12 27 2017

$2

VOL. 15 ISSUE 4 DEC. 27, 2017 - JAN. 9, 2018

Real Stories

Real People

suggested donation goes directly to your vendor

Real Change

Darkest before the dawn At least 124 DEAD after experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

@ STREETSENSEDC

A PUBLICATION OF

2 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

BUSINESS MODEL

© STREET SENSE MEDIA 2017 1317 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347–2006 streetsensemedia.org info@streetsensemedia.org

How It Works

Street Sense Media publishes the newspaper

Each vendor functions as an independent contractor for Street Sense Media, managing their own business to earn an income and increase stability in their life.

$2.00

YOUR SUGGESTED

$.50 Vendors pay

DONATION

per newspaper copy

supports your vendor, helping them to overcome homelessness and poverty

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM.

Pay vendors with the Street Sense Media app!

S treet S ense M edia . org /A pp

AVA I L A B L E

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT

As self-employed contractors, our vendors follow a code of conduct.

1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $2.00, I agree not to ask for more than $2.00 or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and volunteers and will not sell papers to other vendors.

3. I agree to treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and other vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making a donation, or in engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.

4. I agree not to distribute copies of Street Sense on metro trains and buses or on private property.

5. I agree to abide by the Street Sense vendor territorial policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes I have with other vendors in a professional manner.

6. I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense, Inc. but an independent contractor.

VENDORS Shuhratjon Ahamadjonov, Wanda Alexander, Melissa Allen, Ollie Alston, Gerald Anderson, Charles Armstrong, Katrina Arninge, Lawrence Autry, Charlton Battle, Lori Bettinger, Phillip Black, Phillip Black Jr., Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Clarence Branch, Deborah Brantley, Andre Brinson, Donald Brown, Lawrence Brown, Elizabeth Bryant, Brianna Butler, Dwayne Butler, Melody Byrd, Floyd Carter, Conrad Cheek, Aaron Colbert, Michael Craig, Anthony Crawford, Kwayera Dakari, Louise Davenport, Charles Davis, James Davis, David Denny, Reginald Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Dennis Diggs, Alvin Dixon-El, Ronald Dudley, Brandon Eades, Betty Everett, Jemel Fleming, Cornell Ford, Johnnie Ford, Duane Foster, Samuel Fullwood, Chon Gotti, Latishia Graham, Levester Green, Marcus Green, Barron Hall, Denise Hall, Mildred Hall, Tyrone Hall, Veana Hanes, Danell Harris, Dwight Harris, Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Derian Hickman, Vennie Hill, Donald Hopkinson, James Hughes, Leonard Hyater, Gedion Iyasu, Chad Jackson, Joseph Jackson, David James, Linda Jones, Mark Jones, Morgan Jones, Darlesha Joyner, Larry Kelley, Juliene Kengnie, Jewell Lean, John Littlejohn, Scott Lovell, Michael Lyons, William Mack, Ken Martin, Kina Mathis, Geneva McDaniel, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Ricardo Meriedy, Kenneth Middleton, Amy Modica, L. Morrow, Collins Mukasa, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Earl Parker, Aida Peery, Marcellus Phillips, Barbara Pollard, Jacquelyn Portee, Angela Pounds, Angela Richardson, Jeanette Richardson, Henrieese Roberts, Doris Robinson, Raquel Rodriquez, Rita Sauls, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Gwynette Smith, Patty Smith, David Snyder, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Archie Thomas, Shernell Thomas, Stephen Thomas, Eric Thompson-Bey, Carl Turner, Jacqueline Turner, Ronald Turner, Adam van Deusen, Joseph Walker, Martin Walker, Michael Warner, Robert Warren, Glenn Washington, Sheila White, Angie Whitehurst, William Whitsett, Anneka Wickham, Clarence Williams, Robert Williams, Sasha Williams, Valarie Williams, Wendell Williams, Ivory Wilson, Christine Wong, Charles Woods BOARD OF DIRECTORS

7. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when distributing Street Sense.

Jeremy Bratt, Margaret Jenny, Jennifer Park, Reed Sandridge, Dan Schwartz, Jeremy Scott, John Senn, Kate Sheppard, Aaron Stetter, Annika Toenniessen, Martin Totaro, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson

8. I will not distribute Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Brian Carome

9. I understand that my badge and (if applicable) vest are property of Street Sense, Inc. and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing Street Sense. I will always display my badge when distributing Street Sense.

10. I agree to support Street Sense’s mission statement.

In doing so I will work to support the Street Sense community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.

INTERESTED IN BEING A VENDOR? New vendor training: every Tuesday and Thursday // 2 p.m. // 1317 G St., NW

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eric Falquero

COMMUNICATIONS & SALES MANAGER

Jeff Gray

VENDOR MANAGER

Maysa Elsarag

EVENTS & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Dani Gilmour

CASE MANAGER

Colleen Cosgriff

WRITERS GROUP ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

The Cover Dec. 21 and 22 events held in D.C. to remember people who died without a home in 2017.

PHOTOS, TOP TO BOTTOM, BY

RODNEY CHOICE, ORION DONOVAN-SMITH AND IAN ERASMUS // VOLUNTEERS

The Street Sense Story, #MoreThanANewspaper Originally founded as a street newspaper in 2003, Street Sense Media has evolved into a multimedia center using a range of creative platforms to spotlight solutions to homelessness and empower people in need. The men and women who work with us do much more than sell this paper—they use film, photography, theatre, illustration and more to share their stories with our community.

Our media channels elevate voices, our newspaper vendor and digital marketing programs provide economic independence and our in-house case management services move people forward along the path toward permanent supportive housing.

At Street Sense Media, we define ourselves through our work, talents and character, not through our housing situation.

Willie Schatz

OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER)

Rachel Brody, Arthur Delaney, Britt Peterson

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS

Jason Lee Bakke, Grace Doherty, Jerome Dineen, Orion Donovan-Smith, Miriam Egu, Michelle Falquero, Roberta Haber, Ji Kim, Hunter Lionetti, Laura Osuri, Mark Rose, Andrew Siddons, Sarah Tascone, Jackie Thompson, Marian Wiseman

OFFICE SALES VOLUNTEERS

Miya Abdul, Bill Butz, Jane Cave, Emma Cronenwethe, Pete Clark, Orion Donovan-Smith, Maria Esposito, Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Bill Magrath, Alec Merkle, Nick Nowlan, Sarah O’Connell, Leonie Peterkin, Eugene Versluysen, Natalia Warburton

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

// 3

VENDOR CELEBRATIONS

Latishia Graham PHOTO BY COLLEEN COSGRIFF // CASE MANAGER

Latishia Graham moved into her new home three days before Christmas!

BIRTHDAYS

We’re proud members of: MOST WORKPLACE GIVING PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE OPTION TO SELECT A SPECIFIC CHARITY FOR YOUR DONATION. PLEASE DESIGNATE “STREET SENSE”

#28233

#8871

Evelyn Namn Dec 31 ARTIST/VENDOR

Ricardo Meriedy Jan 2 ARTIST/VENDOR

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jennifer McLauglin

Hired by the District Department of Transportation AND enrolled in classes at UDC. ARTIST/VENDOR

Reginald Black

Nominated by a community member to be considered for the D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness ARTIST/VENDOR

4 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

HOMELESS MEMORIAL

Denver

BY SARAH FORD // The Denver Voice

PHOTO BY SARAH FORD // THE DENVER VOICE

On Dec. 21, over 200 Denver residents came together to honor 231 people who died in the Denver metro area while homeless in the past year. 2017 saw the deaths of over 231 people, the highest ever count since the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless began tracking death toals 28 years ago.

Coalition president John Parvensky attributed the rise in deaths to overdoses and addiction.

One-third of deaths counted were attributed to overdoses, and 81 percent of those were opioid overdoses according to Parvensky.

“Every single name that we honored here tonight has their own story,” said Laural Radmore, who works in housing services with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. “Though, yes, ever single name on that list experienced homelessness, every name on that list was so much more. That list is full of artists and friends and thinkers and neighbors and people’s children, brothers, sisters, and parents.”

Among those lost was “Doc,” who his friend Juan Mata described as being on a “spiritual journey” just before he died of an overdose.

“He was a true character. He painted his nails and stuff like that,” Mata said. “Just because somebody smokes weed, does drugs, or drinks doesn’t make them a bad person. There’s people that don’t do drugs that do worse things than we do.”

There was also William Hillewaert, whose friends described him as always being giving and loving, even through his own turmoil. Then there was Jan Turner, a feisty woman with a fighting spirit.

Advocates say the rise in deaths in Denver is a loud cry for change. In addition to creating more affordable housing, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless called for the creation of safe injection sites in Denver to prevent overdoses.

The crisis in Denver reflects one the rest of the nation faces as well. Opioids killed 33,000 Americans in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that number is expected to increase in 2016 and 2017.

“We must continue to work to save lives one at a time,” said Parvensky. “We know how to prevent these losses. It starts with housing.”

Additional reporting by Skye Bennett

Chicago

BY SUZANNE HANNEY // StreetWise

The Chicago Homeless Person’s Memorial Service Dec. 19 at Old St. Patrick’s Church in the West Loop is the only remembrance for 33 people who died alone and in poverty this the past year.

Those memorialized include Marcus Faleti, who enjoyed reading the Sun-Times and the Wall Street Journal; Moriah Ishmael and Durrell Thomas, both of whom just wanted a place of their own; Will Kelly, “a good friend who helped many people;” Tony, who died Thanksgiving night; Rhonda, who died of MRSA; Wesley Sharp, “kind, respectful, who will be missed dearly by his friends;” and Benjamin Soto Ramirez, who was beaten to death in the 1100 block of North Ashland Avenue just a few days beforehand.

Myron Lewis attended the service as an Old St. Pat’s parishioner who has known people who died homeless.

“It’s sad, but for some it’s a disease,” Lewis said. “Some people are in their own pain and can’t seem to get it together and continue to remain homeless. Some want help and others don’t. They are glad to go among people like themselves where they feel secure. But we are all God’s children.”

The Ignatian Spirituality Project, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), Old St. Patrick’s, Franciscan Outreach, New Moms as well as the singing group Harmony, Hope & Healing hosted the nondenominational service, which is annually scheduled close to December 21, the longest night of the year.

The event has been indoors since 2010 but was outside at the Civic Center for at least a decade before that, said Ed Shurna, retired executive director of CCH. Shurna, the Ignatian Spirituality Project and Old St. Pat’s created the current model.

Wayne Richard, associate director of organizing at CCH, said that it’s not enough to offer a kind word when we see someone who has been excluded from society. “All children need coloring books so they may have a fruitful adulthood,” he said in regard to a baseline education for everyone. “Housing is a human right.”

Richard said later that the public responded

with understanding to CCH’s recent Home Works campaign that spread awareness of “doubled up” families living together. He compared this awareness to the 1980s, when homelessness was considered an individual’s failure.

“The scope of lives of people who’ve passed away is much more than we imagine and the stakeholders are as diverse as ever,” he said of those memorialized.

There was also Claude Michaelis, who had resided at the Lawrence Avenue viaduct, been involved at Inspiration Corporation and been recently housed; Stanislaw Gal, whose survivors include a wife and children; Kevin Lawson, a loving husband; Ray W. and Nancy, who died in January; Yacob G., who died in May; Leonard S., who died in July; C. Glover, who died in August; John G., who died in September; Patrick S. in October and Tommy Irby, earlier this month.

Shelters across the city keep track of people who die throughout the year along with some obit-like tidbit about them, Shurna said.

Others whose names were read aloud included Henry Hartage, William Carter, Terry King, Lewis Frost, Bethelynne Johnson, Rick Berry, Timothy Griffin, Andre Perry, Larry Singleton, Angela Williams, Michael Earl, Christina Kostoff, Barbara McHenry. As each name was read, students carried a candle to the Old St. Pat’s altar and lit it from a larger candle.

Renard Parrish was also among the memorialized. Parrish was a plaintiff in a lawsuit brought several years ago by attorneys at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless that sought to protect the property rights of Lower Wacker Drive residents during street cleanings.

“He was very likable and friendly and it seemed like all the people on Lower Wacker Drive knew him,” said Diane O’Connell, staff attorney for the CCH Law Project.

Parrish had serious health problems such as infections in his legs, for which he was hospitalized several times over the years.

Although CCH advocated for permanent housing on his behalf, the scarcity of housing resources and other barriers made housing difficult to obtain and he died at the age of 52 while experiencing homelessness.

Harmony Hope & Healing sang gospel songs during the service at Old St. Patrick’s Church in the West Loop, whose altar featured a candle for each of those memorialized, lit by one larger pillar.

PHOTO BY SUZANNE HANNEY // STREETWISE

Boston

BY ALEX RAMIREZ // Spare Change News

The pews at Church on the Hill were filled with friends, advocates, and members of the homeless community on Thursday to pay tribute to over 100 people who died this past year. The interfaith service marked the 28th anniversary of the National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day, though the Boston community has seen a similar event since the 1980s.

The service was full of music and prayers from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities. Members of the church also read the names of 43 individuals – mostly first names and last initials – and paid respect to 62 more unnamed individuals, lighting candles for each one. (Note: the unnamed are a mix of John/Jane Does, and some weren’t named because service providers chose not to provide that information, possibly for medical reasons.)

Michael Bancewicz, administrator at Church on the Hill said some of those who passed were homeless at the time of death, others formerly homeless and connected to the community in some way.

Choirs from the Church on the Hill and the MANNA singers from the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul’s homeless ministry performed Amazing Grace near the end of the service.

“You kinda get deflated just reading names every years – but we have lift each other up to go fight next year,” said Bancewicz, speaking to Spare Change News about the need for interfaith efforts to help homelessness. “Throughout the year we share resources and reach out to each other.”

Over the past year, Massachusetts has seen a 16 percent decrease in homelessness over the past year, and Boston saw a 5 percent drop. However, this is still higher than numbers from a decade ago.

Two of the MANNA singers, Jan Roy and James Van Looy, a married retired couple, had also attended the service since the 1980s, and commented on this increase. Rowe, who used to work for the state as a mental health care worker, said “It wasn’t this bad in the 90s.” She also noted the rising economic inequality in cities like Boston, which was named the least equal city in the nation by the Brookings Institute.

Van Looy, formerly a Pine Street Inn employee, agreed, adding “It’s all about inequality.” Van Looy did note one positive difference is that homelessness now receives more attention at the policy level, referencing the efforts of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to end homelessness.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

// 5

Local activists mourn steady pace of homeless deaths in nation’s capital

BY JEROME DINEEN AND ORION DONOVAN-SMITH // Volunteers

People for Fairness Coalition members lead a march down 14th St. NW, between Luther Place Memorial Church and Freedom Plaza.

PHOTO BY ORION DONOVAN-SMITH

H

omeless people and their supporters crowded into pews at Luther Place Memorial Church on the evening of Dec. 21. “There are things in our democracy that we disagree on,” said Laura Zeilinger, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services. “But one thing we should agree on is that no one should have to live on our streets, and no one should die on our streets.”

This was the fifth annual Homeless Memorial Vigil preceding a service to remember those who died while homeless in the previous year. The service itself has been held every year since 1990.

The two-day event, organized by the D.C.-based People for Fairness Coalition (PFC), began on the longest night of the year. The organization, founded in 2008 by homeless community members and their allies, advocates for services to end housing insecurity in the nation’s capital. Opening the evening’s remarks, PFC co-founder Albert Townsend hailed the progress made in recent years toward ending homelessness, but reminded the crowd that there is much more work to be done.

PFC proposed three ways for Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council to support the city’s homeless residents: 1. Fully fund the city’s’ 5-year strategic plan to end homelessness, known as Homeward DC. 2. Pass an anti-discrimination bill that was introduced to D.C. Council in July that would add homelessness as a status protected by the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977.

3. Create a comprehensive service center for the homeless in downtown Washington.

The evening’s speakers shared a tone of weary resolve.

“The struggle we’re dealing with, with homelessness, is a long struggle but we’re making progress,” said Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau.

Patty Mullahy Fugere, executive director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, provided context for the 45 people who died while homeless in the past year. “Last year we read 51 names,” she lamented. “In 2015 it was 41. In 2005 there were 34. How is it that in this nation’s capital, in this progressive city that has declared itself a human rights city — how is it that this can continue to happen?”

Fugere noted that the 45 deceased represent just 0.6 percent of the 7,473 people counted as homeless in the District and urged the audience to instead see “45 sons and daughters of 45 mothers … that allows us to see ourselves in these 45 community members.” Until D.C. residents stop seeing their homeless neighbors as “other,” these vigils will continue, Fugere warned.

Dr. Catherine Crosland, director of Unity Health Care, teared up while discussing the importance of housing for her

patients. “Housing provides a safe place to be protected from the elements and from random acts of violence,” she said, “a place to store life-saving medication, and a sense of dignity and humanity.”

The average life expectancy of unhoused people is between 20 and 30 years shorter than that of housed people, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.

Yet, she cautioned, “after years of societal neglect, housing alone is not enough.”

Jesse Rabinowitz, an advocacy specialist at Miriam’s kitchen, implored the audience to acknowledge homelessness as a product of “racism and other systems of oppression.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s most recent homeless population count, although Black Americans only constituted 47 percent of the District’s population in 2017, nearly 9 in 10 homeless people identified as Black.

After the speeches, with temperatures dropping near freezing, the crowd marched the mile from Luther Place to Freedom Plaza with a symbolic casket and signs bearing the names of the deceased. Gathered in a tent at the plaza, the marchers shared dinner and were invited to share their experience at a “community open mic.”

Ward 7 Councilmember and former mayor Vincent Gray attended and addressed the crowd. “There’s a lot of angry people out here, for good reason,” Gray told Street Sense Media. “We need to help people convert their anger into constructive action. It’s great to come out here one night, but people need to be a part of this every day.”

Many community members also took the mic to express hope and determination to end homelessness in the following year. Yet their resolve was worn by what they saw as a lack of progress despite repeated promises from local elected officials to better fund homelessness services and build affordable housing in the District.

“This year I’m hoping we have a mayor that will actually fund her own plan,” said Robert Warren, a longtime antihomelessness advocate and director of PFC. When Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration devised Homeward D.C. in 2015, it set several ambitious goals: ending veteran homelessness by 2015, ending chronic homelessness among individuals and families by the end of 2017, and rehousing recently-evicted families within an average of 60 days or less by 2020.

According to a D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute analysis, although D.C. Council approved the largest ever homelessness services budget for 2018, it “provides too little housing to end chronic homelessness, too little support to help homeless families and

youth, and too little long-term affordable housing for homeless residents who need it.”

The plan has yet to reached any of its goals, partially due to pushback from residents against plans to establish smaller-scale family shelters in Wards 3 and 5 and a much higher inflow of homeless veterans to the District than expected.

“We [PFC] have been doing this for the last 10 years under three mayors,” Warren said. “It comes down to political will.

If we live in a ‘human rights city,’ at some point that has to mean something.”

Earlier in the evening, Rabinowitz estimated that it would cost less than 1 percent of the 2017 budget to build enough housing units to virtually end chronic homelessness in the District.

Along with skepticism toward elected officials’ annual pledges to end homelessness, several people who took the microphone challenged whether the D.C. Council was using the right tools to address the intertwined affordable housing and homelessness crises.

David Schwartzman, a former environmental scientist at Howard University and a Green Party D.C. Council candidate, told Street Sense Media that D.C. government’s affordable housing solutions were “insufficient” because they relied too heavily on the market.

“The free market does not help us at all,” said Reginald Black, a Street Sense Media writer and vendor. “We give them money to build more units. And they discriminate [against] us.”

Fellow PFC member John McDermott and Black both stressed that this was their fifth vigil memorializing people that were no different than themselves.

Yet in the face of the numerous barriers to ending homelessness, Luther Place Pastor Karen Brau urged “relentless hope.” As the night wore on and the crowd at Freedom Plaza thinned, the few who endured the frigid weather gathered together to sing Christmas carols and “Amazing Grace.” Of the more than 100 people who began the evening at Luther Place, just a dozen remained to spend the night on the plaza.

A D.C. flag flies outside of the Wilson Building, the seat of local political power, across the street from where demonstrators have made camp for the night in Freedom Plaza. PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

6 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

HOMELESS MEMORIAL

VENDOR MEMORIAL:

The Mysterious Masonic “Mick”

BY ERIC FALQUERO // Editor

Emmalyn Sharf carried a sign bearing Michael Dunne’s name during the PFC march from Luther Place Memorial Church to Freedom Plaza, where she spoke on his behalf.

PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

Demonstrators share ties to Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

BY JI KIM // VOLUNTEER

Emmalyn Sharf told a crowd of activists huddled in a heated tent at Freedom Plaza about the life and death of her friend of more than 10 years, Michael Dunne. The group had just marched for a mile down 14th Street NW, carrying signs bearing the names of Dunne and other men and women who died without a home in 2017 or shortly after receiving housing assistance. While many were there to support the homeless community and demonstrate their desire for more progress toward ending homelessness, few opened up about any personal connections to the people whose names were being carried in the street.

Sharf stepped up at a community open mic event to recall the loss of her friend, who struggled on and off with homelessness, especially toward the end of his life. She first met Dunne when she was fourteen and coming out of a karate class in Silver Spring, MD. The two struck up a friendship, which grew over the years.

Dunne had lived in a tent and would go from the streets of Rosslyn, VA “all the way out to Miriam’s [Kitchen] every morning trying to get food,” Sharf described. She recalled helping Dunne find housing through the nonprofit Pathways to Housing D.C. But in May 2016, just one month after Dunne had moved in, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. “I tried to be there for him as best as I could, knowing that he didn’t want any help,” Sharf said to the crowd. “[I saw] this man being able to walk perfectly fine from the very beginning to winding up in a wheelchair barely even able to move. Barely even trying to make it to the toilet.”

Dunne did not bother seeking further medical attention because his mother had lived long without treatment and his father had died regardless of it, according to Sharf.

“I tried to educate him, but.it didn’t help,” she said, breaking off to chuckle at the memory. “It only caused us to argue at times, so I wanted him to be peaceful.”

The housing Dunne received turned out to be problematic because he could not make it up the stairs. Sharf ended up inviting Dunne to live with her for that last year.. “I told him that the streets were never an option again for him: ‘you’ve got my place,’” she said.

Dunne died hospitalized at age 58 on October 13, 2017, after three plus years of unsheltered homelessness and one year and six months of untreated cancer.

The full list of people being remembered is featured on page 8. It was read at an interfaith memorial service at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church on Dec. 22.

I met John “Mick” Matthews in 2011. He sold the Street Sense Media newspaper and took part in the Occupy DC movement that began that fall.

True to that political bent, Mick’s last correspondence with me this June was a short message asking if we would consider printing controversial social commentary that he wished to write.

He was unable to submit a draft before he died in early September.

The advocates who organize the annual Homeless Memorial Vigil in D.C. drive home the message that people are dying without “the dignity of a home.”

But Mick had that, for a little over two years. He was one of 79 people that organizers chose to begin honoring this year, for having died very soon after exiting homelessness.

According to his cousin Brandon, who informed us of his passing, Mick would mostly sit and pass time in his apartment, sometimes just staring. Daily tasks were difficult for him.

That’s not the Mick I knew. Rather, it is the result of living on the streets of D.C., where he slept for at least six years.

The Mick I knew, a native Washingtonian, protested in Freedom Plaza. He visited Franklin Park just to catch up with friends. He crossed from one corner of the city to another, daily, to meet his basic needs. And he described the super-hero persona that he would take on when energetically selling our newspaper: Vendor Man. Before that, he said he had done everything: office work, construction, landscaping, retail, door-to-door sales. “You name it, I’ve probably done it,” he once said in an interview.

Mick was not struggling until he was laid off from a siding firm that responded to a call from FEMA to restore damage after a slew of tornadoes hit Western Maryland. The firm was never paid and went out of business. Mick was not homeless until his mother, who he returned to D.C. to care for, passed away. The house had to be sold to cover her debts.

After working with multiple organizations to pursue housing, Mick was finally matched to a place of his own at the end of 2014. Before that, he slept near a grate on Connecticut Avenue, a block south of Dupont Circle. His son occasionally stayed there with him.

I suspect the location was partially chosen as a silent protest, so that passersby would have to see his struggle. But it was also across the street from a Starbucks where Mick could grab some heat, maybe a coffee, and a place to write. He confided that if he made a witty-enough sign, it was also worth panhandling late at night as wealthy young patrons left the The Lucky Bar and other such establishments on that strip.

Once Mick was approved for assistance and found a place, he had to wait to move in until a railing was installed, a fault found during routine safety inspection. He claimed this was a project he could easily do himself, but nonetheless had to wait for some additional weeks in the cold. He seemed to visibly age from day to day.

In the year leading up to this, Mick experienced three heart attacks. While he was waiting to move in, Mick sat on a panel of experts to discuss physical health and homelessness. He described the wear and tear the

street life had taken on his body and said there were days when it took him an hour to walk one city block.

Obtaining basic food and hygiene had become difficult.

“Those were some of the scariest times of my entire life,” Matthews said at the forum.

When the time came to discuss potential solutions, he said that supporting movements such as The Way Home Campaign and continually raising the importance of health care for the homeless with public officials are both essential.

“They will have no choice but to answer,” Mick said. So I’m sure he would be proud to have his story, in part, shared here during Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day this year. I only wish he could do it himself.

While he did not die without a home, he also did not make it to 45-years-old.

I mentioned that Mick was a prolific writer.

Long-time readers will remember his cult-classic, “The Mysterious Masonic Ring.” Mick delivered it to us by the chapter, which we would then often need to break down into smaller pieces to fit in the paper regularly without monopolizing the platform.

In recent readership surveys, we’ve continued to receive comments asking how the story ends. Keep in mind this is years after the fact. The last segment we published was in October 2014. Mick always intended to finish it once he got settled and recovered in housing. His cousin Brandon said the story made Mick a local celebrity.

I think the most appropriate clip of his that we could share is a poem that won Mick first place in the 2013 CNHED Housing for All Rally writing competition.

When he accepted the award, he took a photo with then Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser. I sincerely believe they both shared the dream that he penned.

While there are many people working very hard to make it a reality, we have a long way to go.

A Possible City

BY JOHN “MICK” MATTHEWS

Imagine if you will, a city which as yet does not exist, where you can walk down the street in the middle of the night and not see one man, one woman, asleep on a bench or shivering for warmth on a grate.

A city where the closing of a homeless shelter brings not reactionary demonstrations of protest but revolutionary celebrations for it is not needed anymore.

A city where everyone has a place to cook and eat a meal with the family of his fellow man; a place to live, to learn, to love a place to sleep, a place called “home”.

This city could be called Washington DC. The time could be relatively soon.

A few new ideas, a new commitment, and this city could truly have Housing for All.

Photo by Jane Cave

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

// 7

Advocates honor people who died homeless and lobby DC Council to protect survivors

BY JI KIM // Volunteer

U

nder a chilly morning sky on Dec. 22 at Freedom Plaza, activists woke up to coffee and bagels after sleeping that night on the plaza in a white pop-up tent. Members and supporters of the People for Fairness Coalition’s overnight Homeless Memorial Vigil sat down for a “teach-in” led by Monica Kamen, of the D.C. Fair Budget Coalition.

About twenty people prepared to lobby D.C. councilmembers for more funding and action to end homelessness in the District.

Kamen quoted the late Martin Luther King Jr. to stress the need for the community to not think about budgets and funding as solely the government’s money: “A budget is a moral document.”

She said that the vast majority of government funds come from regular people, like those attending the training that day.

“It’s your money, you want to know how it’s spent because it’s yours,” Kamen said. Looking over statistical information packets, the group looked at how the budget does not match the rising need of its most vulnerable constituents. Kamen pointed to the District’s “Rainy Day Fund,” a surplus from collecting more in taxes and revenue than what is used in order to keep the local government running, in case of a federal government shut-down.

“But it’s been pouring for a lot of people in the District for a long time,” said Kamen. “We cannot call it a success to house 250 people when we need to house 8,000.”

Jesse Rabinowitz, an advocacy specialist with Miriam's Kitchen, reiterated a message he had presented when the vigil began the previous night. “$31 million may seem like a lot,” he said, outlining how much money is needed to end chronic homelessness. “But that’s actually only 0.3% of the budget.”

Rallying together, a crowd of about twenty people marched over to the Wilson building and were met by festively decorated halls that were silent and empty. The D.C. Council Committee on Human Services had already left for the holidays.

But the Wilson Building grew loud with the cheer and focused energy of homeless individuals and supporters alike. Faced with closed doors, they slipped folders outlining the People for Fairness Coalition (PFC)’s budget recommendations. In the offices that were open, the group piled into the small reception rooms and spoke to staff members.

Albert Townsend of PFC led the talks in the offices of Chairman Phil Mendelson, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau about PFC’s three priorities. They requested that D.C. Council fully fund the District’s strategic plan to end homelessness, stop discrimination against people experiencing housing instability and create a Downtown Services Center.

Reginald Black of PFC, who has been experiencing homelessness for more than a decade, emphasized again the $31 million in funding needed to end chronic homelessness and house over 1600 people. “That’s a drop in the bucket to help us,” he said, bringing up the paltry 0.3 percentage needed of the District’s budget. Black is also a vendor and contributor for Street Sense Media.

Jennifer McLaughlin of PFC addressed the need for a Downtown Services Center to help provide services such as case management, meals, laundry and shower facilities, especially in the light of the MLK Library 3-year closure for renovations, a building that had acted as a de facto refuge for many of the District’s homeless.

Townsend also highlighted the need to think “holistically” about homelessness and housing discrimination. “When folks are getting housed, how can we make sure that they’re not being discriminated against?” Townsend remarked how it has been an “uphill battle” to pass The Michael A. Stoops AntiDiscrimination Amendment Act of 2017 (B22-0397). The bill

People for Fairness Coalition members and their allies speak with a staff member from the office of Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who also chairs the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. PHOTO BY IAN ERASMUS

that has been sitting inactive in the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety chaired by Councilmember Allen since At-Large Councilmember David Grosso introduced it in July.

Upon hearing staff answers of how the advocates must take their issues to the specific D.C. Council committees, Townsend sharply responded, especially to Councilmember Allen’s staff representative: “You blew me off with that answer, we’re asking for you to at least relay the message–why do we always have to keep coming around and keep beating down the doors?

You’re the constituent person; represent us!”

Robert Warren of PFC also lamented that, among the 45 people who “died without the dignity of a home” this year, at least 5 were veterans. “What a shame it is,” said Leo Lawless, a PFC supporter, “for our veterans to be dying homeless in this country’s capital.”

Rachelle Ellison, speaker and advocate for the National Coalition for the Homeless, shared her story about how she had slept in Franklin Park and Freedom Plaza for “seventeen years straight.” After gaining housing in 2009, she was able to turn more attention to her health. She scoffed that only then was she seen by others as a “productive member of society.” Ellison became a D.C. Department of Behavioral Health certified peer specialist and works to help others struggling with various mental health issues.

“I will always be a part of this community. This is my family,” Ellison said.

Concluding their walk through the Wilson Building, the demonstrators returned to the white tent in Freedom Plaza to collect the symbolic casket and placards bearing the names of the deceased for a march to New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

A meal was provided ahead of an interfaith memorial service.

Faith leaders from Jewish, Muslim and Christian congregations spoke about honoring and remembering the dead. Candles were lit by attendees as a physical attempt to do so. Each speaker drove home the importance of coming together to support one another as a community, especially for the sake of people who are struggling.

A special dedication was given for Michael Stoops, whose portrait was displayed next to the symbolic casket. Stoops passed away in May after battling complications related to a stroke he suffered two years prior. “No one had more love for the homeless,” said Steve Thomas, a formerly homeless man who works with the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau, founded by Stoops. The group pays homeless and formerly homeless people to share their stories with students, business leaders and other such audiences. It is a program of

the National Coalition for the Homeless. “[Stoops] gave his entire adult life to helping others,” Thomas continued.

Stoops’ work with the National Coalition for the Homeless included establishing National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day and serving as a founding board member of Street Sense Media.

After the memorial service, a handful of demonstrators who had participated in the overnight vigil carried what name placards they could back up 14th Street to Luther Place Memorial Church. The signs were driven into the ground there, to remain for several days.

“We let them die too,” said Reginald Black. He surveyed the names, sat down in front of the temporary memorials and turned to look each person in the eye. “We have to hold ourselves accountable, just like we try to hold these elected officials accountable … You let them die, homeless like me.

I let them die too.”

Eric Falquero contributed reporting.

People for Fairness Coalition members Ken Martin and Sheila White, who also work as Street Sense Media vendors and artists, light candles to remember people who died without homes in 2017. PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

8 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

HOMELESS MEMORIAL A House is not a home

BY KEN MARTIN // Artist/Vendor

The misery and trauma of homelessness doesn't end with a lease.

This is a common misconception among the under exposed. Whether domiciled and secure or still on the street and in survival mode, folks are ill-informed about why people are dying in the states of street living, shelter and various points beyond. Simply put, they don't know how to live. It goes way beyond that though.

The belief that having a roof and walls with a set of keys to jingle is the end of homelessness, is a dangerous myth. Just consider the percentage of folks that turn the key, take a seat and become the "dearly" departed.

I submit that if you don't live, you die. Father Horace McKenna taught us back in the early ‘80s that taking a holistic approach would resolve this issue via a domino effect of education, empowerment and economic development the community would have become selfsustaining. And back then, it worked.

But seldom do struggling people today receive the supports they need to develop and move on. More often they recieve a place out of sight, maybe a place to rest, more odten a final one. A place to die.

Bottom line, we have to teach people how to live.

Terry Snead, another attendee at the Dec. 21 vigil wore a shirt honoring George Silletti, one of the homeless people named in the demonstration. Snead has been housed for the past 10 years after being homeless and called Silletti a mentor. He declined to share more than that. PHOTO BY ORION DONOVAN-SMITH

PHOTO BY IAN ERASMUS

A homeless memorial in Silver Spring

BY LEVESTER GREEN // Artist/Vendor

It was way back when, in 2011, that I discovered the tribute bust left in honor of the presence of Norman "The Mayor of Silver Spring" Lane. I happened upon it while on the verge of becoming homeless, once again, myself!

At the time, the bust caught my attention, and the plaque that accompanied it made the story stick with me. He had been ostracized from his family, a feeling I was finding familiar. I was renting a room in the basement of a Gaithersburg townhouse that offered no ventilation. That was a housing code violation, but somehow I lost my case when I went to task over the appropriate solution to this quandary with my landlord.

I drew inspiration from the picture I took of the bust of Mayor Lane. It reminded a brother to persevere no matter the situation he is facing in life. As I am a witness , life goes on. I believe the artist, Fred Folsom, did a marvelous job in capturing and preserving the memory of this town’s local long-standing figurehead of poverty.

PHOTO BY IAN ERASMUS

Chris Mason, Age unknown Darius Duncan, Age 47 Duane "Joey" Henderson, Age 68 Galaxina Robinson, Age 35 James King, Age unknown Lisa Jennings, Age 49 Mark Jenkins, Age 39 Micael Kelley, Age unknown Michael Dunne, Age 58 Mweane Sikuzote, Age 69 Wilkie "Bill" Woodard, Age 66 Andrew Henderson, Age unknown Bessie M, Age 54 Brandon “Lay Lay” Hancock, Age 32 Bruce Stout, Age unknown Christopher Harris, Age 49 Christopher Wiliams, Age unknown Cluster Faison, Age 70 Debra Covington, Age 50 Esther Wright, Age unknown Gail Faulkner, Age 60 Gwennett C, Age 52 Helen Walker, Age 70 James Murphy, Age unknown John “Mick” Matthews, Age 44 John Wallace, Age 70 Watkins, Age unknown Joseph Yummit, Age 64 Kay Vaughn, Age 45 Kenneth McNamar, Age 54 Kevin Barnes, Age 61 Larry Washington, Age unknown LaVerne Watkins, Age 62 Monty Briscoe, Age 56 Patricia Webster, Age 62 Ricky Douglas, Age 60 Ronny Johnson, Age unknown Sharon Tilman, Age 60 Teri Jones, Age 43 William Morton, Age 61 Yvette Green, Age 49

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

One More Life

Time Marches On...

BY REGINALD BLACK // Artist/Vendor

BY ANGIE WHITEHURST // Artist/Vendor

One more life.

One more year, One more winter.

One more life.

There is another person Who has stopped existing.

A person with value.

A person who is precious And a person who is priceless.

One more life.

Let us not forget the elect Are the real victors.

One more life.

Many are the lost among The stars.

Few and far between, One more life.

When will poverty leave the scene?

The memorials of subtle violence.

One more life.

I'm tired of silence.

Be a Robin Hood Take from the rich and Give to the poor.

One more life.

That is all we ask for.

Call it if you will, One more life.

Stand up tall, This is all our resurrections.

One more life!

Tick tock, the Housing Clock Running to the end of the year And ruefully in thought, idling, on what was Promised, yet still undone.

PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

These names were printed in the programs for National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day. A disclaimer noted that “to protect client confidentiality the names listed are with the expressed approval of next of kin or the client’s case manager.”

Many more individuals were noted only by their ages, with some others recognized by their initials ans several listed as simply “unnamed.” It is customary to read John Doe and Jane Doe as part of this list to acknowledge the likelihood that still more homeless men and women died without being counted. In total, 45 District residents were reported as dying without a home and 79 more were counted as dying soon after “exiting” homelessness by moving into housing.

The photo of Michael Stoops, homeless advocate, was displayed next to the symbolic casket memorializing so many other community members he spent his life serving.

A rememberance was also shared for him during the service.

PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

// 9

D.C. Department of Human Services Director Laura Zeilinger attended the Thursday evening vigil opening ceremony.

PHOTO BY ORION DONOVAN-SMITH

Someone who stayed in Freedom Plaza the night of the vigil, separate from the demonstrators. PHOTO BY RODNEY CHOICE

Gone Home

BY ROBERT WARREN // Artist/Vendor

The thoughts of so many lives Those lonely souls who die They call them homeless, How men lie.

When I heard the number of people Who die without a place to call home, I thought I would cry.

How sad that we can't make America Great again.

If we would just save one life, There will be a better life In every child's eyes.

The truth is They all had a Universal Right To housing.

The important man in the community Said housing is not a human right But a commodity.

I thought a commodity Should be universally affordable To all in need.

Are we our sister's and Brother's keepers?

Of course, we are.

And what does that mean?

Should we take care of people We see out on our streets?

54 lives this year gone Before their sunrise.

Only my Lord knows The date and time.

It's a sad thing I almost cry.

Then I thought There is no time for tears.

But to speak loud and clear, To love your mothers, They bore you, loved you.

Love Your fathers They worked for you.

Love your sisters Because they are good to you.

Love your brothers, your brothers, Marvin Gay would sing If he were her today.

Love your homeless neighbor, They could be you.

I don't want to believe it is true, So, I pray my sisters and Brothers are now free to go home.

No wish to think on the subject Just want to forget it And bury Even the spark of recall.

How smart to obliterate The existence of a thought Promised to be done.

It does not affect anyone Only the people waiting To be housed, To build a home, To be more stabilized And a part of The total one city Of D.C. So, when you Leave task undone, Remember me, Left out in the cold Waiting for the heat Of the glistening sun, Seeking warmth, Food, Clothing, And shelter To keep from getting sick And Dying faster.

And so we ask, plead, and demand: FIX THE HOUSING CRISIS So it can go off the New Year's Promise to Come.

Get the Job Done!

Expenses are Dumb!

Dr. Catherine Crosland of Unity Healthcare became emotional while recounting the experiences of some of her past clients during the vigil ceremony. “Housing is healthcare,” she said. PHOTO BY ORION DONOVAN-SMITH

1 0 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

OPINION

Why does hardship still exist?

Poverty must not survive. The notion that poverty will be around, in spite of efforts to alleviate the hardship it creates, is one of those things that should not remain alive.

This holiday season, I question the survival of hardship in what is supposed to be the richest country in the world.

We are taught the Christmas season is about giving and kindness, instead we get bigotry and hate, which happens as long as poverty survives.

Let's all hope that we come in from the cold and place poverty on fire to be cooked for good.

ILLUSTRATION BY MILDRED HALL

Reginald Black is an artist/vendor for Street Sense Media.

I’m fed up with the New York Ave shelter It's 6 p.m. at the New York Avenue shelter, and the line is starting to form outside. It wraps around the corner, off the sidewalk and into an alley that runs behind the building. This is one of only three remaining low-barrier shelters for men in the city.

The chances of obtaining a place to lay your head there are minimal.

No one is allowed in until after 7 p.m., but the line starts forming as early as 4 p.m., depending on the day. Once they run out of beds, around 6 p.m., you really don't have a choice. You are left out at God's mercy, whether it's raining, snowing or 100-degree weather.

A lot of people ask me why I don't go to the shelters during day time, but little do they know that shelters are only open during specific periods of times.

The New York avenue shelter which is ran by Catholic Charities is just a total disaster, and that's a compliment! How in the world is it allowed to exist on earth is still a mystery to me.

The shelter is home-away-fromhome for bedbugs, mice, cockroaches and thieves that steal from the homeless. By that I mean security— the same people who are supposed to protect you will steal from a homeless person at the shelter. Security will confiscate anything that they deem to be dangerous at anytime. They make TSA look like little kids. They are so incompetent, unprepared to handle situations involving homeless people who are struggling with the ills of society. It is true, though, that many of them are unemployable and have trouble getting a job for life because

Congress, it’s giving season

of circumstances out of their control.

Homeless people shouldn't be treated like some sort of cattle. At one time, we were normal human beings like you. Life just comes at us in different ways.

For a place like that to be allowed to house hundreds of vulnerable human beings every night is both a disgrace and disrespect to both the city and human life as a whole.

It's sad no one has put up a fight against these sort of establishments that lie to the city and say they are providing every basic service to help homeless females, males and struggling families.

The security and the special police that works is a complete joke.

Security is never available, and the whole place is poorly run and dysfunctional; it’s so disorganized, not even the United Nations can save it.

It is disturbing and alarming that the city continues to fund Catholic Charities to operate something so hideous without any oversight whatsoever. And it’s sad that one of the only few shelters left for males is hidden all way out in Northeast.

The staff routinely ignores complaints brought to them. And the case management that is said to be provided is nothing but laughable.

I am disappointed and angry that D.C. is allowed to put hundreds of men's lives into the hands of the most incompetent staff on Earth.

The author frequents this shelter location and has witheld their name in order to protect against retaliation.

Dear President Donald Trump, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Bernie Sanders: I can save the Treasury Department and its tax collection agency, the Internal Revenue Service, a lot of work and headaches with a slight revision to our federal tax code with your help and that of your colleagues in Congress.

I am NOT Santa Claus, but since it is Christmas and Chanukah time, I'd like to give every working American a big raise by lowering their taxes. Congress, let's try the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Replace the personal income tax, which unfairly burdens and punishes working people, with my 1-percent solution: a 1 percent tax on real estate, luxuries like yachts, fancy cars, jewelry and expensive art purchases, stocks, bonds and cash deposits. Tangible assets cannot be hidden by secretive law firms on a small island in the Caribbean.

And Congress, please give us retired workers struggling to survive on Social Security a retroactive cost of living increase, equal to what you members of Congress have been giving yourselves and federal employees all these years.

At least give us enough to buy a few cups of senior coffee at McDonald's! That coffee is nice and warm at Christmas time!

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

Your friend, Gary J. Minter (one of the "Little People" who pays taxes)

PHOTOS COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Gary J. Minter is a former vendor and artist for Street Sense Media, now living in Las Vegas.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

ART

// 11

My name is Moyo, part 3

BY MOYO ONIBUJE Artist/Vendor

Random acts of kindness

BY WENDELL WILLIAMS // Artist/Vendor

On this park bench in this tiny triangle of like to have half of it?” My ego again got in a park right outside the New York Avenue the away, and I again said no. Still, whoever Presbyterian Church, where Abraham Lincoln this lady was, she was smart enough to see and his wife once worshipped, I used to sit that I really wanted that sandwich, so she left — sometimes dreaming, sometimes full of part of it in the bag on the bench and left the anger, sometimes full of the frustration you park. I couldn't wait until she got out of sight. experience when you're homeless and just I opened up that bag and unwrapped that can't seem to get it together. sandwich, and it was truly delicious. I can't I would sit in this little park because it was even remember what kind of sandwich it was, kind of isolated. Although it is in the middle but I do remember the joy I felt for eating of downtown, there are plenty of trees and, as something other than soup-kitchen food. people drive up and down 13th Street, New As time went on, we began engaging in York Avenue and I Street, they barely even very small and brief conversations, about notice that it’s there. I went to that park to kind anything other than why I was sitting on that of hide from life. And on this one particular bench every day. day, a lady came.

Finally, one day, she asked, “Do you know She was older than I was, looking kind of anyone who may need a few things to wear? grandmother-like, and decided, out of all the Because my husband doesn't need these open benches, that she would sit down on the anymore.” I looked so disheveled and smelled one beside me. To this day, I don’t know why, so bad. This kind lady didn't want to say that but what ensued over the next few months I need a shower and a change of clothes. She is certainly something that makes my heart simply used it to give me a chance to humbly smile. Several times during my struggle I have accept her gift of clean and fresh clothing. been the beneficiary of some woman sitting As time went by, we met at that bench down beside me to give me either motherly a few times a week at lunch time. I would or sisterly advice or support. She started off look forward to it. I was staying in the old by just eating her lunch next to me. I began to Franklin School shelter, right across the street notice that every day she would come with a from Franklin Square Park. We talked about lunch that seemed impossible for one person all sorts of things, from politics to life. In to actually consume during their brief lunch retrospect, I realize that through my brief time hour. And then, one day, she asked, “Would knowing this woman, she reminded me that you like some of my sandwich?” even though I was homeless, in her kind and Of course, being the kind of jerk that I can compassionate eyes I was still very much a be from time to time, I was offended that human being. she would offer me part of her lunch. I'm thinking, “Who does she think I am? Do I look like I need lunch?”

My ego got in the way and I refused as I watched her continue to eat that lunch. Man, that sandwich started to look so good, but I had taken the position that I did not want her lunch or help, and I had to sit there with my mouth watering.

The next time I saw her, I was anticipating that I would be getting some of that greatlooking sandwich, but this time she never offered, finished her sandwich and wrapped up her things. I said “Have a nice day” and walked away. Boy, was I messed up. I believe that she thought I was offended by her offer. Days went by before she offered again.

When she finally did, she said, “This sandwich is just too much for me to eat. Would you PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDELL WILLIAMS

In the best traditions of Alex Haley, one of the best story tellers and credible writers America has ever seen, I continue this series.

By the time I was 10 years old, still living in Lagos, Nigeria, I was ready to start what in America they call middle school. However, in Nigeria they call it Secondary School, and instead of grade six, it is called Form 1. The school was called the Maryland Secondary School and was run by Irish Catholic nuns.

I remember being told that every piece in the chapel was imported from Ireland, up to and including the Stations of the Cross plaques on the sides of the church.

It was in that church and school, some 45 years later, that I was to get married to the "ballerina." The first black and Nigerian woman to attend the prestigious British Royal School of Ballet, from age five to 15. Over 25 famous Nigerian families signed the marriage certificate at the exclusive reception in the Sheraton Hotel. Her father, a famous doctor at Georgetown and now, I believe, a professor emeritus at California State University, used to drop by and pick her up from the Royal Ballet School in his Bentley.

Our son is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force in a capacity I wish not to divulge. His name translates to “you are not the only one that has money.” He was named by telephone by the chief of our tribe in Nigeria. I believe that numerous copies of the entire arranged marriage, to my first and only wife, on video, exists in the vaults of the National Geographic Society, particularly for the traditional portion of the marriage.

What changed hands would have been hard to tell, but it would have included parcels and parcels of land between my family and hers.

People flew in from Africa and Europe and America for the wedding and, as is the custom among the Yoruban people, money was placed in our hands during the evening reception.

The reception was held at the oldest private members’ club in Nigeria, originally built for the colonial masters and visiting royalty from England. The Club, to this day, regularly hosts

the president of Nigeria.

The musician who played at the wedding, King Sunny Ad, also serenaded the president of Nigeria, who was at the wedding. In fact, I don't believe you can ever win the nomination of your party without visiting the Club three or four times during your campaign, because of the influence it wields. In fact, it is strange that years later, 2006, when I was threatened with 15 years in jail by the D.C. Superior Court , for allegedly stealing a money from a woman's hand and casually brushing her shoulder (or should I say her elbow. In reality, I was parking her car for her and she was giving me a small reward. So I was perplexed, to say the least, why I was charged with “robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” that I eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, but ] served less than one day in order not to be deported.

The truth is that the woman was giving me a tip for ushering her car into a parking spot, and some local African American boy, of whom there are hundreds, had rushed in front of me and I was determined to get that spot first just out of principle. Of course, after the wedding in 1990 I was urged to go to America because my father-in-law wanted to be close to his daughter, whom he dearly loved, and also because she had lived with me in England, prior to our marriage I was not to experience homelessness until some 12 years later. I lived first in his home in Bethesda, on prestigious Wilson Lane,. and later in Rockville, before returning to England in 1995 for five years of college at the Avant Garde South Bank University in London. In part I will concentrate on my meetings with Africa's most famous civil rights leader, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransomee Kuti.

Her son, from whom millions and millions of dollars have been made in not just the Broadway show of his life story last year, across America and his albums, but also a play that was sponsored by JayZ, Beyonce and Will Smith, but whose album with the members of Cream, has been called by “Rolling Stone” magazine in the early 70s the greatest live album ever made.

Showing compassion

BY PHILLIP BLACK, JR Artist/Vendor

We all should show some compassion for the people who have so little. Why are we so in-tune with reality tv and songs, that we forget to help people struggling with life? You see homeless people every day. Everywhere you look you see someone sleeping at bus stops, store fronts and abandoned buildings.

Where is the love?

I see humans everyday but I don't see humanity. Give a small hello, or a smile and it will brighten somebody's day. You walk past them without acknowledging their existence. You cross the street so you don't have to engage with them.

People spend money on the craziest things, but won't give a dollar for a hot cup of coffee or a sandwich. I wish I had the cash or the means to help everybody I come in contact with. I love people and if I can do something, I will. Why won't you all open up?

God opened his home to all of us. So, let's help one another before we all turn into machines.

1 2 // S T R E E T S E N S E M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 - J A N . 9, 2018

ART

Can my baby come home?

BY RON DUDLEY, A.K.A. “POOKANU” // Artist/Vendor

America the beautiful, there's something I need to know: Can my baby come home? I need my baby at home.

America the beautiful, what are we really fightin’ for?

I need my baby at home, can my baby come home?

Staying strong

BY JOE JACKSON // Artist/Vendor

I was thinking I was doing a good deed by helping my mother. But, even though that's true, I am having a hard time taking care of myself. I didn't know I was around a devious uncle last summer. He made me believe in my mind he loved me, but he tried to kill me twice around my mother. My mother is stressed and ill right now.

I am no help when I am around hatred and liars.

My uncle is very dangerous. I have lost all my love and trust for him.

Every night I see him, I am looking at the devil.This is my mother's house, but he carries on as if it is his house. Just because I am helping her he told me I am a dumbass. He is really nasty to me.

Then my other uncle was murdered in his house last Christmas. I didn't know what happened with that, and all I saw was greed from that uncle's brother.

I am stressed because my mother is ill and I don't have a home.

When I saw my mental-health case worker last summer, he told me they were going to find me a place. But I was lied to: I didn't know my social worker quit, and his agency didn't inform me he had left. When I came to one of my appointments and asked for my case manager, they told me he didn't work there anymore. My life has been crushed because my case manager told me he would find me a place and hasn't. I just don't know who to trust in these mental-health places.

I am trying not to be hurt by my uncle and trying not to hurt anyone.

I am holding on. But I don't know for how much longer. I am tired of sleeping outside and not getting any support or housing from the D.C. government. My body is weak, and I need some rest from these streets.

I want to thank every person on Wisconsin Avenue NW for their help and support when it comes to the homeless. I want to thank the homeowner for letting me do side work when you need it. I want to thank God for giving me the strength to hold on. When people ask, "Are you okay today?", I lie because I don't want anyone to feel bad for what I did to myself. My love is for everyone. But I need to be loved and be stable. Stay strong and stay warm.

This for the soldiers that died and all the soldiers still dying This for the families crying, oh why my government lying My baby just graduated, gave him a hug, now he's gone Said he's following his orders now he ain't coming home

Moon over arles

BY FREDERIC JOHN // Artist/Vendor

Vincent oh yes did he not prance Dance, he did To a different thrum A drum of unique resonance.

Veiled by waves of A darken grey, Squiggling crows veer Towards a supermoon so huge Th’ 1890 straw-strewn night Scarcely knew.

Hence, Bacon, BAsquiat, Lovecraft too (Tho he painted Not with pigment - but “Cthulhu” syllables) Have broadened the indices Whereby our mind and soul Takes its own private Flight!

What's it like to live in a shelter?

America the beautiful, there's something I need to know: Can my baby come home? I need my baby at home.

America the beautiful, what are we really fighting for?

Can my baby come home? I need my baby at home.

My country tears of thee, sweet land of liberty, last year my baby came home Before he left he could stand up and eat on his own Now he's breathing through a tube with one leg missing Nightmares 'cause he survived and his best friend didn't They said we looking for Sadam, but where is bin Laden?

His family in the air flying, our families on the ground dying Mr. President, I know you got a vision But if there's anybody listening, why our soldiers the victim? .

Give them a purple heart for killing women and children But when they torturing the enemy, you throw them in prison Now who the enemy, they say we fighting for freedom But every day our soldiers die, tell me, who are we freeing?

This for the families in this world all alone Praying to god until their baby come home.

America the beautiful, there's something I need to know: Can my baby come home? I need my baby at home.

America the beautiful, what are we really fightin’ for?

I need my baby at home, can my baby come home?

Ye spartoi Who yoked the bulls annon must bodefully have poisoun.

Storysse ov faerless men will mixt with in the helmette.

Turne Mars Ultor, dispenser smalysh teaths ov exsistenses.

From whits quyght ’pon ded laye wepins grow, humain skelitons

O U R S Y O F P IX A B

who, as wuasua knows em avers, lifft themselves lyik brothers.

TE .C AY O M

along with three ladies. I had one good friend there, we ate breakfast together. She left the House recently, so now we talk on the phone.

My room there is downstairs now, so it's better now, because I don't have to take the stairs. So it's better now there, I'm getting used to it. I'm meeting more women on the downstairs floor and it's exciting. I feel even more comfortable and more independent. Unlike the first shelter I stayed at, you don't have to get up so early (like at 5 o'clock in the morning!). My wake up time and breakfast is later at the new place.

You have to make your bed at this place. I have to put my clothes in the closet, instead of a storage room like at the first shelter. At both places there have been TVs. At House of Ruth, there isn't cable, so we watch the news a lot. I like watching the news. At the other place, they liked “Law & Order” and “Criminal Minds,” which I like too, so I was happy.

I feel more independent at House of Ruth, because it's a new experience. I feel strong, I feel different. I said I would never go to a shelter, but like they say, "never say never."

Ever since I've been homeless, it's teaching me how to be independent and how to take care of myself, like saving money. I still can learn more, like with my reading disability.

I pledge allegiance to the flag in a country I love But he was only 18, he never knew what death was Now he on his way to war, where the fighting is real Twenty-one shots to salute another victim in the battlefield

C

I’ll tell you, I've lived in two. The first was a more temporary shelter. It was scary at first, but I just tried to calm myself down and start talking about what I like to do with the other women there. I started to feel comfortable and more open. I felt different and like I could get through living there as time went by. After awhile it felt like we were in the service, like the army, because we slept on cots. As I got to know the people there, every woman there had her own problems. I really sat back and looked at them. I was like "wow," I was shocked by their problems. One lady was talking to herself and she answered herself at the same time. I didn't make fun of them, I prayed for them in my mind that they get better.

I got along with everyone there. I'm at a new housing program now, but I miss this shelter, so sometimes I go to their day program during the day time. I have about four ladies' numbers who I met there, so we can stay in contact.

I talk to one of them almost every day. We haven't hung out yet, but we text.

Now I'm at House of Ruth. When I got in there, I was excited. I had to get used to it.

During the first few weeks I was there, I got

Gave him a plaque and a ribbon, told you he died in honor Oh how she screamed, God, a son’s supposed to bury his momma Said it was a suicide bomber but when she turned on the news His death could have been prevented if he had better tools

BY FRANKLIN STERLING // Artist/Vendor

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

Peaceful violins

The next step

BY MARCELLUS PHILIPS // Artist/Vendor

BY JAMES DAVIS // Artist/Vendor

I want to hear the sounds of peaceful violins.

No, I don’t want no moment of silence, I want a moment of shouting and outrage!

No more talking points, turn the page.

Black lives do matter, true that.

With Black-on-Black crime, where you at?

Mass killings from Vegas to a church in Texas, who knows where and when the next is?

700 murdered in Chicago, 300 in Baltimore, what in the hell are we fighting for?

I hate it when they say we need a discussion, did someone just suffer a concussion?

So please, no more moments of silence, let’s just stop the violence.

And ask forgiveness for those who have sinned, and listen to the sound of peaceful violins, yes, peaceful violins, peaceful violins.

I would like to especially thank all my customers supporters throughout the year and who participated in my silent protest by sending copies of this paper to the White House.

MAN WITH BOAT ILLUSTRATED BY LEVESTER GREEEN VIOLIN ILLUSTRATED BY DORIS ROBINSON

// 1 3

The next step after accomplishing any goal, is the most difficult. This fall, I achieved a huge goal: housing.

For the longest time, I refused to seek disability assistance. I figured there were people that needed it more than I do. Because I’m smart and hard-working, I was confident that I should have no trouble finding a job.

That proved untrue. I have to continuously remind myself and others that my life and the way I function will never be normal. I have learned to live with my epilepsy and the shock episodes that come with it. I’m working on finding the best medical way to manage it so that it does not hold me back from my aspirations.

That’s my next step, my big goal: to gain control of my medical condition so that it does not affect my everyday life and to make sure I don't ever experience homelessness again.

A lot of people ask why it took so long for me to ask for assistance. The reason is that I don't want anyone taking care of me. My mother raised me to never rely on others because a

grown man always takes care of himself. I have never been in a relationship where my other half takes care of me and I don't look for family or friends to do so either. I’m disgusted by the thought of someone else controlling my actions.

So I am in a better situation for now, but my income is tricky. If I make too much money, I will lose the assistance that is sustaining me. But right now, after I pay the bills, I’m flat broke. And realistically, it would take earning more than allowed to be able to save and transition away from that assistance. Once again, I’m put into a difficult situation that can be extremely stressful.

But the income limitations are not my problem. My problem is my epilepsy getting in the way of holding steady employment. That’s why addressing it is the next step. We all have our wishes and dreams. And we all have to go different routes to bring them to life.

I learn from all mistakes and try my best not to make the same mistake twice. But no one is perfect. This past year has been both blessed and crazy. I’m grateful for all of those experiences and shall use them to create a better life in 2018.

Resolutions for positive change in 2018 Besides your resolutions...me?

I'm writing to thank the readers and supporters of Street Sense Media. I have been selling the paper for about nine years around some of the same locations. I meet a lot of interesting people, including local and national leaders. I even got invited to the pope's visit, where I shot video.

I got to meet then-President Obama and the first lady while they volunteered at So Others May Eat (SOME). I met Mayor Muriel Bowser when she

Steadily wishing I could live with you, simply because these streets will never do.

They got me constantly in need of a breakthrough.

Poppy needs bags and shoes. All new!

And a Merry Christmas to you all too!

Happy for the holidays, even though I'm not home.

Previous plans fell through, still left out on the streets, all alone.

Needless to say, bring the New Year on.

visited Miriam's Kitchen. I also met many volunteers and employees who help provide services to the homeless and those in need.

I'm getting ready for the New Year and hoping there is continued progress and that your and my efforts will create a success for someone.

Thank you all and happy holidays — have a wonderful New Year!

—DERIAN HICKMAN // Artist/Vendor

ILLUSTRATION BY REGINALD BLACK

—LEVESTER GREEN // Artist/Vendor

ILLUSTRATION

BY PATTY SMITH

I'm looking forward to a lot next year: keeping up with my health and my doctor's appointments, continuing my therapy and staying in touch with my caseworker.

I go to anger management class once a week because I want to be assertive rather than angry.

Sometimes I get to my appointment at 9 a.m. even though I'm not supposed to be there until noon. I have to leave early because I never know how the buses will run. When I get out of class, I look forward to coming to Street Sense Media to get my papers to sell.

I've been sick a few times this year. But, I'm feeling much better. I plan to hold on to that feeling in 2018 —ELIZABETH BRYANT // Artist/Vendor

Happy holidays y'all! Aren't you and I glad to see this beautiful time of the year?

It's too bad it will come to an end soon. I hope Santa brought you a lot of gifts and that you were able to enjoy many gatherings with family and friends.

I stayed in town and had a great Christmas dinner at St. Alban's church.

Please have hope and don't give up. There are days I myself feel like giving up and feel hopeless. But I pray to God and it helps a lot. I am thankful for what little I have instead of complaining about what I don't have. Stay warm and enjoy the holidays!

I’ll see y'all next year. God bless you.

— BETTY EVERRETT, A.K.A. “THE BEAUIFUL ONE” // Artist/Vendor

1. Positive change doesn't take long to happen, when you DECIDE to do the right thing.

2. Positive change doesn't take long to happen, when you take IMMEDIATE action.

3. Positive change doesn't take long to happen, if you FOCUS on being a better person.

4. Positive change doesn't take long to happen, if you CUT OFF all possibilities of failure.

5. Positive change doesn't take long to happen, if you STAY COMMITTED to excellence.

6. Positive change can happen in seconds.

But nothing will happen until you DECIDE to make a real change.

—CHON GOTTI // Artist/Vendor ILLUSTRATION BY CHON GOTTI

2 9 8 1 6 3 2 9 3 6 1 4 5 8 7 7 8 1 4 6 5 3 2 9 M E D I A / / D E C . 2 7 , 2 0 17 - J A N .

3 2 4 9 8 1 7 5 6 9 5 6 3 2 7 4 1 8 4

1 4 // S T R E E T S E N S E

FUN & GAMES

7

5

9, 2018

4 3 6 9 2 8 7 1 5 7 9 1 3 4 5 2 6 8 8 2 3 1 7 6 9 5 4 5 7 4 2 8 9 1 3 6 1 6 9 4 5 3 8 7 2

Name:

Name: Name: Name:

Terms Terms forbidden from use in use the U.S. for Terms forbidden from use inCenters the U.S. Centers for forbidden from in in the U.S. Centers forfor Terms forbidden from use the U.S. Centers Disease Control and Prevention 2019 presidential Disease Control and Prevention 2019 presidential Control and Prevention 2019 presidential Disease Sudoku #4 Disease Control and Prevention 2019 presidential 9 budget 2 5 2 7 budget 1 6 8 4 request 3 request budget request budget request

Sudoku #8 3

Sudoku #3 4 7 3 9 6 8 5 1 Novice Sudoku Puzzles, Volume 1, Book 1 8 9 5 3 1 2 4 6 7 6 1 2 4 7 5 3 9 8 9 2 6 1 4 3 7 8 5 1 5 4 8 2 7 9 3 6 7 3 8 5 9 6 1 2 4 2 4 9 6 5 1 8 7 3 3 6 1 7 8 4 2 5 9 5 8 7 2 3 9 6 4 1

7

1

5

2

7

9

3

8

4

4

6

6

6

1

3

3

4

2

4

5

9

5

2

5

3

7

3

8 9 2

Want to help me replace my broken pencil sharpener?

You can make a donation at http://krazydad.com Or by mail: Krazydad, P.O. Box 303 Sun Valley, CA 91353 USA Thank you!

4 6 7 1 1 4 5 2 5 8 Sudoku #5 2 9 9 4 3 6 5 2 9 6 88 6 5 7 3 8 71 1 2 9 65 7 8 4 9 1 2 7 8 5 7 3 28 1 5 9 9 7 7 2 8 3 9 1 6 4 9 8 7 3 1 4 6 8 69 4 1 9 6 7

1

4

6 ©12013 KrazyDad.com

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

4

Sudoku #6 6 9 4 758 8 76 3 5 6 5 2 1 3 9 1 4 8 6 7 3 5 9 1 2 7 6 2 4 3 4 8 7 9 1 2 3 5 8 4 9 1 6 2 5

8

5

3 9 2 5 1 2 5 4 6 8 2 7 3 8 5 7 4 2 6 4 2 1 3 9 9 1 7 8 6 5 8 2 1 5 7 4 4 7 3 9 1 6 5 9 6 3 2 8 7

4

2

7

6 8 4 11 9 13 1 9 1 6 8 7 5 4 3 2 3 6 9 2 5 8 7 4 1

7

7

44

1 5 25 3 5 5 2 9 4 1 6 66 4 8 6 7 9 3 5 2 8 4 7 6 5 1 9 8 6 2 3 5 7 6 1 9 3 7 8 4

3

2

22 3

33

LAST EDITION’S CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Sanford Capital Helen Hayes Winter Solstice Three Hypothermia Quadraphonic Stigma Globalist

77

SUDOKU: Fill in Sudoku #7 Sudoku #8 If you logicsquares you can solve the puzzle without guesswork. the use blank 2 5 9 3 1 7 6 8 4 7 4 2 1 6 8 3 5 9 so athat Need littleeach help? row, The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle. each columntheand Use it to identify next square 3 you should solve.

Or use the answers page 3 4 6 5 8 2 9 7 1 5 8 9 7 2 1 6 4 if you really get stuck. each 3-by-3 block Created with TheTeac hers Co rner.net Cro s s wo rd Puz z le Generato r Created withTheTeac TheTeac hers Corner.net rner.net Cro ssswo word rd Puz Generato 8 9 1 6 4 3 5 7 2 8 1 7 6 9 4 5 2 3 Created with TheTeac hers Co rner.net Cro s sCro wosrd Puz z le Generato r with hers Co Puz zzleleGenerato rr contain all of the Across Down Created Across Down Across Down Across Down digits 1-9.

3r pro 4 tectio 6 3 1 5 8 9 4 1.

7 in2need o f special 5 rt, o 8 n7 6 2 1 2.

9 having a right to care,need suppo so2.mething special care,suppo suppo or rpro protectio having right toso so mething 1. in need o f special care, care, suppo rt, o r pro ntectionn 2. having a rightaato so to mething 1.1.inin need oof fspecial rt,rt,otectio 2. having right 6 . deno ting disciplines o f health care that pro ceed 3. deno ting o r relating to a perso nrwho semething sense o f n who se sense o f 1 4 2 3 7 2 9 5 7 4 3 6 8 1 9 6 5 8 6 . deno ting disciplines o f health care that pro ceed 3. deno ting o relating 6 . deno ting disciplines o f health care that pro ceed 3. deno ting o r relating to a perso nperso whonse sense of of 6 . mo deno disciplines oco f health care that pro ceednal identity and 3. gender deno ting oes r relating totoaaperso who se sense empirically and reject re ting traditio nal pro tomo ls traditio perso do no tand co rrespo nddo with empirically and reject re nal pro to co ls perso nal identity gender no tco correspo rrespo ndwith with empirically and reject mo re traditio nal pro to co ls perso nal identity and gender do es noes tes cono rrespo nd with perso nal identity and gender do t nd empirically and reject mo re traditio nal pro to co ls 8 7 4 6 2 1 9 (hyphenated) 3 5 7 2 8 9 5 1 3 4 their 6 LAST birth sex (hyphenated) theirsex birthsex sex (hyphenated) their birth their birth (hyphenated) 7 . an unbo rn o ffspring oan f aunbo mammal, in particular an 4 . based no t4o.pinio n oornpreferences EDITION’S 7. .an rnooffspring faamammal, particular based fact, not toonpinio pinio preferences 7 . an unbo rn o ffspring o f3a mammal, 4 . based o n fact, t o pinio o r preferences 1eight 6mammal, 8in particular 4 inin9particular 5an anano n fact, 1 6 7 2 5 4 8 9 3 7ffspring 4 . based o nno fact, no nnoor rpreferences rn o2ofafter unbo rn human baby7unbo mo reunbo than weeks (hyphenated) PUZZLE rn human baby mo re than eight weeks after (hyphenated) unbo unbo rn human baby baby mo remo than eight weeks after after (hyphenated) (hyphenated) rn human re than eight weeks co nceptio n things 7. a range o f different 4 2 3 8 9 7 5 1 6 4 9 2 1 3 5 8 6 5 SOLUTION >> conceptio nceptio range different things co nceptio n 5 . a range o f different thingsthings 55. .aarange oof fdifferent co nn

5 8 9

3

1 6

2

4

7

6

8 5

7

4

9

1 3 2

Author Gene Weingarten is a college dropout and a nationally syndicated humor columnist for The Washington Post. Author Dan Weingarten is a former college dropout and a current college student majoring in information technology. Many thanks to Gene Weingarten and The Washington Post Writers Group for allowing Street Sense to run Barney & Clyde.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

COMMUNITY SERVICES

SHELTER HOTLINE Línea directa de alojamiento

(202) 399-7093

YOUTH HOTLINE Línea de juventud

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE Línea directa de violencia doméstica

(202) 547-7777

(202) 749-8000

Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento

Education Educación

Health Care Seguro

Clothing Ropa

Legal Assistance Assistencia Legal

Case Management Coordinación de Servicios

Food Comida

Employment Assistance Assitencia con Empleo

Transportation Transportación

Showers Duchas

All services listed are referral-free Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org

Bread for the City 202-265-2400 (NW) // 561-8587 (SE) 1525 7th St., NW // 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Good Hope Rd., SE calvaryservices.org

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc)

Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW ID (Friday 9am–12pm only) foundryumc.org/ministry-opportunities

Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Charlie’s Place // 202-232-3066 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org

Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9128 425 2nd St., NW jobshavepriority.org

Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 2114 14th St., NW marthastable.org

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2060 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

// 1 5

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-888-793-4357

Laundry Lavandería

Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW // samaritaninns.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW // thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care // 202-745-4300 3020 14th St., NW unityhealthcare.org

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW // 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW // some.org

Whitman-Walker Health 1701 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-333-4949 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

Home is a place of healing, safety, and peace when we are sick or injured.

Where do you go when you are homeless?

Christ House the only residential medical facility dedicated to healing the lives of sick and homeless men in Washington, D.C.

Your support provides healing and hope to our homeless patients!

UW #8385 CFC #34256 www.ChristHouse.org

Apply for Discounts on Your Utility Bills Discounts are Subject to Income Eligibility Requirements

- Apply for Discounted Rates on Natural Gas

Residential Essential Service (RES) Program

Potential savings up to $276 during the winter heating season.

Nearly 200 people were reported to have died homeless in Philadelphia in 2017. JIM IRBY // ONE STEP AWAY

Electric

Residential Aid Discount (RAD) Program

Potential savings are between $300-$475 annually.

Candles were lit for 33 Chicago residents who died “alone and in poverty” in 2017.

Water

SUZANNE HANNEY // STREETWISE

An outdoor service was held to remember 231 Denver residents who died homeless in 2017.

SARAH FORD // THE DENVER VOICE

Customer Assistance Program (CAP)

Potential discount could be over $450 annually.

Telephone

Lifeline Program (Economy II)

Annual discount on one land line service per household.

The MANNA singers, a homeless choir, sang “Let It Be” to honor more than 100 people known to have died without a home in Boston in 2017. ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ // SPARE CHANGE NEWS

DEC. 27, 2017 - JAN. 9, 2018 Street Sense Media 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Washington, DC Permit #568

For more info call 311 or visit doee.dc.gov/udp

To apply for the telephone Lifeline Service (Economy II), call 800-253-0846.

These programs are for DC residents only.

MAIL TO:

Thank you for reading Street Sense!

From your vendor