Volume 13: Issue 20 August 10 - 23. 2016
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Street Sense is the street media center of our nation’s capital. We aim 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 facing homelessness in our community.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES www.StreetSense.org • R e a d V e n d o r / A r t i s t Michael Craig’s latest encounter in the animal kingdom: “The Pelican and the Swan!” • Vendor/Artist Patty Smith adds her sentiments to our farewell to staff members Josh and Shira! • Vendor/Artist Richard Embden asks, “What is a Friend?”
COVER ART Gearin’ Up Bicycles is a youthrun bike shop teaching kids in Northeast D.C. the skills they need to enter the work force. PHOTO BY KIM SZARMACH
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OUR STORY Street Sense began in August 2003 after Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003. In 2005, Street Sense achieved 501 ( c ) 3 status as a nonprofit organization, formed a board of directors and hired a full-time executive director. Today, Street Sense is published every two weeks through the efforts of four salaried employees, more than 100 active vendors, and dozens of volunteers. Nearly 30,000 copies are in circulation each month.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Margaret Chapman, Max Gaujean, Margaret Jenny, Robyn Kerr, Jennifer Park, Reed Sandridge, Jeremy Scott, John Senn, Kate Sheppard, Annika Toenniessen, Martin Totaro, Anne Willis EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brian Carome EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eric Falquero SALES & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jeffrey Gray VENDOR & SALES MANAGER Josh Maxey COORDINATOR OF EVENTS & AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT Shira Hereld INTERNS Katlyn Alapati, Evan Brown, Jacquie Groskaufmanis, Rokia Hassanein, Anna Riley, Kim Szarmach WRITERS GROUP LEADERS Donna Daniels, Susan Orlins, Willie Schatz EDITORIAL BOARD Rachel Brody, Arthur Delaney, Britt Peterson EDITORIAL & PAPER SALES VOLUNTEERS Jane Cave, Cheryl Chevalier, Nathalia Cibotti, Pat Geiger, Roberta Haber, Mary Henkin, Karen Houston, Erum Jilani, Leonie Peterkin, Hannah Northey, Jesselyn Radack, Andrew Siddons, Jackie Thompson, Marian Wiseman, Eugene Versluysen, Alex Zielinski VENDORS Shuhratjon Ahamadjonov, Gerald Anderson, Charles Armstrong, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Aida Basnight, Phillip Black, Reginald Black, Melanie Black, Phillip Black Jr., Maryann Blackmon, Viktor Blokhine, Debora Brantley, Andre Brinson, Donald Brown, Joan Bryant, Elizabeth Bryant, Brianna Butler, Melody Byrd, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Colbert, Anthony Crawford, Walter Crawley, Kwayera Dakari, James Davis, Clifton Davis, Charles Davis, David Denny, James DeVaughn, Ricardo Dickerson, Dennis Diggs, Alvin Dixon-El, Ronald Dudley, Charles Eatmon, Deana Elder, Julie Ellis, Jemel Fleming, Chon Gotti, Marcus Green, Barron Hall, Tyrone Hall, Richard Hart Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Jerry Hickerson, Ray Hicks, Sol Hicks, Rachel Higdon, Ibn Hipps, Leonard Hyater, Joseph Jackson, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Harold Johnson, Allen Jones, Mark Jones, Morgan Jones, Linda Jones, Darlesha Joyner, Juliene Kengnie, Kathlene Kilpatrick, Hope Lassiter, John Littlejohn, James Lott, Scott Lovell, Michael Lyons, Jimmy M. Ken Martin, Joseph Martin, Kina Mathis, Michael Lee Matthew, Authertimer Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Jermale McKnight, Jeffery McNeil, Ricardo Meriedy, Cynthia Mewborn, Kenneth Middleton, Cecil More, L. Morrow, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Earl Parkin, Lucifer Potter, Ash-Shaheed Rabil, Henrieese Roberts, Anthony Robinson, Doris Robinson, Raquel Rodriquez, Lawrence Rogers, Joseph Sam, Chris Shaw, Patty Smith, Smith Smith, Gwynette Smith, Ronald Smoot, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens James Stewart, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Archie Thomas, Shernell Thomas, Craig Thompson, Eric Thompson-Bey, Sarah TurleyColin, Carl Turner, Jacqueline Turner, Leon Valentine, Grayla Vereen, Ron Verquer, Martin Walker, Michael Warner, Robert Warren, Angelyn Whitehurst, William Whitsett, Wendell Williams, Sasha Williams, Judson Williams III, Ivory Wilson, Denise Wilson, Charles Woods
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STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
Shelter Residents Displaced by Plumbing Issue
DHS Collects School Supplies for Shelter Residents
Residents checking into the 801 East Men’s Shelter were transported to alternate sites beginning Sunday, August 7 due to a pipe break that disrupted the plumbing on the St. Elizabeth campus. Department of General Services (DGS) workers replaced a 60 foot pipe as of 4 p.m. August 9, however the shelter remained closed as DGS completed a process called “charging” to flush the system and ensure the stability of the new pipe, according to Dora Taylor, public information officer for D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS). The pipe broke August 6 and residents were provided bottled water and access to portable toilets for the evening. Beginning the next day, incoming residents were transported to Bald Eagle, King Greenleaf and Fort Stanton Recreation Centers. Residents were provided meals and showers at their assigned locations. Vulnerable residents, as identified by Catholic Charities case managers, were permitted to remain overnight at 801 East. They were given additional bottled water and portable toilet access. They were transported to Adam’s Place shelter every morning to shower. Each morning, DHS, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education provided transportation from the recreation centers to regular service sites for food and case management. Return transportation to the 801 East site was not offered in the mornings, according to Taylor. The shelter is expected to reopen for regular intake hours at 5 p.m. on August 10. —Katlyn Alapati
The new school year is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to buy new backpacks, pencils, notebooks and other school supplies. The annual D.C. Human Services “Fill a Backpack Fuel a Dream” campaign is collecting donations for the approximately 250 homeless youth in grades Pre-K through 12 that live at D.C. General family shelter. The drive will also support homeless families sheltered at other locations. A 2015 National Retail Federation survey
NEWS IN BRIEF found that the average family with kids in kindergarten through 12th grade planned to spend $630.36 on back-to-school needs, including electronics, traditional supplies, and apparel. The survey also reported a 42 percent increase in average back-to-school spending in the past ten years. Contributions can be dropped off at D.C. General (1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE) or any Department of Human Services service center location. The drive ends Wednesday, August 17. For any questions or more information about the campaign, call (202) 299-5546.
D.C. Public Schools Supply List Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
3rd - 5th Grades
1 bottle of white, liquid glue 11arge, pink eraser 2 glue sticks 1 box of tissues to share 1 box of crayons 1 box of markers or colored pencils A backpack 12, #2 pencils 2 dry-erase markers 1 pair of safety scissors 1small school box or zipper pouch for school supplies 2, two-pocket folders 2 wide-ruled notebooks 1 ruler (inches and centimeters)
1 box of crayons 1 box of markers or colored pencils 12, #2 pencils 1 school box or zippered pouch for school supplies 3 big glue sticks 5, two-pocket folders 3-Ring Binder, 1 1/2” or 2” 1 pack wide-ruled, loose leaf paper 1 pair of scissors 2 large erasers 1 box of tissues to share 2 highlighters 1 pack of 3x5 index cards (white) 2 spiral, wire bound notebooks A backpack 2 marble composition notebooks Protractor Basic calculator Ruler (inches and centimeters)
Supply lists for 6th - 8th Grades and 9th - 12th Grades available online:
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http://dcps.dc.gov/page/k-12-school-supply-list
YES!
Winter 2016-17 Planning Begins
The Emergency Response and Shelter Operations (ERSO) Committee met on July 31 to discuss The Winter Plan for 20162017, with an emphasis on emergency contact information. The Winter Plan is the city protocol for ensuring that homeless people have shelter during a Hypothermia Alert, conditions in which D.C. recognizes a right to shelter, and during a Cold Weather Emergency, which is activated by even more extreme weather conditions. The language in the 2015-2016 Winter Plan was unclear and often did not direct the public to the correct phone numbers, depending on the resource needed. ERSO, a D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) committee, focused on clarifying the document language to reflect the roles each office will play in the Winter Plan. The Shelter Hotline (1-800-535-7252) will still serve as the main number to connect homeless people with shelter during the hypothermia season. However, if ever uncertain whether someone needs medical attention, people should always call 911 first. Last year, the shelter hotline staff was overwhelmed by call volume and misunderstandings with callers about the process for connecting people with shelter services. The ERSO Committee discussed possible improvements to the plan to resolve ambiguous language, but no edits were officially made. The ERSO Committee will host a public feedback session on the new Winter Plan August 18, 2-4 p.m. at N St. Village (1333 N St. NW). The 2016-2017 Winter Plan must be finalized by September 1 in accordance with the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005. —Katlyn Alapati
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Activists Protest Sale of Long-Term Care Facility By Kim Szarmach kim.szarmach@streetsense.org A group of housing rights activist joined D.C. Tenants Advocacy Coalition (TENAC) outside Sidwell Friends School on July 29 to demand that Washington Home and Hospice, a local rehabilitation center for the elderly and chronically ill, value “dignity over dollars.” In December of 2016, Washington Home will be sold to Sidwell Friends for $35 million, displacing over 200 aging and disabled patients, according to TENAC chairman Jim McGrath. “Eviction at any time is a terrible thing,” McGrath said in an interview. “But when you’re old, disabled and poor, it’s a tragic event.” Some of Washington Home’s residents have been placed at other facilities in D.C., but many of them do not know where they will go in December. Full time medical care for the elderly can cost up to $110,000 a year, so its impossible for most people to afford without Medicaid, according to Mary Mason, Co-Chair of the Washington Home family council. Because Medicaid can be slow in paying for services, many D.C. facilities won’t accept it. The quality of life provided at
Jim McGrath leads a Tenants Advocacy Coalition rally against the sale and closing of the Washington Home long-term care facility. | PHOTO BY KIM SZARMACH the facilities that are accessible to Medicaid enrollees is not comparable to that of the Washington Home. “These are elderly, fragile people and those facilities are not appropriate for them,” Mason said. The family council requested that patients and their loved ones be given
six more months to find placement after the sale — but Washington Home refused, according to Mason. Washington Home has 10 percent of all the long-term care beds in the city. It is also one of D.C.’s only hospice care centers. Elsie Carome is a survivor of brain cancer who was at the protest. She said it is important
to her that Washington Home remains open because during her battle with cancer she thought of it as a comforting place she could go at the end of her life. Though the sale is a done deal, the UDC Housing and Consumer Law Clinic is suing Washington Home for violation of rights under D.C.’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). TOPA guarantees tenants the right to organize and collectively purchase their building before it can be sold to another buyer. Washington Home did not give its residents this option. “We’re optimistic about [this case],” said Jessica Galvan, one of the attorney’s on the case. “We’re fighting every day for this.” Linda Richard, a senior at the rally, is fighting the same fight as the UDC lawyers. A friend of hers was able to move to another facility once he heard about the sale. That friend, Charles Cassell, is a veteran and the grandfather of the D.C. Statehood Movement. He was forced out of his home at 85. “The senior population has paid their dues,” Richard said. “We should be comfortable.”
City Maps Out Next Five Years of Neighbood Develpment By Andrew Siddons, Volunteer
A plan that will serve as the District’s application for federal housing development funding needs more support for small businesses, testified members of the public at a July 27 meeting. The plan is meant to support affordable housing and the revitalization of neighborhoods. Business owners say that small businesses can contribute to those goals by providing employment and expanding the tax base. The Five-Year Consolidated Plan from the Department of Housing and Community Development is a blueprint for how the District plans to spend more than $284 million in funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds can be used to support buying and building affordable housing to rent or own, rental assistance, emergency services for homeless individuals, and housing programs for low-income people with HIV/AIDS. For the first time, the plan includes money from the newly-established National Housing Trust Fund, which supports housing for extremely low-income households, defined as earning less than 30 percent of areamedian income. “That’s a great new source, and
we have a plan for how we want to allocate that,” Polly Donaldson, the DHCD’s director, said at the meeting’s outset. The District plans to use that money to support the developers of new low-income housing. The largest source of the funds is the Community Development Block Grant program, which District officials anticipate will award the city $13.7 million per year that can be used not just for housing, but also economic development and assistance for small businesses. That support can come in the form of technical assistance programs, such as helping new business owners navigate the purchase or lease of a commercial p r o p e r t y, o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f storefronts and facades. Over the next five years, the District wants to use $6.2 million in block grant funding to provide 150 businesses with technical assistance along with 175 storefront improvement projects. But business owners say this is not enough. The new plan represents a drastic reduction from the previous five year goal, which sought to rehabilitate 280 storefronts and provide technical assistance to 4,750 small businesses between 2010 and 2015. In the past fiscal
year, the goal was to provide assistance to 1,500 businesses, and in 2014 alone, 2,488 small businesses benefited from that funding, combined with assistance from numerous local economic development organizations. At the meeting, about a dozen representatives from those organizations and the small businesses they support urged District housing officials to increase the number of businesses supported with the block grant. “DHCD is actually the biggest funder for technical assistance in the city,” said Harold Pettigrew, executive director of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. “We hear the impact of those dollars on the organizations that help to support the businesses that are important for job creation as well as income preservation and creation throughout the city.” The plan aims to address a variety of issues, including substandard housing and overcrowding. But the expense of housing is the biggest concern, with more than a third of households considered costburdened, paying 30 to 50 percent or more of their monthly income on housing. These problems disproportionately affect households with extremely-low income.
The federal funding can be used for renters’ assistance or rapid rehousing when a family loses their home. It also supports the development of public housing and housing vouchers. With 42,000 applications for subsidized housing, the District’s supply of 7,900 public housing units and 11,500 vouchers is easily outpaced by demand. To prevent homelessness, the District plans to use the federal funding to help engage the homeless and connect them with support services, create a daytime center for homeless individuals, and contribute to the development of the family shelters that will replace DC General. The plan is a product of input from numerous District agencies and nonprofits, including the Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Department of Human Services. Those agencies and others provided guidance on goals related to the needs of the homeless and ending homelessness DHCD accepted additional public comments through August 10. The plan must be submitted to HUD by August 16. “Your voice will help refine the draft to ensure that the plan is an accurate representation of the city’s needs,” Donaldson said.
STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
COVER STORY
Youth-Run Bike Shop
Teaches Job Skills in Northeast
By Kim Szarmach kim.szarmach@streetsense.org In August 2012, Sterling Stone found himself on a bike somewhere along the Mount Vernon Trail, miles away from home. It was his first ride since childhood and he was using a bike several sizes too small for him, clad in jean shorts and a black button down. “I was not prepared in any way shape or form for what I had gotten myself into,” he said. Stone became so exhausted that he was stopping every mile or so to drink water and take short naps. He knew that as a visibly-struggling, large, Black man without any of the proper equipment for a 20-mile bike ride, he didn’t look like the other bikers on the trail. But Stone said he didn’t feel left out. “All these middle-aged White men with their beards and fancy bikes, instead of … judging me … they were encouraging me,” Stone said. Four years later, he is the executive director of the youth-run bike shop in Northeast D.C., Gearin’ Up Bicycles. Teaching kids in underserved communities to repair bikes, Gearin’ Up instills in its volunteers the skills they need to join the workforce. The decision to use bicycles as a platform to learn these skills wasn’t an arbitrary one. As Stone observed on that fateful ride in 2012, bikes are an equalizer in a city divided by race and level of income.
PHOTOS BY KIM SZARMACH
“Once you’re on two wheels, the color of your skin, what you look like or who you’re voting for kind of melts away,” he said. As in the larger D.C. biking community, Gearin’ Up’s volunteers and staff treat each other with kindness and support.
Once you’re on two wheels, the color of your skin, what you look like or who you’re voting for kind of melts away. “You get here and everyone treats you like you’re best friends,” said Pedro Perez, 17, a volunteer in the bike shop. Perez is one of many volunteers who has, in Stone’s opinion, moved on to better things since he started at Gearin’ Up. He recently graduated high school, has a paying job at a bike shop in D.C. and is taking a college course. Perez still chooses to spend his free time at Gearin’ Up. Gearin’ Up volunteers keep coming back not only for the shop’s sense of community, but for the satisfaction they get out of the work they do. Theo Marshal, 16, has a paid position working at the shop’s front desk. He recalled working with one young customer in particular. “It’s not even just for the money,” Marshal said. “To see [the customer]
smile, he’s happy now because we cleaned his bike. It made me feel good.” Though the goal of the shop is primarily to empower the youth who work there, those who come in to buy bikes or get one fixed are imperative to the mission. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for the customers who come through the door,” Stone said. He calls Gearin’ Up a teaching bike shop as they offer lower rates for bike repairs because the work is done by mechanics in training. The shop has received a lot of business since it opened in 2014 and Stone envisions opening one or two more retail spaces in the next 5 years. As Gearin’ Up continues to expand, they are always looking for more volunteers, used bikes, parts and monetary donations.
PHOTOS BY KIM SZARMACH
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Study Finds Homeless Students Determined to Succeed By Anna Riley anna.riley@streetsense.org A study released in June reported that there were 1.3 million K-12 students experiencing homelessness during the U.S. 2013-14 school year. This new data reveals both the needs of these young people and the supports available to them. This is especially important since the recent Every Student Succeeds Act (Essa) requires that states and districts report homeless high school graduation rates. The report, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Homeless Students in America’s Public Schools,” included interviews and surveys of current homeless students, previously homeless students and homeless liaisons in schools. Written by Civic Enterprises and Hart Research Associates, the study was released by the GradNation campaign. Sixty-seven percent of youth surveyed said that homelessness had a large impact on their education and 78 percent said that they were homeless more than once. It is important to not only get students into stable housing, but also to give them additional resources and support, according to Erin S. Ingram, policy advisor
at Civic Enterprises and co-author of the report. “To me, [the 78 percent] says this is a problem that is recurrent and cyclical.” Ingram said. “So just providing access to housing or connecting people to housing is unlikely to solve the underlying problems,” Ingram said. The study also found that 42 percent of students said that they dropped out of school at least once and 61 percent of students said they were never connected with an outside organization for support while homeless. Despite the hardships and lack of support that many youth discussed, 88 percent of homeless youth school liaisons said that they believe these young people can get through high school and graduate ready for college or a career, if they are given proper support. “The students themselves told us that they see education as a pathway out of this kind of instability that they’re experiencing as young people; they want to go on and be stable adults,” Ingram said. “It’s encouraging and optimistic for us to think about, because it means if we can find ways to support these students that they can go on to break that cycle for themselves.”
Potomac State College-bound Bri’on Burton experienced homelessness in high school and did not feel that his housing situation inhibited him. “Going through this type of situation, I could see that it can be hard on some people, but I actually got through it and became successful,” Burton said in an interview. “I felt that it helped me stay focused and stay on track.” Burton also said he has the support of teachers, administrators and outside organizations. He always felt comfortable talking to people at school about his housing situation. Based on this new data, stories like Burton’s are rare. Sixty-seven percent of youth surveyed said they were not comfortable talking to people at their school about their situation and 61 percent said that, while homeless, they were never connected with outside organizations such as youth drop-in shelters, housing organizations or mentoring programs. “The stress of being in school and being homeless and not receiving any real help almost sent me to a psychiatric ward,” said a formerly homeless youth quoted in the report. Connecting students to outside
organizations is something that schools can work on, according to Ingram. “Schools obviously cannot be the full providers of all the supports that these young people need,” she said. “But they can serve as a really great help, because they see these young people every day and they have great connections in the community. They could serve as a great focal point to help connect those young people.” In regards to the homeless liaisons, the study found that 78 percent said that a lack of funding is a key challenge in their job and 57 percent cited lack of time, staff and resources. Sixty percent of liaisons said that, “enhanced public awareness efforts would go a long way, and emphasize awareness, compassion and breaking down stigmas, both in schools and in communities, as ways to better help their students.” The report recommends increasing affordable housing, connecting schools with outside organizations, raising community awareness about the issue of youth homelessness, setting graduation goals for homeless students and ensuring that ESSA amendments which deal with homeless students are fully implemented.
Menstrual Equity for Homeless and Incarcerated Women By Rokia Hassanein, rokia.hassanein@streetsense.org Lashonia Thompson has focused her life around criminal justice reform and women in re-entry. Right now, she is working with Laura De Las Casas on Pads 2 Prisons, a program that promotes the distribution of menstrual products as a human right and raises awareness about the health risks of low-quality products. “As a formerly incarcerated woman, all issues that impact incarcerated women interest me,” Thompson said. “So when [De Las Casas] told me about the things that she was learning — about the challenges women were having naturally — I thought that I could help bring some exposure to the situation.” De Las Casas, with help from Thompson, is researching policies and regulations that exist in different state facilities to identify menstrual needs for imprisoned women. Thompson will connect De Las Casas to women in the D.C. area who are returning citizens. “Where I would like to give out my donation is locally,” De las Casas said in an interview. “The biggest hurdle is there is no data.” Select metropolitan areas, such as New York City, have a lot of data and some effective new programs to tackle this issue. However, De Las Casas would like to target a facility where women’s voices are not yet heard. Access to menstrual products hasn’t received much attention in Washington, D.C., where menstrual products continue
to be a need for homeless, impoverished and imprisoned women. One exception can be found on the University of Maryland (UMD) campus, where a studentrun organization has been collecting pads and tampons to donate to homeless women. Members of No Taboo Period see the conversation necessary for their collection efforts as also combatting the stigma that surrounds discussing products needed by menstruating women. The student-founders joined together through a class to compete in the university’s Do Good Challenge, according to Nicole Lang. Lang was in charge of public relations for the organization prior to graduating. When choosing a focus for their project, one member discussed what she had learned while volunteering with N Street Village, a nonprofit women’s shelter in the District. She explained that people tend to donate food and clothing to homeless shelters and seldom think about other essentials, such as pads and tampons. “We quickly realized that feminine hygiene was not a subject we ourselves felt comfortable talking about and determined that the taboo nature of menstruation would be one of our biggest obstacles for gaining public support,” Lang said. Although many women were willing to spare pads or tampons for those in need, it was difficult speaking openly about the products in public. Hence, the “taboo” word play.
“I found No Taboo Period to be both empowering and inspiring,” Lang said. “We received an overwhelming amount of support for our project and managed to increase awareness of the issue on campus, in addition to collecting thousands of feminine hygiene products that we donated to homeless shelters in D.C.” The donations go to D.C. Diaper Bank, which has partnerships with more than 30 homeless shelters to distribute the products that No Taboo Period donates. The students’ efforts have received positive feedback, according to the organization’s current co-president, Nageen Sherani. “As a part of the Do Good Challenge we interviewed homeless women in D.C.,” Sherani said. “Upon explaining our mission and cause, they expressed gratitude and encouraged us to continue our efforts. This will be a lasting effect in the future.” She added that this is an issue too often swept under the rug for many reasons — including the cultural taboo of talking about menstruation and the lack of awareness that there are women without access to essential feminine hygiene products. “This topic resonates with me because I’m interested in women’s health on a global scale,” Sherani said. “The taboo-nature of periods is a more serious issue in a few other countries, where the lack of education and money hinder women from properly taking care of themselves.” This open dialogue, which challenges
cultural expectations, resonated with men too. Lang described how much it meant to her when a male student shyly walked up to the group’s table on campus, handed over a large pack of tampons and told them he really appreciated their work. “It was a proud moment for all of us,” Lang said. “Breaking the taboo is not something that happens overnight, but something that is achieved through an accumulation of small feats.” Voice is a theme shared by No Taboo Period and Pads 2 Prisons. In their efforts to improve accessibility to menstrual products in the nation’s capital, Thompson and De Las Casas will be incorporating feedback from currently incarcerated women and returning citizens, while No Taboo Period will build on its efforts to give homeless women better access to products. In prison and on the street, listening to women talk about their experiences became the focal point of both projects. While Thompson doesn’t personally recall difficulty obtaining pads in prison, she acknowledged that often the products she received were of very low quality. “It doesn’t help with your self-esteem and your dignity and other personal issues you may be dealing with,” Thompson said. Using social media and word of mouth, Thompson and De Las Casas hope to be in communication with returning citizens who can tell them about current concerns. “I was released five years ago,” Thompson reflected, “Things have changed.”
STREET SENSE August 10 - August 23, 2016
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NEWS
D.C. Man Hosts Refugees, Domestic Violence Victims for Free By Rokia Hassanein rokia.hassanein@streetsense.org
The mere idea of allowing refugees into the U.S. has been a polarizing topic around the country. But for some local good Samaritans, literally hosting refugees in their home is common sense. That’s why social entrepreneur Amr Arafa founded EmergencyBnB in November 2015. His twist on Airbnb aims to help vulnerable societal segments — such as refugees and domestic violence victims — to find temporary homes offered by their neighbors. Arafa currently hosts people in crisis in his D.C. apartment for free. “ We s t a r t e d w i t h r e f u g e e s a n d domestic violence victims due to the exigent nature of their need,” Arafa said in an interview. “Statistically, 57 percent of homeless women report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. While governments take serious steps to address these issues, it is time that society considered more creative and even more efficient solutions.” Arafa gave the example that while the government can provide shelters for domestic victims, the reality is that it takes several months for a homeless family to secure housing. With EmergencyBnB and a willing host, it is possible that a family could have housing until they’re back on their feet. “It is time that the sharing economy is considered as a means of helping others and not just as an economic opportunity,” he said. A Harvard University graduate, Arafa’s resume is decorated. He has worked for big names such as the International
Monetary Fund, IBM and Discovery Communications. But his sense of stability did not come until he received his green card in July of 2015. “While working on the website, I figured I could list my apartment on other existing popular portals, like Airbnb, until my website becomes known,” he said. “It offered me a way of conducting market research and experience hosting first hand so that I could design a more tailored user experience on EmergencyBnB.” Arafa is well aware that he launched EmergencyBnB as his country’s Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, spews anti-refugee messaging throughout his campaign and has called for a ban on Muslim refugees. “EmergencyBnB is not a political statement,” Arafa said. “Helping others who are in need is a societal function and a basic human instinct that has unfortunately been lost in the midst of political agendas and selfserving interests.” According to him, it is no coincidence that EmergencyBnB was founded in a country whose monumental statue bears the inscription “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Seventy-thousand refugees are legally admitted to the U.S. every year. “As a non-citizen, I have no power to promote pro-refugee through voting. I,
however, know that those people need to feel welcomed in the land of my permanent residency.” At the same time, 4,774,000 million women in the U.S. have been subjected to physical violence by an intimate partner annually. “Some of them are at the verge of being homeless,” Arafa said. “It is time that we paid attention. It is time that we offered a hand. We are capable of helping. My apartment is a small studio apartment, yet I managed to host two refugees and two domestic violence victims within a few months. So many other people can too.” One success story that stood out to Arafa came after encountering an abuse victim in her early 30’s, who had found herself on the streets. The victim had sent non-stop distress messages, to which he quickly scrambled ready his apartment for her stay. “She came with several bags as if she’d completely evicted her place to flee domestic violence. We had a quick discussion to calm her down,” he recalled. After three days, the survivor checked out of Arafa’s apartment after having been offered a job. “Just like a fairy tale,” he said. “Three days can truly be transformational to someone who is in this position. What mattered is not
that she found a place to sleep. What mattered is that it was offered by a stranger who cared. That she felt cared for. You don’t get that in a shelter, or some government-run program.” That’s when it hit him. This woman, who held a law degree, exemplified how nobody is immune to being in a homeless situation. For Arafa, the biggest learning experience he’s had through this is that “giving can be a form of therapy.” “It has been an incredible experience. You have no idea how fulfilling it is to receive a ‘thank you’ note from a vulnerable family you just hosted for free,” he continued, “How fulfilling it is to see a distressed, helpless woman you just hosted, two days later and how transformational, possibly life-saving those three days have been.” He encourages fellow Samaritans to help others through his site. Anybody can list a room, apartment, etc. — Amr Arafa on EmergencyBnB. com, where people in crisis can also request to book a place to stay. “When people realize that they are still capable of giving, they will experience an elevated sense of wellbeing and improved overall mood,” Arafa said. “It is a gift to hosts as much as it is to guests. I encourage everyone to try it at least once.”
“It is time that we paid attention. It is time that we offered a hand.”
A New Conference Experience
The Exhibitor By Sheila White, Vendor/Artist
By Robert Warren, Vendor/Artist
This year’s National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference = was my sixth to attend as a Street Sense vendor and Director of the People for Fairness Coalition (PFFC). As always, I went to the conference with the hope of expanding the universal human right to housing. Unlike other years, I was joined by six other Street Sense vendors and we were given a place at the conference to display some of our photography. We had a chance to talk to many conference attendees about our creative work at Street Sense and the advocacy work we engage in at PFFC to end people’s housing instability in Washington. We handed out information sheets and worked the table in between going to workshops designed to help us in our goals. More important to me was the last day
of the conference, when we heard from keynote speaker Matthew Desmond. He told the true stories of many women of color and their plight trying to maintain housing for themselves and their children. He brought tears to my eyes when he spoke of their high rate of eviction and the hard times they go through becoming homeless in America. I was moved by his solution of a universal rights to housing in poor, rural and Black communities. We at the People for Fairness Coalition, along with our FACE (Focus, Attitude, Commitment to Excellence) vendor advocacy group at Street Sense plan to be on the frontlines in D.C. when the National Law Center to End Homelessness and Poverty launches their “Housing, Not Handcuffs” campaign this November. PFFC has been
advocating for a Human Right to Housing since 2010 and we are excited to have the force of a national campaign behind us. I have not seen either presidential candidate from the two major parties focus on housing during this election season. When we talk about helping our fellow Americans, it starts with housing. We hope to hold several community forums ahead of the election to making housing a central issue. Moving forward, I hope to organize at least 12 Street Sense vendors to work on this. I envision them functioning as traditional campaign workers: gaining experience while changing the way we provide help for people and families in need of affordable, sustainable and accessible housing.
As a Street Sense vendor, I had the chance to meet other street paper vendors at the Renaissance Hotel during the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference. I worked the Street Sense table there, passing out our paper and talking to people from other areas. I learned that San Francisco has a street paper called “Street Spirit” and Portland has a street paper called “Street Roots.” If we had a street newspaper in every town, state, city — everywhere — we could really get the word out about how important it is to end homelessness.
Starting With Chronic Homelessness By Henrieese Roberts, Vendor/Artist
While presenting some of the Street Sense photography group’s work at the 2016 National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference, I was able to meet advocates from around the country while manning our table. And the next week, because she was out of town during the conference’s advocacy day on the Hill, a contingent of advocates including myself was invited to speak with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office about homelessness. It was an exciting week. During the conference, I was also able to attend one of the National Alliance to End Homelessness workshops focused on ending chronic homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines a person as chronically homeless if she or he is an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for over a year OR has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. On top of all this, in order to be considered chronically homeless, a person must have been sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation or in an emergency homeless shelter. To maintain any end to chronic homelessness, it was recognized that each community must also have the capacity to immediately offer some form of lowbarrier shelter, while assisting people to swiftly access permanent housing. It was also said that access to shelter and other temporary settings should not be contingent on sobriety, minimum
income requirements, lack of criminal justice system involvement, or other unnecessary conditions such as participation in certain activities. It was undisputed that permanent housing with individually tailored supportive services is the solution to chronic homelessness. The stated goal was to end chronic homelessness by 2017. New investments and housing will be critical for achieving that goal nationally. Julia Orland — director of the Bergen County, New Jersey Housing, Health & Sheila White. | PHOTO BY HENRIEESE ROBERTS Henrieese Roberts. | PHOTO BY SHEILA WHITE Human Services Center — described her county as a model community: sporting clean, new, safe, year-round, 24-hour shelter; coordinated outreach efforts; and coordinated entry into Housing First. Ending homelessness in one’s community requires the engagement of all community members where we collaborate on resources needed to elevate our neighbors’ housing status from homeless to securely-housed. Let us contribute to ending homelessness in our communities. In my Annapolis community, there will be a run for The Light House program on Sunday, September 25, 2016! At The Light House, our mission is to help rebuild lives with compassion by providing shelter and services to prevent homelessness and empower people as they transition toward self-sufficiency. Our vision is to serve as a national model for how a community cares for its homeless people. Locate an opportunity IN YOUR COMMUNITY today where you can volunteer or send a contribution to help house the A conference attendee speaks with Jennifer McLaughlin and Robert Warren of the homeless. Be the change — let us end this! People for Fairness Coalition. | PHOTO BY SHEILA WHITE
STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
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FEATURES
District Conducts More-Thorough Foggy Bottom Camp Cleanup By Katlyn Alapati katlyn.alapati@streetsense.org D.C. Conducts Another Foggy Bottom Encampment Cleanup D.C. government workers cleared an encampment of approximately 12 homeless residents near 27th and K Streets NW on the morning of July 28. The cleanup was the second attempt to clear the area in the past five weeks and only the most recent of several conducted near the point where Potomac River Freeway and Whitehurst Freeway meet. “The city should do something truly efficacious about the homeless, instead of letting them live under the highway [overpasses],” said Dale Barnhard, a Foggy Bottom resident who owns property just across 27th Street NW from the encampment. “But the political will
doesn’t exist for that because the political constituency doesn’t exist for it.” Unlike the previous cleanup , campers were not only asked to pack their belongings, but also to leave the area just below the overpass so Department of Public Works (DPW) employees could dispose of garbage and unclaimed items. Some campers expressed frustration with the crew. One was particularly emotional as his Friendship Place case manager, Molly Vetter, worked to calm him and determine where to store his belongings. Despite the noticeable instances of tension, every camper worked with DPW and other government employees to create a pile of unwanted items for disposal.
The cleanup lasted more than 90 minutes — about three times the duration of the previous cleanup — as campers gathered their belongings. Throughout, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Singh and a representative from the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services supervised the campers and explained cleanup expectations. According to Judy Williams, head of homeless outreach for the Department of Behavioral Health, one of the two pit bulls staying in the camp had bitten the hand of one of her colleagues earlier that week. Orange cones partitioned the camp from the lawn with signs reading, “Beware of dogs.” Ultimately, the dogs left with their owners from the encampment, although
a truck from the Washington Humane Society was present and ready to take the animals to a shelter. Meanwhile, M. Leigh and Donnell, residents at a nearby satellite encampment, stayed with their belongings throughout the morning, wary of the cleanup occurring just across the off ramp. “If they want to give us housing, we’d be happy to leave our abodes,” M. Leigh said, scoffing at the D.C. regulation that prohibits the use of a “temporary abode” on public property. Neither of the two satellite encampment sites across the highway exit were cleaned up, however there are cleanup notices on both that were effective from the previous week through August 4 and 5.
Photos by Benjamin Burgess
OPINION
Thank a Homeless Person Today
Ray of Comfort By Jacqueline Turner
By a commuter
I would like to thank the people on the street who make my long commute a little lighter. I have no right to whine, but I know you can also see our mental condition as easily as we can see your material condition. But guess what? What you give me is worth a heck of a lot more than a dollar. In fact, it helps me whistle while I work for that dollar that I am sometimes able to share. For years, I enjoyed Mister John’s kind blessing at Union Station Metro. I have not taken Metro in a while, but did you know that Mister John’s was the FIRST friendly voice I heard when I came to town almost ten years ago? I often look for Mister Blue
Eyes, a quiet man who often sits at the Postal Museum and says, “Have a nice day” when I pass.
“I know you can also see
our mental condition as easily as we can see your material condition.” I actually miss the fellow with the bad knees who would greet every human being who passed; I can only hope he has gotten on well.
Now and then, there is a beautiful lady near Union Station who has a musical Caribbean lilt to her voice. Her strong, ladylike dignity reminds me so much of what we as women have lost because we didn’t recognize its value until it slipped from our grasp. I am too shy to ask this lady her name, but in my mind, I call her “Three Times a Lady.” And if you can’t hear Mister Voice’s “good moooooorning” (on your trip through Union Station), you can surely hear him over the traffic at 15th and K. So…your good vibe, when you are able to give it, is not for nothing. Thank you.
We all have times of tribulation: finance troubles, family worries, health concerns, etc. For the homeless, these multiply tenfold. One way to cope and hold on is through the words of the Bible. You may not believe in God or the Bible, but consider this: the flowers and the lilies of the field are arranged in beauty, yet they do not worry. People are stronger, and you can overcome anything if you believe in yourself and try God — I know that works for me. It could work for you, too. Jacquie Turner is a Street Sense vendor.
Trump May Be Crazy, But #NeverHillary By Jeffery McNeil Before Michael Moore, Van Jones and Diamond and Silk, I originally predicted the rise of Donald Trump. Last August I wrote “Don’t Measure The Drapes Hillary, Here Comes The Donald” when Donald Trump was one percent in the polls. I urged liberals not to dismiss him, but to take him seriously. His message of jobs, border security and against free trade would strike a chord in the hearts of Middle America. I hate to burst the bubble of Hillary supporters, but prepare yourselves: Trump may win in the biggest landslide since Nixon trounced McGovern in 1972. What happened in Britain with Brexit will arrive November 8th, American style. Americans are enraged by what America has become. A new Silent Majority has emerged. Working class people are horrified and appalled by the cultural left. While the British despised elites in Brussels dictating their lives, Americans fume at the prospect that a tiny few from Washington, Los Angeles and New York can dictate the lives of the masses. As with the sixties, working class people are enraged by radical leftists who cheer criminals and romanticize radical jihadists while booing men and women who risk their life every day to protect us. Americans are sick of those who criticize America. If America is so bad, why do people risk their lives to come here? We are a generous country that opens its arms to everyone. That generosity is coming at a cost — while we help everyone else, our own citizens are being neglected. Americans are tired of hearing we can’t build roads, bridges and hospitals but find ways to build nations that hate us. When President Obama was first elected, I thought he would champion America — but he goes around the world apologizing for us. It’s delightful to see
Donald Trump say American citizens will be his top priority if elected. The establishment’s arrogance is catching up with them. They’ve done nothing to serve the people. Neither party had any intentions of changing a system that benefits them immensely. While the media wants to portray Donald Trump’s rise as unprecedented, I saw this movie in 1993 when Rudy Giuliani was elected
Chicago have not had a Republican mayor in nearly a half century. Democrats control the school boards, police departments and commerce in these cities. Despite failed liberal policies, White liberals and corrupt Black leaders managed to keep African Americans on the government plantation with lies about racism. Liberals want you to believe racist Republicans are to blame for Barack
PHOTO COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE/FLICKR
mayor of New York City. I saw traditional blue collar Democrats rise up against the Democratic establishment to elect Chris Christie as governor in New Jersey. Trump’s rise is no different; middle class workers see decline and unraveling and are looking for someone to clean house. At a time when people are tired of the status quo, Democrats nominate a career insider, then try to package her as history-making in Hillary Clinton. This uprising isn’t only Tea Party or White working class; the inner cities are ripe for revolution. The Democrats run just about every major metropolitan area in America. Cities such as Baltimore and
Obama’s ineptitude, although facts don’t support that claim. In 2008 Obama won the largest share of White support of any Democrat since Jimmy Carter. He won predominantly white states such as Maine, New Hampshire, Iowa and Indiana. He won Confederate states such as Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as well as the west -- but somehow, progressives manage to blame racism for everything. Liberals don’t come to grips with reality but the facts remain: when Obama was elected he had two filibuster-proof majorities in Congress. Since being president he’s lost 913 state legislature seats, including 13 Senate seats, 69 House seats, 11 governorships,
and 30 state legislature chambers. Before Bernie Sanders, Obama was the original man of the people. He began his campaign relying heavily on the Internet, mobilizing a massive grassroots organization of volunteers and donors. He said he would be the most transparent administration in history, however, his administration has been the most secretive in history. Under his administration there have been more Freedom of Information Act lawsuits in federal court, as well as 77 percent of FOIA requests censored or returned to requesters without any information. Pr e s i d e n t O b a m a h a s b e e n a t r a n s f o r m a t i v e p r e s i d e n t — h e ’s transformed America from being a shining city on a hill to being like everyone else. Liberals believe “Make America Great Again” is a racial slur. However, Trump is right: we don’t win anymore, we don’t build anything nor do we produce wealth for ourselves. Making America Great is pulling off the world stage and handling our own affairs free of control of elites from distant lands. Dwight Eisenhower once said, “If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.” If Democrats win, the American way of life will cease to exist. I don’t want to live in a world where liberals want to control all aspects of your life. This may be the most important election in history. The Democrats don’t want to make America great, but transform it into a giant rainbow where everyone is “Stronger Together.” On November 8 we the American people will resoundingly say “Hell no” to Hillary Clinton and liberalism. Jeffery is a Street Sense vendor and a regular contributor.
STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
Have an opinion about how homelessness is being handled in our community? Street Sense maintains an open submission policy and prides itself as a newspaper that elevates community voices and fosters healthy debate. Send your thoughts to opinion@streetsense.org.
Black Man in America By Robert Warren I guess it's true, being a Black man in America can be hard on a Black man The easiest thing to do, is for people to find fault with you Someone who never knew you Like Paul never knew Christ but I guess that's alright Shed a little light Tell a little tale They say Clinton was our first Black president Who sent many Black men to jail Yea it's Obama's fault That's what she said That Black man ain't never had a job Was never able to stand tall My dad never did a thing for me But I'll let the world see I am a king The king of kings A god to you all Stuck, stuck feeling small When I come from a bloodline of giants Trying to find something good to say Something good to do, and not listen to you Who don't know how much I love And reach for the stars, for you Yea, if you knew me, you would like me, Cause I've been freed Robert Warren is a Street Sense vendor.
1#1
OPINION
Help the Clinic Help You By Gwynette Smith
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless is comprised of lawyers and advocacy workers. It covers many issues such as affordable housing, the unemployment crisis, problems people are experiencing returning from incarceration, credit history problems and other issues. The executive director is Patty Mullahy Fuger. The clinic is located at 1200 U St. NW. They feel that the community’s input is important in tackling its problems. To attack poverty at its root, they have to
make sure that the ones experiencing it provide information about the problem and then possible solutions. The clinic believes that many here hesitate to participate because they feel uncomfortable telling lawyers their personal business. Drop in sometime, maybe they can help you if you are having any present troubles. Gwynette Smith is a Street Sense vendor.
Dang You, Metro
By Phillip Black, the “Cat in the Hat” Five Metro employees were disciplined in July for not following safety protocol. Each and every day, Metro customers are in more danger than ever. Most Metro workers do not do a good job of opening Metrorail cars, and if the job is not done, they should be fired. Period. Just last week, I saw a station manager at Metro Center sleeping. Somebody had to hit the window to wake him up. This should not be happening. I now refuse to ride the train until the system is fixed. Remember friends, our safety comes first. Phillip Black is a Street Sense vendor.
ILLUSTRATION BY DEBBIE BRANTLEY
Metropolitan Transit Police:
From the Perspective of a Veteran Street Sense Vendor By Conrad Cheek Jr. In late June this year, Phase 2 of the Metro “SafeTrack” refurbishment went into effect, closing down the Stadium-Armory and Potomac Avenue stations. Hundreds of thousands of commuters were forced on a daily basis to find alternate routes or exit the subway at the Eastern Market Station and board a shuttle bus to either Benning Road or Minnesota Avenue stations in order to continue their commute. On the second weekday of the shutdown, I arrived at Eastern Market Station to work my usual 5-6 p.m. evening shift, expecting the forecasted heavy rain. What occurred there between me and a blonde female Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officer was reminiscent of my previous experiences with a particular male MTPD officer. In order for you to truly understand my feelings and perceptions, I must expose you to some of the incidents that have occurred over the past 11 years that I have sold our newspaper at this location. I’ve received eight citations and been thrown in jail overnight twice. Both overnight incidents were for vending
without a license and unlawful entry. As my wife would say: “Truth be told!” First of all, I don’t need a license to distribute Street Sense in exchange for donations. Secondly, how do you unlawfully enter a public space? (I was standing next to the subway entrance during both instances.) This recent female officer’s attitude
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
was reminiscent of an experience six years ago with a male officer who harassed me in front of three new recruits. I guess he was “showing them the ropes.” He and the three rookies heard me projecting my sales pitch as I was coming up the escalator at Eastern Market Station to announcing my presence. When I reached the top of the escalator, he immediately asked for my identification — knowing full well that he had given me a $50 citation for vending without a license on one occasion and thrown me in jail for that and unlawful entry on another occasion. He was checking to see if there was a warrant for my arrest for not paying the fine or failure to appear. When both checks came up negative, he gave me a citation for panhandling. When I received the citation, I asked, “Are you finished?” He said he was. Then I told him, loud enough for the rookies to hear, “We don’t need you around here!” “What do you mean?” he asked. “Your attitude would be more readily tolerated further south!” I replied. He then asked, “Are you saying I’m a racist?” At moderate volume I said, “If it
smells like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck,” then Iyelled in his face, “IT’S A DUCK!” “You make them look bad,” I said, pointing to the rookies. “Now do I have to leave because you gave me a ticket?” He said I did not and the four of them stood around as I continued vending the paper for 15 minutes or so. At least 10 times before they left the area, each of them heard the segment of my pitch where I say, “Would you help a hardworking homeless man, who doesn’t panhandle, with at least a dollar donation? Cause homeless isn’t helpless when you have Street Sense.” The next time I saw that officer, maybe two months later, he came up the escalator and immediately approached me to apologize and shake my hand, saying, “You are just selling a paper.” This new blonde-haired female MTPD officer didn’t know how close she came to hearing me say “We don’t need you around here!” (to be continued) Conrad Cheek Jr. is a Street Sense vendor and contributor.
The Street Sense Writers’ Group is led by writing professionals and meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The group’s goal is to develop ideas and collaborate on the next great issue of Street Sense.
How Do You Beat the Heat? (Call 1-800-535-7252 for cooling centers, water and other non-emergency assistance)
Hurry
Kindness
When it’s hot, I try to sell my papers early. But sometimes I have AA meetings or doctor’s appointments. Then I have to work during the hottest part of the day. So, I dress lightly: a shirt, pants, no socks and no jacket. I drink plenty of water so I don’t become dehydrated. I don’t like to carry water bottles, so I buy them at different stores. That way I can drink lots of water without dragging the bottles with me. I get milk shakes, ‘cause I love ice cream. And I eat cool, refreshing foods like tuna and chicken salad. I can’t work more than five hours ‘cause of my arthritis. So even if I haven’t sold all my papers, I quit after that time. I like to be home by 5 p.m., so I always stop selling in time for me to do that. But I’ll be back at it the next day no matter how hot it is. My advice: stay in the shade when you sell your papers. And get out of the heat ASAP!
On a recent Monday the thermometer said it was 100 degrees. But while I was selling Street Sense in the afternoon it felt hotter than that, even though I was standing in the shade. I thought I was going to melt! Fortunately, my customers and the people around me made sure I didn’t. “May I buy you water?” a woman asked. Of course I said “yes”, and she did. I was drinking plenty of water, but every bottle helps in the heat. Another woman bought me more water, a turkey and cheese sandwich and a bag of chips. That was really nice! Then one person gave me $2, another gave me $4 and another gave me $5 without taking a paper. That was the trend all day. No one bought a paper! I was really discouraged and it was REALLY hot. But, I kept going for another hour. Then I decided I had had it. I was done. So, I went home. I was disappointed, but I wasn’t mad. I cope with the heat by standing in the shade, wearing sleeveless tops, eating light, and drinking plenty of water. I won’t let that heat beat me!
By Elizabeth Bryant, Vendor/Artist
Entrepreneurship
By Debbie Brantley, Vendor/Artist I beat the heat by just staying indoors. Inside, I can turn on the air conditioner. I wish I knew of friends or anyone else who would like to come over and enjoy the cool, fresh indoors. Enjoy your friends and be together during the heat. Lots of things become possible during this time and you can come up with some great ideas. Drink plenty of fluids and rest. Hopefully you'll have an air conditioner.
ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL CRAIG & LATISHIA GRAHAM
If not, then a cheap fan might do. I could charge money for liquids and AC if I opened up to more people and ran an informal day center. Too many people die or get seriously ill from heat exhaustion or stroke. It is a good opportunity for a small business. If I had the money, I would get an ice cream truck. It is important to cool off in any way that you can.
By Latishia Graham, Vendor/Artist
Faith
By Charles Davis, Vendor/Artist
Glarph, the newest
When I wake in the morning I always give thanks to God, no matter how hot the day may be. He is the most important one I can talk with as I learn how not to be “homeless.” That is a long and difficult process that He helps guide me through. To deal with the changes we go through in life you must have faith. To have that faith you must believe in the Holy Spirit because God loves you. Jesus Heals, Jesus Saves...Always. I had a beautiful friend who really cared about me. But I think I hurt her feelings by some things I said. I said them because she meant so much to me and I was afraid of losing her. However, I will always keep my trust in the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. My prayers will always go out to that special friend who I miss so much. She will stay in my heart forever. May her loving brother rest in peace. Amen.
“Town Crier” at Street Sense, invites you to an 8:30 p.m. poetry slam August 17 with four of your favorite artists*. To be held in the
Visit StreetSense.org to read Ken Martin’s take on how Metro ADDS to the heat!
Contee Cullen Room at the Busboys and Poets on
Housing
5th & K Streets, NW!
By Joe Jackson, Vendor/Artist
*Featuring several lomgtime poets of Street Sense!
Housing — it usually comes with shade, AC and cool water. I want someone to help me with attaining housing. My manager wants to work with me to get it. People are laughing at me, but I’ve still been swollen with pride. Please help.
ILLUSTRATION BY FREDERIC JOHN
“The Big Fat Rat” will resume its penultimate episode in our next edition!
STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
13
Down on the Farm — Part 4 By Eric Thompson-Bey, Vendor/Artist
VENDOR WRITING THE BLUES: A Playlist on Homelessness By Ken Martin, Vendor/Artist
Fruits and veggies of every kind, wildlife that’ll blow your mind.
When you have no place to hang your hat*, you often discover yourself to be unwelcome, estranged, forgotten and friendless. Your needs too great and resources too few. Daily living leaves you feeling the B-L-U-E-S:
The work ain’t hard and the boss ain’t mean, the money’s good and believe me it’s green.
From different potatoes, to tons of apples. There’s ponds, tractors and even a barn. Frogs and rabbits, that mean no harm It’s all right here, down on the farm. I’ve seen it all, down on the farm. Being from the city, it’s all new to me, Learning, earning, having fun. camping, fishing, there’s hunting too. Meeting new friends, we work as one. A lot of things I never knew how to do. The air is fresh, the wind is calm. That’s how it is, down on the farm.
I have to say, “it has been a charm,” I’m enjoying myself, down on the farm.
Burdened Lonely Unsafe Embarrassed Self-loathing This is my take on the emotional symphony that is homelessness, as expressed by artists past and present. I am a survivor of the experience and can relate well to the frequent painful lows. But as you will discover, there are joyful rhythms and uplifting sounds even in painful circumstances — if we just allow ourselves to listen. These are the blues about folks with little and everything to lose.
Barriers A Little Story By Clarence P. Williams, Vendor/Artist By Charlton Battle, Vendor/Artist The barriers I face are inadequate housing, depression and not being financially independent. The housing issue is particularly depressing. I feel depressed when I realize I've worked for more than 17 years, even though my father left me everything in his namesake so I would be financially secure for the rest of my life. I think a lot about my father and how much I want to carry out his last wishes so his name can live on in the manner it deserves. I even named my third son after him. My greatest hope is that I can leave my children and my grandchildren the future my dad left me, because I've never gotten to enjoy the lifestyle my father intended.
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could’ve done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got very angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Som e b od y, wh e n Nob od y d id wh at Anybody could have done
• We begin with “Mr. Blues” by Hank Crawford, because when you start this journey it is empowered with hope, energy and wind in your sails. • “Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles, is pretty self-explanatory. • “Poor Boy Blues” by King Curtis & Captain Jack Dupree is the reality check. • “Fool's Gold” by Lizz Wright tells us that I could blame someone else, but that I had a role in this. • “Better Not Look Down” by BB King and featuring The Crusaders with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a reminder to keep your head up, eyes on the prize and persevere. Now to interject the homegrown D.C. medley: a modest tribute of blues music relative to D.C. artists and my own D.C. homeless experience. • “Rocks In My Bed” by Dick Morgan Trio, a D.C. jazz icon. • “All Blues” by Tim Eyermann and the East Coast Offering, another popular local group of jazzmen. • “Blue Collar” by Gil Scott-Heron, D.C.'s Poet Laureate. The lyrics speak for themselves. • “I've Got It Bad and That Ain't Good” by Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. If you don’t know these two, put down the paper and start googling! (Hint: Ellington is D.C. born!) • “24th Street Blues” by Lee Ritenour because during my early days in the street, I woke up facing 24th Street NW every morning. And for the final cadence:
Somebody Tell Me Why By Gerald Anderson, Vendor/Artist Somebody tell me: Why would they take a halfway house and put it in a hood? I know it might have been brought up before And I ain’t here to change nothin’ But I experienced bein’ in this halfway house And I say to myself Why would someone put this halfway house in the hood, When you’re tryin’ to help these guys get their life better? Goin’ out to get their meals, seein’ guys in fancy cars, sellin’ drugs. Fancy women tryin’ to get dates create temptation. The only thing it does to a man is build up steam. It give him negative thought to try his hand again. And start back hustlin’. With all the crime — murders, kids getting killed — I hope one day they move the halfway house to a safer neighborhood. And help the eighth ward community. I know. I been there. How can it be brought to the light? My book, “Still Standing: How an Ex-Con Found Salvation in the Floodwaters of Katrina,” is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle form.
• “You Don't See Me” by Al Jarreau, because you — for reasons I can't fathom and you won't face — don't. • “Sleeping On The Sidewalk” by Hank Crawford, a reminder of what you can find in every quadrant of this city, the hub of the capitalist free world. It’s become a national symbol of embarrassment! • “Blues for the Homeless” by Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters — need I say more? I will. It was the discovery of this tune, one night while "resting" in Reagan Airport, that actually gave me the idea to compile this list. Earl is really a brilliant, yet unsung, guitarist. • “We Got By” from Al Jarreau, because ‘poor in pocket doesn’t have to mean poor in spirit.’ • “Don't Let It Get You Down” by The Crusaders, because ‘you don't give in, if you aim to win!’ • “Never Be The Same” by Ronnie Laws, because after a street life experience — and hopefully hearing these tunes — your perspective will be forever changed for the better. • “Night Breeze” by Bobby Lyle, for a cool transition back to your reality. Thank you for this opportunity to share a bit of my lifestyle with you. Please remember that homeless people, though blue, don’t need your pity. They need your empathy and aid. *Speaking of hats (and aid), I recently passed my first $1000 fundraising milestone to jumpstart my hat business, “Brims,” on gofundme.com/kenmartin
Visit StreetSense.org to listen to Ken’s playlist, including two exclusive bonus tracks.
COMICS & GAMES
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1. Neil doesn’t have exactly 809 Twitter followers. 2. Margie has 10 more Facebook friends than the one with 707 Twitter followers. 790 3. Sheri doesn’t have exactly 654 Twitter followers. 809 4. Neil is either the person with 170 Facebook friends or the one with 160 Facebook friends. 50 5. The person with 70 LinkedIn connections has fewer Facebook friends 57 than the person with 605 Twitter followers. Presented by Puzzle Baron 6. The person with 809 Twitter followers has 10 more Facebook friends than the one with 84 LinkedIn 70 connections. Puzzle ID: R220ME 72 7. Of the one with 170 Facebook friends and Lindsey, one has 707 Twitter followers and the other has 57 LinkedIn connections. 84 For hints, solutions and more puzzles, go to our website: 8. Heidi has 30 more www.Printable-Puzzles.com Facebook friends than the one with 707 Twitter followers. 85 9. Of the person with 130 Facebook friends and the person with 72 LinkedIn connections, one is Lindsey and the other is Sheri. 10. Margie has 10 fewer Facebook friends than the one with 72 LinkedIn connections. 11. Inez is either the one with 589 Twitter followers or the one with 809 Twitter followers. 12. T h e o n e w i t h 5 0 Facebook Names LinkedIn Twitter LinkedIn connections 130 has 10 more Facebook 140 Presented by Puzzle Baron friends than the 150 person with 707 Puzzle ID: R220ME Twitter followers. 160 707
4x6 Logic Puzzle
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STREET SENSE August 10 - 23, 2016
15
COMMUNITY SERVICES Housing/Shelter
Food
Clothing
Showers
Outreach
Medical/Healthcare
Transportation
Laundry
Education
Employment Assistance
Legal Assistance
Academy of Hope Public Charter School: 269-6623 | 601 Edgewood St, NE aohdc.org Bread for the City: 265-2400 (NW) | 561-8587 (SE) 1525 7th St, NW | 1640 Good Hope Rd, SE breadforthecity.org Calvary Women’s Services: 678-2341 1217 Good Hope Road, SE calvaryservices.org
Community of Hope: 232-7356 communityofhopedc.org
Jobs Have Priority: 544-9128 425 Snd St, NW jobshavepriority.org
Covenant House Washington: 610-9600 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE covenanthousedc.org
Martha’s Table: 328-6608 2114 14th St, NW marthastable.org
D.C. Coalition for the Homeless: 347-8870 1234 Massachusetts Ave, NW dccfh.org
Miriam’s Kitchen: 452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave, NW miriamskitchen.org
Samaritan Ministry: 1516 Hamilton Street NW | 722-2280 1345 U Street SE | 889-7702 samaritanministry.org
Sasha Bruce Youthwork: 675-9340 741 8th St, SE sashabruce.org
So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 O St, NW | 797-8806 some.org
Catholic Charities: 772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Central Union Mission: 745-7118 65 Massachusetts Avenue, NW missiondc.org
Charlie’s Place: 232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave, NW charliesplacedc.org Christ House: 328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd, NW christhouse.org Church of the Pilgrims: 387-6612 2201 P St, NW churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach food (1 - 1:30 on Sundays only) Community Family Life Services: 347-0511 | 305 E St, NW cflsdc.org
Father McKenna Center: 842-1112 19 Eye St, NW fathermckennacenter.org
My Sister’s Place: 529-5991 (24-hour hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
Food and Friends: 269-2277 219 Riggs Rd, NE foodandfriends.org (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc)
N Street Village: 939-2060 1333 N Street, NW nstreetvillage.org
Foundry Methodist Church: 332-4010 1500 16th St, NW foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities ID (FRIDAY 9-12 ONLY)
Friendship Place: 364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave, NW friendshipplace.org Georgetown Ministry Center: 338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave, NW georgetownministrycenter.org
The Message
Open Door Shelter: 639-8093 425 2nd St, NW newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html
Patricia Handy Place for Women: 810 5th Street, NW, NW Samaritan Inns: 667-8831 2523 14th St, NW samaritaninns.org
Sol’s Solutions
By Leonard C. Hyater, Vendor/Artist I would like to send a message to young people here in the community. The first thing I want to say is stay in school, listen to your parents and make the right choice in life. When you make the wrong decision in life, there are consequences. I have been to prison and I have seen things that will make you sick in your stomach: killing, rape and more. Once you’re in prison, you’re in servitude. I have seen some of these young
New York Ave Shelter: 832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave, NE
people, ages 15- 24 years, in these gangs in the system. They catch thirty to forty year sentences and are not given a chance to rebuild themselves. Is that the life you want to live? I know what I am talking about, I have been there. However, I now have a second chance in life and that is why I am writing this. I want this positive message to reach those who are about to make the wrong decision: prison is not the place for you.
St. Luke’s Mission Center: 333-4949 3655 Calvert St. NW stlukesmissioncenter.org
Thrive DC: 737-9311 1525 Newton St, NW thrivedc.org Unity Health Care: 745-4300 3020 14th St, NW unityhealthcare.org
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St NW | 328-5500 legalclinic.org The Welcome Table: 347-2635 1317 G St, NW epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St, NW | 745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave, SE | 797-3567 whitman-walker.org
VENDOR PROFILE: SOL HICKS By Anna Riley, anna.riley@streetsense.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOL HICKS
Salodius Hicks, more commonly known as Sol, can be seen walking around the Church of the Epiphany chatting with staff members and guests almost any day of the week. He is a member of the church and volunteers often with cleaning, youth groups and other projects. He is also a vendor for Street Sense, which rents office space upstairs in the back of the church’s administrative building. Unlike most, Sol didn’t come to Street Sense to sell papers and make money; he came to learn. “I think that idle time is wasted time, knowledge-wise. I’m never too old to learn anything,” Hicks said. “I came to Street Sense and went to all the different workshops to see what I could contribute and what I could benefit from.” After growing up in Connecticut, graduating from Springfield College, and serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years, Sol continued to try many different things. He worked for the school system and U.S. Airlines, he opened a residential and commercial painting business, and he started a family. His daughter, 29, and
his two grandchildren, 6 and 8, are his “pride and joy.” In 2012, Sol found himself out of a place to stay for about nine months. He chose the street over shelters and stayed under an overhang at McPherson Square. “I worked during the whole thing because I’m a veteran, so we had a lot of things offered to us,” Hicks said of the time he was homeless. “But, I didn’t want to go to the shelters because there are too many problems in the shelters and they’re not clean, especially for men.” He turned to his faith for hope during that time. “I just adjusted. I’m very faith-based, so I put a lot of faith in God — that he would get me out of the situation,” he said. Sol has a passion for making change. In college, while studying community development, he drempt of opening learning centers for underprivileged youth. Hicks envisioned a place where youth could learn about computers, get tutoring, play games and more. He says centers like this do exist now, even though he had the idea decades ago. “My mother said I should’ve put [the idea] on a piece of paper. I’d be a rich man right now,” he laughed. That past dream has transformed into Sol’s current desire to educate people about important issues like homelessness, which is why he loves working at Street Sense. “The paper itself, I think they’re doing the right thing to educate people on these issues, because if it wasn’t for the paper, a lot would not be known,” he said. Currently living in Capitol Hill, working at Capitol Remodeling and volunteering regularly at the church, Sol hopes to soon get a job as a peer support specialist for the Veterans Affairs medical center, so he can help other veterans transition back into society. “I just like people,” he said before heading home from the interview to prepare for the next morning, volunteering at the church bright and early.
Reverend Elizabeth Gardner, Sol Hicks and Reverend Catriona Laing. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOL HICKS
BEHIND THE SCENES: ONE SPECIAL WOMAN By Sol Hicks, Vendor/Artist
I would like to dedicate this segment to give a special thanks to a wonderful person, priest, and friend — Reverend Elizabeth Gardner — as she begins a new journey at the Washington National Cathedral. In the past year, Reverend Elizabeth has given this place, The Church of The Epiphany, a new direction and purpose. Her warmth, kindness, and love for the people will be remembered for years to come. She had a great influence on me and this parish that will be sorely missed. In the first installment of “Behind the Scenes,” I promised that this second part would discuss the great work done by the women of Epiphany that I identified in part one. However, I felt that the sudden departure
of Reverend Elizabeth merited honoring her legacy at Epiphany now. I apologize for the delay and will resume discussing the other women of Epiphany in the next edition. From the Book of Common Prayer: grant you your heart’s desire and prosper all your plans (Psalm 20:4) Peace be with you always, Sol Hicks Street Sense thanks Reverend Elizabeth for all she has done to support, accommodate and grow our organization during her time with The Church of the Epiphany.
August 10 - 23, 2016 • Volume 13 • Issue 20
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Gwynette Smith 8/09 | Greg Evans 8/12 Robert Williams 8/22