12 18 2013 by Street Sense Media

Volume 11: Issue 3 December 18 - 30, 2013

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Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Vulnerable:

100,000 Homes campaign comes to Montgomery County pg 4

Feral Cats:

Architects apply their skills to shelter wild felines pg 5

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.

7 11

Councilmember and Mayoral Candidate Tommy Wells explores living on minimum wage. Cynthia Mewborn elaborates on the dangers women face living on the street.

9& Merry Christmas 16 from our vendors! COVER ART Finding shelter for people and animals alike. ILLUSTRATION BY TYLER HARCHELROAD

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@streetsensedc /streetsensedc OUR STORY Street Sense began in August 2003 after Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions with the idea to start a street paper in Washington, D.C. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003. In 2005, Street Sense achieved 501 ( c ) 3 status as a nonprofit organization, formed a board of directors and hired a full-time executive director. Today, Street Sense is published every two weeks through the efforts of four salaried employees, more than 100 active vendors, and dozens of volunteers. Nearly 30,000 copies are in circulation each month.

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STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

NEWS IN BRIEF Local Activists to Host Events Honoring Those Who Died Homeless By Mary Otto, Editor-in-Chief Local advocates will mark National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day with a series of events scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 20. The annual observance is dedicated to remembering people who have died in homelessness and to bringing attention to the need for policies aimed at reducing and ending homelessness. National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day events have been organized every year since 1990 by the National Coalition for the Homeless and are now held in over 100 communities nationwide. Local groups

including the People for Fairness Coalition and Housing For All pitched in to help plan this year’s activities. The annual observances are typically held on or around the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year. Events will kick off Thursday, Dec. 19 with a 5 p.m. dinner and rally at Freedom Plaza, located at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. An overnight sleep-out will follow. On Friday, Dec. 20, activities will resume at 9:30 a.m. with music and speakers followed by a procession to New York

Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 1313 New York Avenue NW. Homeless and formerly homeless participants plan to carry an empty coffin along the route, according to Michael Stoops, of the National Coalition for the Homeless. “We plan to do a funeral procession north from Freedom Plaza up to New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,” Stoops said. An 11 a.m. lunch will be served at the church, to be followed by a noon vigil in the sanctuary. The service will feature songs and prayers. Candles will be lighted and the names of homeless people who have died over the

These Streets

By Robert Warren, Vendor As I navigate these streets. Sometimes the thought comes to mind, If man would take the time, To have no soul left behind... So much empty space, Man builds’ in waste, For one day it all will be swept away, That’s what the LORD’S word say, There will be questions about one’s homes, And those who were left all alone, To wonder---In these streets’, Some with no food to eat, A child by their side, The young and the old left to die, On these concrete streets’, And the lonely who pat their feet, Days and Nights these streets are my life, I always long to see, Someone happy saying to me, Good Morning! As they walk these streets’.

YES!

t r o f Rally 5-6:30 PM

dinner & kick-off

and

overnight challenge

9:30-10:30 AM

past year will be read aloud. At 1 p.m., following the service, the procession will resume, with the coffin being carried north to Luther Place Memorial Church located on Thomas Circle at 1226 Vermont Ave. NW. A memorial burial plot at the apex of the Luther Place triangle is the final resting place of homeless activist Mitch Snyder as well as several homeless women. The following are the names of the people to be remembered at this year’s vigil:

s s e l e he hom

alition o c s s e n r fair s community o f e l p o T h e P e D C 's h o m e l e s a n d u p t o invites ir allies to st a n d t h e e l e ss n e ss . end hom AM

0 3 : 9 0 2 Cember

FRI DE

Graddy Baxter Christian Blake Larry Bowles Bruce Crayton Gwendolyn Dawkins Patrick Early Howard Franklin Andrew Shepherd Green Allison Lee Dialobe Mcdougalel Jefferson McNair Johnny Molloy Manuel Morales Thomas Norman Johnny Carlyn Rossettos, Sr. Elgin Sanders Joyner Savage Pedro Sorto Sheila Young David Waters

rally

10:30-11 AM

march to ny avenue and vigil

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Homelessness Amid Affluence: Campaign Aims to Save Vulnerable Lives By Mark Rose Volunteer In the cold darkness of several early November mornings, teams of volunteers and public servants combed the streets, woods and shelters of Montgomery County, MD. They were on a special mission. They were seeking homeless men and women to interview using a survey instrument called the Vulnerability Index. The research-based tool was designed to find out about the health and medical vulnerability of the indigent men and women - to determine which of them, if they remained homeless, was at the greatest risk of dying. The outreach work, which yielded interviews with 369 homeless people, was part of a larger national registry week effort led by the 100,000 Homes Campaign, an initiative geared toward understanding and ending homelessness across America. A total of 220 jurisdictions in the U.S. including the District of Columbia and Fairfax/Falls Church, Virginia are also involved in the campaign which emphasizes the importance of getting medically-fragile and chronically homeless people and families off the streets and into safe housing. The work is driven by the findings of studies that show that homeless people are far more likely to die prematurely than people with homes. In their recent surveys, the Montgomery teams found 159 medically-fragile individuals, at risk of frostbite, suffering from chronic disease, mental illness, addiction

or coping with old age. In the days since the findings were made public, the county quickly responded. Officials now say they are set to invest $650,000 to house 15 homeless individuals “right away.” Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal, who served on the registry week leadership team and who helped with the survey effort Nov. 4-6, said the county needs to unify its efforts around getting people into housing and off the streets. “We’re going to keep the momentum going,” he said. A special appropriation from the county’s general fund reserve for this purpose, proposed by Leventhal together with Councilmembers Craig Rice and Nancy Navarro, was approved by the Council Dec. 10. That money will enable those people to be housed for 18 months, together with necessary case work and staff support, according to the Montgomery County Coalition for Homeless (MCCH). Additional funds are anticipated in the coming years, officials said. “This is wonderful; I’m pinching myself; this is a beginning,” MCCH Executive Director Susie Sinclair-Smith said in a telephone interview, reflecting upon the new revenue and county officials’ focus on the problem. An annual count of the homeless in the county, conducted earlier this year, found

Volunteers search for people sleeping outside (above). A homeless encampment in Montgomery County (below). PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS (MCCH)

a total of 1007 men, women and children. The 15 new housing placements come in addition to other ongoing emergency, transitional and safe housing efforts being undertaken in the affluent county where the average rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment tops $1,400. Yet the most fragile of the homeless need special attention, said Sinclair-Smith. “When you see there is this kind of poverty – encampments, right behind your house, you realize how vulnerable they are; you see there’s a sense of urgency,” Sinclair-Smith added.

“It’s a powerful motivator when you see this person is going to die.” Compared to housed people, the chronically homeless face life expectancies that are shortened by 25 years, studies have shown. In addition to coping with exposure and chronic disease, many also have serious mental health issues. Without help, they often cycle through the jail system and emergency medical system, Sinclair-Smith added. The 369 people surveyed reported a total of 677 in-patient hospitalizations over the past year.

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

Architects Develop Pop-Up Shelters for D.C. Feral Cats

COVER STORY

By Johnathan Comer Volunteer On Thursday, December 5, the WashCole Architects; and two connected styreduce the number of feral cats. of the problem, and this approach is the ington Humane Society and Architects for rofoam blocks, painted to resemble a city “The Humane Society does a lot of best method to humanely assist feral cats. Animals held an event to showcase how skyline, and designed by Francis Cauffgreat work, but tonight is only one way “TNR is the most humane, practical local architectural firms are teaming up man Architects. to approach the problem,” Ferrell said. and effective long-term strategy,” the to help provide shelter to feral cats during The founder of Architects for Animals, The WHS provides the other part of the WHS states. the upcoming winter months. The event architect Leslie Ferrell, started the prosolution to lessen the number of homeless was held at the American Institute for Argram in 2010 when she became concerned and feral cats, whom undoubtably suffer chitects in Northwest D.C., and featured about the feral and homeless cat populaduring the cold winter months. nine shelters designed by local architection in New York City. The WHS approaches the problem, tural firms. “One winter [the cats] were crying outwell, humanely. It has implemented a The nine designs were as unique as they side, and I thought ‘they’re freezing to TNR program in the District. TNR, or were functional; challenging any precondeath,’ “ Ferrell shared when discussing Trap-Neuter-Return, is part of the Sociceived ideas about the appearance of what prompted her approach the archiety’s TNS program, and has been responoutdoor shelters for feral cats. While all tectural community in New York about sible for saving about 2,000 feral cats designs attracted the curiosity of attendcreating shelters for homeless animals. each year. Rather than simply capturing ees, the model that drew the most attenFerrell, a cat rescuer herself, then creand removing cats – which ultimately intion was “Corrugated Aerospace Tower ated a competition among several New volves euthanasia – the WHS works with Station (C.A.T.S.)” by Cunningham Quill York City architectural firms to design local community members by neutering Architects. This ingenious design featured imaginative and innovative shelters to and spaying as many cats as possible. As Of course, the other element is ensura long cylindrical tube with balls of catnip help the city’s outdoor cats stay warm. the name suggests, feral cats are trapped, ing cats which are otherwise homeless strung along the inside. However, such a In 2011, the competition, dubbed “Givneutered or spayed, then released back have warmth and protection during the unique and clever design might be best ing Shelter” spread to D.C., and has since where they were found. Cats which have winter. The harshness of winter is not exsuited for “trimmer” cats: the openings been held every December in each city. been through this process will have the clusive to only humans: it extends to our on either end aren’t exactly designed for Ferrell feels fortunate to join the Washtip of their ear clipped, letting the public four-legged friends among us. For a few larger cats. ington Humane Society in raising awareand others know a particular cat can no lucky cats in the District, the WHS and Attendees of the event were asked to ness about homeless animals, and believes longer reproduce and they feral. AccordArchitects for Animals made their winter vote for their favorite design during the the combined result of such work will help ing to the WHS, reproduction is the root a little less troublesome. night. The winning design was a sleek and functional shelter created by Bonstra Haresign Architects, and featured insulated walls, a sliding door, and an aluminum gutter to collect rain water for cats to drink. Coming in second place was C.A.T.S., the cleverly designed “space-station.” “Here Kitty, Kitty” came in third, and was a rather humorous yet simple shelter, constructed from a re-purposed sump pump container, and designed to look like a black dog’s head, with it’s tongue serving as a ramp inside. The other shelters included a variety of equally ingenious designs, such as: “Browniehause,” a cooler-shaped cube; Winning Architects for Animals shelters: “C.A.T.S.” (top-right) took second place, “Here Kitty, Kitty” (bottom-left) third, and the unamed a wide and stumpy white shelter with entry from Bonstra Haresign Architects took first (bottom-right). different rooms and corridors by Hickok PHOTOS BY JOHNATHAN COMER

Assisting Homeless Singles A n ew l a w p ro j e c t looks at getting more help to single men and women struggling with homelessness. By Reginald Black Vendor, “Da’ Street Reportin’ Artist”

District rental and housing programs that have helped families avoid and overcome homelessness should be expanded to assist more struggling single men and women, according to a new report from the law students from the Georgetown Community Justice Project. And better case management and intake services are needed to help singles leave homelessness behind. The law students developed their report after conducting a series of interviews with homeless men and women living in low barrier shelters, as well as service providers running homeless programs in the city. The study’s authors shared their findings at a recent meeting with homeless advocates and city officials held at the Wilson Building. “It was important for us to use the voices of the homeless to identify the resource gaps. Since we are outsiders to the community, the personal insights from those who have experienced homelessness were invaluable to our project,” explained Aleshadye Getachew, one of the student researchers. “We were also told that our being outsiders to the community would enable us to see both strengths and opportunities with fresh eyes.”. The study, produced in collaboration with the nonprofit SOME (So Others Might Eat) concluded that many single men and women lose their homes as a result of a personal crisis: a health problem, an addiction or the loss of a job. Yet the help that could help prevent a downward spiral into homelessness can be in short supply. Programs such as Emergency Rental Assistance and Rapid Re-Housing have been effective in helping keep families housed, according to the report. The city recently launched one-year pilot programs to provide the same kind of assistance to singles. Those programs should be extended and expanded. according to the study. The shortage of affordable housing in the District also contributes to homelessness. The median fair market rent for an efficiency apartment in the District is

The study notes that many unaccomanied homless adults don’t know about services available to them, and the ones they do are often overburdened. REPORT COURTESY OF THE GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY JUSTICE PROJECT

“The community of government agencies and service providers need to share information more effectively,” the researchers recommended. “To do so, the community should implement and expand the Coordinated Entry System (CES) for unaccompanied homeless adults.” As envisioned, the CES system would standardize the city’s homeless intake process, identifying available services and allocating services to people needing them the most. The report did not fully explore the ways low-barrier shelters could better assist men and women leave homelessness behind, according to homeless advocate Robert Warren, the executive director of the People for Fairness Coalition.

$1,176, the report noted. The Local Rent Supplement Program (LSRP) offers rental assistance vouchers to help lowincome residents cope with high rents. But as the study noted “currently, this powerful tool primarily benefits families.” SIngles can only qualify if they are handicapped or displaced by a federal project or a federally-designated disaster. “LSRP’s eligibility requirements should be relaxed in order to serve as an effective resource for unaccompanied homeless adults,” the report found. Permanent Supportive Housing, which is currently providing stable homes for 1,300 formerly homeless city residents, should be expanded, according to the study. T h e re p or t f ou n d t h a t singles need more help once they become homeless. But even the assistance that exists can be hard to find, the researchers concluded from their interviews with homeless men and women. “Unaccompanied homeless adults were often not aware of, or connected to, existing services designated to meet their needs,” the researchers found. And the case managers assigned to help the homeless locate the services and programs that could help them are often Georgetown Law Community Justice Project members. PHOTO BY JENNY GUDMUNDSEN overburdened, they added.

“In low-barrier shelters there should be a process a person can engage in to end their homelessness or joblessness,” noted Warren during the discussion on the report. Yet the study did emphasize the need for employment and job training, even incentives for developers to build affordable housing.

The report found that singles need more help once they become homeless. But even the assistance that exists can be hard to find. “We hope that our recommendations spur new thinking and serve as a catalyst for conversation in the community,” wrote the authors. As the discussion ended, homeless advocates said important questions remain. Without improvements to the low-barrier shelter system, they asked, how can the community address the larger issues that the students found? They said that better policies are needed to ensure homeless men and women do not languish in shelters or on the streets.

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

NEWS

Candidate’s Minimum Wage Challenge Puts Spotlight on “Working Poor” By Dennis Forster Editorial Intern Six days into his “Live the Wage” challenge, DC City Councilmember Tommy Wells reported he had lost a couple of pounds. Trying to live on the city’s minimum wage of $8.25 an hour had him depending on his crockpot and handheld blender, he explained. The cost-efficient, freezable portions of splitpea and pinto bean soup he prepared made up for expensive and calorie-rich snacks that were off-limits for the duration of the exercise he announced on December 10. Wells launched the challenge after introducing a “Living Wage for All” bill in September. He said his goal was to draw attention to the difficulties of low-wage living. Wells, who is also running for mayor, has meticulously documented his experiment on Twitter, updating his followers on his experiences as he goes. As it turns out, Wells has found the cost of tranportation particularly difficult. “I’m not able to fully do my job with restricted transit,” he said on Dec. 16. With Metro fares at a minimum of $2.10 during peak hours, getting from A to B multiple times a day would quickly exceed Wells’ self-imposed budget. “I never really thought about the fact that the subway system, the metro, really is for people that have more money,” Wells said. “If I continued on the budget, I would not be able to completely fulfill my duties as a city councilman.” Wells’ experiment follows a decision by the council two weeks ago to approve a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $11.50 by July 2016, and index it to inflation in the following years. If implemented, the D.C. metropolitan area would claim the highest minimum wage in the nation, since the council’s action coincides with very similar measures being passed by the Prince George’s and Montgomery County legislatures in the city’s Maryland suburbs. But Wells said his “Live the Wage” challenge also serves as a reminder that low-income families and individuals are facing a number of obstacles that are likely persist even if a minimum wage increase takes effect. Beyond the problems the Ward 6 councilmember sees with the Metro rail and bus systems which he refers to respectively as “first and second class transportation,” people’s transit choices are often also limited because they don’t have access to the commodity of a credit card, he said.

“I’ve always kind of prided myself that I can get around the city anywhere, anytime without a car. But I’ve learned that’s only because I had the power of the credit card,” Wells said. Seeing the “degree to which people are being disenfranchised” because services like Bikeshare or Zipcar are only available for credit card holders, making these modes of transportation more accessible to the “working poor” would be “one of the policy issues [he] will spend the next two months to a year working on,” he said. Wells acknowledged his minimum wage experiment is bound to be imperfect. Unlike actual minimum wage earners, he doesn’t have to worry about having decent clothes to wear, paying the utility bills, or having a home in the first place. After all, after seven days, his budget will be back to its usual, six-figure level. Many commentators in online forums have made snarky remarks about the credibility of what they see as a publicity stunt surrounding Wells’ mayoral bid in the 2014 election. Others pointed out that Wells, a married man, “lived the wage” on a single individual’s budget. Yet Wells seemed to have no illusions about the discrepancy between his own experiment and the experiences of “real” minimum wage earners.

“It’s clear to me there’s a major difference between being a single person, and managing on food, and having a family. There’s just no comparison,” he said. In a Dec. 11 WJLA report, the councilmember was filmed grocery shopping with CeCe Butler, a mother of two working at the minimum wage. He is impressed with her ability to make the most with the very tight budget she is on, and in light of his new cost-saving cooking habit, he said he could “absolutely” imagine pulling off at least the food part of the challenge for more than one week—after all, especially cutting back on eating out saved him $300 dollars, he said. But at the same time, he came to better understand privilege he has enjoyed by having choices. “I wrote my bike here this morning in order to save cost. [Ms. Butler] generally is not going to be able to take her children to school with a bike and go to McDonalds, where she works. So she will have to bear the cost. She doesn’t have the ability to opt out like I do,” Wells said. The current momentum for new minimum wage legislation has been sustained by highly favorable public opinion. A Washington Post reader poll put support for the proposed minimum wage hike at 68 percent and President Obama’s re-

newed push for a higher federal minimum wage, currently set at $7.25, showed over the past few weeks that the issue enjoys high attention on a national level. Additionally, events like the election of progressive Bill de Blasio as Mayor of New York City earlier this year boosted optimism that bold precedents in terms of minimum wage increases could be set soon on local levels across the country. Mayor Gray has endorsed a more cautious proposal of a $10 minimum wage, a level favored by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, according to a recent Washington Post report. The mayor has called the $11.50 wage “far too high,” and has requested more study on the consequences of automatic adjustions to inflation. But a united city council may limit the choices of the mayor. “We’re gonna lead without the mayor,” Wells said in stark terms. “We have a veto-proof majority, I worked hard to keep the votes together, and no councilmember wants to be on the wrong side of history. So the mayor has become irrelevant in this discussion.” Wells’ “Live the Wage” challenge was scheduled to come to an end on Dec. 18. But the soup lunches are here to stay, he said. “Those are very hearty, and I’m set for beyond my seven days.”

The Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Community and Resource Referral Center Ending Homelessness, One Veteran At A Time

The Community and Resource Referral Center (CRRC) located on 1500 Franklin St. in Washington, DC is the first of its kind in our area. The CRRC brings together Federal and community resources and partners in one location to offer Veterans a 24/7 hub to combat homelessness. If you or someone you know is homeless or at-risk of homelessness, please encourage them to seek help at the CRRC, 202-636-7660. The Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Winterhaven Homeless Stand Down is scheduled for Jan. 25. If you would like to donate to the Veterans Affairs Homeless Veterans Program, please visit: http://www.washingtondc.va.gov and click on the E-Donate button.

2014

H O M E LES

D OW N

ERHAVE INT N W

A T E RA N S S T

Support Services

General Health Screenings

Vet Centers Employment Support and Education Support Free Tax Preparation Transportation Assistance Housing and Housing Counseling Lunch will be served Haircuts Veterans Benefits Administration Veterans Service Organizations Vouchers for Thrift Store Clothing Boots and Warm Clothing

Influenza and H1N1 Shots Prostate Screening Cholesterol Check HIV Testing

Consultative Services Nutritional Counseling Eye Exam Oral Health Women’s Health Infectious Disease Podiatry

For more information Please phone the Homeless Outreach Program at 202-636-7660 or visit: www.washingtondc.va.gov/

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

All about Christmas By Veda Simpson, Vendor C is for Christ H is for Hymn R is for Ribbons I is for Icicles S is for Santa Claus T is for Toys M is for Mary A is for Animals S is for Sheep

Christmas is for the celebration when Christ was born. It is not only for humans but for animals, too! The night Christ was born; animals surrounded and kept watch over Christ not letting hurt, harm or danger to come to him. King Herod put a hit on Christ. But it was the donkey that Joseph put Mary on to make the get-away so King Herod’s hit would not come to pass. For the side of Christmas children believe in, it was the reindeer led by Rudolph that guided Santa’s sleigh to deliver all the toys to all the good little boys and girls. That is why I make sure there are plenty of gifts under the tree for my cats because they have been good companions for me all year. There is never a dull moment with them around. They keep a smile on my face, listen to my problems, and know when I’m sad or sick. We eat, watch TV, pray and sing together. Simply beautiful and never complain. They are well deserving of all good things that come to them. If you want to put something under my tree for my cats…feel free. Thank God for all the animals on Earth. God put us all here together to have PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO US ALL!

Christmas Angel By Sybil Taylor, Vendor Christmas is a day of giving and receiving. Showing love for one another, remembering our lord Jesus Christ our savior our king was born on Christmas Day. Joy to the world! With great honors I was also born on Christmas Day - I am a Christmas angel. Joy to my family and friends! I spark a glow as bright as the stars sparkle and twinkle. When I arrived Christmas morning to my parents, what joy did I bring them. I am very happy to be born the same day as the King.

Christmas means presents, joy, love, and giving. Christmas is for everyone! Christmas music Christmas DINNER: honey ham, greens, potato salad, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, biscuits, rolls, ice cream and pie. There should be snow flurries and playing in the snow glare for the sunshine. Christmas morning glows like the faces of the children. Many churches feed the homeless and people in need, wishing a Merry Christmas to all!

What is the True Meaning of Christmas? By Ashley McMullen, Vendor

What is the true meaning of Christmas? As the Christmas holiday approaches, most kids don’t know the real meaning of Christmas. Christmas isn’t just about who gets the most presents or who gives the best pair of shoes. Christmas is the day Jesus Christ was born. Young kids think Christmas is about Santa Claus bringing

them all the toys and best clothes for the fun holidays. We as parents should tell our kids what the true meaning of Christmas is. We also should explain to our young kids that Christmas was the day Jesus Christ was born. Parents should also take their kids to church so they can understand what the definition of Christmas is.

CHILDREN’S ART:

Christmas Joy Hearing the sound of Santa’s voice, Ho! Ho! Ho! “Merry Christmas.” Brings joy! Hearing the sound of Santa’s sled and jingle bells, brings joy! Hearing the sound of Santa’s helpers brings joy! Seeing the reindeer run upon the land brings joy! Hearing the sounds of children, laughing, singing and thanking moms and dads for Christmas joy! Thanking our lord for the birth of the son, Jesus!!!

By Phillip A. Howard Sr. Vendor

There are 1,868 children experiencing homelessness in the District. The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project visits 6 different transitional housing and emergency shelter programs to provide weekly activities, healthy snacks, and opportunities to play and learn to as many children as possible.

Courtesy of the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project

COMICS & GAMES

MERRY CHRISTMAS By Terron Solomon, Vendor

STREET MERRY CHRISTMAS

GIFTS

NORTH POLE

THE NUTCRACKER

CAROLS

JACK FROST

HOLIDAY SEASON

JINGLE BELLS

DIAMONDS

REINDEER

HO HO HO

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

OPINION

MINIMUM WAGE: My Personal Narrative On Low Wage Jobs By Jeffery Mcneil Vendor Economics is the study of choices and the consequences of the choices one makes. As I look back on why I became poor, I can say with great candor that I made some pretty poor decisions. I didn’t save or plan for the future. Every dollar that I came across I made it a ritual to spend it at the bar. I can take the the easy road and make excuses for my shortcomings however I have taken responsibility for the part I played in my failures. To say that I have failed because I am black or that my parents were poor might gain me some pity and sympathy. However this would be dishonest to those who read my articles. Opportunities were presented to me but I squandered them. As I reflect other kids came from hardships far worse than the ones I faced, applied themselves, got educated and today are making good salaries far above the minimum wage. Although I wasn’t a great student in school, I have always been a student of human nature and have always managed to keep a job. I attributed much of my early work experience to the policies of President Ronald Reagan whose economic policies of non-intervention allowed troubled teenagers such as myself inexpensive for companies to hire. My first job was in 1983, back then the minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. What are call dead end jobs today were once plentiful for troubled youths such as myself. My first job was bagging groceries for a family grocery store. It was a small business that ran on thin profit margins that had to compete with larger retail supermarkets. For this small business owner it was a great risk to invest in somebody with no work experience. As I reflect I am grateful that he didn’t cut his losses and fire me. I was awkward, clumsy and inexperienced. Truth was he should have used me as a charitable contribution because he was losing money on the deal. However, after a year of work experience I got a raise and was eventually promoted to manager. The supermarkets of the eighties were a far cry from the ones of today. Watching the marketplace of my youth helped convince me that free markets are the best way to help the poor. Back then there were jobs available that have since been phased out such as elevator operators, baggers and pushcart vendors. It was great to see people, including uneducated people and teenagers getting valuable work experience by bagging groceries, running elevators or selling from pushcarts. Today they have been

replaced by ex-convicts demanding compensation packages such as health care benefits and long term pensions. This is one of the reasons why the minimum wage should be relaxed not raised. Jobs such as bagging groceries or washing dishes are not intended to be jobs for life, laced with healthcare benefits and compensation packages. These jobs are given to people who can’t find employment because they lack a degree or skills. These jobs give these people a chance to get good work experience. Somewhere the madness has to stop. Although progressives have demonized cheap labor, the truth is cheap labor is not as immoral as some have you believe. There are many advantages for keeping wages low. Low wages expand the economy. They are also a source of

The supermarkets of the eighties were a far cry from the ones of today. Watching the marketplace of my youth helped convince me that free markets are the best way to help the poor. income for people who are not qualified for skilled jobs and who would otherwise go without any income at all. Low wage jobs also give troubled youths alternatives to a life of crime and gangs. Historical evidence proves conclusively the minimum wage has the most impact upon disadvantaged groups such as teenager and minorities. However there are few discussions on how the minimum wage affects consumers with low incomes. When the wage increases, the prices of products go up. For poor people, Happy Meals and Big Macs become unaffordable. While the suburbanites can still afford their lattes at Starbucks, well-meaning liberals still need to consider those who are living on the margins. As Jesus said before he was crucified “Father forgive these people for they know not what they do.” In future issues of Street Sense, I will show that the intent of raising the minimum wage is not to alleviate poverty but as weapon by both corporation and unions to either drive off competition or to discriminate against unskilled workers.

C=MB2:Homeless Women are Not Defenseless By Cynthia Mewborn, Vendor

Sexual predators might see homeless women as easy targets, but that is not the case at all. These sick and cowardly individuals should anticipate more hassle than they have bargained for. More often than not, they underestimate their potential victims. More and more homeless women are not only standing up for their rights but are also, if necessary, physically fighting for their rights. We homeless women want to let these good-for-nothings know that we will not be easy prey and we will use every means necessary in making sure that they will never have another opportunity to attempt to assault another homeless woman in the future. Ultimately, we will let them know that homeless women are not victims but are STRONG (will physically fight), DETERMINED (to put predators behind bars), and are SURVIVORS (who are empowering other women in following our lead). These individuals should know that the next time they try something when it comes to homeless women they need to think twice and three times. Several weeks ago a man attempted to assault me while I was resting. Once I realized that he was attempting to harm me, I responded in a loud voice. I yelled

threats at him and informed him he was being recorded by surveillance cameras. At that, the man immediately ran off. Now the incident is being investigated by a detective, and once this individual is identified, charges will be pressed on him. Though homelessness puts women in vulnerable situations, they are not out there for you to sexually assault them. And if you do, you can best believe that it doesn’t matter who you are, you will pay the price. Let me just remind you what you don’t have a right to do. You don’t have a right to verbally assault, physically assault, sociologically assault, spiritually assault, or emotionally assault any homeless women who lives out there on the streets. So the next time you see a homeless woman, keep in mind that we are not defenseless but are capable of not only putting you behind bars but making sure that you stay there for a very long time. You sexual predators are criminals who have no regard for anyone. But you will learn to have regard for the law, for the police, and especially for the court system because that will be your last stop before going to jail, you good-for-nothings.

The Street Sense Writers’ Group is led by two 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.

My State of Affairs

The Week after Thanksgiving

By Judson B. Williams III, Vendor

Dear folks who think there is nothing to fear: Let’s just say I am extremely concerned. I’m not so worried about the shenanigans of Monsanto or even the alleged sex-changing herbicides of European multinational corporations infiltrating America’s fresh water supplies. The time is 8:23 p.m. on November 12. The moon is void, of course (signifying there is nothing that can be done until inaccuracies are cleared tomorrow when the moon enters the next sign). I just left Kramerbooks and Books-AMillion in DuPont Circle, both of which carry the current issue of Foreign Affairs. Things are occurring much too fast. Apparently, scientists and even tech-savvy wannabees can create through the latest computer technologies GMOs (genetically modified organisms) not only of food and fish, but also viruses and influenzas with no safety protocols. It has been inferred the Egyptians were experimenting with the DNA of polio and mutating the same during

By Gerald Anderson, Vendor the Arab Spring. Some laboratory rats are missing, and it is alleged Al Qaeda shipping data inside pornographic magazines. Let us pray: “Lord, lead us not into temptation...for we found it all by ourselves.” On another note, many Native Americans (a/k/a First Nations) regard the day we celebrate as Thanksgiving as “A Day of Shame.” In Witter Byners’ poetic translation of the Tao Te Ching (translated as the Way of Life), the opening English stanza says “Conduct your victory like a funeral.” In a hopeful note, The Reason I Jump describes a 13-year-old Japanese boy’s struggle with autism (said by many to reflect the logarithmic expansion and proliferation of GMOs). Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath and Thom Hartmann’s The Crash of 2016 provide further good cheer. I leave you with two thoughts: May you live in interesting times. Every saint has a past; every sinner has a future.

A Christmas Thanksgiving By Angie Whitehurst, Vendor

Christmas time is a free wheeling spirit that even the non-practicing, non-believing forget themselves and join in the happiness, joy and gifting. Thanks to the givings we have received, joy is the ritual of sharing, caring and repasting together for five seconds and the length of time of a prayer. Regardless of race, color or creed.

Let us pray for those things we need and want to improve, remold and sculpt anew. Let us pray that we carry the spirit of thanks and givings in our hearts and souls all of the time. Let the thanks for all and the givings offered and received to one another be with us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The week after Thanksgiving, the Salvation Army, in Washington DC, Ward 7 and 8, was broken into. A lot of money and toys were taken. I live in a shelter nearby and this Salvation Army has given me clothing before. The parents that were approved for the program were really worried about how they were going to provide for their families due to the large amount of money, and other things, that were taken. They thought they weren’t going to see a smile on their kids’ faces this year. And then the community came together and raised the money to replace the toys and other gifts. This saved Christmas for a lot of families

who are relying on the Salvation Army. I am just thanking God on the blessing that came through for Ward 7 and 8. And the blessing and the increase of money that was provided by different people to make sure that every parent that was approved for the program could see their kids smile. Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my customers, friends, family and everyone else who works for Street Sense. Have a safe and happy new year. I hope the Salvation Army continues to be blessed.

Don’t

By Samuel Fullwood, Vendor Don’t down someone else’s way of life Don’t pretend to go alone Just to go alone Don't put off something that you know you will regret dont stand by and let wrong control your life don’t try and control someone else’s life or destination Don’t start something and not go as far as you can don’t judge until you truly know the truth don’t let anyone else tell you who you are don’t never forget you are who are and that an individual don't look at a failure as a bad thing rather a learning process for you are different and makes you special don’t be a follower instead strive to be a team player for we all need each other to succeed at one time or another speaking up in life avoids terrible things from happening communicate-communicate-communicate No matter the time it takes it will come out to be the right choice way and path to go Just remember to everything be good or bad there is a madness

Expectations

What People Say

Treasure of Perfection

My smile used to be all that she would need My strong hand to hold to help her succeed

When it starts, this itch gets deep down in my spine I have to answer it, because it controls my mind

There are days when people will say you are not going to make it. There are days when people will give nothing but praise. There are days when trouble will come your way. There are days when you say – ok – what a great day! There are days of happiness, days of sadness, days of good and days of bad. These days of upset, days of peace just remember that life is a “day” but that there is always tomorrow – another day.

I try to smile at my princess while waving goodbye She smiles back while trying not to cry

Sweat Treat

I walk with you Every day, together. “We are one.” We will never be apart; You will never be alone. Look for me within yourself And you will always see me. We are one heart, one mind, and one soul Together. You’re my “treasure of perfection”, The immeasurable jewel, And you’re the miraculous connection to predestination. You’re the generational bloodline reflection. The passion of my soul. Within you are the mysteries, the secrets of generational whispering spirits. Within the deepest depths we’re one heart, one mind, one soul. “We are one.” You’re my precious jewel, “My treasure of perfection.”

By Larry Garner, Vendor

She wanted to be a princess with a pink pirate ship And I was there right with her up until I got that itch It’s this itch that I can’t seem to control It wants my attention and it knocks at my soul

By Jacqueline Turner, Vendor

By Brianna Butler, Vendor I make her promises that I fully intend to keep I just have to make one stop every day of the week If I could just stop this tingling then maybe she would see That she is truly the most important person to me I hope my love shows when I have to tell her goodbye I hope she knows that Dads really do cry

Sipping on a cold stem glass of pina colada Sipping on a large, deep glass of an ice cream float Flourishing over a double chocolate chip cake Embracing over a strawberry cheese cake Mellowing over a sweet potato pie All things to enjoy after a long day’s work With Anna, Kiana, and Dan, my friends.

By Carlton “InkFlow” Johnson, Vendor

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

VENDOR WRITING

The Mysterious Masonic Ring By John “Mick” Matthews Vendor When Kittie and Dickerson were munching carry-out food, Kittie admitted that she had visited her aunt instead of being with him. The guy who inspired her to do so was the British guy with the bowler hat. Then she further told Dickerson that she was a member of the sororal organization “Order of the Eastern Star.” Dickerson was furious that she didn’t tell him about this sooner, and explained that the guy used to be described as a dangerous man... “So you knew he was British because of a picture?” I asked, incredulously. “No, but let me finish,” she continued, “truth be told, it wasn’t even the picture that jogged that particular memory, it was how he tipped that bowler of his.” “Ok go on,” I said, most of the negative emotions I had held onto the previous day melting in a need to know what she knew about Bowler Hat. “It was the way he held his fingers. Like he was flashing the ‘ok’ sign with his mid-

dle, ring, and pinkie fingers outstretched.” “Yeah, I remember that,” I said, “thought it was kinda flaky at the time, but more in a 1930’s silent movie kind of flakiness.” “No, it’s a lot more dangerous than that. Look at the “ok” sign for a minute. Did you know that once upon a time, it was thought to be more of the sign of the beast than the horned fist?” --The Horned Fist, by the way, is made by making a fist, and extending the index and pinkie fingers, making it look kinda like the horns of a bull or goat. It’s mostly seen today at Texas Longhorn games (for its connotations with a bull), and at heavy metal concerts (for its supposedly satanic origins). However, it originated in the cult of the Celtic god Cellanos, who was much-maligned by early Christians, to the point where his image was used as the image of Devil himself. Even today, the horned man with eleven feet is the image of the Prince of Darkness. Okay, history lesson over, back to the story-“The 666 thing?” I responded. “Yea, the way the three fingers and the

Merry Christmas By Martin Walker, Vendor

It turned out to be a pretty joyous occasion which made me very happy. Now I have been in regular contact with my family once again and it makes me happy that after all things that families sometimes go through that our family bond is still there. I’m now looking forward to spending what may very well be my last Christmas as a D.C. resident with my family. Even though Thanksgiving was very nice, Christmas will be even more special to me because it’s the birthday of the ones who I thank the most for being able to live: Jesus Christ and my mother, whose birthday is also December 25th. Without these two very special influences in my life, there’s no telling how desperate things might be for me. So this Christmas I hope

everybody finds something meaningful to truly be happy for, and not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas: to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus died so that we may have ever lasting life in paradise. To those who find it particularly difficult to find happiness during this time of year, I say just pray for the joy life to enter your heart and do what you can to be around loved ones. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. To my mom, I say Happy 73rd Birthday. I love you and look forward to many more birthdays with you. P.S. I want to say thanks to the lady from Laurel, MD who sent a little help to the Street Sense office for my relocation. Merry Christmas.

‘o,’ made with the thumb and index finger looks like three sixes stacked on top of each other and fanned out,” she went on. “666, instant sign of the the beast.” “So you’re telling me, Nowler, that’s the Antichrist?” I responded, with just a chuckle in my voice. The tables were turned now, with me as the guy making

Chapter 7: Secrets (cont’d)

the outlandish inquiries to provoke Kittie’s fountain of information. A piece of me found the irony delicious. Another piece was more in love with her at that moment than I’d ever been in my life. (to be continued)

de 1 o s i ep pg 7

Strange Brew

By Gary J. Minter, Vendor I remember sloshing through muddy Illinois swamps as a child, a half-century ago, on steamy summer days, brushing aside cattails to search for slimy creatures: hardshelled crayfish with razor-sharp pinchers, dragonfly nymphs holding fast to stalks of swamp plants, green frogs and black salamanders slipping through my fingers, wriggling in my white gauze net, swimming in my tin bucket… Ages ago, long, long before our ancestors leapt among the branches of African rainforests, before the terrible lizards ruled the earth and 80-foot sharks ruled the seas, great swamps covered the earth. There were giants in the earth in those days: salamanders as long as a man's height, dragonfly wings spanning a yard, cockroaches bigger than a cat scuttling around the bases of juicy soft green spires taller than church steeples. A strange brew of life swam and crawled in the ancient swamps. Countless green stalks rose from the rich brown mud, grew to the sky, then slowly died, falling on each other in rotting piles of decaying corpses. The graveyards of rotting vegetables grew deeper and deeper, higher and higher, crushing those at the bottom.... Over countless eons the swamp cemeteries became a thousand feet deep, under unbearable pressure plant bodies liquified, or hardened, transformed by Mother Nature's alchemy into black gold: oil, coal, gas, even diamonds...a girl's best friend! (Inspired by Maxine Kumin's "Credo," written at Miriam's Kitchen poetry group this morning, December 5)

Mandela

They Called It Black Ops By James Fetherson Volunteer

By Angie Whitehurst, Vendor

The talk was over. The war is on. No more trying, tribulated, fragile facade of a piece of peace. Waiting, waiting for the treasured-held cargo of the ship Freedom to come a blowing in. The Freedom would sail. The Freedom would save only with an all-out win on the dead souls of war’s bloodshed. But for the man who held the hearts and led the cause behind a closed, cold steel door and space consumed by encircled bars. The tragedy to free shackled minds and souls would be a total barbaric and unrepairable end to a country needing justice, fairness and equality through dialogue and peaceful changing as slow as it can be.

The palm of hearts held strong and the Evolution born in revolution which overtime became the evolution against the tide of “total destruction and was of the Freedom’s cargo – human flesh – There is no living if nothing is left. There must be change; there must be reasoned civilly correct peace. This is the gift of one man and the millions of people unnamed who took a stand, and under the right conditions bravely said no more without a bloody war. A walk hand-in-hand. All hope and trust in this man, who held the drum beat hearts of millions in the palm of his unmarked hands.

Dateline Gloryville Delaware. A cornfield on a hot August day in 1977... Billy's feeling kind of down. Trying to kick booze because vodka just finished off his bitter, angry 56-year old dad, William Senior. Billy has under the crook of his right arm, Gloria. Gloria, the prize hen of the Luck Chicken farm, incorporated 1959, had become Billy Jr.'s closest confidante in recent weeks.

of his imminent demise; and (b) Billy had been further emotionally stripped down by the interference of Bull Grimes, of Bridgeville-his former best bud/now chief nemesis-- in young Billy's deep romance with Annie Flythe, was truly the only woman he had ever loved. By the bye, in Billy Jr.'s left hand was the Smirnoff bottle(and its last dregs) that had choked off the life of his poor old dad. Billy apologized to Gloria the red rhody chicken for what he was about to do, the CHUGGED back the stalle swaller of vodka. They were deep in the cramped little Gloryville Baptist Graveyard by this time. Billy was teetering over the freshly placed simple stone marker at the head of soft orange earth, the tablet reading, "WILLIAM LUCK 1921-1977, His Road Was Hard, His Journey Brief." The reverie of bird and man was suddenly shattered by a rude bellow, "What the HAIL you doin', Grave-Robbin'?" At this blast of unwelcome vulgarity, Gloria tore free of Billy, letting out a cloud of soft down from her ruffled breast, and Billy let the bottle fly loose, allowing it to smash

Particularly since (a), it was clear that insanity of Big Luck was a foreshadowing

It was a dark period of an unjust, lethal and brutal war. I, Sgt. First Class James Fetherson of the recon team (Bravo Two Zero), was assigned to the U.S. Army’s Special Operations group. It was a mission behind enemy lines. It was a long night. The bugs were out and so was the enemy. The Central Intelligence Agency sent my team on a counter terror operation. As I lay in the one-man foxhole, I began to think about those warm days and the 4th of July back home in North Carolina. I thought about the fun I had as a child. It felt like I was closer to God. I began to think back to my mother and father. I thought about how much I loved them both. Wait just a second. Something moved over the hill near the river. U.S. Intelligence had reported heavy enemy in that sector. I held my weapon closer, looking out for the enemy suicide bomber. I said a prayer as I looked up to the blue sky. I thanked God for letting me see each day. Soon after, I witnessed a human body being torn apart by an enemy missile. It took me two hours to regain my composure. I had to keep going. “It’s life in a war zone,” I told myself. “It’s standard operating procedure.” James Fetherson became homeless after being deployed to a combat zone in the Middle East. He now works as an armed special police officer.

against his father's headstone, dribbling bits of glass and liquor over the epitaph. Billy and Bull Grimes tumbled out the crooked iron gates of the boneyard, and rolled, literally down the dusty gravel road into town, seemingly locked in an inexorable choke grip. "Whar's my girl," Luck demanded. "No place near your sorry tail," Grimes snarled. Gloryville is a fairly compact burg, with the main landmarks at the epicenter of town square (actually a circle ringed with whitewashed pointy rocks) being the Confederate Flag Bearer statue, and the Stevens Studebaker Dealership, flanked by its hallmark 1928 forest-green cast iron lamp standards. studebakers hadn't been sent there since 1963, but Mr. Stevens didn't seem to notice, since he still had at least half- a dozen Larks and wagons in the plate-glass framed front showroom. In fact the portly proprietor, in suspenders and Tshirt with overalls, puffed on his stogie and chuckled as the tangle of arms and legs that was Billy and Bull, tumbled past. (to be continued)

Service Spotlight: Where to get a meal...

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Housing/Shelter

Clothing

Outreach

Transportation

Education

Legal Assistance

Food

Showers

Medical/Healthcare

Laundry

Employment Assistance

Thrive DC | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 AM | Breakfast for the needy | 1525 Newton St NW | (202) 737-9311

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS HOTLINE 1-888-7WE HELP (1-888-793-4357)

Thrive DC | Monday to Friday, 3 PM to 6 PM | Dinner for women and children, only | 1525 Newton St NW | (202) 737-9311 Academy of Hope: 269-6623 601 Edgewood St, NE aohdc.org Bread for the City: 265-2400 (NW) | 561-8587 (SE) 1525 7th St, NW | 1640 Good Hope Rd, SE breadforthecity.org Calvary Women’s Services: 678-2341 1217 Good Hope Road, SE calvaryservices.org

Catholic Charities: 772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Charlie’s Place: 232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave, NW charliesplacedc.org Christ House: 328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd, NW christhouse.org Church of the Pilgrims: 387-6612 2201 P St, NW churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach food (1 - 1:30 on Sundays only)

Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place: 364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave, NW cchfp.org Community Family Life Services: 347-0511 305 E St, NW cflsdc.org

SHELTER HOTLINE: 1–800–535–7252

Covenant House Washington: 610-9600 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE covenanthousedc.org

Miriam’s Kitchen: 452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave, NW miriamskitchen.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center: 333-4949 3655 Calvert St. NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

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

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

Thrive DC: 737-9311 1525 Newton St, NW thrivedc.org

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

Unity Health Care: 745-4300 3020 14th St, NW unityhealthcare.org

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

The Welcome Table: 347-2635 1317 G St, NW epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

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

Jobs Have Priority: 544-9128 425 Snd St, NW jobshavepriority.org John Young Center: 639-8569 119 D Street, NW

Community of Hope: 232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

STREET SENSE December 18 - 30, 2013

Martha’s Table: 328-6608 2114 14th St, NW marthastable.org

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

Rachel’s Women’s Center: 682-1005 1222 11th St, NW rachaels.org

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St, NW | 745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave, SE | 797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Samaritan Inns: 667-8831 2523 14th St, NW samaritaninns.org Samaritan Ministries: 1516 Hamilton Street NW | 722-2280 1345 U Street SE | 889-7702 samaritanministry.org

Subscribe to Street Sense 1 Year: $40 2 Years: $80 3 Years: $120 I want half of my purchase to benefit a vendor directly Vendor Name

Sasha Bruce Youthwork: 675-9340 741 8th St, SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 797-8806 71 O St, NW some.org

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Dear Santa,

Photos by: Jane Cave

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me. Well, Santa I did me to email my resu for d an e But, its on ph e th my resume to her. questions over o weeks of sending tw orary er mp aft te y a e lad lik e th re hear from anent job, its mo rm pe a ve ha has ll om wi I at that dice.c not guaranteed th er. I have to admit ov d an 55 rta are po ns at th tra e necessary agency for seniors but, I don’t have th in lls r ca he me eit en ed at giv s loc in the past ha Dice.com jobs are interviews. Most of ve a car. tion to make those s for someone to ha ire ly VA which requ til an Ch or VA n, Resto tant, Administrative Assis for is: IT Specialist, g kin hold t loo no am I do s I a, ion nt 2. The posit Service. Sa Desk, or Customer lp He , ms ste Sy n Informatio field. Once certifications in my le down and any of the required positions I can buck e ov ab e th in b d as a jo ge wa e very expensive an I get a living fications classes ar rti Ce . ion at fic rti study for a ce y for the classes. my salary can’t pa Street Sense Vendor with this request. ink you can help me So, Santa do you th

December 18 - 30, 2013 • Volume 11 • Issue 3

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nta Love you always Sa Aida Basnight

as a little girl n, DC and I heard to ing sh Wa in rk wo you think you can P.S. I prefer to find each other so, do to or do xt ne e liv how Santa and God t. speed up my reques