12 19 2012 by Street Sense Media

Volume 10: Issue 3 December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

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

Celestial Manna works to distribute excess food to the working poor.

McNeil 11 Jeffrey eyes upcoming

Supreme Court marriage debates.

Scenes from our vendor Christmas party!

COVER ART Children at Valley Place family transitional housing program celebrate Christmas with Homeless Children’s Playtime Project.

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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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WREATH BY LAUREN POOLE PHOTO BY JANE CAVE

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STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

Annual Vigil to Remember Homeless A vigil to mark National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day is scheduled for noon on Friday, Dec. 21 at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. The solemn service, celebrated with lit candles, songs, stories and the reading of the names of people who died in homelessness is held annually near or on the winter solstice which marks the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. The local event is coordinated with services in more than 150 other cities across the country. The memorials have been held every year since 1990. Among those who will be remembered in this year’s service are three Street Sense vendors, Tyrone Murray, Tommy Bennett and Leroy Sturdevant as well as Jesse Smith, Jr. a former Street Sense vendor manager, poet, speaker and homeless advocate. Others who will be memorialized include Peter Bis, Zachary Brown, Clark Carvaly, Misty Clanton, Renee Farmer, Alfonza Flythe, Betty Jones, Billy Ragan, Terrence Bowie Robinson, and a man identified only as Lorenzo T. Patricia “Pat” Handy, who served as homeless coordinator for the District

Department of Human Services and who died on Nov 20 will also be remembered. National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day activities are co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB), and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC.) They are intended to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember homeless friends. . To compile the annual list of homeless people who died in the District, the National Coalition for the Homeless relies upon newspaper clippings, reports from the medical examiner’s office and names provided by clinics and agencies. The coalition’s executive director Neil Donovan has described it as an unscientific process. But he explains that homeless advocates do all they can to make sure the deaths of homeless people don’t go unnoticed. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church is located at 1313 New York Ave, NW. A free meal will follow the service and will be offered at 1 p.m.

Sybil Taylor - 12/25 | Evelyn Nnam - 12/31

NEWS IN BRIEF

Arlington Neighbors Debate New Shelter By Mark Rose Volunteer Advocates in Arlington, Virginia are celebrating a plan to open a yearround homeless services center in an office building recently purchased by the county. Less thrilled are some of the residents of a condominium complex and several apartment buildings near the new shelter facility, planned for a site within walking distance of the Courthouse Metro station in the heart of downtown Arlington. At meetings on the project, some neighbors have said they are worried that the homeless people seeking help or beds at the center will bring violent criminal histories along with them. It’s a concern advocates for the homeless are working hard to address. “The community thinks they’re all sex offenders, and they’re not,” said Kathleen Sibert executive director for the nonprofit Arlington Street Peoples’ Assistance Network, or A-SPAN, which will run the new facility for the county. The Arlington County Board approved purchase of the seven-story Thomas Building, 2020 14th Street North on Nov. 17 for just over $27 million, and closed on the deal three days later. The county plans to spend $42.6 million renovating the building over the next five years, and to open the shelter, which will occupy the second and

third floors by November 1, 2014. The shelter and homeless services facility will replace a winter emergency shelter that has operated down the street for the past 20 years. In addition, the redeveloped building will include floors of office space for Arlington County government, as well as retail shops and other commercial offices. Some of the current business tenants will stay, others will have to relocate. The Homeless Services Center will address the needs of homeless Arlington County residents aged 18 to 75, seeking to move them toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency. The center will have 50 year-round beds and an additional 25 beds during the colder months from November through the end of March. There will be five extra beds for medically fragile residents who need nursing care. Two well-attended meetings have been held by the board to gather community input on the plan, with a third scheduled for Jan 14. At the first two, Woodbury Heights condominium owners and other neighborhood residents lined up to discuss their opinions about the shelter. Woodbury Heights condo association president Kenneth Robinson was among the most vocal critics of the plan. He expressed frustration with members of the board, who he said were not doing enough to take the safety of the neighborhood into account.

“They need to do something that shows the people there that Arlington County takes seriously the protection of the public,” Robinson said. At one of the meetings, he asked that homeless people seeking services at the facility be required to undergo criminal background checks. He said he wanted services denied to those with records of violent criminal behavior. But Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the police would not permit such a policy. Professional staff at the shelter will be trained to report any suspicious behavior they observe. In Virginia, as in most states, criminal law requires that such a check be done only if there is probable cause based on observed behavior. Even then, it is a matter that only Virginia State Police handle, governed by strict rules. Marsha Allgeier, Deputy County Manager, also responding to Robinson’s worries about criminals, noted that anyone released from jail has to report to his probation officer regularly, and that sex offenders must report their place of residence to police. And not all neighborhood residents were worried by the plan. Some said that the nearby emergency shelter that has served the homeless in past winters has not been a source of problems. A police dispatcher at headquarters across the street from the building agreed, saying said that the existing shelter has

not caused crime or disturbances. County officials said they expect the center will serve both working and non-working homeless people, about 70 percent men and 30 percent women. Non-county residents will be allowed to stay up to 96 hours, and center staff will help those people connect with homeless services in their home jurisdictions. In addition to providing emergency shelter and temporary housing to men and women in need, the center will develop an assessment plan geared toward getting clients into permanent housing. The County Department of Human Services will provide substance abuse treatment, medical help, life skills training as well as links to job training and potential employment. The center will be open year-round with trained staff present around the clock. Curfew will be at 10 p.m., though exceptions will be made for clients who work night hours. County Department of Human Services Communications Manager Kurt Larrick said that county officials want the center to be seen as a “good neighbor,” and are willing to listen to neighborhood residents’ concerns. “I understand and empathize with their concerns,” Larrick said in an interview, “but I think we can work with them to make this work for everybody.” Larrick added that the county has five other shelters; this will be the one for single adults. Homeless county residents with children as well as those with domestic violence problems, will be directed to other shelters whose staff and facilities are equipped to handle those issues. He added that it has taken the county about 20 years to replace the emergency shelter, which was from the start seen as a temporary solution. “It has taken that long to make this a reality,” Larrick said. The county board had been eyeing this location in the heart of the city for the shelter and county offices, for some time. Then building became available, Larrick said. “It’s the best sort of area for that need, and it’s just taken that long for the stars to align.”

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

NEWS

Volunteer Network Feeds Thousands By Jeff Gray Editorial Intern Every Friday evening at 6 Scott Feger and his family rendezvous at the Hampshire View Baptist Church and begin loading the church van with coolers. While most families are nestling into their couches and beginning their weekends, the Fegers are heading from their home in suburban Silver Spring, Maryland toward the city of Washington, where they will spend much of the night gathering food donations from local groceries to give to the needy. The Fegers are volunteer members of the District-based Celestial Manna, a charitable organization that collects food donations that are nearing or past their sell-by dates and redistributing them to the disadvantaged. “Our number one goal is to save food that would otherwise end up in the dumpster and give it to struggling families,” says Scott, a 20-year Navy veteran. A deeply religious man who frequently quotes scripture, Scott dedicates many hours a week to volunteer work for Celestial Manna. On this particular Friday night he is joined by his two teenage sons Caleb and Joshua and 19 year-old family friend Jeremy Karkhuff. At the group’s first stop, a specialty supermarket in Arlington, Scott strolls down the aisles, greeting each employee by name. He makes his way towards the

storage room, pushing the doors open as naturally as if he works here. The food being donated may be past its designated shelf life, but in most cases it is still perfectly fine to eat. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the sell-by date is the earliest time at which the product may begin to spoil, and is entirely a concern of quality rather than health. “We don’t donate anything we wouldn’t buy ourselves,” says one store manager. Particularly in many specialty stores, who pride themselves on providing top quality products, food may be removed from the shelf two to three days before its sell-by date in order to make room for newer shipments. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that U.S. supermarkets throw out $2,300 per store worth of out-of-date food every day, most of which is still consumable. Scott points out several loaves of bread baked that very morning that have been removed in order to free shelf space for the next day’s stock. The donations gathered by Scott and his crew will be stored back at the church, where the food will be made available to those who need it. The target beneficiaries of Celestial Manna are working-class and immigrant families whose economic hardships often force them to scrimp on groceries. “When funds get tight for a working

40%

of all US food is wasted between farm and landfill Billion

lbs of in-store food lost in a recent year

25%

of food and beverages purchased by American families are thrown out

Data provided by NRDC’s 2012 report “Wasted: How America is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill.” PHOTO COURTESTY OF CELESTIAL MANNA

Residents receive donations from Celestial Manna. PHOTO COURTESY OF CELESTIAL MANNA

family, food is usually one of the first items they’ll cut back on,” explains president and founder Charlie Mann. “We supplement them the best we can.” So while many government programs are there to help the most destitute, Celestial Manna is dedicated to helping the working poor, agrees Scott. “We provide help to those that fall through the safety net,” he says. The Fegers have their gleaning work down to an efficient system. Joshua and Caleb push grocery carts full of donations out to Jeremy, who methodically packs them into designated coolers and stacks them in the van. For a trio of teenage boys spending their Friday night volunteering for a church, there is a noticeable lack of whining. The boys enthusiastically go about their work, cracking jokes througout. Jeremy pauses from his stacking to do a summersault in the street. “My kids and their friends have really stepped up,” says Scott. He says the boys willingly find time between social events and jobs to contribute. “They have unbelievable work ethics and maturity for their ages. There’s no way I could do this without them.” The members of the crew pack back into the now-cramped vehicle and head to their next location. Though his church provides Scott with the van and gas mon-

ey, Celestial Manna, which has no operating expenses or paid staff, does not cover the cost incurred by its volunteers. “The expenses fall on each individual,” says Mann. “Our volunteers are committing their own money and time to do this.” Mann founded Celestial Manna in 1986, initially out of his own needs. “I wasn’t making much money at the time and my family was in need,” he explains. “I started regularly going in to a local store and asking for the food they were going to throw away.” He began providing for a steadily increasing number of family and friends, an expansion that eventually led to the founding of Celetial Manna. The organization has steadily expanded its reach in the past decade and a half, now serving some 6,000 disadvantaged individuals with the help of about 80 volunteers. Finished with their pickups, the tired group makes the hour-long trek north back to Silver Spring, where they organize and store their bounty in the church. By the time they’ve unloaded the last cooler it is past 1 AM. “Its hard work, but its worth its,” says Scott, who will rise early the next morning to repeat the process again. “I like helping people, and I want to pass that on to my kids.”

Change May Come to Federal City Shelter By Mary Otto and Jeffrey Gray Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Intern There about 1,300 beds and a lot of history in the cavernous and crumbling Federal City Shelter. But if you ask Chapman Todd, something far better for the homeless could rise at Second and D streets NW. “We have the possibility to do something great,” said Todd formerly of Catholic Charities, now a supportive and affordable housing consultant who works with organizations including the Downtown DC Business Improvement District. The place, the former Federal City College, has served the city’s indigent for nearly three decades now. In the winter of 1983, at a time when hunger strikes, occupations and encampments were bringing attention to the nation’s growing homeless crisis, the building was turned over to the late advocate Mitch Snyder and a band of fellow activists from the Community for Creative

Non-Violence (CCNV) for use as a shelter. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan ordered the renovation of the facility and with the completion of the $14 million project four years later, the Federal City Shelter was declared the nation’s largest and most comprehensive facility of its kind. These days, the shelter is often referred to simply as Second and D or as CCNV, the initials of its largest and longest-running tenant. But the building also houses two other shelter programs, Open Door and John Young as well as other assistance organizations: Unity Health Care, Clean and Sober Streets and DC Central Kitchen. And years of hard use have left the District-owned building “in rough shape” as Todd observed. The aging structure is huge and hard to maintain: at four stories tall, it encloses an area of 200,000 square feet. An adjacent surface parking lot on the site, and a smaller arts and education building are

Keeping Up Effective January 2, 2013, the suggested donation for a copy of the newspaper will increase to $2.

Street Sense

owned by CCNV. All said, the property covers the better part of a city block of prime downtown real estate. Under Todd’s plan, the city would sell the building and the proceeds would be used to build a new facility on the vacant property owned by CCNV. The new place would be large enough to include an emergency shelter with hundreds of beds, as well as hundreds of units of permanent supportive housing and congregate housing geared to helping homeless people stabilize their lives. “There is a possibility to put something together that is self-financing and self-sustaining,“ Todd explained to a group of housing and homeless advocates, gathered for a recent meeting of the Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations. “This is an incredible opportunity” He stressed that to move forward, any plan for the property will require much deeper discussion, involving the city as well as homeless people and their advocates. “Its important to have it be a community conversation. Ultimately, this will be something the district government decides to move forward with or not. “ At the COHHO meeting, homeless advocate Cheryl Barnes said that the needs of the hundreds of men and women now staying at the Federal City Shelter should be taken into consideration as any plan for the site progresses. . “Change needs to come to CCNV,”

Barnes said.“ But there should be no harm or displacement to the people who are there now. “ Beyond the COHHO meeting, talk about new plans for the site are also creating a buzz. “The core issue at this point is not what the specific building plan is. The issue is that the homeless want a say in what the building is repurposed for,” said Will Merrifield, of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. “That’s the conversation that we need to be having right now. The specifics are still down the line.” A development plan for the Federal City Shelter site is not currently under discussion said a staff person at the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development But, she added, “it doesn’t mean it won’t be in the pipeline in the future.” Homeless advocate Eric Sheptock, who lives at the CCNV shelter hopes for a day when the homeless themselves will be employed as construction workers, building something new on the site. “We would have to get with developers and make sure they will provide job training for homeless individuals so they could then be hired to construction teams,” he said. “I want to make sure we (the homeless) are the first ones to get involved with this before some contractor comes in and grabs it. We need to be a part of building this.”

Street Sense is a nonprofit organization. The suggested donation for a copy of the newspaper has not increased since 2003. Since then the cost of living for our vendors and our production expenses have increased dramatically. This change is intended to help Street Sense and our vendors catch up economically. Questions and comments may be directed to our Executive Director Brian Carome. brian@streetsense.org

Thank you for supporting our vendors!

A Decade of

IMPACT Street Sense

August 4, 2010: Street Sense reported that CCNV was celebrating 40 years of service.

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

NEWS

Apparel Factory Fire Reveals Big Brands’ Shadowy Supply Chains Courtesy of Reuters via Street News Service www.street-papers.org

Sweating and trembling as he fielded questions about last month’s killer fire at one of his factories in Bangladesh, Delwar Hossain insisted he had no idea the workshop was making clothes for Wal-Mart Stores Inc when it went up in flames. On the other side of the world, WalMart said the factory — where 112 workers lost their lives — was not authorized to produce its merchandise and had been subcontracted by a supplier without its permission. That there should be such blind spots in the supply chain of the world’s largest retailer is puzzling. However, an investigation by Reuters since the Nov. 24 blaze has found that, under pressure from big Western brands to produce huge volumes of apparel fast and at rock-bottom prices, Bangladeshi suppliers routinely subcontract their orders. This frequently happens without the knowledge of the end-buyers and, all too often, the orders end up in factories that underpay workers or cut corners on safety. Experts in supply-chain risk say the practice has led to a lack of control over what is manufactured where, by whom and under what conditions. “The first problem is retailers and wholesalers are demanding more and more compliance and more and more protocol. However, they keep pushing everyone for lower and lower prices,” said Edward Hertzman, who runs Sourcing Journal, a trade publication. “You have one department of the company campaigning for fair wages etcetera, but then in the very next room the sourcing department is asking for 10 to 20 percent cheaper. How do you do that?” In the charred remains at the site of the fire in an industrial suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, a Reuters photographer found clothes that were labeled for — among other big-brand retailers — Wal-Mart, Sears Holdings Inc., and Walt Disney Co. After the fire, both Wal-Mart and Sears admitted that their goods were

Bangladesh Tazreen Fashions Garment Factory in Savar where 112 workers died in a fire. PHOTO COURTESY OF RTR3BARA VIA REUTERS

“ The first problem is retailers and wholesalers are demanding more and more compliance and more and more protocol. H o w e v e r, t h e y ke e p pushing everyone for lower and lower prices.”

- Edward Hertzman Sourcing Journal being manufactured at the Tazreen Fashions workshop, even though both had specifically denied that factory authorization as a supplier. Disney said its records showed that none of its authorized licensees had manufactured Disney-branded products at the factory for the past 12 months. Garment producers in the South Asian country say U.S. and European buyers haggle with them over every nickel and cent to keep their costs down, right down to the price of a shirt button. In turn, the suppliers — operating on wafer-thin margins — are forced to minimize their own costs and this often means farming work out to factories that operate on a shoestring. “Everything has a price,” Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Ghulam Muhammed Quader told Reuters in Dhaka.

“If you want to really give higher wages or really want to give some sort of other safety standards at a higher level, it costs some money. So the competitors for getting the orders from the big brands always try to cut their cost in different ways.”

Bangladesh Boom For a long time Western apparel buyers depended heavily on China to source their products. But labor shortages and mounting wage pressures prompted them to look elsewhere and Bangladesh has become - as a 2011 McKinsey report put it - “the next sourcing hotspot.” There they have found a country that has favorable trade terms with Europe and, crucially - with the minimum wage for garment workers under $37 a month - plenty of cheap labor. Bangladesh’s roughly 3,000 factories now account for 80 percent of the country’s $24 billion annual exports. The industry employs 3.6 million people and more than four times that number are dependent on the sector for their livelihoods. In short, it has become the economic lifeblood of the once-impoverished country as it moves up from aid to trade. Poor working conditions such as overcrowding and even locked emergency exits, have long been the dark side of this success story. Rights groups say efforts to address this have often been thwarted by curbs on union activities that employers and the government fear could threaten the boom.

In April, a labor activist was found murdered and his body bore signs of torture. Human Rights Watch said the killing raised the possibility of government involvement because the man had previously been detained and tortured by security officials. Officials dismissed the suggestion. There have been building collapses and many fires at Bangladeshi garment factories in the past, although none as deadly as the blaze at Tazreen Fashions. Shamoly Akhter, 19, was working on the second floor of the multi-story factory building as night fell. She said that, when a fire alarm started ringing, two supervisors prevented employees from leaving and told them to return to their work. “The alarm was ringing continuously and we were struggling to get out ... but they said it was just a drill,” she said at a Dhaka hospital, where she was being treated for injuries sustained when she leapt from the burning building. She said that music playing in the factory was turned to high volume, apparently to muffle the sound of the alarm. When finally the workers forced their way to the staircase they found it was ablaze, thick with smoke because highly flammable yarn and fabrics stored around exits on the ground floor had caught fire. The factory had no external fire-escape stairs so Akhter, like many of her co-workers, jumped from a window to the ground.

Santa and Mrs. Claus delivered gifts courtesy of Cabot Creamery, a New England-based family dairy cooperative.

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

FEATURE

PHOTOS BY JANE CAVE

Playtime Project Delivers Holiday Joy

By Mary Otto Editor-in-Chief Santa Claus came early to Valley Place. Little boys and girls shyly whispered their wishes in his ear. Then, with shouts of excitement, they unwrapped the new dolls and toy trucks he pulled from his big red bag. On the evening of Dec. 17, the small community room at the 18-unit transitional housing program in Anacostia had been transformed with garlands and colorful lights by volunteers from Homeless Children’s Playtime Project. When the children were not talking with Santa they were listening to stories and playing pin-the-red nose on Rudolph with Stephanie Marrone, Tania Murray and the other volunteers. Or they were busy making gifts for their parents: picture framed with popsicle sticks and ornaments crafted with pom-poms, glitter and glue. “I will cherish this,’’ Aisia Bing said as her four year old son Dar-

CHILDREN’S ART: SNOW ryl presented her with a carefully decorated paper plate. The young woman said she and her son have been at Valley Place for two years. They came to the transitional program from a shelter. The place has helped Bing in immense ways, she says. “I felt lost when I got here. They made me feel comfortable and loved. “ But she said she hopes that by the time next Christmas rolls around, she will have a job and she and her son will have a home of their own. “God willing,” she said. Yet amid the hard work of moving toward independence, this holiday season will be one to treasure for the families of Valley Place, said Selam Kidane, site manager at the housing program, run by the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless. “I think it will be a wonderful time,” she said.

There are 1,880 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

GLARPH THE POSTULATIN’ SHARK:

TERRON’S GAME: STREET CHRISTMAS

By Chris Shaw, “The Cowboy Poet”

By Terron Solomon Vendor

GLARPH AND GLOEY GO “GALLERYING” IN WASH, DC!

Street Christmas

Presents

Family

Gifts

Bowl Games

Turkey

Ham

Reindeer

Santa Claus

Gravy

Snow

Carols

Lights

Warm Wishes

Tree

Bulbs

Star

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

121

OPINION

Eleven-Hour, Multicultural Day Programs Are Needed

Talk About It

By Cynthia Mewborn/“C=MB” Vendor

By Philip Black, “The Cat in the Hat”

With 7,000 homeless people here in Washington, D.C., the city has only one multi-cultural program and eight day programs. During the winter months and hotter months these programs provide critical, vital care and services that the homeless need to survive. Eleven-hour, multicultural day programs provide a three-fold benefit for a diverse homeless population and reduce the need for additional financial support. Successful programs have a low-barrier to entry, enabling people to come as they are. They should offer coed services and a bilingual staff. They should also be able to provide referral services for other programs and substance abuse classes, as well as help the homeless obtain proper identification, permanent housing assistance, work referrals, hygiene services, transportation assistance and counseling. These programs offer year-round respite from exposure to extreme temperatures. Exposure to those temperatures 24-hours a day with no reprieve, whether it is too cold or too hot, causes escalating mortality among homeless. The average homeless person lives 62 years, due to exposure to

the elements. Providing on-site hygiene care for the homeless is also important, as it reduces a financial burden that can often exceed health care costs and reduces health risk factors. Providing three hot meals during the winter months and cool meals during the summer months is paramount for preventing heat exhaustion during the summer and hypothermia during the winter. It enables homeless people to withstand the elements and it helps prevent long-term illness and death. Bilingual counselors would help break language barriers and provide a sense of familiarity for people that do not speak English. Homelessness creates a sense of hopelessness, and non- English speaking individuals face an even higher burden. Social activities are critical in maintaining healthy attitudes and social skills, and they give a sense of comfort, healing and relaxation. These services are crucial in coping and redirecting negative energy appropriately. Programs such as substance abuse counseling are important, as these problems are extenuated by current circumstances and a homeless individual’s lack of ability to minimize and cope with their conditions. Also, having

Tear Down the Walls of Hate By Jeffrey McNeil Vendor In a few months the Supreme Court will hear two cases regarding same-sex marriage: Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples. For gay rights advocates, this should be a time for rejoicing mixed with a degree of skepticism. Attitudes are changing towards same-sex couples, although many legal questions exist, starting with the Constitution. We are left to speculate as to how the justices will interpret the definition of marriage and its constitutional meaning. One can only hope they interpret the Constitution as a living document that changes, evolves, and adapts to current social and economic trends.

Or will they chain themselves to strict constructionist views with no deviation, which will set back human relations for generations? I hope they do not lay on the tracks and let history run them over as previous judges did with wrong-headed rulings such as the Dred Scott decision or Plessy v. Ferguson. Nor do I want them to look for a legal “out” like the Missouri Compromise. I urge the court to be bold and emphatic by using as the template for judicial activism Earl Warren’s Brown v. Board of Education, which smashed Jim Crow, ended discrimination and eventually cleared the path for Barack Obama to be president. As someone who opposed gay marriage and is still uncomfortable discussing homosexuality, I hope those that I insulted and bashed accept my heartfelt apology; like the apostle Paul, I alsohad scales over my eyes.

licensed staff that can provide referral services is a critical part of the assessment process, helping identify when homeless individuals need additional care, whether it is medical or sociological. Obtaining proper identification is also essential, since without proper identification it’s impossible to get any assistance from the government. So is transportation assistance, as it enables homeless people to reach their goals. When all of these services are incorporated into multicultural day programs or any day program for the homeless, they can help make people who are experiencing homelessness more selfsufficient. They would address the total well-being of homeless individuals locally as well as nationally.

When I sell papers I talk to many people. Some of them talk about their kids, but most talk more about their jobs. One of my customers on 11th Street hates his job. He says he doesn’t like his boss, and his boss doesn’t like him. I told him the best way to deal with his boss is to try to get along with him. A few days after, he said things were going good. No matter what situation you’re in, just talking about it can make you feel better. All you need is the right person to talk to. Most people keep things bottled up inside, but all they need is a good listener and some positive feedback: most times everything will be okay. So, if anyone needs to talk about some things, find someone who will listen. Remember; talk about it. You’ll feel so much better.

Mental Health and Homelessness By Ken Belkosky Vendor I have just returned from a conference in Norfork, Va. on mental illness and rehab. The conference made me understand that a lot of work needs to be done with the homeless and mental illness. I learned that in Finland the homeless and people with mental illness get better care than people here. I am not God nor should I play Him by condemning someone who wants to be with whoever he or she chooses. As in John 8:7, “let he who is without sin among you cast the first stone.” My conscience prevents me from condemning or insulting someone for whomever he or she loves. This conscience also prevents me from joining in with elements that pander to the darkest forces of our mind. Like many who come from religious roots, institutional thinking and fear mongering against gay people was embedded in my thinking. My evolution has been tough but I have come to realize that whoever someone chooses to be with is not my concern. If someone pays taxes, risks his life in battle and is a law-abiding citizen should he be denied the rights of marriage? The same mean-spirited bigotry under the disguise of God has been argued

It is a shame that this country does not care about what happens to people who have medical conditions and need to be housed. I just wish that I could help get the word out. The association is called Virginia Psychiatric Rehabilation Association. It has plans for me to be a peer support person: a paying job to talk to persons with mental illness that need someone to speak with.

to justify slavery, genocide and other atrocities against civilization. It was only when we challenged the religious establishment on the validity of their beliefs that people realized there was no apocalypse or armageddon, as the religious hypocrites had warned. We now know that interracial couples don’t produce mongoloids but beautiful children, one being the president. I believe our society works best when the judicial branch is actively playing a role in protecting those inalienable rights of our oppressed and most vulnerable. I again urge the court to set a precedent like Earl Warren did with Brown v. Board of Education. This momentous decision cleared the path for equality in the workplace and ended segregation. Hostility toward gays is the last barrier of intolerance and making marriage legal would tear down the walls of hate.

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.

In Need of a True Christmas By Robert Warren Vendor For all in need Only true Christians would know what I mean; Those who forgive and give the gift of Love and not just things. They have faith in the word, a mercy from our Lord, you believe A word that gives true meaning to life. Every day is Christmas, if you believe. Thanking the Lord for his word, Christ Jesus. What Christmas really means Is to follow his word and love of people, not things. The true meaning of Christmas Is to give of yourself to those in need Of the love the Lord lets us receive. The true meaning of why we give gifts and not look to any thing, But the thoughts of our Lord and hope he may be pleased When night comes and we lay down to sleep To awake to another day of living. In need of a true Christmas, for all who believe in the Lord’s word. He said “be Christ Jesus,” the true word to follow for all people. Merry Christmas days for all who believe.

My Favorite Holiday By Victoria Beaumont Vendor Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad, and have a wild and crazy New Year! My loyal Street Sense readers, do you know what Fido and I left out? The best holiday of the year: Groundhog’s Day! Now I know many of you may wonder why Feb. 2 is our favorite day. The first day of spring is March 21, exactly six weeks after Groundhog Day. And if our little buddy Phil sees his shadow, we get six more weeks of winter. So, it’s the

same either way. They made a movie about it, right? Groundhog’s Day is great because your spouse, children, siblings, and friends will not be upset if you don’t spend it with them. Try doing that with Christmas, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day and see how that goes. Hallmark doesn’t have a card for Groundhog’s Day. It’s also the only holiday that doesn’t have its own one-day, What-a-Day sale at Macy’s. There are

no DUI checkpoints on Groundhog’s Day. Banks and post offices are open on Groundhog’s Day. Your boss won’t be mad at you for calling off work on Groundhog’s Day--it will be just another sick day. No Street Sense vendor will ask for donations to help Punxsutawney Phil--except for me and Fido, that is. Who the heck celebrates Groundhog’s Day but me? Anyone? Everyone who knows me does, plus you too now. February is actually the start of

groundhog mating season. My little furry friends come out of their burrows to get their reproduction on. So, Americans wake up at 5 a.m. to watch a rodent see -- or not see -- his shadow, when really he is just looking to get laid. For that reason, I alone deem Groundhog’s Day the best holiday of the year. For everyone else, have a great holiday season. Fido and I will be waiting for our favorite day instead. See you on February 2, 2013. God Bless America!

BEFORE THE RAIN PT 12: WE NEED MORE CHURCH By Chris Shaw “The Cowboy Poet” At the Eighteenth and One Third Rising Tabernacle on Prytania, Sister Helena Temple clapped her hands. the microphone and lights were flickering in and out, but the magenta-turbaned Sister Temple really didn’t need much

outside help. Echoing her personal avatar Evangelist Shirley Caesar (anpther powerful Lady of God native to NoLa, comme Mahalia J. her own annointed self), Sist’ Helena launched into “CHOOSE YE,” a longtime favorite; “Come and sup with me, Children, I will play ye Host of Heaven...

Call the Doctor, Call the Lawyer, Tell the Policeman Walkin’ His Beat, You Gotta Know, WHO CHOOSE YE!! -Tell The Postman, YourMama and Papa Too, You Have to Be Saved... HOW ABOUT YOU!!!” Down Poydras, a side door of the Morial center creaked open. In the triage,

Lyndsey stood, agape. Loomis’ sandwich lay largely unconsumed on a clean towel. Strange. “Solomon, did Mister Reader leave the triage?” Solomon merely shrugged. Lyndsey jammed thumbkeys madly on her BlackBerry, desperate to corral him with her own version of the old “APB”. Loomis, wearing only a clinical gown,

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

143

NEWS

Another Year God’s Given Me

How Do I Celebrate Christmas?

By Evelyn Nnam Vendor

By Veda Simpson Vendor

In the month of December I was born and I have my God to thank for that. I have my wonderful parents who have given birth to me: Winn and Marget Edemeroh in Nigeria. God gave me the opportunity to come to America from Nigeria. It was very tough but I still got through it. God has also given me a wonderful daughter to live with. I am very busy and proud of myself as a vendor. I sell many newspapers. I also write stories about things in my life and the holidays. As I sell papers, I see many tourists observing many sites and museums. Many of them come from other states or other continents to visit Washington, D.C. especially on important days such as Veterans Day, Presi-

dential Inaugurations and during school holidays. They look around and visit the White House, the Capitol and the Washington Monument. They are enjoyable places to see. I love my job very much. My favorite hobby is fashion. I love blouses, gowns, pants, skirts and other clothing. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love the great gift of giving. At Christmas time, I will call my parents and my siblings in Nigeria and wish them Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I attend Christmas activities in my church and spend time with the people I love. I do many things with my daughter, such as visiting friends, and attending birthday parties. Of course, at this time of year we spend time celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the year God has given me. I wish you all a merry merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

Christmas Joy By Phillip Howard Vendor 14 Like the shining moon, people smile! A man sings a song, as he walks a mile! Christmas Joy, The snow falls, and soldiers deck the halls! Christmas Joy, Children playing, and praying. Christmas Joy, Thank you Lord, for Christmas Joy!

his skivvies, and light felt slip-on padarounds; crawled out on his all fours to a battered dinghy laying magically beside the exit door he’s just slipped thru. In his head, different medicine had kicked in, and he was a twelve-year old boy again, transfixed by the crystalline Christmas sparkle of the Maison Blanche department store rotunda. His mom firmly held him still-he clutched back lovingly. Over the huge gilt cloth speakers, the chimes played out,

“O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful And Triumphant...Sing Choirs Of Angels, Sing In Exultation, Sing All You Citizens of Heav’n Above!” Why, it was Christmas of ‘69, all over again! Loomis felt a rude THUNK!! as the dinghy his the top step of the Eighteenth Rising Church. He was back in the now of this slime-drenched city, but the Sister helena’s ark was his sanctuary, AND the Choir was wrapping up “Adeste Fideles,”otherwise known as ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful!’

Well, I begin Christmas Eve during the day by going shopping for my cats and the cats outside so Santa Claus can come and see all of them. That night, I cook a big dinner for all of us on Christmas Day. I wrap all of their gifts in the bedroom so they won’t see them. At 12 a.m. I get on my knees while they all surround me quietly as I pray, thanking the Almighty for sending his son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross and giving his blood to wash our sins away. I then play Christmas songs on the

keyboard and sing while the cats meow and jump around. We go to sleep then and then wake up. I put each one of their gifts in a pile in front of them so they can tear then open. They are very intelligent. I thank my heavenly father for sending these creatures my way. On this very special day. The joy and good spirit that they bring to my heart From the very start. I say to them: All of you are a blessing indeed. All of you are all in life I will ever need! Thank you, God, for making my Christmas a holiday every day!

‘Twas the Season to be Jolly By Sybil Taylor Vendor Christmas means a lot to me: giving and receiving gifts and giving thanks to the all mighty God. Jesus was born on Christmas Day, and so we celebrate the birth of his love, his grace, and his joy to the world. His parents Mary and Joseph brought a new special baby into the world. A miracle baby, with the power to heal anyone and fix any situation. Born on December 25th, in a manger, full of love. Born the newborn king.

I, too, was born on Christmas, the only baby in the hospital ribbon and bow. My eyes sparkled, a special angel who also loves the world and helps in any situation. What a special gift to be born on Christmas Day. My parents had a wonderful Christmas present. They carried me home through a lot of snow. Christmas is the joy of sharing love all over the world. Opening gifts and showing love to those in need. Imagine a special Christmas dinner of honey ham, collard greens, potato salad, sweet potatoes, rolls, and favorite drinks.

Two white-wrapped Head ‘Nurses’ led him to the glistening mosaic glass and stucco altar, bedecked with serpahim the Sister had carved from soapstone long before. “Why, is this Christmas?”, cried a most befuddled Loomis Reader. “No, son,” proclaimed Sister Helena, ‘We are in the midst of the mightiest Deluge the Lord hath ever visited upon our dear New Orleans. The Philistines folks done named this devil “Katrina,” but ye may rest assured the only thing

I’ll name it is Satan.” “Well, I’ll drink to that,” offered Loomis, before he sank onto a velvet-padded prayer bench. “God bless us,” intoned Sister Helena. “I do b’lieve this boy done brought us a rescue craft. “Together, the Sister and her flock of more than a hundred flood marooned sould raised their hands heavenward. “PRAI-ISE THE LORD!!!”

Merry Christmas!

(To be continued)

Phillip Black (a.k.a. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cat in the Hatâ&#x20AC;?) and David Denny.

Vendor James Hughes invited a dear friend to celebrate with.

Street Sense celebrated the holiday season with our vendors on Dec. 11. Many thanks to the donated hats and gloves for our vendors from Gifts for the Homeless, as well as the overwhelming support and additional donations from our many volunteers.

Holiday Cheer

Sights and scenes from the 2012 Vendor Holiday Party PHOTOS BY JANE CAVE

James Davis, Dannie Ball, and L. Morrow.

Bertina Woodson displays a spirited hand-crafted sign.

Service Spotlight: Joseph’s Closet By Joel Barnes, Editorial Intern Do you need a coat for this winter season? As the temperatures drop, Catholic Charities is running its first ever coat drive to make sure that anyone who needs a coat can get one. “Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors Drive,” operated out of Joseph’s Closet located at St. Francis Xavier Parish, S.E., makes new and gently used winter coats available to adults and children in need. On Sundays, Joseph’s Closet is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary and coats are available to customers for a donation of $3. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, individuals who really need a coat can request a free coat. There is a maximum of two coats for each person in need. Catholic Charities has organized area Catholic churches and schools to help with the coat drive, according to Lead Volunteer Lynn Stewart. The

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

SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Avenue, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118, www.missiondc.org Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 www.newhopeministriesdc.org/id3.html Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356,www.communityofhopedc.org Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE (202) 610–9600, www.covenanthousedc.org John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469, www.catholiccharitiesdc.org

coat drive started in October and will run through mid-February. Stewart says she doesn’t know of any other coat drive of this scale taking place this winter. Already, about 3,000 coats have been donated and more than 1,000 have been distributed. Volunteers have showed up in large numbers to help out. “The premise is that if you have a coat, you should share a coat,” Stewart said, “there’s a big concern that this is going to be a particularly cold winter.” The goal is to get those in need a coat so they can make it through the winter, because many of the recipients are on the street all day long, according to Stewart. The main distribution center is at St. Francis Xavier Parish but volunteers also do drop-offs to shelters and parishes in the area. If you have coats to donate please Call Lynn Stewart at 301-580-4552.

STREET SENSE December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

COMMUNITY SERVICES St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311, www.thrivedc.org

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608, www.marthastable.org

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

Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005, www.ccdsd.org/howorwc.php

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

Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340, www.sashabruce.org

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

So Others Might Eat (SOME) 71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES

Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood Street, NE (202) 269-6623, www.aohdc.org

Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100, www.christhouse.org Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300,www.unityhealthcare.org

My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596, Washington, DC 20017 (202) 529-5261 (office) (202) 529-5991 (24-hour hotline)

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

OUTREACH CENTERS N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org Samaritan Inns 2523 14th St., NW (202) 667 - 8831 http://www.samaritaninns.org/home/ New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359

FOOD

Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587, www.breadforthecity.org Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419, www.cchfp.org Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060, www.nstreetvillage.org

Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplac

Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112

Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612, www.churchofthepilgrims.org

Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050, www.friendshiphouse.net

Thrive DC Breakfast served Mon.-Fri., 9:30-11 a.m. Dinner for women and children, Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300, www.ccs–dc.org D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW (202) 347–8870, www.dccfh.org Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511, www.cflsdc.org Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010, www.foundryumc.org Gospel Rescue Ministries (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731, www.grm.org Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ JHP, Inc. 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 544–9126, www.jobshavepriority.org Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202) 889–7702, www.samaritanministry.org

SHELTER HOTLINE: 1–800–535–7252

DO YOU ENJOY GETTING INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER! BECOME A SAVINGS PROMOTER with the DC EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT CAMPAIGN Help provide access to low-income residents in the DC area to asset building services: credit coaching, savings bonds, money management courses, second chance bank accounts and many other resources to help our community save money. Visit our website at www.DCEITC.org to sign up or give us a call with any questions at (202) 374-5619

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DCEITC.ORG Consider contributing to Street Sense during this year’s CFC Campaign

LAST WORD: A DECADE OF SERVICE By James Davis Vendor

December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013 • Volume 10 • Issue 3

Street Sense 1317 G Street, NW

Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Washington, DC

Washington, DC 20005

Permit #568

Mail To: Remember, only buy

from badged vendors and do not give to those panhandling with one paper.

When I’m not speaking at colleges and universities around the country, mentoring to underprivileged kids, lobbying on the Hill, working my regular night job with a subcontractor, making media appearances, training new vendors, and serving on the vendor advisory team, you can find me selling and promoting Street Sense at 17th and L St. NW in the District. I have found Street Sense as a terrific vehicle for giving back what was given to me: a way of getting out of homelessness. In 2003 I stayed at the Central Union Mission where I joined Street Sense and the National Coalition for the Homeless. As I enter my tenth year as an advocate I would like to thank many of my customers and colleagues for their support and wish them well during this holiday season. I enjoy spending my free-time, which is a luxury, with my family in Southern Maryland. My latest poetry

book, “Arugula Salad and Other Food for Thought,” is still being finalized, but if you wish to purchase my previous work you can find “Street Verses: Poems by the Homeless Writers and Vendors of Street Sense” on Amazon. com. I would be happy to autograph your copy of the book.