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COVER ART Programming is already being held in the mostly volunteerconstructed teen/preteen center the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project has opened at DC General family shelter.

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STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

3

NEWS

Council Votes Against Controversial Private Restrooms for Homeless Families

By Victoria Jones and Alexandra Pamias Editorial Interns On Tuesday November 3, the D.C. Council’s Committee of the Whole passed the Interim Eligibility and Minimum Shelter Standards Amendment Act of 2015.

This amendment to the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 will allow dormstyle shelters to replace DC General family shelter.

In 2005 this law was passed to prevent the mayor from placing homeless families in non-apartment style shelters. Apartment-style shelters have private bathrooms, a private cooking area and separate sleeping areas for adults and children.

At the request of Mayor Bowser, Chairman Phil Mendelson presented a bill, Advancing Year Round Access to Shelter Policy and Prevention of Homelessness Amendment Act of 2015, to reverse this rule.

Councilmember Mary Cheh offered up a modification to the amendment that would continue to require the shelters to include private bathrooms for families.

Cheh stressed the need “to ensure the safety, security, and dignity for the people in these units.”

Cheh refuted the claims that adding private bathrooms would cost more money, saying that the administration did not have proof that this would be the case.

In addition, she argued against the idea that if the shelters are too comfortable for families, they won’t move out. She stated that there is no proven correlation between private bathrooms and an extended time of stay.

Cheh said that families that live in apartment-style units and hotels, both of which have private bathrooms, tend to move out of the system faster. DC General, with its cafeteria and shared bathrooms, has the slowest move out rate, she claimed.

“We have this chance now to provide that aspect that is fundamentally necessary for basic human dignity and humanity. And I think we ought to pass this amendment,” Cheh contended.

Councilmember Elissa Silverman supported Cheh’s amendment to the new bill by emphasizing how important it is to provide families with a sense of control and security.

“Private bathrooms aren’t just about comfort,” Silverman said. “Shared bathrooms means having to choose between sending your 4-year-old to a shared shelter bathroom alone at night or leaving your sleeping baby alone in your room. It means a lack of control over the cleanliness of the space you share.”

During the public hearing, many council members talked about how horrible the

The D.C. Council Committe of the Whole gathers for a public hearing on November 3, 2015.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA PAMIAS

conditions at D.C. General are and the need to close it down. Silverman raised the point that there was no disagreement on closing down the shelter, but that the important question to ask was, “What does a more humane and more dignified emergency shelter look like?”

“I agree with Mayor Bowser that our children deserve better. We should be ashamed of how we have treated them,” Silverman said. “But in the rush to close D.C. General we should not make mistakes that hurt our ability to care for these vulnerable residents.”

A prop delivered to the Wilson Building along with a report by the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. The image was then circulated via social media and worn by advocates at the November 3 vote.

WASHINGTON LEGAL CLINIC FOR THE HOMELESS

Councilmember Yvette Alexander opposed Cheh’s amendment, but urged advocates and council members to come to a compromise.

“Everyone wants it their way or no way,” Alexander said. “We have to stop debating on whether a person receives a bathroom or a kitchen facility. These are shelters and we do want to treat people as humanely as possible.”

Alexander said advocates supporting private bathrooms were implying that the conditions at the new shelters were going

to be as deplorable as the conditions in DC General.

“People are acting like there is not going to be security in these buildings,” Alexander said. “You can’t compare a 300 people facility to a 50 people facility.”

Chairman Phil Mendelson agreed with Alexander that the new facilities would be better than D.C. General. He also made the point that the standards specified in the amendment are meant to be set as a minimum standard and that in some buildings “these standards will undoubtedly be exceeded.”

“While there is this attention to bathrooms, the focus really need to be on services and the exit from the shelter system,” Mendelson said. “The focus needs to be on keeping the stay short” Ultimately, the committee voted against Cheh’s suggested modification to Bill 21-352: four votes in favor and nine votes against it.

“I am very disappointed in the council and the mayor,” said Amber Harding, an attorney with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. “They had a chance to signify to homeless families that they thought they deserved more and that they would ensure that these new facilities met these minimum safety and health standards.”

The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless (WLCH) conducted a survey of what homeless families thought about Mayor Bowser’s proposed changes to this legislative standard. The results were delivered to the Wilson Building on October 26.

Outreach for the survey was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Human Services at nine different shelter sites, including DC General, apartmentstyle shelters, and about 400 families in hotels. Families in domestic violence and community-based shelter units were also contacted to participate in the survey.

The 53 responding families said their

most crucial needs were a private bathroom, food storage space, a place for their kids to do their homework and play, and a computer lab.

Seventy-seven percent of families said it was critical to have a private bathroom and shower even if they were in shelter for less than 3 months. That number rose to 85 percent of families stating that a private bathroom and shower were necessary if you were to stay in a shelter for longer than 1 year.

A mother from one of the families interviewed for the survey was present at Tuesday’s vote. She said in an interview that she never felt that D.C. General was safe for her four children. She expressed her concern over her children having to share a bathroom with a complete stranger.

The mother described an incident when a staff member of D.C. General refused to open the family restroom for her and her children, something that would occur regularly when an individual would lock the restroom by accident.

“They don’t really look at us like humans,” she said.

Her daughter has a medical condition that prevents her from holding her urine.

She said that not having access to a private bathroom was very distressing. The mother also explained how her children would get sick constantly while they lived at D.C. General. “[We were there for] 8 months and the whole time my children were there they kept getting vigorously sick,” she said.

“They had major diarrhea, I mean the runs. It would just come out on the floor.

I don’t know whether it was the food or the conditions.”

The mother claimed to have requested help from the shelter to accommodate these special needs, but never got any assistance.

Many families shared a single family restroom and families using that restroom could never get any peace. Angry people would knock repeatedly on the door trying to rush her.

“When you come out you have all these people that are angry at you because you took more time to bathe your children, but how can you take five-minute baths with four children?” she said.

Not having private bathrooms at a shelter is a huge concern for families facing homelessness. Advocates hope that Mayor Bowser’s administration will create new family shelters above the standards that were passed at the November 3 hearing.

“The mayor still has an opportunity to do more; like they said, it’s a minimum, so they mayor could decide to more but nothing is set,” said Harding.

Libraries Fill The Gap for District Day Programs

By Alexandra Pamias Editorial Intern

Three library patrons utilizing a lounge area at Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA PAMIAS

Public Libraries have historically been places where people can access information and be educated. Patrons can browse and check out books, read in lounge areas and access the Internet.

These community resources have also become one of the most common providers of daytime services for people experiencing homelessness.

An individual can escape harsh weather conditions outside and, for a few hours, experience the warmth and welcome of a sheltered area.

Jean Badalamenti, a social worker with 20 years’ experience, was hired as the first Health and Human Services Coordinator for the D.C. Public Library system just over one year ago. Her job is to support people who use libraries to access services that will help them get back on their feet.

“I think people were always connecting with different opportunities here at the library that we offer, whether it is being on the computer and connecting with family and friends on Facebook or job seeking,” said Badalamenti. “These things were always here.”

By creating Badalamenti’s position, D.C. Public Libraries became the second library system in the country to embrace this role as a haven for the local homeless community. She oversees the entire public library system in the District and is tasked with brainstorming and coordinating the services to offer the libraries’ most vulnerable patrons Two of the main initiatives Badalamenti has focused on are partnering with human services organizations and training staff to be able to serve homeless customers.

“I think there are just more opportunities to get services,” said Badalamenti.

Through her previous position with Miriam’s Kitchen, Badalamenti got to know the patchwork network of nonprofits and government agencies that make up the city’s safety net. District libraries now

partner with Pathways to Housing DC, Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NSLP), and U.S. Vets.

Rachel Preloh, a University of Maryland Grad student who interns with Pathways to Housing DC, goes to Martin Luther King Jr. Library for 20 hours each week to connect with people who need referrals and housing assessments.

“I have some office hours and people can come check in if they’re interested in services,” Preloh said. “But I also spend a lot of time circulating, checking in with people, getting to know people by asking how their day is going and just being a friendly face for them.”

It is important for Preloh to be consistent and not give up on her clients. Pathways believes that building relationships

through face-to-face interactions and daily rapport is the way to reach people.

“We are persistent, in a very compassionate way,” said Hannah Zollman, a spokesperson for Pathways to Housing DC. “It’s about walking around, being that presence.”

Preloh described a particular client that she saw during every visit to MLK library.

Preloh introduced herself and explained the services that Pathways provides, but the woman was not interested.

“She felt like she had been through other services or had traumatic experiences before, so she was very skeptical, I think,” Preloh said. “When we hear that, as outreach workers we still believe that there is a chance to build a rapport.”

Preloh did not give up and she checked in with the woman on a regular basis, the woman mentioned that she had lost her ID and started to express interest in getting her birth certificate, connecting with legal services and seeking employment.

“Part of the reason that we formed this partnership with MLK library was because there was that group of individuals who weren’t being served because they were inside during the day,” Zollman said. “Our goal is not just to manage homelessness, it is to end homelessness.”

Attorneys from NLSP also hold office hours at several libraries in the system.

NLSP provides free legal services to low-income individuals who reside in the District.

“We focus our limited resources on those problems that low-income folks

have that are most destabilizing, most difficult for them to overcome without them having an advocate and which present the biggest barriers to their ability to get on a pathway out of poverty,” said Hannah Lieberman, Executive Director of NLSP. These issues include high-conflict family law, child support, income support and housing problems such as preventing illegal evictions or addressing substandard conditions, according to Lieberman.

“It is always challenging to reach certain groups of people to let them know that our services are available,” said Heather Hodges, Pro Bono Counsel at NLSP. “One of the reasons why we have a partnership with the library is because they have 26 locations across the city and a lot of people come to those branches everyday just to get information about a range of things.”

Many people don’t understand that some of the problems they are experiencing have underpinnings that could be potentially overcome with the help of a lawyer, according to Lieberman.

Like Rachel Preloh’s work at MLK library with Pathways to Housin DC, it is important for each organization that offers services to people in the library to be a constant friendly face. It is a proven method to build trust and understand what each individual needs.

“That is such a critical part of the philosophy of a public library, that we are in fact a place that welcomes everyone,” Badalamenti said.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! — 2nd Annual Life Stories Writing Competition streetsense.org/LifeStories Our vendors share so many of their personal stories. Now we welcome you to share a true story from your life or from the life of someone you know!

Street Sense will be accepting submissions of prose, poetry and creative nonfiction through Friday, December 4th. Please limit your stories to 500 words.

Please e-mail submissions to editor@streetsense.org or mail them to 1317 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 Attn: Writing Competition Although any theme is encouraged, our writers groups often start with prompts. So here are a few ideas to get you going: childhood, holiday, independence, facing fear, anticipation, overcoming, twist of fate, surprise, romance, food, embarrassed…

Submissions will be judged by our Writers’ Group, and the winners published in the December 30th Winter Reading Issue of Street Sense for thousands of Washingtonians to enjoy.

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

5

COVER STORY

D.C. General Teens Not Forgotten, Thanks to Playtime Project

By Olivia Aldridge and Victoria Jones Editorial Interns On October 29, a bright room near the front entrance of DC General Family Homeless Shelter teemed with young children dressed as Spiderman, pint-sized Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Olaf from “Frozen.” Each had chosen from a pile of donated Halloween costumes. Middle and high schoolers danced to “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” with bellies full of pizza. The walls and ceilings were hung with paper pumpkins and ghosts, and volunteers decorated the faces of youth with rhinestones and face paint. This was the fourth event that The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project held in their new Preteen and Teen space at DC General.

A Halloween Night participant dressed as Olaf from the animated film “Frozen.”

PHOTO BY OLIVIA ALDRDIGE

“Being with these kids is the highlight of my week,” said volunteer Mary Hanson, citing the resiliency of children and youth that have endured tough circumstances.

The new center opened with a ribbon cutting on October 21 and aims to give preteens and teens living in DC General a new space to relax, interact, read and do homework. The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project is a nonprofit organization that gives homeless children a place to play.

Present at the ribbon-cutting were Department of Human Services Director Laura Zeilinger and D.C. Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May. Zeilinger spoke about the city’s commitment to serving District residents that are in need of support.

Also present, Marcellis, a current participant in Playtime Project’s Teen Night,

Volunteers working to make a room in DC General family shelter more youth-friendly.

PHOTO BY VICTORIA JONES

expressed his excitement for the new center and the fact that he and his peers finally have a space of their own. Another attendee, Teen Night graduate Chris, called the new space “awesome” and said his Playtime mentor had a dramatic impact on his life.

Playtime Project began serving the youth of DC General in 2009. The organization created a special center for babies and one for young children. But the need for a space that specifically caters to older kids became apparent.

Co-founder and Executive director Jamila Larson described repeatedly asked Former Mayor Gray’s administration for more space for teens at DC General, even offering for Playtime Project to take responsibility for any necessary renovations.

After Mayor Bowser took office, Larson again pleaded her case. “It was really easy this time,” Larson said. “I think, in my opinion, they are more serious about addressing the homeless service crisis.”

Now complete, the new center is a colorfully designed space divided by a wall of open shelves full of books that separates the teens and preteens. The groups are kept close but still given their own areas.

The new center was primarily built by the 245 volunteers who applied to help and give back to children living in the family shelter. Development for the space, which was planned in July, moved far ahead of schedule due to this overwhelming amount of support.

Patrick Issa, a first-time volunteer who was present on one of the construction days, set to work cleaning a bathroom near the entrance of the playground at DC General. It hadn’t been cleaned in years.

Despite this, he was still happy to help.

“There was a need, so we filled the need. Whether it’s the bathroom or what’s going on next-door, there’s a need so you got to fill the need,” said Issa. “That’s how we make everything better. Everyone carries a little bit of weight and it all gets better.”

Lowe’s Home Improvement and The JBG Companies awarded grants that made the project possible. Also, designer Gabe Peyton of DCByGabe volunteered to create and design the preteen and teen center.

This was his first time volunteering for a

project like this, especially of this scale.

“I just like to be of service to people.

It’s the way to be,” said Peyton. “For my work, I do really high-end work, and it just sort of affords me the ability to be able to give back and do things prosperously for the community and for people and to feel really good about it too.”

Playtime Project is privately funded and only utilizes space in DC General, according to Dora Taylor, Public Information Officer for the Department of Human Services. Government staff is not in DC General for Playtime Project, nor is it monitored by the mayor’s office.

Two Teen Night participants and attendees of the Halloween event, both young men, spoke about the importance of the teen program and its new space. They requested that their names be withheld.

“You actually get to meet new people,” one of the young men said of Teen Night.

Teen Night provides a unique opportunity for youth in DC General to socialize due to strict facility rules about guardian supervision. When asked why the young men chose to attend Playtime Project’s optional programs, both said in almost unison that “they actually get to have fun.”

“This is probably the only reason I like being here,” one added.

According to Leah Gage, Playtime Project’s Social Work Intern and Teen Resource Coordinator, it’s not uncommon for preteen and teenaged youth who live in DC General to keep their residence there a secret as these two young men chose to do, because they are aware of the stigma that many people attach to living in a shelter.

“A lot of teens find the hardest thing about living here is hiding it from their friends,” she said.

Playtime Project provides a sense of normalcy to adolescents living in sensitive situations and dealing with social hardships. Its resources nurture the youth living in DC General as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Technology stations are also available to help young people conduct research for school and search for employment opportunities.

A projected movie screen in the center allows the youth to watch and enjoy educational films on Teen Night. Events held in the space will often incorporate

educational elements with social time. At the Halloween event, for example, participants heard a presentation about the dangers of K2 and synthetic marijuana.

A pamphlet about the dangers of synthetic drug use.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA ALDRDIGE

The organization Live2Give has pledged $50,000 in matching funds towards programs in the new Preteen and Teen Space.

They are challenging other Playtime donors to match their gift in order to raise the $100,000 that Playtime Project needs to support DC General youth through 2016.

While DHS plans to close DC General by 2017, according to Dora Taylor, Playtime Project will continue to serve the children in the shelter until the closing.

“In the several years that it’ll still be open, children deserve a decent place to be now. Every night children have homework. Every day children have developmental milestones to work on,” said Jamila Larson.

The Preteen and Teen Space is designed to be mobile, so Playtime Project will be able to relocate the space when the time comes for DC General to close and its families to disperse into the smaller, newer shelters that the city has been preparing for them. This change will require some strategic planning from Playtime Project.

In the meantime, volunteers and staff will continue to foster Playtime Project’s space and programs as a positive force in the lives of homeless youth.

“It feels good to have people investing in DC General,” said Leah Gage.

NEW REPORT: Ending Welfare As We Know It

by Removing Individuals from the Rolls

By Charles McCain Volunteer Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a block grant to states that replaced the federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. This switchover happened in 1996 after the Congress passed reform legislation that promised to “end welfare as we know it.”

AFDC, as welfare had been known prior to TANF, had been a Federal entitlement program. By virtue of being an American citizen, a person in poverty could apply for and receive money from the Federal Government. (In contrast, Social Security and Medicare are not entitlement

programs; only those who pay into those systems receive benefits.)

Welfare reform legislation changed this program from a Federal entitlement to block grants for individual states. When Congress passed the reform measure that created block grants for states, one of its most important requirements was for able-bodied adults to work or demonstrate they were trying to find work.

So that states would have maximum control over the block grants, they were allowed to create their own regulations as to who was entitled to cash assistance and who was not. Whatever state you were living in then created its own regulations.

What were you entitled to if you were desperately poor, had children to feed

CHART COUTESY OF THE CENTER FOR BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES

and had no income? Nothing. You weren’t automatically “entitled” to anything. You received assistance from your individual state if you met their requirements, whatever they happened to be.

The reform legislation specified that a person could receive benefits for a maximum of 60 months during their lifetime, but a state is not required to pay benefits for that long. Is there a minimum number of months? No. It’s up to each state.

Arizona, a state that had provided benefits for a maximum of 24 months, recently passed legislation making 12 months the cut-off. According to the New York Times, Arizona’s new limit of 12 months of TANF assistance will remove 5,000 people from the welfare rolls by June, 2016.

“Policymakers created TANF 19 years ago with a two-pronged approach in mind — that our nation’s cash assistance system would be redesigned to create an expectation of work for able-bodied recipients and that states would maintain a safety net for parents who were unable to work due to a short-term crisis, a work-limiting disability, or a lack of available jobs,” according to the authors of a Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) report titled “TANF Continues to Weaken as a Safety Net.” How well has this worked? Statistically, it has been a great success in reducing welfare rolls by making such assistance difficult to get and by greatly reducing benefits.

The report, released on October 27, says that "...in a growing number of states, this cash safety net barely exists, leaving more families deeply poor and

without the resources they need to meet their most basic needs through either employment or cash assistance.”

According to the report, “In 2014, for every 100 families in poverty, only 23 received cash benefits from TANF. This is down from the 68 families for every 100 in poverty that received cash assistance when TANF was first enacted in 1996. This ratio, which we call the TANF-to-poverty ratio (TPR), has declined nearly every year since 1996 and reached its lowest point in 2014.”

This does not mean that fewer people are poor. It means lots of people are poor and have exhausted their benefits.

Peter Germanis is a welfare expert whose opinions have carried weight among Republicans. He advised President Reagan on welfare issues and subsequently spent time with conservative think tanks in Washington, DC. In July of 2015, according to the New York Times, he issued a white paper on TANF and sent it to every member of Congress as well as other men and women of influence.

Writes Germanis, “This paper is an assessment of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program… It challenges the widespread view that TANF is a successful program and a model for reforming other programs. Indeed, an objective analysis of TANF should lead anyone to conclude that it is an unprecedented failure.

“To the extent that anything I ever wrote contributed to the creation of TANF or any block grant, I am sorry,” he wrote. “As I hope to demonstrate in this paper, a block grant for a safety net program is bad public policy.”

IN THE TRENCHES: Housing a Nation of Homeless Veterans

By Jonas Schau, Editorial Intern

Five years ago a plan to end veteran homeless in the U.S. by the end of 2015 was launched through a collaboration between the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since then, the number of homeless veterans in the U.S. had come down by 33 percent, but there still is work to be done. [W]e’re not going to rest until every veteran who has fought for America has a home in America,” President Barack Obama said in an August 2014 address.

This initiative does not cover all veterans; most VA benefits are only for veterans with “other than dishonorable” discharge conditions. Veterans who exit the armed services with undesirable or bad conduct discharges have a greatly reduced chance of qualifying for disability, employment, home loans and funding for education

through the VA, though they are not barred from applying for them.

"The bad paper makes me feel worse than being a convicted felon" ex-Marine Michael Hartnett told NPR in 2013. Hertnett had been discharged for bad conduct, including drug use. What went unnoticed in his proceedings was a struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. After more than fifteen years and with help from his wife, Hartnett was able to upgrade his discharge and pursue a degree in social work to help other veterans, NPR reported.

Despite these complexities and setbacks, a 33 percent decrease in national veteran homelessness is a trend to build upon.

This September, the VA awarded a total of $300 million in local grants to organizations across the country through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.

In general, Supportive Services grantees typically serve veterans with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income. Grantees must follow the housing first approach to house homeless veterans quickly, without preconditions, and providing supportive services as needed. The program also includes providing permanent housing for low-income veteran families.

“Whether they need rental or child care assistance, transportation vouchers or another type of support, [Supportive Services] grantees offer veterans the mix of services they need to gain housing and stay housed,” Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald has said.

Local advocates for veterans believe it is possible to meet the city’s goal of ending veteran homelessness before 2016. In

August, there were less than 300 known homeless veterans left unhoused in Washington, D.C. With an end in sight, The Way Home campaign challenged members of the D.C. Council by placing a bucket of toy soldiers representing the remaining homeless vets in each council member’s office, planning to return and remove a soldier each time a vet is housed.

The contents of the buckets have not decreased as quickly as planned, but advocates remain positive.

“We’re going to end veteran homelessness in 2015, early 2016 at the latest.”

Jesse Rabinowitz, an organizer of The Way Home Campaign, told Street Sense in a phone interview. “We’ll probably be the first city on the East Coast to end veteran homelessness … that will be a great moment.”

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

7

NEWS

Hawaii, Portland, LA, Seattle Declare State of Emergency Over Homelessness Rupal Ramesh Shah Spare Change News - Boston In October, Hawaii became the third US jurisdiction to declare a state of emergency over homelessness, following similar moves in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon in September.

This unprecedented trend makes it easier for cities and states to allow for more housing and funds, as local governments struggle to combat rising rates of homelessness.

On October 16, the governor of Hawaii signed an emergency proclamation on the state of its homeless population. By signing this document and assigning $1.3 million for this initiative, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to declare an emergency to address homelessness.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hawaii’s population is approximately 1.36 million. Hawaii is a tropical paradise, yet it has the nation’s second highest rate of homelessness after Washington D.C. At a press conference, Governor David Ige declared, “The biggest deficit in the system is shelter space for families.” The governor has put a task force in place.

Moving forward, the task force will only meet on an as-needed basis, but the governor stressed that there won’t be any institutional complacency in dealing with the issue. The governor stated, “It is still a state of emergency in the sense that there are thousands of members in our community that continue to be homeless.”

“Homelessness remains a serious issue in every county throughout the state. We plan to replicate the Kaka’ako model as we work to address homelessness in communities across the state,” said Governer Ige in a press release.

According to Scott Morishige, the state coordinator for homeless residents, Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness per capita of any of the 50 states, at 465 people per 100,000 citizens. Morishige said, “The state has identified a little over $1.3 million that we would like to put immediately out into the community through these various contracts statewide.”

The funding will first be used to expand housing in neighboring islands, and will help to speed up the process of getting individuals and families into permanent housing. Morishige added that funding will also assist with the costs of first month’s rent and security deposits.

“There’s still much work to do. The alarming increase in unsheltered individuals and families over the past two years is particularly significant on O’ahu,” he added.

Los Angeles city council was the first city to declare a state of emergency over

homelessness on 22 September when it announced plans to appropriate $100 million to fund initiatives such as housing subsidies, and to keep the city’s winter shelters open for an extra two months.

In Los Angeles, the number of people living on the streets has steadily increased in recent years. At a press conference, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced plans to release nearly $13 million for short term housing initiatives. He added that the bulk of that money will be dedicated to housing homeless veterans.

Skid Row, located in downtown Los Angeles, has often been coined the homeless capital of the country. Los Angeles city council estimates that approximately 50% of Skid Row’s population lives under the poverty line. For the rest of the country, Skid Row elicits thoughts of trash, tents and shopping carts, but there’s a lot more to it. Against the backdrop of the large skyscrapers of Los Angeles, just a few blocks away, is a neighborhood that is “home” to the homeless. The contrast in the two populations, as well as the two drastically different sets of privileges the two groups enjoy, is striking.

Connie Llanos, spokesperson for the Los Angeles mayor’s office stated, “An estimated 26,000 Angelenos are homeless today, which is why Los Angeles was the first city in the country to declare a state of emergency on homelessness, a distinction that allows the city to address the crisis with urgency and demonstrating the dire nature of this issue.”

She added, “We have already begun to implement impactful changes, including issuing a directive to free up $13 million in city funds that will pay for continuing housing subsidies and keeping winter shelters open an additional two months and we have called for the earmarking of $100 million for homeless services in the city.”

On 23 September, shortly after Los Angeles declared a state of emergency, the mayor of Portland announced a state of emergency for housing and homelessness in the city, setting aside a budget of $30 million.

According to a press release, Mayor Charlie Hales wants more money, more shelters, and more homeless people off the streets. The mayor added that the declaration would allow them to work with city owned buildings to convert them into shelters. He envisions working to house all homeless veterans, women, and those who have mental problems.

Sara Hottman from the Portland mayor’s office said, “Mayor Hales and Chair Kafoury have committed to an investment of $30 million to address housing and

A couple walks past tents on downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row, March 7, 2013.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSON

homelessness.” She further added, “$10 million of that budget will come from the county’s funds and $20 million will come from the city’s funds. The mayor’s office will work with a consortium of groups including A Home for Everyone.”

Hottman stated that the county will support the city’s efforts by implementing A Home for Everyone’s strategic plan, which includes health agencies under Multnomah County’s jurisdiction. She stated that the responsibilities are divided; the city has the housing bureau and is working to find facilities to create shelters and build affordable housing, while the county’s role is to provide human services, since successful housing placement also requires mental health, addiction, and medical services.

Ron Arp from the Portland Rescue Mission stated, “Regarding the emergency declaration, our perspective is that we’re delighted to see additional focus being placed on the challenges surrounding homelessness. It’s a complex societal, economic, and community challenge, Portland is hardly alone, and it’s going to take more people working closely together over many years to ease the homelessness pressures faced by men, women and children.”

Arp further added, “Portland leaders have placed a strong priority on housing over the past decade, so we are particularly appreciative of the expanded focus to include emergency shelter and recovery programs. The latter two are where the nonprofit, Portland Rescue Mission, has focused its energies for the past 65 years.”

Arp mentioned that Portland Rescue Mission is capable of serving more than 350,000 hot, nutritious meals this year.

The organization provides emergency beds and transitional support for about 150 men and women and has the capacity to serve another 150 men, women,

and children through their long term liferestoring programs. Portland Rescue Mission is privately funded by approximately 30,000 donors and hundreds of volunteers.

The actions taken in Portland, Los Angeles and Hawaii to address homelessness reflects the seriousness of what is now a widespread crisis across the U.S. that can no longer be pushed to the sidelines.

Megan Hustings, interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said, “Homelessness has been an emergency for thirty to forty years now. The cost of housing is increasing at a rate that people can’t keep up with.” She added, “The National Coalition for the Homeless appreciates the cities and the states that are taking an initiative to seriously address homelessness.”

However, Hustings stated that the root causes of homelessness need to be identified. She said, “In the short term, the emergency declaration is a reasonable solution. However, long term solutions need to be put in place.”

Courtesy of INSP News Service www.

INSP.ngo / Spare Change News.

As Street Sense went to press, Seattle also declared a civil emergency on November 2 in response to local homelessness, committing $5.3 million additional dollars to prevention and relief.

“Watching mayors up and down the West Coast declare states of emergency for homelessness and housing should be seen as a rallying cry to our federal government for support,” Israel Bayer, the executive director of Portland’s street paper, told Spare Change. “With hundreds of thousands of women, children and elders sleeping outdoors tonight in America, we should be demanding the federal government declare a state of emergency and invest back in decades of lost housing stock and investments.”

D.C. Legends

By Henrieese RobertsVendor/Artist On Halloween Saturday I was so happy to be able to attend a PowerPoint Basics Class at MLK Library here in the District.

Afterwards, I headed down to the Great Hall for the DC Legendary Musicians Concert. My ears enjoyed a warmup jam session rendered by musicians. I stayed briefly. (My living in Annapolis comes with limitations.)

The event’s purpose was to highlight professional D.C. musicians who are preserving as well as innovating the sound of D.C. music, according to the DC Libraries website.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton gave opening remarks.

The beginning of the event enthralled me with the singing of our Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing.” How lucky

we were to have the young new singer Nia Alsop to render to us these precious words.

This anthem was originally a poem written by James Weldon Johnson, principal of Stanton School located in Jacksonville, Florida. It was recited by 500 school children at Stanton on February 12, 1900, as a part of a celebration for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The poem was later set to music by James Weldon Johnson’s brother John.

Before leaving the concert I became wrapped-up with memories. This event was part of the library’s DC Reads 2015 series, which features a different book to read and celebrate at public events each year. This year “All Aunt Hagar’s Children," a collection of stories by local

author Edward P. Jones, is featured.

My mind was swept away to when I heard Jones reading one of the stories in “All Aunt Hagar’s Children” at the Library of Congress a year or so ago. He read “Blindsided,” a short story about a lady becoming blind while riding a bus here in D.C. on 14th Street. I could not believe the lady became blind in moments! I have an eye disease that may allow me to become blind in a moment, too!

I fetched up my memories and came back to the present as I left the celebration. Fun memories of our nation’s capital; I will never forget 14th street!

DC Reads 2015 Events will be going on through November 9. More info at dclibrary.org/dcreads

STREET SENSE SELFIES: McKinney-Vento Awards

By Scott Lovell,Vendor/Artist

I had the honor to be invited to the 17th annual McKinney-Vento Awards, distributed by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

These awards were created to celebrate individuals and organizations that have advanced solutions to the issue of homelessness and poverty today. The name pays tribute to national leaders Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce F. Vento, for which the federal government’s response to homelessness, The McKinney-Vento Act, is also named.

It was also an honor to take a selfie with Emmy-award winning Consumer Investigative Reporter Kimberley Suiters from ABC/WJLA-TV!

PHOTOS BY HENRIEESE ROBERTS

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

9

FEATURES

Honoring Our Veterans

By Eric Thompson-Bey Vendor/Artist Did you know that the United States has been at war for 222 of her 239 years of existence? Starting with the war against the Native Americans in 1776 to the existing war on terror. During these wars a lot of brave men and women lost their lives. They deserve to be honored.

I would like to give a special honor to Don Vitek, former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and homeless veteran, who took the time out of his day to tell me some of his experiences on what it was like training for the Green Beret.

Roughly one in 100 soldiers will win the Green Beret. They have five primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action and counter-terrorism. The Green Berets were formed on June 19, 1952. The Green Berets train and teach forces in other countries to fight their own battles and to win their own wars.

Don did not win the Green Beret, but he told me that the training was designed to eliminate the men who are not quite tough enough. He told me that the hardest part of training was different for each man, because each man will be forced to face and eliminate his own demons and fears. This is how you get the cream of the crop.

There are basic eligibility requirements to be considered for entry into the Green Berets: be a male age 20-30, be a U.S. citizen, be a high school graduate, Airborne qualified, score 240 on the Army physical fitness test, be eligible for a secret security clearance, swim 50 meters wearing boots, and have 20/20 vision in eyes. One year college is preferred, but not mandatory.

Don told me they dismissed him before he got started.

“My attitude was inappropriate at that time for their mission; remember this: you can control exactly one thing -- your own attitude,” said Don. “Pray God for the souls of all our troops.”

He requested that I include “The Ballad of the Green Beret,” written by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore in 1966, with my article:

PHOTO BY CHRISTY ULMET

PERCEPTION OR REALITY: Are You Hearing Me?

By Robert Williams, USMC Vendor/Artist

Fighting soldiers from the sky Fearless men who jump and die Men who mean just what they say The brave men of the Green Beret.

Silver wings upon their chest These are men, America's best One hundred men will test today But only three win the Green Beret.

Trained to live off nature's land Trained in combat, hand-to-hand Men who fight by night and day Courage peak from the Green Berets.

Silver wings upon their chest These are men, America's best One hundred men will test today But only three win the Green Beret.

Back at home a young wife waits Her Green Beret has met his fate He has died for those oppressed Leaving her his last request Put silver wings on my son's chest Make him one of America's best He'll be a man they'll test one day Have him win the Green Beret.

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Lately I question if I am in fact reaching others with my column. I question if anyone has changed their mindset in regards to this homeless epidemic surrounding us.

Not only do we need to end homelessness, I’ve been calling for an end to the manner in which you do or do not interact with this ignored and forgotten community of people. The homeless are all too often made to feel invisible.

Have I not made it clear? No one is exempt from homelessness. I never, never, EVER anticipated it would or could happen to me. But I battled with it in Chicago during the winter season and I battled with it here in D.C. Statistically, most of us are only one missed paycheck—40 to 80 hours—away from homelessness.

If you do not have a lease in your name, technically you are already part of this invisible, ignored and forgotten segment of society. You just aren't outside, yet!

Sadly, even as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I experience the un-appreciativeness of the public for the sacrifices of the military. The total obliviousness to the fact that veterans were asked for help first.

Don't you realize the same way you look at the downtrodden—the lack of respect you have for the homeless—is the same way the government looks down on and disrespects you? Veterans Affairs and other agency’s report that they are taking care of people. But if that were true, we wouldn’t be out here downtrodden or homeless.

Those of you who follow my column, as you open your eyes, please encourage your friends and family to do so as well. Visit StreetSense.org to read previous installments: search my name or this column, “Perception or Reality.” Pay attention to the changing titles, each one carries new meaning. More than anything, give me feedback. I want to find solutions with you, the community, for the epidemic of homelessness. But I don’t even know if I’m being heard.

More people virtually take flight rather than stop and converse with you when you are homeless. Put a smile on your face; no need to frown; but stop allowing the system to make you look like a clown.

Contact via editor@streetsense.org.

COMICS & GAMES

Boosting the Value of a Triple Crown Sire Horse For more than 30 years, the equestrian community of our country has brought horses from all worlds (and distances) to converge at a fabulous race track every year on the cusp of October to November. The Breeder's Cup races have grown from a specialized meet for relatively few entries of the sport of horse racing to the mass festival it now has become-a spectacle equal to the Kentucky Derby and its ilk!

Comes now American Pharoah (misspelled purposely), hero of this year's Triple Crown: The Derby, The Preakness and The Belmont. When this issue hits the street, the Breeder's Cup will have been run. My pre-race and pre-issue prediction: Pharoah and jockey Victor Espinosa prevail at the outrageous odds of 5:1.

Second-place finisher? Impossible to say.

But, the champion's new ownership syndicate will easily be able to put "The New Secretariat" out to stud for well more than $1.5 million!

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

METRO: What Nerve!

By Phillip Black, “The Cat in the Hat” Vendor/Artist While getting off the Orange Line at Metro Center on Monday, October 26, I saw three metro police standing at the exit. As I scanned my smartcard at the exit, from out of nowhere, four young guys came running through the gate and right past the police. The chase was on.

The funny thing is that when they ran past the police, they had so much speed. All four of them were like Usain Bolt (World Champion Sprinter).

By the time they raced up the escalators, before you knew it, they were gone.

They were so fast, the police were laughing. One of the policeman said he had never seen anyone run so fast and get up the escalators with that speed, like someone was chasing them.

Whatever; it is always something on the Metro. Happy Monday Morning!

Influence

By Ricardo Meriedy Vendor/Artist I was influenced by street life. During the years when I was a teenager, I was influenced by people, places and materialistic things. The kind of people that inspired me were the ones that hung out on the street corner, dressed real nice, making money. Basically, they were hustlers.

What I didn’t know was that all of that was a negative part of my life. I really didn’t know street life can only bring death or incarceration. So I tried the street life and it was fantastic for a while. Yes, you can say I was living ghetto fabulous.

What I didn’t know was that all of that was a negative part of my life.

Believe me, I was not happy. I always had to worry about the police and the stick-up boys. This was a constant, everyday situation. It was depressing, living that kind of life. To make a long story short, I thank God to be here with Street Sense, writing this article today. I know if I was still living that life I would be serving a lot of time in jail or someone would have killed me.

You Pay a Higher Percent of Your Income In Social Security Tax Than Bill Gates

11

OPINION

By Charles McCain Volunteer When you receive wages from your employer, they will have withheld 6.2 percent of your wages to pay your share of the Social Security tax. (This is usually identified as FICA —Federal Insurance Contributions Act—and not “Social Security”).

Because the total Social Security tax on wages is 12.4 percent, your employer is required by law to pay the additional 6.2 percent. In spite of the deserved popularity of the Social Security program, the tax levied on workers to pay their share is far more of a burden to moderate and low-income people than highly compensated workers.

Reason? A highly compensated employee only pays the 6.2 percent tax on the first $118,500 of income. That equals $7,347— the maximum amount any wage earner in the U.S. must pay in Social Security tax for tax year 2015. However, you do not pay Social Security tax on dividends you receive from stocks. Nor do you pay Social Security tax on interest payments you receive from bonds issued by corporations, the U.S. Government or state and local governments.

If your wages were $80,000 a year and you received an additional $80,000 in dividend income from stocks your grandfather left you in his will, then you will only pay Social Security tax on the $80,000 in wages you received.

If you are really, really rich, you get an even better deal. Forbes Magazine ranks Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the wealthiest person in America, with a fortune of 76 billion dollars. For purposes of illustration, let’s assume Gates receives a salary of one hundred million dollars a year from Microsoft.

How much Social Security tax does he pay? Because the Social Security tax of 6.2 percent is only applied to wages of $118,500 or less, Bill Gates would pay $7,347 in Social Security tax. Pocket change to him. If the 6.2 percent were applied to his hypothetical one hundred million in wages, then Gates would pay $6.2 million dollars in social security taxes.

Still pocket change to him. But probably a more equitable amount given his wealth.

If you make $20,000 a year, you pay 6.2 percent in Social Security tax or $1,364 a year. Obviously, this represents 6.2 percent of your annual income. If you make $100,000,000 you pay .007347 percent of your annual income in Social Security tax. Quite a difference.

Bill Gates is hardly the norm. A more realistic scenario comes from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which examined Social Security taxes across the working population of the US. “The bottom fifth of households paid an average of 6.6 percent of their incomes in payroll tax in 2014 … while the top 1 percent of households paid just 2.3 percent,” The center reports. This figure includes the employer and employee shares of the payroll tax.”

As important as Social Security is to Americans, somehow the people who pay the highest percentage of their income in taxes to support the program, earn the least amount of money. Welcome to America.

Charles McCain is a corporate consultant, speaker, published novelist and freelance writer. You can learn more about him at www.streetsense.org

The 11th St. Bridge over Anacostia River.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DDOT DC/ FLICKR

Dead Zone: The Other Side of the Bridge

By Jackie Turner Vendor/Artist The people of Southeast have been powerless to stop death. In the span of three days, as many bodies were found: one in the apartment building on Raleigh St.; one on the sidewalk near the alley on MLK; and on Friday the 16th, the children came out for recess and found a dead man on the playground. I heard one child say, “He had on a Redskin shirt and he was foaming at the mouth.”

People get robbed all the time. I don’t know anyone that has not been robbed that lives off MLK or Alabama Ave. The old people are targets. I’ve seen them rob a man at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, broad daylight. He had gray hair and looked to be around 65. I called the police but when they came they acted like I had done something wrong.

Two days later another man got beat up and robbed that was in his 70s. Two o’clock in the afternoon. Each time it is about four to five young men attacking one person.

Then there is the problem of store robbing. Every store gets robbed at least twice a year or the people do a rush and go in and take what they want. There is a community meeting at the United Planning Organization every month with the police about what’s going on.

When I called the police and said I’d seen the guys that robbed in the neighborhood all the time, they said it wasn’t worth it because they would get right out and then they would retaliate and someone might get hurt bad, like death. Is that something for the police to say?

Not everyone in Southeast is into crime. Some just want to feel free to walk to the store or come home from work without a hassle.

Mayor, what are you going to do?

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.

The Presence of Absence

Beauty

By Ken Martin Vendor/Artist

By Angie Whitehurst Vendor/Artist

Suddenly (or maybe not so suddenly) Everyone was gone...

Life’s beauty comes from the reflections of what is within my heart, woven in my soul, and etched in my mind. It is the kindness given and unasked for, and the critically needed gifts received.

Food to consume, munch and enjoy, warmth from the icy cold, and a breezy, cool retreat from the heat. A safe secure place to lay down and sleep. The basics are the simplest treats.

Just the thought of what makes one comfortable, content, and at peace brings the lasting beauty of Life Complete.

Where are all the people who look like me and cared? Where is anyone who REALLY cared?

You know, not the ones who will miss you when you’re gone.

The ones who would go all out to see that you didn’t leave. The ones who want to know whether you are safe. And call, ‘cause it means that much...to them.

Where is the love I pitched, that is supposed to bounce back?

ILLUSTRATION BY KEN MARTIN

THE RIGHT CHOICE: Montgomery County

It’s Fundamental

By Clarence Williams, Vendor/Artist

By Robert Warren Vendor Artist To deny the truth.

Can His worlds give you any more proof?

Reading is fundamental.

It strengthens you.

It makes you ponder to the dumbest things that man won’t do.

Let His words guide you and His words look for the truth.

May the peace of truth be upon you?

Daze and confuse you.

The poets and the words He used.

Reading to write to understand.

To challenge the beliefs of man.

ALIF-LAAM-MEEM. One of the miracles of the Holy Book.

Only the Lord knows its meaning.

Is it so, no one knows.

Reading is once again fundamental, you know.

I made the right choice three-and-ahalf years ago.

I was homeless and staying at a shelter in Rockville, which was scheduled to close.

I was struggling very badly with alcoholism.

I chose to make an appointment with a case manager and check out an in-patient rehabilitation clinic.

That program was for 21 days. I completed it and received my certificate. I then proceeded to enroll in a two-year transitional program, which helped me acquire a Montgomery County ID, a food stamp card, and apply for SSI. I stayed in the program for 18 months, joined Alcoholics Anonymous while getting a sponsor, and was put on the county’s housing list.

I have been on the District’s housing list since 2003, but have never heard anything.

So, I am staying with Montgomery County, where my support system is.

PHOTO COURTGESY OF ROD WADDINGTON/FLICKR

Condition: Competitiva, Love Conditional In The DNA

By Chris Shaw, “The Cowboy Poet” When this tadpole was Springing into frog-hood, Glen Campbell told of “Unconditional Love!”

Now that the odometer has clinked upwards to Linked-In, the Twenty-Teens tell us to Post and Proclaim how Great the Name of Narcissus or Narcissa (whichever the case may be).

In what addled wisdom Is it apropros not in the name of Evato;

By Gwynette Smith, Vendor/Artist

But rather Calliope Shall decree that [when new] was fresh and sweet. Now, the same qualities shall show as wearying: contemptible.

Whither the human hand of Trust?

Alas, it has gone bust.

And I don’t believe Calliope, Neither has she, if you were to ask He (Wraith’s target) if there’s ever been a street in N.O.L.A. that beareth Calliope’s name.

It is far better, then, to Forget, and to Forge Onward!

Many psychiatrists espouse the belief that it would be impossible for a person to be driven crazy. They maintain that insanity is inherited, that the problem is in the DNA. There is a large building of psychiatrists in downtown D.C., and many of them may support this notion. Many lawmakers are saying that there needs to be more institutionalizing of people who are mentally ill. Since freedoms could be impacted by this designation, it becomes important to assess the cause and causes of the diagnosis of insanity.

I believe that people should be care-

ful of the stressors around them, such as jobs, home life, community influences and friends. Mental stress can cause depression and mood swings, depending on whether it has been a good day or a bad day.

Unhappiness can cause irrational behavior, such as rebellion and the hope that the actions will create happiness, even if it is only temporary. Mood swings could be diagnosed as a manic-depressive illness.

Remember parents who used to say, “That child is driving me crazy?”

It could be true!

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

13

VENDOR WRITING

AFTER KATRINA:

A Ten-Year Roller Coaster, Part 7

By Gerald Anderson, Vendor/Artist

P R E V I O U S LY: I s t a y e d w i t h m y homegirl Connie in the two-bedroom apartment she got from FEMA. I‘d go out and hustle, often washing cars. I wouldn’t see myself panhandlin’ because I don’t like askin’ for money when I know I’m not gonna do the right thing with it. Instead I earned money to bring home crack cocaine, liquor, and beer, so Connie and I could get high together. One night Connie went out to make some money prostitutin’. I saw her get into a man’s car, and I never seen her again...

Miss Linda from HUD recommend me to psychiatry. She ask me what I was incarcerated for, and I open up because she trying to help. I told her I was a burglar.

She asked me did I finish school. I said I was put in special education when I was 12 and I dropped out not long after that. I guess I didn’t give myself a chance. Now my editor and others tell me I’m smart. Back then I picked and chose which teachers I would work harder for.

One teacher I was close with, I would go to her house on weekends and cut her grass. She motivated me to do my homework. I had a crush on her. I didn’t think I was smart, but I knew I wasn’t stupid. I just didn’t want to participate in most classes.

I liked gym, I liked math, I didn’t like reading. I read now. I break words down into syllables, that’s how I figure them out.

I learned how to read out of the Bible. Just about everybody who go to prison, they give you a Bible. They don’t give you nothing else but they give you a Bible.

When I was in prison in my teens, some older guys offer me a cigarette, if I learn to read. They say, “You smart.”

They liked me. That’s how I improved my reading.

I was a cool cat. I knew the street game. But I didn’t know how to read.

You can be a gangster, a killer, a cool cat but you need a education.

When I was 18 or 19, I was sent to Orleans Parish Prison. It was after only 48 hours of bein’ home from juvie facili-ty. That’s because I stole a car and got caught.

When I was comin’ home that was the thing: everyone was stealin’ cars and motorcycles. So I said, “I’m gonna get me a car.” I told my buddy I knew how to drive.

We turned the corner and I didn’t put on the brake. A police stopped me and my friend opened the door and ran away. (to be continued) You can buy my book, “Still Standing: How an Ex-Con Found Salvation in the Floodwaters of Katrina” on Amazon in paperback and Kindle form. I hope you will tell your friends about it. Thank you!

A figure walks down a dark alley.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRANSFORMER18/ FLICKR

The Bill Collectors

By Michael Craig Vendor/Artist

I

n the jungle, there was a baboon.

Like any baboon, he thought he was dominant. It was his jungle. He knew he ran the show!

Then he saw the cheetah out in the wild, on his territory – the baboon went after him.

The fastest creature on the planet, and the baboon went after him with all his heart!

My Customers

Then the cheetah, said, “woah woah woah woah,” and did a 180. “You’ve got the nerve to chase after me?! I’m a cheetah!”

By Barron Hall Vendor/Artist

PHOTO COURTEST OF WAITING FOR THE WORD/ FLICKR

Dear God

By Roberta Bear, Vendor/Artist Not everyone will have the heart you have. Not everyone will appreciate you and what you do for them. Sometimes it won’t be easy having a kind heart in a cruel world.

Dear God, enlighten what’s dark in me. Strengthen what’s weak in me. Mend what’s broken in me. Heal what’s sick in me. And lastly, revive whatever peace and love has died in me.

I have been a Street Sense vendor for more than six years. The most important parts about my association with the paper are the customers and the articles I write.

My customers are a blessing. Whether positive or negative, they make me keep wanting to write what I write. I thank God for them. In a way they make me who I am and who I want to become. Thank you Street Sense. There is so much information we can relate to people about being homeless and poor.

California? Can you imagine all of a sudden being homeless because you couldn’t put out a fire no matter how hard you tried? So you lose everything you’ve worked for in your life.

Or being out of everything because you thought the God-fearing country you lived in was safe?

The cheetah chased the baboon up on top of a tree. The baboon is in fear and confused.

The cheetah lurked and glared at the baboon. But sooner or later he falls asleep.

And that’s when the baboon quietly climbs down the tree and took off running outta there. He’d never do that again!

The baboon learned to watch what it chased after, because it might chase after you. Watch your wants, they might chase after you.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY BARBARA POLLARD

MOVING UP: Paying for Christmas Without Breaking the Bank

By Arthur Johnson, Volunteer

As the Christmas season approaches, many people begin thinking about shopping for gifts. This is especially tough for those with little discretionary income.

There are some ways to reduce the cost of shopping and keep you from getting deep in debt.

The first is layaway, a holiday tradition much like trees and big family Christmas dinners. It is a popular concept, especially for families with poor or no credit. You put an amount down and pay the balance down over several payments. It operates like credit in many ways except that with credit, you get to take the item home right away. With layaway, you have to wait until it is paid off. Layaway usually does not involve interest, but there are other fees, from a service fee for starting to a down payment requirement. Wal-Mart, for example, requires 10 percent or $10, whichever is greater. Some merchants also have a cancellation fee. You want to check to see if the store allows layaway on the day after Thanksgiving (Wal-Mart did not allow it in 2014). You will want to make sure to save some money over 2016; maybe $5-10 a paycheck (or whatever you can reasonably afford in order to have the money in hand for the 2016 Christmas season.

Another option is to give gift cards.

These are often available in smaller denominations and they can be an excellent tool for teaching children and teenagers the value of money. You will be teaching them how to price check and how to make sure they have enough for what they want to buy.

You can also give gifts that have financing involved (smartphones is one example); this will limit how much upfront cash you pay and the cost is reasonable. If you are worried about debt, you can just pay your minimum payment (which is usually added to your cell phone bill) until the spring when you get your tax refund and can pay the balance off.

There are going to be people reading this who absolutely have no money at all to purchase gifts. Fortunately, there are many organizations that can help provide a gift for your child. Many churches have toys and clothing available. Organizations such as Toys for Tots collect toys

A city covered in stormy clouds.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENT FLANDERS/ FLICKR

The Incomparable God!

By James Daniel Johnson, Vendor/Artist PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON TESTER GUERRILLA FUTURES/ FLICKR

and money from individual and corporate donors and distributes the toys right before Christmas. It is a wonderful program that has been well run by the Marine Corps and many volunteers nationwide to make a quarter of a billion children very happy over the last 60 years. They will be distributing toys at RFK Stadium from Dec 14-18 from 8am to 4pm and Saturday December 19 from 8am to noon. If you need help from them, you must register

by December 6. You can get more info from their website: toysfortots.org Christmas is supposed to be a time of enjoying peace and prosperity. The focus is supposed to be on enjoying the time of the season with our loved ones to show how much they mean to us. Sadly, in this culture we use gifts to demonstrate the level of how much we care. Demonstrating your love for your family and friends should make you happy, not keep you up at night trying to figure out how to pay for everything you bought. Hopefully these ideas will allow you to accomplish that Arthur Johnson has two Bachelor’s Degrees in Sport Management and Economics, along with substantial experience working as a volunteer financial mentor at The Salvation Army shelter in Minneapolis. If you have questions about a specific article he has written or suggestions for topics you would like to know more about, please email him AJohnson@streetsense.org

Goodbye Old Friend

By Elizabeth Bryant, Vendor/Artist

I recently saw my ex-boyfriend’s sponsor and learned that Joe Simpson (my ex) was dead. His sponsor couldn’t tell me everything.

Joe taught me mostly not to be selfish. I wish he wasn’t dead. But God gives and God takes away.

We hadn’t seen each other in three years. I’m very sad about his passing. Joe was really sick, but I was in denial.

Most people that don’t read the Bible think that God is just love. Man has always taken advantage of love, as most of us have experienced. But the Bible says: The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, everyone from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (Zephaniah 2:11) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. (Joel 2:31) Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psalm 66:3)

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) And, if anyone doesn’t’ think that people are not moved by fear, you are not reading the same Bible I’m reading, especially the Old Testament. It was the fear of the Lord that worked obedience in the people (Proverbs 16:6).

Yes, He’s still the same God! Be eternally conscious!

LEGAL BEAT: The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Timothy Farrell, Volunteer

Let me tell you about the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. Its mission is to provide free legal services to individuals, nonprofits and small businesses. It does this through the use of volunteer attorneys from the area.

The Center is the largest mobilizer of pro bono volunteers to serve the civil legal needs of the District’s low-income residents.

As a member of six bar associations, I can tell you that the Center is the best pro bono program in the country. Amazingly, it receives no funding from the DC Bar. It is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.

Volunteer attorneys take on cases without pay to serve individuals living in poverty who are at risk of losing their homes, their livelihood or their families. It also helps small businesses and community-based nonprofits that need legal help. It is estimated that last year it touched the lives of 20,000 D.C. residents.

The list of services the Center provides is too long for this short Legal Beat article; check it out on-line. Legal help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the legal help line at (202)626-3499.

The line refers callers to the www. lawhelp.org/DC website for a complete list

of services. It then provides information on five areas of law: domestic violence, elder law, homelessness, HIV, and other matters.

For those with homelessness issues, press 3. Have a pen handy to make a note of the name of the Legal Clinic for the Homeless and its phone number, or have the system connect you directly. The other service on this menu is the Shelter Hotline, which can connect the caller directly with a shelter.

Finally, the system allows the caller to leave a message.

Those without access to a phone or the internet can visit the Center’s Advice and Referral Clinic, held the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. until noon at the two Bread for the City locations (1525 7th Ave. NW and 1540 Good Hope Road SE).

The DC Bar Pro Bono Center is a great public service. If a reader or vendor has a non-criminal legal issue, this is the first place to turn in the District.

Learn more about the author on Avvo.com If you have a question about a legal issue, please contact the Street Sense (info@streetsense.org) or email Tim via Avvo.

15

STREET SENSE November 4 - 17, 2015

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

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

John Young Center: 639-8569 119 D Street, NW

Calvary Women’s Services: 678-2341 1217 Good Hope Road, SE calvaryservices.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless: 347-8870 1234 Massachusetts Ave, NW dccfh.org

Catholic Charities: 772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Father McKenna Center: 842-1112 19 Eye St, NW fathermckennacenter.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)

Friendship Place: 364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave, NW friendshipplace.org

Community Family Life Services: 347-0511 | 305 E St, NW cflsdc.org

Food and Friends: 269-2277 219 Riggs Rd, NE foodandfriends.org (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc)

Foundry Methodist Church: 332-4010 1500 16th St, NW foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities ID (FRIDAY 9-12 ONLY)

Georgetown Ministry Center: 338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave, NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Gospel Rescue Ministries: 842-1731 810 5th St, NW grm.org

CELEBRATING SUCCESS! • Morgan Jones celebrates his birthday on November 4th!

Martha’s Table: 328-6608 2114 14th St, NW marthastable.org Miriam’s Kitchen: 452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave, NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place: 529-5991 (24-hour hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village: 939-2060 1333 N Street, NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Ave Shelter: 832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave, NE

Open Door Shelter: 639-8093 425 2nd St, NW newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html

Samaritan Inns: 667-8831 2523 14th St, NW samaritaninns.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) 797-8806 71 O St, NW some.org

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

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

Against Divergence

By Franklin Sterling Vendor/Artist If you must know, the majority of my poems printed in Street Sense were presented unfinished. If anyone has gotten cares because of this, you may contact me or my editor to obtain a finished copy of the poem, including but not limited to Wowers and The Apollonius of Tyre. I apologize for the imposition, but not for the nebulousness.

Hysteron Proteron F.S. Street Sense can be contacted via editor@streetsense.org

Consider Contributing to Street Sense!

# 28233

United Way NCA Designation Code

United Way of the National Capital Area

# 8871

Autumn

By Evelyn Nnam, Vendor/Artist

Memories

By Henrieese Roberts Vendor/Artist

Oh Autumn, you are finally here. You took a while to come but you made it. I love the colors you have changed on to the leaves.

Autumn you have been a little weird. Since the weather is up and down, some days are extremely cold and others are warm. I know that you will not be able to stay since Winter will come very soon but please remain so I can enjoy your comfortable presence.

Autumn, I will enjoy every minute that you will be here. The dress code has changed from t-shirts, shorts, and sandals to sweaters, thick coats, and boots. I can certainly say that you aren’t that bad Autumn. You may have your flaws, like freezing cold air, but other than that you are amazing. You have a way with yourself that can never be expected. You will soon leave and comeback but I will definitely enjoy you. Thank you Autumn and thank you all. God Bless!

My Fall and Flavors

Autumn

Fall is my favorite season because the leaves change like the seasons; different colors and different conditions. The fall always makes me revisit my past. Once when I was in grade school, my class took different colored leaves and placed them between two sheets of wax paper with many colors. For some reason, that thought stays with me.

Another past thought that comes to mind is about a relationship. It was pleasant at first. We were the best of friends, but there was a forbidden complication and an endangerment that left us both in a state of anger and separation. But I have put that behind me now. Now, I love the fall because of hot pumpkin spice lattes. They warm my mouth and make me smile.

Autumn is the time for changing in the four seasons. The beautiful color of the leaves changes. Autumn is so beautiful, especially when you visit the mountains.

The birds begin flying south, school becomes serious, football season is in gear, and baseball’s World Series happens.

Autumn gives me serenity, peace and an appreciation of what God has created. It’s the time of Halloween and Thanksgiving, which lead to Christmas and New Year’s.

It’s the time to start making changes in my life and reflecting about the past year.

I love autumn and all its glory.

By Cleo, Vendor/Artist When I see beautiful pictures of fall leaves on golden trees that lead into road paths as fall beckons winter and snow, I recall my most wonderful memories of fall when I was growing up with my parents.

After school my brothers and sisters

and I headed to the cotton field to pick cotton and load the trucks.

My dad always greeted us with warm cinnamon rolls that had been drenched by the sun. I always stretched my leg against my mom’s as we packed peanuts.

We frolicked around the two springs as we headed up the hill to our home. Those were the best cinnamon rolls!

Fall For Me, When I Was Homeless

By Patty Smith, Vendor/Artist

It was a cold day.

The storm was going to come that evening. I was at work and it had rained just a little bit. By the time I got home, around 5:30, the rain was really coming down. The storm was on me and a few

of the girls outside the shelter. I tried to make it to a little branch. The water poured and poured. My God, I thought, this is the day I’m going to die. So much pain. I thought I would have a heart attack. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move.

Finally, I ran around the corner and got under the covering of a building. No one should go through so much pain.

November 4 - 17, 2015 • Volume 12 • Issue 26

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20005

Mail To: Remember, buy only from badged vendors and do not give to those panhandling with one paper.

Interested in a subscription? Go to page 15 for more information.

By Michael Jackson, Vendor/Artist