Martin

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

Compiled by Liane Schmersahl, from published reports NYC Offers Homeless One Way Tickets Home New York City is offering its homeless families a oneway ticket to “anywhere but here.”

In attempt to reduce the number of families in the shelter system, which costs $36,000 a year per family, the Bloomberg administration is willing to send the families any place where a relative agrees to take them.

Though the city has successfully relocated 550 families since 2007, some see the program as purely political and ultimately inefficient. There are concerns that the city is merely passing homelessness on to other cities and countries in order to reduce its own homeless population and, earn a better appearance and reputation.

According to The New York Times, Arnold Cohen, president and chief executive of Partnership for the Homeless, called the city’s plan “cosmetic.”

The program does not have a limit for how far it is willing to send families, and in one case, even spent $6,332 on returning a family of five to Paris. Other popular destinations include Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, the program has diverted homeless families to five continents.

Though the program is not a new concept altogether and has existed in various forms and cities for some time, this initiative is unique in its focus on homeless families. Most other programs assist single or married adult homeless who do not have children.

Homeless families in the city are free to refuse the offer and choose the shelters instead.

Homeless Man Leaves $4 Million Estate Two years ago, a 76-year-old Arizona man died, leaving his $4 million estate split between a nurse, NPR, and

several non-profit organizations. He had no wife or children and was estranged from his brother. He was also homeless.

According to his friend Rita Belle, a nurse whom he met 13 years ago at a senior center, Richard Leroy Walters slept on the grounds of the senior center and ate at a hospital. He said he had no home. Walters would use the telephone at the hospital or senior center to make what Belle now believes to have been investment calls.

She remembers him being very involved in investments and trading.

Walters did not own a car or a home and had few personal possessions. Though he didn’t express reasons for his bare-necessities lifestyle, Belle said that she never heard Walters complain, and that happiness does not mean the same thing for everyone.

Seven Percent of Fifth Graders Homeless A new study conducted on approximately 5,000 fifth grade students found that 7% of fifth graders and their families have experienced homelessness. For black fifth grade students, the statistic was 11%.

Researchers from UCLA and the Rand Corp. analyzed data gathered from the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. The study included students from Birmingham, Ala.; Houston; and Los Angeles.

The study also reveals that children who have experienced homelessness are significantly more likely to have emotional, behavioral or developmental issues, more likely to have witnessed violence, and more likely to have received mental health care.

Students who the study classified as homeless had lived in cars, shelters or on the street. Dr. Tumaini R. Coker of Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, the study’s lead author, said the report suggests that in a classroom

of 28 fifth graders, two students would have been homeless at some point.These findings are reported in the American Journal of Public Health.

Homeless Men Embark on Odyssey Adventure Despite suffering homelessness and the loss of the mentor who inspired them, 24 homeless men in Warsaw, Poland, are banding together to fulfill a common goal: to build a ship and sail it around the world.

When Father Paleczny, a Catholic priest, set up a homeless shelter in Warsaw, he found a group of men uncertain of their future, lacking goals, and without a sense or purpose. Though he would talk with them every day, it was not until he was hospitalized for tuberculosis and was treated next to a sailor that he came up with his plan for a homeless Odyssey adventure.

Today, about 25 of Warsaw’s homeless, men from Paleczny’s shelter, are busy at work constructing a ship made from inexpensive and donated materials, sponsorships, and Paleczny’s earnings — and they’re doing so in Paleczny’s memory. After suffering a heart attack in June, Paleczny died at age 50.

The builders, however, remain inspired. Although not all of the original builders remain a part of the project, it has continued for approximately three years. Since the ship’s genesis, some men have left the area, and some have gotten work. Others have joined in, trying to make a new life out of prison or off the streets.

When the ship is completed, 11 of the homeless builders and a professional captain will set sail, traveling on a vessel bearing their mentor’s name. Some of the workers say the voyage is a lifelong dream, while others are just happy to have been a part of the construction.

The trip will last about a year and will demand the men continue working together as a team.

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

HUD Chief Off to a Running Start

A National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) Intern Tony Taylor questions former NCH intern and current Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan housing should play in your department’s response to homelessness?

By Tony Taylor At a recent news conference, President Obama was asked to comment on the growing crisis of family homelessness. The President responded by acknowledging that the homelessness problem in this country “was bad even when the economy was good,” and cited the impor tance of creating quality jobs to help homeless families and individuals afford shelter. While job creation is certainly an important component of a federal response to homelessness, it is only part of the solution. What would you add to the President’s response?

For many Americans, the previous economic prosperity was largely fueled by the artificial growth in home values.

This put tremendous pressure on the rental marketplace as lower income families struggled to find a home or apartment they could afford. They experienced none of the benefits of a booming housing market and all of the negative consequences.

President Obama and I are convinced that any recovery must be sustainable and based on real growth, not only on the jobs front, but in the housing market as well. And this absolutely must include a more concerted effort on the part of the federal government to encourage the production of more affordable rental housing.

What steps have Congress and your administration taken thus far that will prevent more people from becoming homeless and help put people experiencing homelessness back into homes?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $1.5 billion in grants to rapidly re-house families who fall into homelessness or to help prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. HUD’s new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) allows us to fund homeless prevention activities as never before. President Obama and the Congress recognized that too many families are experiencing a sudden economic crisis and are at extremely high risk of becoming homeless. The Recovery Act is just one way we’re hoping to offer the kind of short-and-medium-term help to put them on the

Housing First projects have shown that homeless persons, including chronically homeless persons, can be stably housed in scattered-site housing, with appropr iate sup port. Of critical importance is the ability of the families and service providers to be reliably in contact. Placing homeless families in locations that are distant to important service providers may add a layer of complication to the provision of services.

path to self sufficiency.

For many years, low-income families and individuals in our nation have faced a severe shortage of affordable housing. How will the Department of Housing and Urban Development address this problem under your leadership?

The prior administration lost sight of how the housing boom, as beneficial as it may have been for homeowners, placed much of our available rental housing stock well beyond the reach of many lower-income families. In particular, families living in high-cost areas continue to face a hard choice — either move to a lower cost area or live in substandard housing.

We must take a more balanced approach to our national housing policy. This is why we are seeking to create a $1 billion Housing Trust Fund to stimulate the production of affordable housing and to increase the number of available rental vouchers. We also intend to increase funding to our long-standing CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] and HOME [HOME Investment Partnerships Program] programs that will go a long way toward investing in the affordable rental market. I believe the President’s proposed 2010 budget returns the federal government to its leadership role as a catalyst for expanding the availability of decent and affordable rental housing.

What role do you believe scattered-site public

Placing homeless families in scattered-site public housing is a local decision based on the type of housing available, and the type and location of the services being provided. I encourage PHAs [Public Housing Agency] to connect with their community’s local continuum of care to secure services and to assess what the best housing option might be for homeless families.

What is your vision for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) in the coming years?

The focus of the previous USICH was to end chronic homelessness. We learned from that experience that if we assess research and then clearly define a policy objective, target resources to meet that objective and then measure results that we can make a real difference. HUD, a member of the USICH, played a key role in this initiative. It’s now time to use that same process and see what can be done not just for the chronically homeless but for other homeless populations, including homeless families. This administration intends to have more engagement and collaboration through the USICH with Federal agencies to solve homelessness.

While many people experiencing homelessness live in city streets or in emergency shelters, countless others spend their nights in the homes of friends and family, in campgrounds, or in low-rent motels.

How will this administration plan to reach out and provide needed services to those households, as well?

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S treetS ense.org continued from page 4 People are often forced to live with family and friends because they can’t find an affordable home to rent. This is why it is critical that we do everything we can to stimulate the production of affordable rental housing. The Recovery Act’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program will help thousands of families to avoid homelessness by offering moving expenses, security deposits and temporary rental assistance.

HUD is making significant contributions toward the capital needs of local housing authorities so they, in turn, can serve more families. And we’re reaffirming HUD’s support for our voucher programs by proposing nearly $18 billion in the 2010 budget, an increase of $1.8 billion over current levels. It’s clear that President Obama is intent on making sure that lower income families, and specifically those at higher risk of homelessness, must not be forgotten as we seek to put this nation back on the path of sustainable economic growth.

Homelessness is not just a housing issue, of course, but an issue pertaining also to health care, incomes, civil rights, education and jobs.

In what ways do you plan on coordinating your efforts at HUD with the efforts of the other departments in combating homelessness?

To solve homelessness requires not just housing but access to an array of supports. The services by agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education are absolutely vital to help ensure that once persons are housed they have the services they need to become stably housed and improve their lives through education and employment. Clearly the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will be playing a key role in coordinating government agencies on the issue.

During your years as commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, what role did you play in providing housing resources for the city’s homeless population? What lessons did you learn from that experience that will inform your work as HUD Secretary?

In one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, we were able to make significant progress toward building and preser ving 165,000 units of affordable housing, the largest municipal affordable housing plan in the nation’s history. One of my proudest achievements in New York was the New York/New York III, a $1 billion agreement between the state and the city to finance and develop 9,000 new units of supportive housing in New York City. The lessons I learned are that if you hope to develop affordable housing, you have to be nimble and you have to gather a collection of partners to help make it happen.

How did you become involved in the issues of homelessness and low-income housing?

August 5 - August 18, 2009

As an 11-year-old, I was sitting in Yankee Stadium during Game 2 of the 1977 World Series when Howard Cosell uttered his famous words: “Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning.”

The Bronx burning on the city skyline was just one of the many visible signs that government institutions and urban programs were failing.

People were asking if our cities were dead, and American families moved out of urban cores to the suburbs in record numbers. It was a frightening and eye-opening time to live in New York. But it was a time that also sparked a deep interest in me, an interest in how I could play a part in changing the policies that shaped the urban landscape and built the environment around me. I remember very vividly walking on my way to school in the morning and seeing people sleeping on the streets. I remember constantly asking myself why. Why was the world like this? And what can I do to change it? I worked for a community housing developer in New York City after studying public policy and architecture in graduate school. Then one of my professors from graduate school asked me to join him at HUD in the Clinton Administration.

Why do you believe it is important for the government to play a role in providing and attaining affordable housing in this country?

Do you believe that the federal government can really make a difference in preventing and ending homelessness?

The resources of the federal government can help as no other entity can, either through direct investment, tax credits, bond financing or a combination of these tools. But government can’t do it alone. The only reason we were so successful in New York was because we marshaled the combined resources of a number of public and private players. I also think we have to change our general approach to affordable housing and endeavor to create sustainable communities that are transit-oriented and energy efficient.

That’s why HUD is working closely with the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Labor and Education to cultivate a more comprehensive and holistic approach to development. We just have to think smarter about how we build the communities of tomorrow.

In the same way, I think the federal government can make a real difference in preventing homelessness as we work to end homelessness for those experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness. As you know, there has been a shift in how the federal government, as well as state and local communities, in how we confront chronic homelessness. All across the country, you’re seeing the creation of thousands of new permanent supportive housing units and a noticeable decrease in our reliance on emergency shelters. I anticipate that we will continue to see this paradigm shift in the years to come.

Tony Taylor recently graduated from American University and is now working in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s office, already following Donovan’s public service reputation.

Shaun Donovan

Born : January 24, 1966 Birthplace: New York City Current Job: Secretary Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Education: bachelor’s degree in engineering and two master’s degrees in architecture and public administration from Harvard University Family: wife Liza Gilbert and two sons Milo and Lucas Work Experience: -worked in the private sector on affordable housing portfolios -worked at the Community Housing and Preservation Corporation, a nonprofit group -managed federal lending and affordable housing investments for Prudential Mortgage Capital Company -consultant to the Millennial Housing Commission on strategies for increasing the production of multifamily housing -served at HUD as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing during the Clinton Administration -was a visiting scholar at New York University -Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

HUD Outlines Plans to End DC Homelessness

By Josh Miller The Obama administration recently outlined its plans for ending homelessness through reforming health care and improving affordable housing.

“We already know that simply having 46 million uninsured people in this country clearly contributes to persistent and widespread homelessness,” US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan told a packed Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom during his keynote address at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference. . “In addition, health care costs are the leading cause of personal bankruptcies — with almost half of all foreclosures caused in part by financial issues stemming from medical costs.”

Donovan and US Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are exploring possible points of symbiosis between the agencies, from preventing unnecessary institutionalization to designing healthier, more livable

communities.

The HUD secretary cited two articles and an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association to show how better housing could improve both health outcomes and cut costs.

One article, centered around a supportive housing project in Seattle, showed hospital visits dropped by a third in the year after participants were admitted to the 1811 Eastlake center. This resulted in their Medicaid costs falling by more than 40%. Another study in Chicago had similar results.

Donovan, the former head of the New York City with more than 20 years of experience advocating for the homeless, said the federal government plans to “get back into the business of affordable rental housing.” He pointed to President Obama’s Recovery Act and HUD’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget as evidence that the government intends to avoid negligence as seen in early 1980’s, when the nation’s stock of affordable housing plummeted.

“You and I both know that before there was a foreclosure crisis in this country,

there was an affordable rental housing crisis,” he said. “And it’s still going on.”

Donovan told the audience that he will make ending homelessness a measure of success for all HUD programs.

Moreover, he called for greater cooperation between HUD and other local, state and federal agencies. Aside from HHS, the HUD secretary said his department is exploring ways to cooperate with the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and the US Department of Education to assure veterans and children have access to safe, affordable housing.

Donovan concluded his address by returning to an analogy between the end of homelessness and the 1969 lunar landing, a goal that once seemed impossible. He then asked attendees to remain committed.

“I believe that if we can spend trillions of dollars addressing these problems the wrong way — surely in America, with government working in partnership with the private sector, we can summon the strength and the courage to do it the right way and achieve the results we

By Charles Bontrager

By Reginald Black Advocates far and wide recently converged at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue for a showdown with the D.C. City Council.

People of all walks of life joined forces to express their outcry to our public officials under a coalition called Save our Safety Net. The coalition gathered 1, 850 signatures on a petition that protested cuts in the 2010 budget.

Among the programs to be cut that helped the disadvantaged are TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), local rent supplement, adult literary, access to justice, housing first, supported work program, school mental health counseling, job training resources and The Nuisance Abatement Fund.

Protesters place their own visual“safety net” The TANF program itself is slated to be outside the John Wilson Building cut in half. The total amount of the cuts was in the neighborhood of $37 million.

The council has adopted $50 million in new revenues which will keep cuts from getting worse.

The council also supported many increases that will affect low income residents these includes sales cigarette and gas taxes.

For parents like Sabrina Gay, the pain was all too real. “They don’t schools have anywhere to live, they don’t have anywhere to go.”

After the protest, the group moved into City Hall – broken down by wards- to confront all the council members all at once. Ward seven was to see their councilwoman, Yvette Alexander. Things got hairy as the council member tried to explain the situation. “There are cut all across the board we’re all taking a hit” she said.

The vote on Friday, August 31 would be an emotional and sensitive one. The vote yielded cuts all across areas in the low-income sector. The original proposal by the mayor did not have as many cuts as the actual vote. Some programs were restored, such as The Grandparent Caregiver program, and for others, such as TANF, the cuts were not as severe as the mayor’s budget first indicated.

all want for our country,” he said. “And if I know anything from working with so many of you over these many years, it’s that the experience of homeless housing and service providers is not only ready for prime-time in the greatest public policy debate of our generation — it is absolutely essential to making sure that debate reaches its right and just conclusion.”

Responses to Donovan’s speech were mostly positive.

“His remarks were really invigorating,” said Jessica Beth Gustin, a law student and legal intern at the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. “The connection he made between health and housing is so crucial and has been missing.”

Gustin’s colleague, Raquel Oriol, a Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow at NLCHP, was happy to hear Duncan is pushing for partnerships with the private sector. However, Oriol said she would have liked the secretary to discuss President Obama’s pledge to end hunger in America by 2015.

Council OKs New Hate Crime Bill

Residents Protest DC Budget Cuts

Photo by reginald black

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On July 31, 2009 the Washington DC City Council voted to add homeless people to Washington, DC’s hate crimes law. It now goes to the mayor for his signature.

The provision was passed as a part of the DC Public Safety bill.

In its historic decision DC followed the lead of Maryland, the first state to include the homeless community under the protection of hate crimes legislation.

The bill also follows in the wake of three reported crimes targeting homeless people in DC late last year and another reported last month. In October and November of last year one man was repeatedly hit over the head in a DC park while another was beaten on a street downtown. On Christmas Eve, Yoshio Nakada, 61, was murdered in his sleep. His body was found near the Watergate complex. A $25,000 reward is avaliable for information that leads A Reconciling to the arrest and conviction of his murCongregation derer. In June a homeless man, Alex Lascaris, was treated for head trauma Invites you to join us in and a broken arm after he was beaten worship on Sundays at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station. at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Michael Stoops, Executive Director of National Coalition for the Homeless, Homeless Outreach congratulated the DC Council for exHospitality: tending the protection of hate crimes Fridays 9:00 AM legislation to homeless people noting, Foundry United “the dangerous reality of life without Methodist Church housing and the increasing disregard 1500 16th Street, NW for people experiencing homelessness.

Washington, DC 20036 The addition of homeless people to (202) 332-4010 this law sends a message that homewww.foundryumc.org less individuals are not second-class citizens and deserve the same protections as other groups.”

FOUNDRY

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

The Mentall Ilness and Homelessness Cycle

By Vanessa Voigt There is an air of relaxation at Isaiah House. It’s quiet, as a few guests munch on freshly popped popcorn on the soft couches, and a few more settle into a game of cards.

It’s not always so calm, says mental health specialist Jamie Bingner. In fact, Isaiah House is often a place of great animation, a vibrant retreat from the struggles of the street.

A day program run by So Others Might Eat (SOME), Isaiah House offers social gatherings, peerled activities, therapy groups and life skill classes geared to help people coping with mental illness and homelessness in rebuilding their lives. There is pain here but there is also healing, and it is easy to find positivity and aspiration bouncing off the homey walls.

Mental illness is a major contributing factor to homelessness, research shows. According to this year’s annual homeless count for the District, 22% of the 9,200 homeless adults surveyed reported suffering from a severe mental illness. And according to another study of patients in Washington, D.C., conducted by Kathleen Dockett of the University of the District of Columbia, 40% of the homeless population suffered from a mental illness.

The profound nature of the mental illnesses that affect many homeless people, together with the nature of homelessness itself, present tremendous challenges to nonprofit organizations and city agencies dedicated to reaching and helping this fragile and needy population. Transience, erratic telephone and mail service, and problems with transportation make it difficult for many poor and homeless people to keep doctor’s appointments and maintain medication regimens. And the debilitating symptoms of mental illness can compound these barriers to care.

DELUSIONS, HALLUCINATIONS AND ADDICTIONS Two mental illnesses are particularly common within the homeless population, according to experts. One of them is schizophrenia, a debilitating illness that is characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Schizophrenics often have an inability to organize or plan and may have impaired attention and memory. Another, bipolar disorder, formally referred to as manic-depressive disorder, is characterized by swings in mood. People with this disorder can experience a heightened state known as mania, and then cycle into a deep low, referred to as depression.

In many cases, homeless patients are also suffering from drug or alcohol dependency, which also has devastating, adverse effects on mental health and getting off the streets. Some are attempting to medicate themselves with these addictive substances, experts say, in an effort to cope with their distressing and disturbing symptoms.

Bobby Buggs, a former Street Sense vendor and homeless man diagnosed with anxiety disorder and a alcohol and drug abuse, said the homeless face a dilemma.

“It’s a fork in the road; do we continue our lifestyle of drugs which has served us in coping with our lives, or do we go on the path of seeking professional help through medication?”

THROUGH THE PAIN, MISTRUSTING THE REMEDIES One major reason the homeless do not seek professional help with mental health is a lack of trust in psychiatry, exacerbated by the adverse side effects of earlier, less sophisticated medications, according to Ron Koshes, a psychiatrist at SOME. Newer medications are available now, and researchers are developing better drugs all the time, Koshes said. Yet although science has provided psychiatry with better treatments with fewer adverse side effects, medication is still not a cure for mental illness.

“Medications are managing symptoms, not curing them,” Koshes said.

Once a homeless person with a mental illness is treated, often life can become harder for him because he are forced to see reality, Koshes said.

“Sometimes they become clear and they realize just how bad they are,” Koshes said. “This is why it is so important to be in constant contact.”

to be able to live in supportive housing or to live independently with the appropriate care and service, so that they could be self sufficient but also be in safe and secure housing,” said Zeilinger.

A CITY AGENCY IN TRANSITION In Washington, D.C., the Community Services Agency is the primary government mental health care provider for the uninsured. Along with mental health services, the agency operates a pharmacy for those who cannot afford to buy their psychiatric medication.

City officials are currently privatizing the agency’s services by shifting to a network of private providers. The move is expected to enhance the agency’s efficiency while saving an estimated $11 million to $14 million annually, officials say.

“Privatization creates an opportunity to expand services and treat more people as we will save money by closing government-operated clinics that provide the same services as the private providers but at a greater cost,” said Phyllis Jones, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Mental Health.

Since March, 2,200 patients have selected private mental health care providers. And by 2010 all 4,000 agency patients are expected to have transferred to private mental health care.

“To help ensure continuity of care, D.C. CSA psychiatrists will remain government employees in a new physicians practice group,” Jones said. “Consumers can continue to see the same doctor if they choose after they enroll with a new provider.”

But some patients are worried. Joann Jackson, a Street Sense vendor and writer, is shaken by the thought of the K Street NE clinic closing.

“I’ve been going to this clinic for years and receive a lot of help. Now that is being closed, my major depression is almost out of control,” Jackson writes.

To assist patients in the transition, the Department of Mental Health has held consumer forums and fairs and has established a helpline and a consumer transition information webpage.

Community-based services are also available through organizations such as SOME, which provides extremely low-income and homeless patients with therapists and psychiatrists.

After an assessment, patients are referred to one of SOME’s three houses depending upon their needs. The Jordan House is designed as a welcoming, homelike environment for people in the midst of a mental crisis who need acute psychiatric care. The Mary Claire House is a transitional living option for those who are homeless due to their persistent daily struggles with mental illness.

And then there is the Isaiah House with its cozy atmosphere, case management, life skills classes, therapeutic group and enrichment activities.

Bingner, the mental health specialist, said that the same people who start out seeking services often move on to become volunteers. This is as an empowering development, both for the volunteers and the peers who they are helping.

“It gives them hope,” Bingner said.

Mental illness and homelessness are often part of a desperate cycle

SAFE HOUSING FOR THE FRAGILE Getting mentally ill and homeless people off the streets and into safe and supportive housing has become a focus of the District’s Housing First initiative. The approach, being taken by many cities, is designed to end chronic homelessness by placing physically and mentally vulnerable homeless people into apartments providing them with the services they need to cope and to heal.

The District’s Department of Human Services this past year conducted thousands of interviews and created a vulnerability scale, designed to pinpoint needs such as mental illness and provide the most fragile with services and housing.

As of July 20, the department had placed and housed a total of 466 single people and 56 families.

Of that total group, 39.7% indicated that they suffered from mental illness or showed signs of mental illness, according to Laura Green Zeilinger, deputy director for program operations at the Department of Human Services. Mental illness and homelessness are often part of a desperate cycle, she said. "(With a mental illness you are) more vulnerable, and more at risk to homelessness to begin with,” said Zeilinger. “Once an individual with mental illness becomes homeless, it is much more difficult, often times, for them to be able to (live) independently, without appropriate services and other support.”

Ironically, policies recognizing the rights of the mentally ill have in some cases actually contributed to an increase in homelessness. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963, which led to the deinstitutionalization of mental hospitals, left many mentally ill without housing and appropriate support that would allow them to live independently.

While the intent of the act was to enable people with mental illness to live in the community instead of institutions, the plan did not provide adequate assistance to patients leaving the hospitals.

“Unfortunately, when that happened, people were discharged without the appropriate support,

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Many Cities, One Goal 16 teams from cities across the U.S. converge in D.C. to fight for the U.S. Street Soccer Cup

By Talia Roth Mouhamad Diaw is originally from West Africa and he speaks four different languages. He was able to speak three of them at this tournament.

“That’s the good thing about soccer, it can unite people from all over the world,” he said. “It’s all peace, not drama.”

On August 1, the team from San Fr a n c i s c o w o n t h e f o u r t h a n n u a l Street Soccer USA Cup. They edged out Minneapolis 6-3 to take the title, beating out 15 other teams from across the U.S. As Diaw recognized, the tournament united not only homeless people from the U.S., but from many different nations.

“It’s a great thing,” the San Francisco player said. “We get to share not only soccer, but conversation. We get to know each other.”

While the players enjoyed getting to know each other, it became clear to goalie William Williams they were all here for the same purpose.

“We’ve all got one thing in common and we’re all here for the same reason,” the Richmond player said. “We’re not here for ourselves, we’re all here for anyone who’s ever been homeless, or had nobody. The stereotype is done. We’re just as strong as anybody.”

While acknowledging these bigger

issues, Williams called the tournament “the most fun I’ve had in a while.”

The skill levels of the teams ranged widely. While some teams had practiced up to three times a week leading up to the tournament, others had struggled to maintain once-a-week practices. To accommodate these differences, the teams were divided by skill level and awarded four different trophies: the Street Soccer for Social Change Championship Cup, the D.C. Cup, the HELPUSA Cup and finally the USA Cup. The teams were housed in George Washington University dorms and many players ventured out into D.C. together, visting the White House, Capitol and Lincoln Memorial.

While staying friendly off the field, the games got rough with lots of fouls called.

While some players engaging in what looked to be the beginnings of fights, and many medical personnel attending to injuries field-side.

“We didn’t travel six hours to lose,” Mamadi Conneh, a Charlotte player, said.

“Everybody wants to play to win.”

But according to Jason Stubbs, whose St. Louis team went a while without a win, the competitiveness did not hurt their sportsmanship for the most part.

“They tell us nice game after they beat the crap out of us,” he said.

Mouhamad Diaw The 26-year-old from San Francisco is originally from West Africa and has been playing soccer all his life. He led his team to the championship, going undefeated throughout the tournament. He also led with his spirit, conducting the crowd in a wave cheer for other teams.

Favorite part of the game: passing, “I like putting movement around me.”

On playing the game: The game needs to be really unselfish, “It’s all about communication and understanding.”

Most enjoyable moment: Watching some of the old guys play soccer, “It’s really fun to watch people like that play soccer because when I grow up I want to be just like them, keep playing soccer.”

On being in D.C. with players from different cities, and even countries: “I love to travel and discover other cultures, we always learn from that.”

Sacramento San Francisco

Standout Player: Munasar Mo

Number nine from Minneapolis scored 24 goals in seven g originally from Somalia. Recently laid off from his job in Min move, possibly to Alaska, to get a new job and get back to sc On his championship game loss: “They had a lot of good playe challenged us. It was a really fun game.”

On meeting other players: “I’ve met a lot of really good p When I see a good player that’s what makes me really soccer. I get motivation. I’ve met a couple people from Africa They remind me of home.”

On D.C.: “D.C. is too hot. I like winter better than summer.

Where are you gonna hide from the sun?”

10th 1st

Los Angeles

4th

Fort W

6

Jason S

On getting to D my first plane r scared, I shou some earplugs.”

On what he wa Washington: “I w on Obama’s do him ‘can we kic

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

9

ohamud

games. Mohamud is nnesota, he plans to chool. ers and really

William Williams

The goalie fell into Street Soccer kind of by accident. He was walking through Monroe Park in Richmond when he saw a ball flying at his head. “I stopped it, and I put it down and drop kicked it,” he said. The team’s coach asked him to come over to their practice. “I had some shots fired at my head, and guess I’m still here,” he said.

players. love a.

5th

14th Chicago

Montgomery County

12th St. Louis

Washington D.C. Richmond Charlottesville

16th

7th

3rd

15th

11th

Charlotte

8th Atlanta

13th

A Badge of Courage: Iraqi Veteran Sammy Almolhem

By Marcus Williams

Austin

9th

Sammy Almolhem was the recipient of Street Soccer’s award recognizing courage, but where he has shown the most bravery has been persevering off the field. Sectarian militias in Iraq widowed three of his sisters, kidnapped a brother, and killed some of his cousins. Almolhem, still an Iraqi citizen, served the U.S. Army as an interpreter for six years.

“I dreamed of coming to the U.S. since I was 13,” says Almolhem, now 42. He moved to the U.S. just fifty days ago.

Working as an interpreter for the U.S. Army in Bagdad put him and his family in grave danger. He recalls the decision to accept a dangerous post, “I know I am going to lose my life, but these are my friends now,” he recalls thinking to himself. Almost all of the other interpreters with his unit left rather than accept the danger.

Some of his neighbors knew he was collaborating with the U.S. military. “If I stayed another night there, I might have been killed,” he said, remembering the tough decision

to move his family to Jordan and Lebanon while he lived at the base in Bagdad.

Almolhem, his wife, and his three daughters are reunited and living in Charlottesville.

After cutting his chin performing a miraculous diving save, he put his injury into perspective: “With the army we saw lots of blood,” he explained, blood dripping down his jersey. “I used to carry guys on my shoulders,” Almolhem is receiving less support than he expected upon arrival, but says he wants to “depend on himself.”

He recently interviewed for a job at a hospital.

To Almolhem, Street Soccer seemed like a natural pastime, “most Iraqi farmers play soccer in the streets.”

Photos by Reginald Black, Cliff Carle, Anida Kulla and Talia Roth

D.C.: “It was ride so I was uld’ve had .” ants to do in wanna knock oor and ask k it?’”

2nd

lis

Stubbs

New York

po

6th

ea inn M

Worth

Ann Arbor

for more coverage of the event and the D.C. team, see page 14

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

A’s Wordfinder

Frans Hals Thespis Pantheon Pyrrhus

by Patrick Pierre

Ginsburg Acropolis Hephaestion Champillion

Harry Hay Sara Jevo Reginald

Simply find the following words in the grid below. The last names are separate words increasing the difficulty give it a go and see if you can find them.

G I N S B E R G A N S

W P A P A R S E C O A

E Q I U T Z X Y R I R

T H E S P I S S O T A

K F F H A L S H P S J

P Y R R H U S A O E E

S A Y W A V Q R L A V

C H N E A N Z R I H O

H J L T O U S Y S P D

J V A Q H E X H Y E R

K Z S L N E C A Z H E

A O R E G I O Y L D S

H J M A G L A N D I A

D G E R E G I N A L D

SHADOW PLAY COMIC by Harvey Droke

N O I l l I P M A H C

Last Issue’s Answers

Batman wanted for marriage

By Patty Smith

Already suffering from stage fright, Dr. Lambert was about to discover that his imagining his audience in their underwear trick doesn’t work on nudists.

This story begins with a Beauty contest.

Batman escorts Nikki Car out on the town, since she has won the contest. The villains Strike and his partner Trigger were on the loose robbing banks that particular night.

They want the trend to continue so they get a pretty woman who works for them, named Cleo, to get a bunch of women together, to try to see who will marry Batman. Keep him at home, they say. In the meantime Batgirl looks on and is putting up her sign that Batman is unfair. She is admitting that she also loves him. Strike and Trigger have begun to steal luxury cars. Batman and Robin try to set a trap for whoever is doing these crimes. The girls interfere and let the robbers get away. Cleo comes to Batman’s recue and in the end gets herself caught up, too. Batgirl ends the story by confessing to Batman that she wanted to help him out of his predicament.

Strike and Trigger go to jail.

THE END

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August 5 - August 18, 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.

PreSeason of Hypothermia The Fall and Winter months are approaching, here are some prayers and tips for you the reader just in case the unprovable happens

Sense of Belonging

by Sean-Christopher Riley

Readers of the news of all ages lend me your ears. August is here, and the homeless must prepare for winter. Much attention is always given to the return of children to school, teachers returning for work, and many families returning from vacation. To some it might seem preposterous to consider gathering materials now for below freezing temperatures, when today's temperatures are reaching 90 +. However, for “our member’s only club” preparing today is a must.

Like squirrels prior to gathering nuts we must find a nest or as we call it a safe place for our treasures. Life’s treasures of the have -nots may not be stored in vacant , wooded, or even parking lots, but to us “its all we got!!” Our only sense of belonging is the last resemblance of the life we remembered and are still longing to return to.

Homeless around the U.S.A., must prepare for the winter season. Many of the MetroD.C. homeless must prepare for the rain, snow, sleet and hypothermia. We often live out of plastic bags and cardboard boxes. We don’t always have winter clothes ,shoes, or outerwear. If we do, then we have to be able to carry all we have around with us.

Many who are not homeless, cannot understand or know why adults and adults with dependents are homeless.

We live in environments without walls, because some of us are under-educated, miseducated and full of self-hate, because we can not get or hold a job. Others are convicted felons who have served their sentences and released to the streets. Still others are mentally and physically challenged. We mistrust the system, we are afraid of further abuse, and we covet our few belongings in our bags. We are apprehensive of strangers in and out of suits. Some governing body’s rules for living , and not being able take care of hyginal issues daily. These issues cause we to believe that our lives are worthless and sometimes feels as if we are better off dead. Please imagine that your fates mirror that of the homeless for the winter season.Think that many of you are only one paycheck from homelessness , or worse get one medical catatrophe away from homelessnesswith or without insurance

Reggie’s Reflections- Cheating Crime

By Reginald Black I was feeling like an outcast the person who gave me hope still acted as if it was nothing more than a once in a lifetime fluke. When given the chance, I was looked at as the other guy. Seems homelessness and dating is more complex than you think. There was a female that lived close to where my hideout was she called me over, and still I was treated as if I was an enemy attack on a family I didn’t know. Puzzling why would you invite a person to a hostile enviorment.

I would think if you're going to be with a person you would have some sort of comfort for your company. Still I returned to the scene of the supposed ''cheating crime.'' The woman had a kid and another guy who seems to what to raise his son. “Why was I there?'' I kept asking myself. For some reason I didn’t want to leave. I felt at least I’m not by myself. Not ready to give in to reality I stayed with her long into the night it was cold and free play was absent. Strange how I didn’t mind the discomfort but why was I there? Would this even be worth my time.

And what about how I really feel about another? The search for the truth was becoming endless.

Reggie Hosts The Writers Group Contact: roninworrior@yahoo.com

Be Still and Wait Wait patiently and quietly For the Lord, your God. And be still Like the maple trees planted Firmly in the soil.

For when the time is right, He will pour down Blessings upon you, Like the raindrops in a thunderstorm.

Sean is also part of the Rockville Kawanias Contact: Sean.riley@rocketmail.com

Hypothermia

by Anne Marie Holloway

This is the time of year to start thinking about winter again. Before we know it hypothermia warnings will be out. So now is the time to get prepared. From warm clothing to adequate shelter, last year my experience here in DC was not the greatest.

The shelter I felt comfortable in because of the environment. But it only stayed opened at 32 and below. In my opinion in the cold weather no matter the exact temperature it should stay open. Some rainy nights they were closed. Life was more difficult trying to find a dry spot to sleep and stay warm. With rain comes colder temperatures. Through out early mornings your toes freeze. It’s to cold to be outside and most shelters are very full. Many different people from many walks of life do not always have a pleasant experience. It is amazing how grown people can act.

Anne-Marie is also an artist Contact: Ross3Ford@yahoo.com

Surviving Winter

by Reginald Black

When I first hit the street, I didn’t have any shelter at all. I used to sleep outside or inside a car. I remember many things I did to stay warm. First I took the advice of a friend that said, 'Don’t sleep outdoors, anything can happen.' Second, I made sure I had on enough clothing. Third, I found blankets warm enough to sleep in. Although, I did have help from a warm furnace, I still had to keep my things from catching fire. Which brings me to the most important tip of all. Use your surroundings and use everything in your enviorment to survive. If you can accomplish those things, then theLord will help you until it comes time for you to be blessed.

Mikhail Douglas Mikhail loves to write poetry contact: mikhial_79@msn.com

The Pre-Season Thinking

by David Rubin.

Preparing for the cold season is more strategically thinking than tactical thinking. According to Lieutenant Colonel Paul Maizeroy (1719-1780) of the French military in the Origins of Military Thought, tactics in preparedness enforces the rules while strategy was less dependant on rules. Strategic thinking thus took many other factors into consideration. One is required to be flexible to move even in cold weather. This makes one in control by choosing the right place and time to be. It is like the football season when games are won in the same way via motion, place and time.

The other three strategies coined by the French soldier are useful once inside a homeless shelter during hypothermia. It is what experienced football players do to late in the season when it is really cold. First, do not do what your rival wants, if you really win, think and have less homeless shelter rules enforced on you.

Secondly, good tactics according to the military is disrupting your rival’s initiative and not dominating the entire thought of the evening. Lastly, maintain good communication and an understanding of mathematical calculus.

I specifically listen to daily local weather forecasts and international news at dawn each day on a small transistor fm radio. I have for over four plus years, also study Newton calculus. The pre-season of football and hypothermia is more strategy and less tactics.

Reggie Hosts The Writers Group see Reggies Reflections for contact information David volunteers and writing a novel Contact: stonepotts2007@yahoo.com

PRODUCTION, HOSTING, LAYOUT AND SUPPORT: Carlton Johnson, , Patty Smith, Reginald Black

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August 5 - August 18, 2009 Book Review

The Fall of Stinky: Part II

Climate Change Confronted

P

resident Barrack Obama has rightly given the fight to reverse global warming a high priority, and he has the backing of scientists worldwide. He sees the coming years as critical if the global community is to curtail the increasing use of hydrocarbons that is rapidly reducing the Earth’s protective ozone cover, the cause of the growing global warming. To help usher in this reduction in hydrocarbons; he has called for the increasing use of renewable energy, and, of course, energy conservation.

A critical point in this effort will come later this year at an international conference in Copenhagen that is to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Obama has pledged full U.S. participation in the session designed to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, when nations agreed to major cutbacks in greenhouse gas emissions.

The United States never ratified that protocol, however.

In the 12 years since Kyoto, much has changed: there seems to be a rising worldwide realization of the need to act, and soon. Many nations are already implementing new emission restrictions.

The case for action is nowhere better explained than by Nicholas Stern in The Global Deal: Climate Change and the Creation of a New Era of Progress and Prosperity (Public Affairs Press). Stern is one of the world’s foremost experts in climate change, holding a chair in economics and government at the Grantham Institute on Climate Change at the London School of Economics. He also is a former chief economist at the World Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.

Stern explains in simple, yet detailed, terms the growing danger of the buildup of greenhouse gases and what the world can do to stop this coming global disaster.

“We are fast approaching a crisis which requires decision and action now, before we fully experience the dangers we are causing. And let us be clear, these dangers are of a magnitude that could cause not only disruption and hardship but mass migration and thus conflict on a global scale. They concern us all, rich and poor,” he writes.

Most of the damage, he explains, will not come from heat, but from water, or lackthereof: storms, droughts, floods and rising sea levels will cause problems across the globe. There will be mass migrations to high grounds, the world’s economies will be threatened, and there will be global instability. What to do?

Stern says there must be substitutions for the culprits oil and gas. Another contributor is deforestation, which destroys the vast Amazon basin jungles that are able to absorb greenhouse gases.

To replace the sources of today’s dirty energy, Stern cites the existing technology to generate electricity with very low carbon or no carbon emission: hydroelectric, wind, solar, biomass, nuclear, geothermal, wave and tidal.

“Can we get there,” Stern asks? Yes, but not easily.

He includes in the solutions “cap and trade,” in which industrial pollution limits are set and firms emitting below their limit can “sell” their savings to firms unable to meet their limits. The United States has made a start here, though meager.

Along with these solutions, of course, is conservation: some will come in the long-term, such as designing new neighborhoods accessible for mass transit, but other steps can be immediate, such as replacing an incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent version and making sure homes are properly insulated.

And once someone makes a successful start at conservation – Wal-Mart, for instance — it will spur others. Stern writes, “There is no substitute for seeing others do something successfully.”

An effective global deal to fight climate change would include binding agreements by developed countries to reduce emissions by 20% to 40 % by 2020 and by at least 80% by 2050; developing countries to take on emission reduction by 2020; global cap and trade agreements; public funding to halt deforestation, and a program to share technologies to develop solar, wind and other renewable energy.

With Obama in the White House and other major polluting nations, especially China, beginning to realize the growing climate threat, Stern is optimistic an agreement can be reached in Copenhagen.

But, he warns, there will be many countries opting for short-term solutions and many looking only inward to their own national interests. He says that “sustained political pressure from the people of all countries who understand the nature of the challenge and how to respond is crucial.”

Stern writes that there is a short window of opportunity and the world will soon determine whether it can “create and sustain the international vision, commitment and collaboration which will allow us to take this special opportunity and rise to the challenge of a planet in peril.”

— Robert Trautman

By Jeffery McNeil

H

e got a job as a salesman.

He soon became a regional manager and found a luxury apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He had a sales staff that became his drinking crew. He would take them to his bar and buy them a few rounds – they all loved Stinky.

He had an unlimited bankroll. He was the toast of New York. He was invited to all the clubs, like Studio 54, The Palladium, and Limelight. He was action in an action-made town.

Everyone loved him. He would throw private parties were there were lots of alcohol and narcotics. At one of them, he was mesmerized by a Brazilian dancer who had an exotic way of dancing. She looked at him with her devilish eyes and said, "How bad do you want me?" He was smitten by her beauty. He thought about her day and night, and he had a feeling he never had about any woman.

He started calling her. She wouldn't answer, and he was perplexed.

One day she called him and said, "Would you like to come over?" At her place, there was a table with a razor blade and all kinds of lines. She took a hit off a little glass pipe and said, "Do you party?" He was confused. He was a drinker but he wasn't interested in narcotics. But she was gorgeous and seductive and he wanted her, so he reached for the pipe. It was a crack pipe.

He took a blast and he felt something like no feeling he had ever felt before.

They smoked all night but he had to go to work.

With bloodshot eyes, he went to his office. But his behavior changed. He was addicted, and he couldn't stop even though he tried. He started embezzling from the company funds to pay for his crack habit. Computers went missing.

He started missing work and cursing out his staff. He was completely miserable, and he did his best to make everyone around him feel as bad as he did.

His boss was worried about him, and suggested he go to rehab. He didn't heed those warnings. He just wanted to get drunk and high. He couldn't keep up with his bills, and his cable TV got cut off, and then his water and electric.

That didn't stop him from smoking crack. He started stealing from his mama, who was sick. The relatives were embarrassed and frightened when he came over for Thanksgiving dinner and passed out at the table.

His day of shame came when he was walking on Ninth Avenue and saw a

shapely person with long brown hair standing on a corner in a short skirt. She smiled at him and looked him right in the eye, and he felt a little high.

She said, "Do you wanna date?" and he said, "Yes." Something didn't seem right, but he'd been up for two days smoking crack and he hardly knew what he was doing. He handed her 50 bucks and asked, "What's your name?"

She said, "Jonathan," and soon the police sirens came. He got caught paying a transvestite hooker, and because he had crack in his pocket, he went to jail.

His career was over. They fired him – they had had enough. He lost his home, his family disowned him, and the friends he bought drinks for didn't know him no more.

Now he was homeless. He only had a crack pipe, the clothes on his back and some liquor to keep him warm.

New York City is rough to people not familiar with the Street. He got robbed and beat up and he drank until he didn't hurt and didn't care.

Soon was living in a subway tunnel infested with rats and sewage. He ate out of garbage cans because he was starving. He didn't bathe or change his clothes. He stank. No one knew him, and he had no name any more. His name was Stinky.

Stinky stopped smoking crack because he was broke, but took up liquor to comfort himself. He was the first one at the liquor store every morning and he panhandled to keep drinking.

People complained about him. The neighborhood kids laughed and threw garbage at him.

Stinky had hit bottom, but he didn't know it and didn't care. He only cared about getting drunk, getting high, and getting over.

Stinky was lost to the Street. Maybe he could have been saved – if his parents had noticed he had begun to drink.

Or could his high school have helped him? Could his college have realized the trouble he was in?

Or maybe those are the wrong questions, because no one can stop someone else's addiction single-handed.

And no one made him take that hit off that glass pipe, or that first swig of Night Train. Stinky did all that, all the way to the Street.

The Street is awful, and the street is hard. The Street had claimed another soul.

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Engaging in a Holistic Approach to Mental Health

By Vanessa Voigt

T

he following are holistic tips that promote mental health.

Whether you have a mental illness or are just seeking optimal well-being, these triedand-true methods will give your mind the fighting chance it needs to thrive in this world.

Although these insights apply to anyone, there is an emphasis on resources that are available to help the homeless, to prove that living a functional happy life is for everyone.

Get Plenty of Exercise In a study entitled “The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health,” Daniel M. Landers of Arizona State University observes, "We now have evidence to support the claim that exercise is related to positive mental health as indicated by relief in symptoms of depression and anxiety."

You don’t need money to exercise! Take a brisk walk around the city! A 1999 study in Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that university students who performed easy to moderate exercise, such as walking, had lower levels of stress than those who did not walk or all, or even those who exercised strenuously.

The District’s YMCA offers gym facilities that strive to make it possible for all people to have a membership, regardless of their income, says director of communications Carol Gregory.

In 2007, the D.C. YMCA provided more than $2 million in scholarships and financial assistance to nearly 12,000 people in the D.C. area.

Gregory says the Y offers scholarships for homeless people that allow them to take full advantage of the gym equipment, classes, programs and locker rooms.

Eat Healthy Anyone who has missed a meal knows the effects that hunger has on mental health. Some of the symptoms of mental illnesses are the same symptoms of hunger, including anxiety, irritability and lack of concentration.

Dan Benardot, associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University, author of numerous sports nutrition books, and nutritionist to Olympic athletes in 1996 and 2004, says, “One of the changes you have when you have low blood sugar is an increase in irritability and frustration. You are robbed of concentration.”

Bernardot recommends frequent breaks for nutrition. “People who typically get to eat every three hours do much better than those people who have long periods of time between eating opportunities.”

From a dietary standpoint, Bernardot blames iron deficiency for many mental problems.

“The most common reason for lethargy, bad personality, loss of attentiveness, is the most common deficiency in the United States and that is an iron deficiency,” Benardot says.

Because it can be difficult to get the recommended amount of iron through food alone, Bernardot suggests taking a periodic supplement.

The most important thing to avoid for the sake of your mental health is alcohol, Benardot says.

“Chronic overconsumption of alcohol may result in excess urinary magnesium loss, which may result in depression and delirium,” Benardot said.

For the homeless. Miriam’s Kitchen is a great place to find a nutritious, well-balanced breakfast that can help beat hunger. The members of the Miriam’s team pride themselves on their freshly prepared dishes that always include fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

“We serve greattasting and nutritional food because we want to start our guests’ day off with a healthy beginning,” says Miriam’s chef Steve Badt.

ness is a form of meditation, or being aware of your body and your mind.

To help with all mental illnesses, including anxiety disorder or depression, Shore recommends simply taking deep breaths, and paying attention to each inhalation and exhalation.

“If you are in the moment, and pay attention to the breathing from your abdomen, or the spiritual center, and breathe deeply, it slows yourself and your mind down. When you are slowed down, you are not as anxious,” Shore says.

Join A Support Group Street Sense vendor and writer Jeffery McNeil, a recovering alcoholic who is living with bipolar disorder, says that his participation in Alcohol Anonymous has been of major importance to his Relaxing with yoga and centering yourself is one way to combat mental illness wihtout drugs. mental well-being.

McNeil says a major asset in being part of Father Randolph Charles of The Church of the AA is the relationship he has established with his sponsor. “My sponsor tells me what I need to hear, Epiphany says his relationship with God has aland I’m finally at a point where I want to listen,” lowed him to stay mentally at peace because it has allowed him to approach life with better focus.

McNeil says.

“I have felt overwhelmed at times but I know West Side Club, a nonprofit organization that serves as a meeting center in Georgetown at the when that happens to me, I look at the million corner of Dumbarton Street and Wisconsin, offers things I want to do, and I ask myself what God really wants me to do.”

12-step programs seven days a week.

He also uses gratitude to foster mental health.

The Dupont Circle Club also offers resources, in“I believe that God loves me and God has blessed cluding a dual diagnosis support group, which specifically targets those who suffer from both mental me, and that’s my starting point for today,” Charles says. illness and a drug or alcohol addiction.

“I know that when we can continue to give that gratitude and realize and believe that God has Strengthen Spirituality Tina Shore, nurse psychotherapist and member blessed us, we are less likely spin out in some sort of The Zen Buddhist Center of Washington, D.C., of anxiety, or thrash out in anger, or give up because for 10 years, said she uses Buddhist spirituality and of some perceived pressure,” he adds. techniques in treating her clients.

“Some of the principles of the Buddhism practice, like mindfulness, or being compassionate, all relate to what I do when I am working with people.

I have seen them be very effective,” Shore said.

Mindfulness is a Buddhist practice that Shore uses often for patients who struggle with an addiction, overeating, spending and drinking. Mindful-

Resources www.ymcadc.org www.foodandsport.com www.miriamskitchen.org www.westsideclub.org www.dupointcircleclub.org www.washingtonzen.org

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August 5 - August 18, 2009

continued from pages 8 and 9

Street Sense Congratulates D.C.’s own, the Knights, on Placing 7th of 16 This is the same place they got last year when there were only 11 teams competing. Two D.C. Knights players were selected to be in the pool from which the national team is chosen. These players are Javier Gomez and Roberto Portillo. Street Sense vendor Chino Dean and volunteer and vendor Frank Mearns balanced their duties at our paper and on the D.C. Knights soccer team. Chino scored six goals in the tournament for the team. Chino also served as an extremely valuable translator between the Spanish and English speakers on his team. Frank, joining the team late in the season, pulled through becoming an asset in the tournament. Frank also works with as a volunteer with the National Coalition for the Homeless. Frank is retiring from playing soccer, but will still practice with the team. They plan to continue to train every week.

photos by Anida Kulla

Street Sense In Search Of New Executive Director

The Potter’s House Presents:

Sounds

Job Description

• • • • • • •

Mission Promotion Strategic Planning Revenue Development Fundraising and Development Financial Management Communications and Outreach Editorial/Staff Supervision

.Mandatory Skills / Qualifications / Experience • 5+ years of professional experience in newspaper industry, nonprofit association management or high-level development position • BS/BA degree or higher (concentration in business, finance or journalism desirable • Experience in and willingness to engage in development and fundraising required • Strong leadership skills, ability to work collaboratively • Experience with managing small teams and with developing staff and partners • Ability to interact effectively with people of other cultures, capacities, and organizations • Strong interpersonal and speaking skills • Familiarity with content management systems for web publishing

Compensation & Benefits • •

Salary $45-50K with growth potential based on performance Benefits package including health care, vacation and parental leave

To apply: Email cover letter, resume and three references to hiring@streetsense.org

Hope

Good Music, Good Food, for a Good Cause!

As a highly driven professional with a mix of business and nonprofit management expertise, you will have the opportunity to take an established brand and extend its reach and influence through creative sales, distribution, advertising and development strategies. You will also have the chance to make a difference in the lives of poor and homeless community members by managing a program that provides both employment opportunities and a voice in their community.

Tasks / Responsibilities

of

F

u t a e

rin

THE MODERN FOLK ROCK OF

TERRENCE J.

THE ROCK BALLADS OF STREET SENSE VENDOR

g

GREG PHILLIPS

THE FOLK ROCK OF ANTONIO ANDRADE

THE ACOUSTIC FOLK POP OF:

SARAH GILBERG

Friday August 7, 2009 Proceeds from this concert benefit:

Where the poor and homeless

earn and give their two cents

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C.

August 5 - August 18, 2009 (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org

housing, job training, supportive mental health services

Calvary Women’s Services 928 5th Street, NW (202) 783–6651 www.calvaryservices.org

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

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

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

CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/

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

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

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

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

SHELTER

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) 119 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 18+) 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 (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW

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

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 Street, 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 Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/ services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9128 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 Massachusetts Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 http://www.travelersaid.org/ta/ tadc.html emergency travel assistance Wash. Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

MARYLAND SHELTER Comm. Ministry of Montgomery Co. 114 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.communityministrymc. org The Samaritan Group Inc. 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 Avenue, Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane, Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda (301) 493–2400 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

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

15

housing, and supportive services

VIRGINIA SHELTER

Alexandria Community Shelter 2355 B-Mill Road, Alexandria (703) 838–4239 Carpenter’s Shelter 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria (703) 548–7500 www.carpentersshelter.org The Arlington–Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless 3103 9th 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 #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, Suite 500, Falls Church (703) 778–6800; www.lsnv.org civil legal services only

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

S treetS ense.org

August 5 - August 18, 2009

Equally Un-Boring

By Vanessa Voigt

B

efore my summer with Georgetown University’s Fund for American Studies program, I received an email from the program director listing internship possibilities.

To me, most screamed “boredom,” and to many of the new interns, Street Sense may have screamed “scary.” Nevertheless, within an hour or so I had emailed the director with the utter conviction that I had to be at Street Sense.

I’m glad I followed my gut instinct. This street newspaper for the poor and homeless is really where I needed to be. Interning at Street Sense has been nothing less than amazing. There is a warm spirit in the office, set by the three people who run this organization, founder Laura, editorin-chief Mary, and vendor manager Greg.

Then there are the volunteers, who inspire me with their service to the poor. And of course, there are the vendors, who create a workplace of animation and insight.

Laura is officially my favorite boss that I have ever had. She is such a strong, smart, fair woman with an enormous heart. I felt honored to be a part of the organization that she created, and it was moving to see how it is thriving.

Mary is like the mom to all the homeless vendors of Street Sense. Her sharp journalism talent paired with her unceasing patience and sense of humor made Street Sense both grounds for improving my own craft, but also a place of personal growth and comfort.

Greg, often forced to play the enforcer, always set structure because of his deeprooted care for Street Sense. Often he would ask me, “Is there anything here you see room for improvement?” He was always open and greatly wanted to do the best job possible.

Perhaps one thing I will miss most is all

Rabbil Ash-Shaheed

Vendor Profile

THe Last Word

the characters that found hope and purpose here at Street Sense. One vendor, Lester, was one my favorites. Here was a man who has struggled with alcoholism and homelessness, but who had been sober for six months when I met him and had started writing wonderful poetry for Street Sense. You could see life in his eyes.

Then there was Reggie, a young homeless vendor who contributes his passion and creativity to the paper in areas including graphic design and leading the writer’s group. His daily presence was such a pleasure. I was so glad to have him as my peer. Reggie gives every intern a superhero nickname, and mine was Rogue, after the X-Men heroine who had the gift and curse of a magical touch.

I constantly took pictures at the office and one of my favorites pictures is us clowning around in the office, with Reggie very theatrically having his life sucked out by my touch. It sums up our relationship; fun, but most importantly equal.

Perhaps the biggest thing I have taken away from Street Sense is the realization that we are all equal and worthy, regardless of whether or not we boast of a home.

The vendors who walked into the Street Sense office were people who were striving for something better. Many were extremely bright, often very talented. Most knew more about politics and social issues than I do. I’ve been blessed with the gift of humility, and the awareness that more often than not, you cannot judge a person’s place in life. We all have our obstacles; possibly because God knows we can handle them, face the difficulty of providing for ourselves and the hindrances stack greatly against us.

Anyhow, throughout the summer it felt good contributing to a product that was being sold to put food in vendors’ stomachs, eventually roofs over their heads and, ultimately, hope for their hearts.

By Marcus Williams Rabbil was born in Bethesda, Maryland. He is 57 years old and grew up in Benning Heights in D.C. What was your last job?

I worked for 18 years as security at the Smithsonian Institute. I worked all the museums. It was a very exciting job. You get to see the world visit you. Everybody used to come in their cultural dress. I loved it.

What was your favorite museum?

My favorite museum was the Air and Space museum. I actually had to fend off protesters a couple of times there and worked at two inaugural balls for President George Bush Sr. and President Bill Clinton.

I used to guard the Hope Diamond too; it was boring.

How did you become homeless?

After the Smithsonian, I got into an entrepreneurial adventure; I had an Ice Cream truck for 4 years. When the economy went bad and gas prices started going up, I had mechanical problems and my business went under. I lost my home that I had for 7 years.

That was in August, 2008.

Why do you sell Street Sense?

It beats holding my hand out and shaking a cup.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Retired. At 62, I hope to be retired with Social Security and maybe I’ll be back in business for myself. If I do something, I want to do something for myself.

What are your hobbies?

Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop Table | Eat | Explore miDCity |S Tennis.

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I still| swim, not as often I used to, I Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore miDCity | asShop |but Eat | Ex still do. | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDC Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | S | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | fashion in MidCity Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Ex | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | 1603 U Street|NW City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity Shop |1736 Eat14th| Street Explore | miDC NW www.caramelfashion.com www.circleboutique.com Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity |Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Sh Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | E Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Ex | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | 1338 U Street NW City | Shop | Eat | miDCity | Shop | Eat |Floor Explore | miDC 1911 | 9thExplore Street NW 2nd www.lettiegooch.com www.dekkafam.com Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | S | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | August 5– August 18, 2009 • Volume 6 • Issue 20 Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Ex Street Sense Nonprofit Org | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | US Postage Paid 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 1512 U Street NW City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDC Washington, DC 20005 www.moojooken.com 1734 14th Street NW Permit #568 Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity www.redeemus.com | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity |Sh Rabbil Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | E reminds customers to only buy Mail To: Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Ex from badged vendors and not to | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | give to those panhandling with 1528 U street NW 1803a 14th Street NW City | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop |afterEat | Explore | miDC www.nanadc.com.com shopping MidCity— one paper. www.rue14.com unwind at Cafe Saint Ex Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | S www.midcitylife.org Interested in a subscription? Go to page 2 for more information. | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Ex | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | caramel