09 29 2010 by Street Sense Media

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September 29 - October 12, 2010

Where the poor and homeless September 29 - October 12, 2010

earn and give their two cents Volume 7 Issue 24

What Will Gray Do?

D STE GE ON G I S U N AT DO

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

Golf Tournament Benefits the Homeless Page 6

Exploring the Intersection between Domestic Violence and Homelessness Page 14

See Page 4

Ivory Wilson Pens the Second Installment of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Galaxy Baseballâ&#x20AC;? Page 13

September 29 - October 12, 2010

Our Mission

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

Do you want to continue to support Street Sense throughout the year? Order a subscription today! Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area.

___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________ Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ City:____________State:__________ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ________________________ E-mail: ________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense. Mail to: Street Sense, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

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 28 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 corps of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network. For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization. In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a full-time 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 brought on its first full-time editor– in–chief in April. As of January 2010 the paper had 72 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

Vendor Code of Conduct 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 “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers. 4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense. 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. 6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper. 7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors. 9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers. 10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org

We are proud members of:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Estrada Ted Henson North American Brad Scriber Michael Stoops Street Newspaper Manas Mohaptra Sommer Mathis Association Kristal DeKleer Robin Heller Jeffery McNeil Jordan Rummel John Snellgrove Dameon Philpotts Martin Walker EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abby Strunk EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Mary Otto International MANAGING EDITOR Network of Lisa V. Gillespie Street Papers COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER Amy Vokes INTERNS Jennifer Steadman, Hayley Burgess, Sam Giffin, Shadaye Hunnicutt, Cynthia Ribas-Santos, Kimberly Kroll Founders Ted Henson & Laura Thompson Osuri VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Bobby Corrigan, Brett Topping, Elia Herman, Elsie Oldaker, Holly Caesar, Jane Goforth, Jesse Smith, Joy Hopkins, Julia Sanders, Maggie Smith, Mandy Toomey, Margaret Chapman, Mike Plunkett, Parisa Gropper, Rachael Petterson, Rachel Estabrook, Rhonda Brown, Robert Fulton, Roberta Haber, Sarah Ficenec, Sharon King, Tim Mazzucca, Tracie Ching, Trisha Knisely, Vicki Ann Lancaster, Mehreen Rasheed, Marian Wiseman, Ellen Gilmer

VENDORS Charles Armstrong, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, Cyril Belk, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Andre Brinson, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Virginia Clegg, Aaron Conner, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, Charles Davis, James Davis, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon-El, Roger Dove, Charles Eatmon, Deanna Elder, Richard Embden, James Featherson, Craig Fleming, Samuel Fullwood, Roger Garner, David Ger, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Phillip Howard, James Hughes, Richard Hutson, Margaret Jenkins, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Alicia Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Hope Lasister, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Jonnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, John C. Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Franklin Payne, Edward Perry, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Ed Ross, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Ronald Simms, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gwynette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Paul Taylor, Steve Thomas, Larissa Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Christopher Walker, Jeanette Walker, Joseph Walker, Martin Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Gregory Wells, Michael Welsh, Edna Williams, Wendell Williams, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, and Charles Woods, and Tina Wright.

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September 29 - October 12, 2010

Homeless Problems Remain Despite Big Push in San Francisco The San Francisco Chronicle reports that San Francisco has spent more than $1 billion on homeless initiatives since Mayor Gavin Newsom took office. But some in the community question whether the money is actually helping the issue. So far in 2010, the city has spent about $150 million on health care and social services for the estimated 13,500 homeless, and the number of homeless individuals keeps rising. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We constantly hear visitors telling us, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Your city is so beautiful, but we get harassed whenever we go out walking,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? said Joe Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alessandro, head of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, to the San Francisco Chronicle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quite frankly, we hear it from the locals as well.â&#x20AC;? However, advocates told the Chronicle the problem may stem from the fact that street-level services have been cut in recent years, despite demand growing due to the recession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the onset of the recession, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen a tripling in the number of families and a 50 percent increase in single adults seeking shelter,â&#x20AC;? said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition

on Homelessness.

Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Homeless Youth Are Targets of Crime Nearly 75 percent of homeless youth in Toronto, Canada, say that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been the victim of a crime while living on the streets, the Canadian Broadcasting Centre reports. According to a new survey, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Surviving Crime and Violence,â&#x20AC;? most criminal cases involve property, while almost 66 percent of those surveyed said they have been the victim of a violent crime at least once. More than 75 percent of those surveyed said they had been victimized in the past year; the report uses data from 2009. Homeless youth who are 16 or 17 were more vulnerable than those over 20. The report interviewed 244 homeless people, ages 16 to 25.

Korean Homeless Team Wins Award The South Korean team won the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Newcomerâ&#x20AC;? award at the 2010 homeless World Cup soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro, the Korea Herald reports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They won this award because they personified the true meaning of the tourna-

ment,â&#x20AC;? said Jin Moo-doo, sales director of The Big Issue, the magazine that organized the team. The magazine sent six homeless newspaper vendors of their paper to Brazil to compete in the four-man tournament. The homeless athletes trained for three months, most without proper footwear due to a lack of sponsors. The Korean team came in 43rd at the tournament, which featured 64 nations.

Homeless Texas Teen Given Free Ride, Ticket to UT Football Game A homeless Houston high school student was given a free ticket to the University of Texas football game against UCLA, KVUEHouston News reports. The student, Reva Menson and her family are homeless and have been living in shelters across the area. Despite that, Menson is among the top 15 students in her class, hoping to one day become a Texas Longhorn. Each day, she travels two hours to get from her high school and back. Mensonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to her future was what inspired the UT alumni chapter of Houston to provide the game-day experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When teenagers are thinking of all the reasons not to come to class, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thinking of the reasons to come to class,â&#x20AC;? said

Baltimore Voucher Program for Chronically Homeless Loses Funding The Baltimore Sun reports that money for a voucher program that pays rent for formerly homeless residents, about 400 of them, has dried up. While those who are already enrolled in the Housing Choice Voucher program will continue to receive assistance, the program is now closed to any new applicants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re assisting more households than we ever have. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re maxed out,â&#x20AC;? said Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano. The plan was supposed to provide 500 housing vouchers over 10 years, but Graziano says he is unsure when the program will receive the funding necessary to meet that goal. Compiled by Dianna Heitz

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September 29 - October 12, 2010

Will Gray Bring a New Era?

Vince Gray rallies supporters on the campaign trail shortly before win.

By Kimberly Kroll, editorial intern On his way to a decisive Democratic primary victory over District Mayor Adrian Fenty, City Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray did not forget to make a campaign visit to a group of homeless people gathered in Franklin Square Park. For some of the city’s homeless people and their advocates, a sense of bitterness lingers on that patch of urban land. They have not forgotten the shelter once housed in the historic Franklin School that overlooks the park. Amid protests and marches, Fenty closed Franklin School Shelter in 2008. Reaction to Fenty’s decision, to close the shelter as part of a larger plan to reform the city’s troubled homeless services program, mirrored in some ways feelings about the mayor’s approach to other ambitious reforms, such as tackling the city’s underperforming school system. Some of the men who stayed at Frank-

lin School joined the ranks of over 1,000 homeless people now housed in apartments through Fenty’s Housing First permanent supportive housing initiative, but others were not so lucky. They were moved to larger shelters, farther from the heart of the city and vital services. So Fenty’s initiative succeeded in helping some homeless men who stayed at the shelter, it sowed mistrust among others who felt confused. Neil Donovan, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless said the lack of communication ended up alienating some of the very people Fenty was trying to help. “His tragic flaw was that he failed to involve and communicate with homeless individuals about those changes, leaving homeless individuals to make their own decisions about why he was unable to follow through on his promises,” said Donovan. To make matters worse, Fenty’s intentions to help the homeless were also hampered by a

failing economy and a reduction in federal funds to be used for homeless issues. The people gathered in Franklin Square Park to meet Gray on that August day said they hoped for change from Gray and more understanding. “We are a unique population,” said one woman, “and we need something to suit our needs.” Whether Gray will be able to deliver such crucial relief remains to be seen. If he is elected mayor in November, as expected, he will inherit a growing homeless population, the financial constraints that dogged Fenty, and the roiling complexities and political pressures of serving the homeless. Emblematic of challenges he will face as Mayor are the struggles, intrigue and funding shortages that haunt planning for the district’s 2010-2011 winter plan for the homeless that city officials are currently

Continue on Page 5

PHOTOs Courtesy of Campaign for Vince Gray

New mayor will confront old challenges in serving homeless

S treetS ense.org But advocates continue to worry about the adequacy of such arrangements. Ward 6 City Councilmember Tommy seeking to finalize. Wells, who chairs the human services comThe annual homeless count, conducted mittee, ls is convinced there will be a problast January, found 6,529 homeless people lem keeping the homeless safe this winter. in the District, a five percent increase over Homeless advocate Scott McNeilly, staff 2009. In spite of the successes of Housing attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for First in moving homeless people to apart- the Homeless, is also concerned. “We have ments, city officials say they expect to need to find a backup plan.” more beds this winter than they did last McNeilly wants to see a new building to winter. Complicating the task of providing replace LaCasa. And he questions the wisthose beds is the fact that the La Casa shel- dom of placing more families at DC Genter, which has housed 72 emergency beds eral. “There is a 75 unit building in Ward 4 and 75 hypothermia beds, will be closing that is ready to go.” this winter to make way for a new residenWells blamed political opposition for tial development in the gentrifying Colum- keeping the Ward 4 building unavailable to bia Heights neighborhood in Northwest needy families. Washington. Laura Green Zeilinger, deputy director Another challenge is finding emergency for program operations at DHS denied the shelter space for families. Last winter, up to existence of such a building. 200 families were crowded into a space at “There is not a building in W4 that is DC General Hospital intended for 135. And available to be used as family housing,” she needs have steadily increased since then. responded to Street Sense in an email. Between April and June, 517 families have Meanwhile, the winter is approaching. applied for shelter. Gray’s long experience in human serAt a recent meeting on the winter plan, vices may be a help, some observers say. department of human services officials said During the early 1990s, he headed the city’s that in anticipation of cold weather needs, sprawling Department of Human Services, they intend to move 100 families into hous- overseeing services for the homeless, foster ing and create space for 100 more at the children, people living with AIDS, and juhospital. venile INSP A4 Landscape Black EN.pdf 1 08/09/2010 09:43justice. Gray closed down blighted

Continued from page 4

September 29 - October 12, 2010

We have to find a backup plan.

-Scott McNeilly, staff attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless “welfare hotels” used to house families for extended periods and increasing staffing levels for social workers overseeing child welfare cases. He also eliminated about 500 shelter beds and reduced spending on homeless services by at least $10 million, according to a Washington Post assessment of his term overseeing the department. Overall, Grays tenure of head of DHS received mixed reviews. Some have given Gray high marks for tackling deeply-entrenched problems at the department, while others have said he failed to effect a badly- needed transformation there. When all is said and done, Tommy Wells said he does not see major differences between the way homeless issues will be handled under presumptive mayor Gray. The councilman believes in the importance of continuing the Housing First Program under Gray. The $19.2 million-program, which started out as a new initiative under Fenty has a goal to provide 2500 placements by 2014. But financial pressures will be a continuing reality.

The D.C. Council under Chairman Gray passed legislation to cut the District’s budget by $130.7 million in November 2008 due to the economic crisis. Now Gray is on the other side of that decision, and will soon have to run the city, and homeless programs, with the tight budget he helped impose. To keep the Housing First program afloat “will require an investment by the District to continue paying the rents on the apartments for about 1000 people now,” Wells said. Although the city has absorbed a large amount of that funding already, Gray must maintain a commitment to local funding, Wells stressed. “The Housing First Program is something I have protected the funding for,” said Wells. “Even though we’ve made cuts, we’ve continued to fund the Housing First Program, so that is something I want to continue to support and grow.”

The future is in your hands C

CMY

Every day, 114 street papers like this one help homeless people worldwide to escape poverty. So far, thanks to millions of readers like you, 200,000 vendors in 40 countries have earned a living and changed their lives. Learn more and get involved www.street-papers.org/2010

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September 29 - October 12, 2010

Hitting the Green for Homelessness Golf tournament raises over $30k to benefit needy families By Tim Young, contributing writer On September 20, Capitol Hill Group Ministry hosted its 8th annual charity golf tournament at Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville, Maryland. Even though there were prizes on each hole, such as 2 free flights to anywhere in the continental United States, the real winners were the underprivileged in Washington, DC. “We are here to raise funds to help those in need move out of homelessness and in to better conditions,” said Barfonce Baldwin, Executive Director of the Ministry. “The goal of the event is to not only raise funds for our missions in DC…but also to educate those who are playing today as to the needs of the people…” The tournament has grown significantly since the first one eight years ago. This year alone, the tournament raised over $30,000 from players as well as local business donors such as Constellation Energy. “Over 80 percent of our golfers return to play again each year,” says Baldwin. Such dedication has made the tournament one of the largest fundraising activities CHGM runs each year. Each year, CHGM helps over 3000 individuals, including 100 families who are in need in the Washington, DC area. Every dollar raised from the golf tournament will go to support that work. “I enjoy getting to work with the people every year,” says Rindy O’Brien, CHGM Board Chair. “Each year, we look forward to being able to get more people involved. “ O’Brien, who has been with CHGM since the beginning, has been excited and pleased with the growth of the organization. She described the expansion of the group and its activities as coming from just a couple of

people who wanted to make a difference, to now, a large organization which has had to hire staff to complete its mission of helping those in need on a grander scale. “The best part of this for me is being able to put my faith into action,” said Baldwin. “There is no greater joy than helping serve the underserved.” O’brien also shares the same sentiment.

The goal of the event is not only to raise funds for our missions in D.C. but to educate those who are playing today about the needs of people. -Barfonce Baldwin, excecutive director of Capitol Hill Group Ministry

Capitol Hill Group Ministry, which has been serving the community since 1967, describes itself as a coalition of congregations and concerned individuals. Its offices are now based not only on the Hill, but around the District because of expansion throughout the years. Their outreach Members of local ministry ‘putt’ for $30,000 in programs include, but are not limited to a annual Golfing Tournament fundraising event in congregation based shelter project, family Davidsonille, Maryland. and social services, and housing advocacy. They also provide crisis resources such as members [in order to raise funds for those food programs and a shelter hotline in order to assure that the families in the greater in need],” said O’Brien. With the success of the golf tournament, Washington area are provided basic needs CHGM shows no sign of stopping its posiin order to maintain a healthy life. The golf tournament is the largest of the tive service to those who are in need in the fundraisers that CHGM holds each year. Washington, DC community. Other activities include donation drives as well as a party at Nationals Park. “We try to hold events which interest all of our

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September 29 - October 12, 2010

Creating Income and Security Program sets out to help people and the enviroment By Kristin Palitza, INSP Mandla, 61, and Nqevu, 63, are part of an urban green renewal project, which was launched in April in their community, Samora Machel, a section of Philippi township, about 30 kilometers outside of Cape Town. The project is run by non-governmental organization (NGO) Green Communities and promotes social upliftment through sustainable green living environments in low-income housing settlements. Although it will probably take at least a year for the project to reach its full economic potential, Mandla, a grandmother and caregiver of three, says she has already benefited from her membership: “My life is easier than before. I have learned how to garden and now also have my own food garden behind my house. My family eats more vegetables now, not only starch.” The women, who, aside from gardening, also make money from tailoring, beadwork and recycling, say that since the project started they have more money in their pockets at the end of each month. “For the first time, I can afford to buy electricity. Before, I never had it,” noted Nqevu. Under the motto “a healthy environment - a healthy community”, Green Communities has developed projects that the NGO claims have significant benefits for both the environment and communities, including climate change mitigation, beautifying the area, enhancing people’s health, providing food and ultimately improving income opportunities for residents. “We believe that social development and environmental living have to go hand in hand to be effective. Social efforts are not sustainable without environmental elements,” says Green Communities founder Beth McKellar-Bassett. “If both are combined, we see an immediate impact on people’s wellbeing, safety and crime [reduction].” The kinds of projects that were eventually launched in Samora Machel were up to

community members, however. The NGO organized numerous meetings in the beginning of the year where residents could discuss what their biggest needs were and what initiatives they would like to pursue. “The two main things people said they wanted were income and food security,” McKellar-Bassett recalls, adding that “you have to ask the community what they want, otherwise [even] the best idea will fail.” Shortly thereafter, Green Communities and a group of 35 residents started an urban agriculture project. They grow various organic vegetables, like spinach, lettuce, spring onions and beetroot, in netted food tunnels. The harvest will be sold to upmarket restaurants in Cape Town that are willing to pay a good price for high-quality produce. “If the veggie tunnels are well managed, they will make us between R200,000 ($26,500) and R300,000 ($41,500) profit a year,” said McKellar-Bassett. Some of the earnings will be ploughed back into the program, while the rest will be shared equally between the members of the project. Green Communities is also about to launch a recycling and waste management swap shop in Samora Machel, where residents can exchange glass, plastics and paper for general household items and clothing. In addition, the NGO will run two six-week waste management courses for a total of 60 people. The newly learned skills will be turned into jobs at Waste Plan, the largest on-site waste management company in South Africa’s Western Cape province, which has promised to employ everyone who successfully finishes the course. “We hope this will help to kick-start job creation in the community,” says McKellar-Bassett. To green the area and increase the quality of residents’ lives, the NGO has also been planting indigenous trees and plants in all high schools, primary schools and early childhood development centers in Samora Machel. Moreover, the children learn how to grow Spekboom, the Afrikaans name for

We believe that social development and enviromental living have to go hand-in-hand to be effective. -Beth McKellar-Bassett, Green Communities founder

Frances Mandla is visibly filled with pride. Together with her colleague, Nouniform Nqevu, she stands tall and smiling in front of a wide bed of lush spinach. The harvest will be their ticket to a better life. A life where there is enough money to buy food, clothes and pay school fees.

Social efforts are not sustainable without enviromental elements. We hope this will help to kick-start job creation in the community.

-McKellar-Bassett

Portulacaria afra, a succulent tree known for its enormous carbon-storing capabilities. The NGO also helps communities to establish parks, home gardens and food gardens as well as organic composting and worm farms. To make all these urban green renewal projects sustainable, Green Communities works in close cooperation with several municipal departments, including social development, economic development, housing and city parks. Cindy Jacobs, program manager for sustainable livelihoods and greening at the City of Cape Town’s environmental resource management department, says these partnerships are crucial to make the projects sustainable: “It’s about doing things differently, about working together instead of in silos.” Jacobs’ department mainly assists the Samora Machel project with environmental education for school children and community groups. “By teaching residents about biodiversity, water, waste and energy, we build a foundation. They understand the importance of environmental issues and are keen to get involved,” explains Jacobs. Researcher Mercy Brown-Luthango from the African Centre for Cities, an urban research program at the University of Cape

Town, believes close cooperation between municipalities, NGOs and communities is an important new trend for urban greening and social upliftment initiatives. Community consultation is one of the key aspects to create sustainability. BrownLuthango said, “Pulling off urban renewal projects takes a lot of time and investment. Low-income communities can’t do it on their own, but they certainly have a lot of assets and skills that they can contribute.” The ultimate goal is to have communities drive their own urban green renewal projects, with support from NGOs and municipalities. The next couple of years will show if the Samora Machel project will manage to bring sustainable, long-term change to the community. This will largely depend on the team’s ability to create a well-oiled supply and demand chain for its vegetables. In the past, numerous well-intentioned urban agriculture projects have failed, largely because farmers did not have access to markets in central areas to sell their fresh produce at a profit. Originally published by Inter Press Service.

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Seotember 29 - October 12, 2010

The Art of Gaman: Bearing The Unbe By Cynthia Ribas-Santos, intern

Himeko Fukuhara, Kazuko Matsumoto, Interned at Amache, Colorado, and Gila River, Arizona, Bird and animal pins, Scrap wood, paint, metal, Collection of Jewel Nishi Okawachi and James Yasutome, Collections of the National Japanese American Historical Society and the Japanese America Citizens League, San Francisco Chapter, From “Art of Gaman” by Delphine Hirasuna, ©2005, Ten Speed. Terry Heffernan photo.

Marilyn Kurata’s family was held in an internment camp during World War II. Her uncle served in the U.S. Army, yet the rest of her family was seized against their will only because they were Japanese American. Though her family rarely spoke of their internment, Kurata’s curiosity was sparked when she attended a conference on the subject. This curiosity has brought her from Alabama to the Renwick Gallery here in the District to see “The Art of Gaman,” an exhibit of artwork created by those internees. “I’m filled with awe because the artwork displays such craftsmanship, beauty, endurance and perseverance,” Kurata said. “At a time when a lot of people would have collapsed in despair, they had such a clear sense of beauty and appreciation.” The Art of Gaman exhibit now features over 120 objects on loan from former internees or their families. The art pieces range from paintings, woven baskets and wood carvings to swords, furniture, clothing and scissors. All things were functional but also possessed such beauty and intricacy. Materials that most would consider trash had become ingredients to create objects to help internees cope with the situation they were unable to control. Delphine Hirasuna, author of “The Art of Gaman” and guest curator for the exhibit, stumbled upon the idea for the book after finding a wooden bird pin that belonged to her mother. Though her family spent years in an inThey lost everyternment camp, they never thing, and yet they spoke about it. managed to some“They didn’t want to how rise above that burden my generation with what happened to them,” and beautify their Hirasuna said. “When the surronding. camps closed and people were allowed to return home, they just had to get on with their lives.” Hirasuna pledged to be the voice that her parents hoped for, the voice of gaman. “Gaman by my definition is to bear the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity,” Hirasuna said. “I do want people to think about the conditions in which these items were made and hope they are convinced that this should never happen again, but an important message is the strength of the human spirit.” After wrestling with the idea of writing a book on the subject, she asked her uncles to see if their friends had anything to add to her small collection. Just two weeks later, one of her uncles pulled into the driveway with a car full of artwork. As word got out to the Japa-

nese American community, one by one things would slowly show up at her doorstep. After seeing pictures of the exhibit at a university in Connecticut, Renwick officials decided it was appropriate for their gallery and was in coherence with their mission statement, said Robyn Kennedy, chief of the Renwick Gallery. The gallery, which is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is located on Pennsylvania Ave, NW, just steps from the White House. “Craft, in its foundation, is functional first. There is a need to make functional objects, but within that there is the desire to make them beautiful and be creative,” Kennedy said. A non-professional artist made almost every object; fisherman and farmers learned how to deal with their internment by beautifying even the simplest of things. Children had functioning train sets and musicians had their instruments, all created by amateur artists who didn’t take up the trade after leaving the camps. “The time in the relocation camps was the only time in their entire lives where they had the leisure to pursue and develop artistic talent,” Kurata said. “That’s what’s so amazing, you see these wonderful works of art and you find out that once they left the camp they never did any artwork again because they had to work so hard to just survive.” This exhibit, which runs until January 30, 2011, shows the power of the human spirit. The Art of Gaman makes tangible the thought of overcoming a difficult situation and turning it into something beautiful. “They lost everything, and yet they managed to somehow rise above that and beautify their surrounding,” Hirasuna said. “There is something to be celebrated there and that’s the larger message that I want people to go away with…what I hope people see in this, is to look at these objects and reflect on them as human beings and individuals” The responses to both the book and the exhibit have been phenomenal, said Hirasuna. She has received letters and phone calls thanking her and her ability to bring this period of time to people’s attention. “There was this wonderful calligraphy in [the exhibit] and it said ‘with pride of blood I will look forward to tomorrow,’” said Kurata. “And that’s what they did, that’s the sense of gaman. You accept what you’re given and you make the best of it.” The Renwick Gallery is located at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. (at 17th Street) Washington, D.C. 20006 and is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free.

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earable With Patience and Dignity Ansel Adams Pool in pleasure park, Manzanar Relocation Center, California, 1943 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Divsion

Artist Unidentified, Interned at Jerome, Arkansas, Model Ship, Wood, scrap metal, wire, thread, paint, screws, nails

Collection of the National Japanese American Historical Society, From

“Art of Gaman” by Delphine Hirasuna

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Seotember 29 - October 12, 2010

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Massage Therapy Elizabeth Bourne, LMT Adams Morgan 202.253.0941 30% off 1st massage with this ad

Place Your Ad Here abby@streetsense.org

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

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

www.foundryumc.org

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Thank you to our August donors who enabled us to build our staff and implement new vendor initiatives, including a Vendor Advisory Team! Aaron D. Coombs Amy Weiss Anne Stauffer Bethany B. Dukes Brandie N. Peters-Williams Brandon Sitzmann Brian and Stephanie Parke Carol E. Robinson Caroline Ramsay Merriam Cheryl L. Fowler

Crystal A. Proctor Deandria Cumberbatch Gordon Witkin Janet M. Robins Jennifer Lynn Johnson Joan M. Darby Lawrence D. Garr Margaret E. Lee Margareta S. Knauff Maria Del Pilar Rey

Molinda L. Smith Pat Barnes Robert J. Davis Roger Blacklow Scott Arnold Shavon J. Smith Steven Hill Suzanne Wnek

A special thanks to our recurring contributors, who make it possible for Street Sense to depend on monthly funds to support important strategic initiatives. Alysha Chadderdon Bill Perkins David Martin-McCormick Heidi Schoenberger-Cobert

Lara Thornely Hall Lauren Lipchak Melani McAlister Michael Mavretic

Robin Goracke Sharyn Meister Valorie Lee

And finally, an extra special thanks to Just Cause, Dickstein Shapiro and Plexus Consulting for providing a major investment of financial resources during August to support the Street Sense mission.

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HOW’S THAT HOPEY CHANGEY WORKIN’

September 29 - October 12, 2010

Laugh, Cry, Dance By Richard Embden, vendor

By Chris Sky Shaw, vendor

How’s that hopey changey feeling working for ya? The mobs are already Chanting their woes So is this how our nation goes? Did Barry really bury our Great stagnant economy? The bubble dot-coms never really floated Our boats So why delete from a sincere guy Even though he eats hot dogs Which The poet tries not to do but why criticize you? Meanwhile the mad hatters and their wild tea party rages on As the contented heartland livestock graze on all the faux news feed Till they too are ground up for next year’s cannon fodder Oh, and it it such damnable insincerity To want to hang on to Our Social SecurityBut wait, back in the days of Job Every “man” (and woman) had the unenviable job to “DIY” without the help of a “socialistic” Welfare check Keeping them ’round Off the fat of the land. How’s the not hopey changey stuff workin’? Not too well.

What would they say, those who think they know me? Had I made the impression I desired, did I let them know what was important of me? Do they miss me or did they come for the food? After the good words are said, will my life be like a comedy or a tragedy? Which is more salient, the growth through struggle or the character flaws? Will they laugh with me or lament? I think they’ll laugh, cry, and dance.

PINE FOREST By David S. Johnson, vendor There is a place in a land far away with many choice hills and mountains that allow you to play. The evergreens lush with beautiful scent, which made time you played worth every cent. The evergreens were mostly the varietal pine. Along the hills with friends that truly were mine. The pines, tall and imposing and very sleek, running through those hills and trees were so very neat. The pines had cones which occasionally dropped. When fires arose, you heard the pop. My friends and I often found ourselves lost. “To hell with it,” we said; there was no great cost. I miss those great pines so very long ago. The memories I have are really all I know.But here in this country, pines can be found --This glorious continent where parks abound!

Seotember 29 - October 12, 2010

Voters: Educate Yourselves! By Jeffery McNeil, vendor The 2010 midterm race is shaping up to be another silly election where people get so mad at the Washington establishment they line up to vote their own futures and jobs away. Americans voted for change two years ago, but they are impatient. Now they are ready to go in a completely different direction. Many voters today seem fixated on a meaner version of change. I’m talking about the Tea Party candidates. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to vote a politician out of office. Picking candidates has become a choice between bad and worse. Money has polluted the political system and a lot of times, both sides seem corrupt. And at best for years now, most of the efforts of both parties have seemed like exercises in futility. If you ask me, the Republicans haven’t fielded good candidates since Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. The last great president we had was Franklin Roosevelt. And the last truly great piece of legislation that Congress can claim was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The right-wingers have been trying to overturn it ever since. But this is the price we pay for democracy; Americans deserve what they get. How else could we have managed eight years of Bush? This is how silly Americans are: Joe Barton, a Republican congressman from Texas publicly apologizes to British Petroleum (BP) for being shaken down for restitution to Louisianans. But if the Republicans get the majority, Barton is likely to return to his post as chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee. Americans deserve the last decade of losing jobs, bailouts, and corporate greed. These days right wing propaganda comes disguised as entertainment. What started out as colorful conservative viewpoints on Fox News have over time degenerated into open displays of hatred for an American president and outright calls for revolution. It seems like it’s the same cast of characters: Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck to name a few, all using the cynical tactics to rile up the masses. They promise tax cuts and limited government. They demonize illegal immigrants and gay people. Some of these new Republicans are so extreme you think that they would be happy to turn the clock back to the Puritan Age. I guess it’s clear by now I have little faith in American voters. I still cross my fingers that they will at least bother to read a newspaper before they vote.

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Part II

By Ivory Wilson, vendor The local sheriff ’s department dispatcher puts out the call: “Calling Sheriff Park.” Sh e r i f f Pa rk a n s we r s, “G o a h e a d , Bruce.” “Sheriff, what is your location?” “I’m parked across from the ballpark.” “Sheriff, we’ve been getting lots of calls from folks saying they all saw something huge in the sky over the ballpark.” The sheriff pauses in his reply, because he, too, saw it and can’t explain it. Then he answers, “OK, Bruce, I’ll walk on over and check things out.” “OK, sheriff. Out.” Sheriff Park gets out of his car and looks up at the dark night sky, wondering what in the world he saw. Then he sees Matt and his teammates running toward him shouting, “Tim is missing, Sheriff!” The sheriff raises both his hands up and says, “Stop! Hold it, boys. One at a time, OK?” Matt says, “My baby brother, Tim, is missing from his seat, sheriff!” The sheriff asks, “Where are y’all’s uniforms? Why are you boys running around in your T-shirts and shorts?” Matt answers, “That’s what we are try-

ing to tell you. All our equipment is gone, too. My brother disappeared with it.” Then Matt takes his cell phone and calls his mother, Nanette. “Mom! Mom! Where is Dad? Come quick! Tim is missing! Tim is missing!” Nanette asks what happened. Matt replies, “He just disappeared out of his seat. I have his crutches here with me.” That’s impossible, Nanette thinks. Tim can’t get around without his crutches. “Don’t move, we’re on our way,” she says to Matt.” Nanette runs into the living room and says, “Herb, put that beer down and come on. Our son Tim is missing.” Nanette and Herb get in the car and drive to the ballpark. When they get there, Nanette gets out of the car and runs to Matt crying, “Where is my baby boy?” Herb heads over to Sheriff Park and asks him to fill him in on what has happened to his son, Tim. Within the hour, men are on horses and people are walking in the dark with flashlights, looking for the lost boy. The sheriff stops and searches every car, truck and van until the last one leaves the park. The sun comes up and still no Tim.

Only Sheriff Park, the horsemen, Tim’s parents and Matt are at the ballpark. Sheriff Park calls up his dispatcher. Bruce answers, “Go ahead, sheriff.” The sheriff asks if there are still some Dixie cups and vodka on his desk. “Yeah, sheriff. Right where you left it. Do you want me to throw it out?” “No! No! I’m on my way!” Tim is sleeping on Mars, in a large crater surrounded by a volcano and deformed mountains. He awakens into a world of amazement. He cannot believe his eyes when he sees a dark black sky with thousands of spectacular white, green, blue and red swirling lights. The swirling light rays cover Tim with a thin cloud of oxygen and moisture that moves with him as he moves about the surface of the planet. When Tim sees that his braces are off and lying beside him, he quickly puts his hands on his legs. Tim says to himself, “This can’t be true. I really am dreaming.” Then he pinches his leg hard and yells in pain. Tim stands up and turns around to look around the planet. Strange-looking life forms are zipping around and racing across the surface, trying to put on the

baseball uniforms. To Tim, they look like jellyfish with large eyes. It almost seems as if he could see through them. They move toward him but Tim doesn’t feel fear. It doesn’t seem like they mean any harm. They stand all around Tim. Some are wearing their baseball shirts backwards, which makes Tim laugh and think to himself, “That’s not right!” When they come closer Tim picks up his walkie-talkie, turns it on and says into it, “Matt, Matt!” but realizes it’s no use. He drops the walkie-talkie on the ground. Suddenly, the walkie-talkie comes alive with many different voices, saying, “Play ball! You’re out! Strike one! Batter up! He may go all the way!” Tim smiles. He knows they want to learn how to play baseball. They can hear Tim when he talks, but he can only hear them through the walkie-talkie. Tim now looks all around. He has new friends, and one of them is holding his hand. Tim sees a fifteen-foot meteor carved into a perfect sculpture of Dolly Parton for all to see. Tim doesn’t know who she is but just stares at her bosoms, shaking his head and thinking, “Man, oh man!”

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Seotember 29 - October 12, 2010

VENDOR PROFILE-Charles Woods By Mandy Toomey, volunteer When I met Street Sense vendor Charles Woods, he was quick to apologize for his hoarse voice. Charles had been watching the CowboysRedskins game the night before, and he’d sacrificed his voice cheering for the home team. Having played football in high school, Charles now considers himself an avid fan of the sport and particularly of the Redskins. Charles’ wife, Yvette, also enjoys watching football, but her team is the Cowboys. This might have made for a rowdy evening in front of the TV Sunday night if not for the fact that Charles and Yvette were unable to watch the game together. Since 2008, they have been staying in two different shelters each night. Charles met his wife in Maryland six or seven years ago. After Charles lost his job in home improvement, they decided to move to Pennsylvania. When they returned to Washington, D.C., a couple of years ago, the couple was unable to find affordable housing and have been in the shelters ever since. Charles, who started selling Street Sense in 2008, can be found selling papers near Union Station. When asked if he had a message for his readers, he expressed gratitude for their support. “I have many loyal customers over there at Union Station,” he said. One customer even brought him a bicycle.

Needing a helping hand By Veda Simpson, vendor

Charles hopes to have a job within five years with sufficient income to support him and his wife. In the meantime, he finds strength in his passion for football and in his loving wife. He also looks to the Lord for support and goes to church every Sunday. Below is a piece written by Charles talking about his faith. Charles Woods does not write poetry often, but when he does he uses whatever he can to jot his thoughts down. He submitted this poem on mint-green, wrinkled paper torn from a notebook. He says the inspiration was a recent tough time in his life.

Where have I gone wrong? I’ve tried to be your Superwoman and I have tried to be your Superman. I get up and fix your breakfast, your coffee, nice and hot. I clean the house, wash your clothes, take care of your children, fix your dinner, and run your bath water. On the other hand, I get up early and go to work to pay the bills, feed the family, and make sure the children have all they need for school. I fix what’s broken in the house, I cut the grass, and I walk the dog. So, why am I treated like I am? Beaten, abused, misused. All I have to show at the end of the day are bruises, mental as well as physical. Nowadays, domestic violence is not spoken about like it should be. It is a very serious crime that should be punished to the

fullest extent of the law. Domestic violence not only pertains to adult relationships, but also to children. You can report domestic violence and get a protection order at the Domestic Violence Intake Center, located at 500 Indiana Ave N.W. on the 4th floor. There is a satellite office located in room 311 of the United Medical Center (formerly Greater Southeast Community Hospital) 1328 Southern Avenue, S.E.

Repent & Be Saved Heaven is a Real place. And Hell is a Real place. God told me so Himself. Eternity is longer than all our lives put together, think of your life as one grain of sand and eternity is the beach. Hell is much worse than this jail or any lock-up known to humans. I want to spend eternity in Heaven. I know you do, too. So do the Right thing everyday. And hopefully, I’ll see you in Heaven, too.

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day:

acebook : www.facebook.com/streetsense : www.youtube.com/streetsensedc and witter : streetsensedc ...and, as always, ﬁnd us online at www.streetsense.org.

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The District SHELTER

Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep

September 29 - October 12, 2010 women and children, Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm) St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311 www.thrivedc.org Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277 www.foodandfriends.org Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

MEDICAL RESOURCES Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100 www.christhouse.org

John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org

Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300 www.unityhealthcare.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

Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500; www.wwc.org

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 (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Thrive DC (breakfast Mon-Fri, 9:30-11, all welcome/dinner for

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

mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter. org laundry, counseling, psych care Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child/family services Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 (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 Gospel Rescue Ministries drug, alcohol program (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731; www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html emergency travel assistance Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

WVSA Literacy for Life 1100 16th Street, NW (202) 296-9100 www.wvsarts.org GED preparation and work force education

MARYLAND SHELTER Interfaith Works 114 W. Montgomery Avenue Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.iworksmc.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 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 2921 11th Street South 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 Vir-

Shelter Hotline: 1–800– 535–7252

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He helped your country. Now you can help him. Do you know someone who needs help? If they ever served in the military, they could qualify for no-cost health care, housing and employment assistance, and other benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Encourage them to call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visit one of these local VA facilities:

@beckyblanton says: Nothing is more powerful than our stories. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story told in pictures, or story told in words, stories change people. Social media and blogs are how and where we tell our stories. Stories connect us to the world. No matter how rich, how poor, how young, how powerful or how weak, stories change us.

@HomelessGirl1 says: As the online community around me got bigger, as I blogged and tweeted my very innermost secrets, I began to realize that I was not unique in my situation, people were asking me for advice and sharing their stories about living on the outskirts of society, the shame and helplessness they had experienced like me. This changed my perception and understanding about the epidemic of homelessness and it gave me the purpose that I had been looking for.

caramel