StreetSense.org
Where the poor and homeless October 13 - 26, 2010
October 13 - 26, 2010
earn and give their two cents
D STE GE ON G I S U N AT DO
Volume 7 Issue 24
Can You Read These Words?
If you couldn’t, where would it leave you?
65 cents for the Vendor
35 cents for production of the paper
Eating Healthy With Food Stamps Page 5
Miriam’s Kitchen Showcases Client Art Page 8
See Page 5
A Local Church Aims to End Homelessness See Page 6
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October 13 - 26, 2010
Our Mission
StreetSense.org
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.We are proud
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The Story of Street Sense
Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 28 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world. After bringing together a corps of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network. For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space. In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization. In October 2005 Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director. A year later in November 2006, the organization hired its first vendor coordinator and began partnering with several service providers. In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production brought on its first full-time editor–in–chief in April. As of January 2010 the paper had 72 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.
Washington, DC 20005.
Vendor Code of Conduct
1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means. 2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (out- side of the office volunteers). 3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers. 4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense. 5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income. 6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper. 7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors. 9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers. 10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty
members of: 1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Estrada Ted Henson North American Brad Scriber Michael Stoops Street Newspaper Manas Mohaptra Sommer Mathis Association Kristal DeKleer Robin Heller Jeffery McNeil Jordan Rummel John Snellgrove Dameon Philpotts Martin Walker EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abby Strunk International EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Network of Mary Otto Street Papers MANAGING EDITOR Lisa V. Gillespie COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER Amy Vokes INTERNS Jennifer Steadman, Hayley Burgess, Sam Giffin, Shadaye Hunnicutt, Cynthia Ribas-Santos, Kimberly Kroll FOUNDERS Ted Henson & Laura Thompson Osuri VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Bobby Corrigan, Brett Topping, Carol Cummings, Elia Herman, Elsie Oldaker, Holly Caesar, Jane Goforth, Jesse Smith, Julia Sanders, Maggie Smith, Mandy Toomey, Margaret Chapman, Ellen Gilmer, Mehreen Rasheed, Mike Plunkett, Parisa Gropper, Rachael Petterson, Rachel Estabrook, Rhonda Brown, Rick Docksai, Robert Fulton, Roberta Haber, Sara Dimmitt, Sarah Ficener, Sharon King, Tim Mazzucca,Tracie Ching, Trisha Knisely, Vicki Ann Lancaster, Willie Schatz VENDORS Charles Armstrong, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, Cyril Belk, Kenneth Belkosky, Tommy Bennett, Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Andre Brinson, Melody Byrd, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Virginia Clegg, Aaron Conner, Anthony Crawford, Louise Davenport, Charles Davis, James Davis, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon-El, Charles Eatmon, Deanna Elder, Richard Embden, James Featherson, Craig Fleming, Samuel Fullwood, Roger Garner, David Ger, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Phillip Howard, James Hughes, Richard Hutson, Margaret Jenkins, Carlton Johnson, Donald Johnson, Alicia Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Hope Lasister, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Michael Lyons, Jonnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, John Matthews, John C. Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Mayse, Robert McCray, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, L. Morrow, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Franklin Payne, Edward Perry, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Ed Ross, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Ronald Simms, Veda Simpson, Patty Smith, Gwynette Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Garland Stroman, Leroy Studevant, Beverly Sutton, Sybil Taylor, Paul Taylor, Steve Thomas, Larissa Thompson, Deborah Tibbs, Carl Turner, Christopher Walker, Jeanette Walker, Joseph Walker, Martin Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Gregory Wells, Michael Welsh, Edna Williams, Wendell Williams, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, and Charles Woods, and Tina Wright.
StreetSense.org
October 13 - 26, 2010
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Struggle Continues: Homeless families desperate for housing By Mary Otto, editor One homeless mother, Dawn Austen, was overcome by emotion as she spoke about her desperate search for shelter. “Where my son is forced to sleep, it makes me feel like a bad mother,” she said before breaking down. Another, Chakonyone Lee, managed to get through her entire statement without crying. “There are really people out here who have no place to go,” Lee testified. “When I leave out of here to pick up my children, I don’t know where we will go. Maybe to a hospital or a train station.” The women were two of more than twenty witnesses who spoke at an October 6 roundtable meeting called by D.C. City Council Human Services Chairman Tommy Wells to explore the status of the District’s plan to shelter the homeless during the upcoming winter. The shortage of housing for families was a continuing refrain. City officials are anxious to avoid a repeat of last winter’s debacle, where 200 families were crowded into the aging D.C. General Hospital, occupying space designed to house 135 individuals. But finding additional space for a growing number of homeless families has proven a challenge. Some who testified suggested that political maneuvering may have led to a failure to move
forward with a plan to make use of an 80-unit building on Spring Road NE in Ward 4. Wells, whose Ward 6 district includes D.C. General Hospital firmly rejected a plan, at least temporarily advanced by Department of Human Services, to renovate space for 100 more families in the facility in time for winter. The winter plan under discussion would also place 75 additional single men in the cafeteria of the former hospital. “You are creating a homeless encampment at D.C. General,” Wells said to Department of Human Services Director Clarence Carter. But Carter defended the city’s plan for coping with family homelessness, which also includes efforts to move the families currently staying at D.C. General into apartments to free up space for additional families this winter. “I think it represents a strong effort to serve the needs of our homeless neighbors,” Carter said. The city’s annual homeless enumeration found a total of 800 homeless families, an increase of nearly 14 percent over last year. And between April and June, 517 families applied to the city for shelter, according to figures compiled by the Interagency Council on Homelessness. An estimated 10 percent of homeless families are now coming to the District from other jurisdictions, according to intake data from the Virginia Williams Family
“
We believe this number (homeless students) will grow in the next few months. Many family shelters are full and even families in permanent housing now are in vulnerable situa-
”
tions. -Frederick Lewis, D.C. Schools spokesperson Resource Center, the office where families go to seek emergency shelter. Local schools are also trying to cope. As of Sept. 17, there were 1,024 homeless children enrolled in the city school system. “We do not believe this represents the total number of homeless students in our schools,” said D.C. school spokesman Frederick Lewis. The number actually represents a decrease from last year’s count of 1,900 students, Lewis said, but new enrollment forms may have caused some confusion in classifying students. “We believe this number will grow over the next few months,” he added. “Based on our conversations with city officials, shelter providers and our community partners, we know the need in the city has not abated. Many family shelters are full and even families in permanent housing now are
in vulnerable situations.” Lewis did not testify at the roundtable on the winter plan. But back in city hall, Chakonyone Lee glanced anxiously at the clock on the wall of the hearing room, gathered her things and left to pick up her children, still not knowing where they would spend the night.
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October 13 - 26, 2010
StreetSense.org
Getting most bang for bang for food stamp bucks Deborah Reynolds knows how to get the most out of her food stamps. And in these tough times, advocates for the poor are hoping more people learn to follow her lead. Every day in the District of Colombia, nearly one out of eight households struggles with hunger, with uncertain or limited access to, or ability to buy, nutritionally adequate and safe food, according to DC Hunger Solutions. The nonprofit organization, founded in 2002, has a mission of eliminating hunger in the District and improving the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of lowincome District residents. Currently, the organization is trying to get out the word that there are food resources available, even for those who are currently homeless and don’t have a permanent address. The group estimates that more than 20,000 city residents – including many low-income workers, seniors, and legal immigrants – are not receiving food stamps even though they qualify for benefits. Fighting misinformation is the biggest battle, the advocates say. For instance, the current official name for the food stamp program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, a term that is not widely known. In addition, there is widespread confusion about what is required in terms of documentation. Food stamp applicants don’t need a permanent address, or even photo identification, to qualify. Applicants merely need someone who knows them, such as a social or caseworker, to call and verify their identity. D.C. Hunger Solutions has been working with caseworkers at homeless shelters and other social service programs making sure that they know the rules and can help spread the word about the availability of food stamps. The goal is to make sure that everyone who qualifies for food stamps has them and knows how to get the most out of their assistance. One barrier, finding healthy food to buy with food stamps is being addressed with the help of farmer’s markets. Two years ago, D.C. Hunger Solutions began a project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Promotion Program, to enable District farmers’ markets to accept food stamps. Now, more than a dozen farmers’ markets in the District accept food stamps. And three, including the FRESHFARM Market, by the White House, will double the value of up to ten dollars worth of food stamps per day. In the hands of savvy shoppers such as Reyn-
Left, Olivia Rubagumya, EBT Coordinator for FRESHFARM Farmers Markets, gives Deborah Reynolds her tokens at the Farmers Market on H St NE. Above, Reynolds holds out her tokens to see how much more she would be able to buy at the market that morning. Below left, Reynolds exchanges tokens and Double Dollars vouchers for a few pounds of ground beef.
olds, such a bonus can really help put healthy food on the table. On a recent Saturday, Reynolds arrived at the FRESHFARM market on H St NE with 25 dollars on her card, but she was able to boost her spending power and received 35 dollars in wooden tokens and vouchers to spend at the market. “To be honest with you, the chips and money go a long way,” said Reynolds. “You get your money’s worth.” She had been to the market twice already, and on this visit, she was gathering ingredients to make a spaghetti and meatballs dish and salad to go with it. With her increased budget, she was able to purchase ground beef, lettuce, garlic, tomatoes and more. Electronic Benefits Transfers coordinator for FRESHFARM Farmers Markets Olivia Rubagumya said being able to use food stamps at the market is a real boon. “People are really happy when they hear that [there are food stamp benefits at the market]. I wish we could match higher. We used to, but we’re trying to stretch it out… [This program is] making food accessible.”
StreetSense.org
October 13 - 26, 2010
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Adult Literacy: A Silent Crisis By Shadaye Hunnicutt, intern In a small classroom a teacher prepares for class surrounded by walls covered with posters labeled with the parts of speech, vowel teams and vowel options. In the corner of the room sits a globe, next to it a spelling game. In the front of the classroom, the teacher writes “A, E, I, O, U.” Suddenly, the room is filled with laughter and joking as the students pile in and take their seats. The youngest student is 19. “It’s something we don’t like to talk about,” said Terry Algire, executive director of the Washington Literacy Council, whose mission is to increase adult literacy in the District. “If you talk about children who are struggling with reading, you have these wonderful pictures of adults reading with them. It makes you feel good. If you look at a class of adults who are having trouble with reading, it doesn’t have the same impact.” One in seven adults in the United States have below basic reading and writing skills, according to the U.S. Department of Education. “Illiteracy among adults is a quiet crisis…our nation needs to do better,” said Senator Thomas Harkin of Iowa in his award acceptance letter at the annual Pro-Literacy award ceremony. In September, pro-literacy organizations gathered at the Rayburn house office building in D.C. for their annual literacy leadership award ceremony and formation of the first-ever house adult literacy caucus. Together several organizations are working to help provide adults with these basic skills and more. “Literacy is essential,” said Algire. “If you can’t read you have nowhere to go, the bar for literacy keeps going up and more and more people keep falling behind.” Many adults are afraid to enter into adult literacy programs because they are ashamed and afraid to let their friends and families know they have a problem, said Barry Benson, vice president of ProLiteracy, the world’s largest nonprofit advocacy organization offering literacy programs. “Shame is the major impediment…it makes it hard to identify adults who have below basic literacy skills,” Benson said. “Literacy is a lever, it raises all boats,” said Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, who will be taking over as president of National Coalition for Literacy at the end of the year. Adult learners who enter into a literacy program learn to read and are equipped with the skills necessary to get by in a technology driven world, according to Benson. “Students learn work related skills to be brought up to date on how to read and use a computer, as well as learning financial literacy,” said Benson. At WLC, students go through three stages of small group classes: basic, intermediate and advanced, each three semesters long. In the intermediate class, students learn les-
Above: Adult learner getting one on one tutoring at The Washington Literacy Council. Photo credit: Ed Rehfeld Right: Congressmen Phil Roe, R-TN and Dan Maffei, D-NY receive the Right to Literacy Scroll from literacy advocates.
sons such as six syllable types, five rules for dividing syllables, vowel spelling variations, grammar, the basics of composition and vocabulary expansion. Just like in a typical grade school class, the students take turns spelling a word on the board. “Let me do another one,” yells out one student. “I used to run from this.” The students take a spelling test, and then end class with the game “Password,” where one student picks a random word from a bag and has to say a word related to that word so his or her teammate can guess the original word. “Classes are set up so that students can be successful, we take students from where they are and help them to move forward”, said Algire. Currently, ProLiteracy is working with members of Congress to pass policies that will raise awareness of the need for adult literacy programs. “We want to help our members suffering budget cuts be as efficient as possible when accom-
modating learners coming in with fewer dollars,” said Benson. These policies will ultimately lead to more government funding for adult literacy programs. The adult education budget for D.C. programs is 5 million dollars. Children should arrive at school with basics of pre-literacy skills. If they’re in a home where no one is reading, their skills may be so far behind entering kindergarten, that it can be almost impossible for them to catch up, according to Algire.
“There’s a continuum,” said Algire. “If we put all our subjects on one end of the continuum, we don’t make anything any better. We have to reach across the continuum, not just reach out to the child, but make sure in their family unit, and in their communities there are adults reading and literate as well.”
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StreetSense.org
October 13 - 26, 2010
Local church invites congregation to take a stand
against homelessness Foundry United Methodist Church dedicated to prayer and action What difference can one church make when confronting a complex issue such as homelessness? Street Sense co-founder and board member Ted Henson recently interviewed Senior Minister Dean Snyder of Foundry United Methodist Church to find out. The Church, located just a few blocks from the White House on 16th Street NW has been active in social issues in the District and around the world for more than 185 years. Mission work includes not only fighting to end homelessness teaching English to immigrants, giving prisoners books to read, helping to rebuild the hurricaneravaged Gulf Coast and cooking meals for Washingtonians with HIV/AIDS. Henson: Foundry United Methodist Church is sponsoring an “Ending Homelessness Sunday” on October 24. Can you tell our readers what the genesis for this was and what your expectations are for the Dean Snyder at his 16th Street church day-long event? this is important. But changing systems Snyder: A few years ago we were wres- and finding lasting solutions is also critical tling with how to respond to the people work that congregations need to be doing. who sleep on our church steps at night. It is just as important to make sure elected People living in condos and houses nearby officials rebuild safety nets as it is to be a were complaining. Our minister of mis- small part of the safety net. sion Jana Meyer talked to other churches H: Foundry is an active member of the and the Washington Interfaith Network to explore what churches in other cities were Washington Interfaith Network. Can you doing. In 2007, a group of churches from talk a bit about how WIN has mobilized WIN, as well as the Committee to Save around the issue of homelessness in reFranklin Shelter and city government of- cent years? Specifically, what are some of ficials, took a trip to New York City to visit WIN’s successes. Rosanne Haggerty and Common Ground S: Along with many other groups whose goals wasn’t just more shelters. Their goal was to end homelessness. working on this issue in the city, WIN has We decided the best way to respond sought to build political will for ending to the complaints about people sleep- homelessness in Washington D.C. Following on our church steps was to work ing the trip to New York to visit Common with other churches and organizations Ground, permanent supportive housing bein Washington to end homelessness. came a key part of WIN’s citywide agenda. In July 2007, WIN secured a public commitment from Mayor Fenty to impleH: What do you see as the faith-based community’s role in solving homelessness ment the Homeless No More plan including 2,500 units of permanent supportive and poverty? housing by 2014. The following year, in S: Congregations have always been April of 2008, WIN secured public compart of the network of services that sustain mitments from both Mayor Fenty and City people. Foundry continues to help meet Councilmembers at two separate actions people survival needs through our home- to commit 19.2 million for permanent supless walk-in mission. We help with clothes portive housing for fiscal year 2009. That summer WIN leaders participated and referrals and help people get official ID. We make sandwiches to be distributed in three nights of vulnerability assesson the streets. We volunteer with other or- ments of people on the streets, based on ganizations providing basic services. All the Common Ground model. In 2009, with
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUNDRY UNITED METHODIST
By Ted Henson, board member
a very changed political climate, funding was flat for fiscal year 2010 for permanent supportive housing. WIN mobilized along with other groups to restore $17 million in federal funds for new Housing First units for Washington D.C. The economic crisis has made the task of ending homelessness enormously more challenging, particularly for homeless families. At the same time, this summer DHS announced that 1,000 people have been housed through permanent supportive housing for Washington D.C., which represents a victory for this entire city. H: In your preaching, you often talk about homelessness. What is your personal connection to the issue? S: I was a pastor in Philadelphia in the mid-late 1970s when economic forces and new governmental policies created the kind of homelessness we are experiencing today. The America I grew up in did not have people panhandling in the streets or sleeping on park benches and church steps. When I saw people begin sleeping in parks and begging on our streets, I couldn’t believe it. Deinstitutionalization and a Draconian cut in human services for the most vulnerable created homelessness, and it happened so suddenly and in such numbers that social services and churches were just overwhelmed. A church I was serving in the
late ‘70s and for much of the ‘80s began the first shelter for families in Philadelphia. We thought our shelter was a stop-gap effort, but homelessness just kept growing and growing. Most painfully, some of the people we worked with suffered mental illnesses or other disabilities. An unbelievable number were veterans with war experiences. A decent society doesn’t allow this to happen. It doesn’t allow people with health problems and shock from war experiences to live on its streets. It doesn’t relegate them to shelter beds. My biggest personal problem is that I became hopeless. I stopped believing that homelessness could be stopped until people like Roseanne Haggerty birthed a new vision of ending homelessness. H: Oftentimes Christians are defined for their stances on controversial social issues such as homosexuality and abortion, mostly by their opposition. In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on the biblical emphasis on fighting poverty. This is evidenced by the likes of Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis, and the new monasticism movement. Where do you think the church should be focusing its time and energy in relation to this dichotomy, if in fact a dichotomy exists S: Whatever their views on controversial issues like abortion and homosexuality, I suspect no church has much credibility unless it is actively involved in ministering with poor people. Every religion teaches justice and equality, including economic justice. Certainly Christ taught that our lives will be judged by whether we feed the hungry and clothed the poor. H: Isn’t the goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2014 unrealistic given the current status of the economy? S: No. Ultimately the cost of permanent supportive housing could be not much greater than the cost of running large shelters (where some people in effect live for years) and other costs such as emergency room health care. Making the change from the way we have been doing things, however, will require discipline, consistency, and citizens who help the city maintain the political will to do things differently. Ending homelessness in Washington, D.C., by 2014 is possible if we really want to see it happen.
StreetSense.org
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October 13 - 26, 2010
Protecting the Homeless, Legally By Tim Young, volunteer On, September 29, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee’s crime subcommittee held an historic hearing to consider extending new protections to homeless people. “When I hear the horrific stories about murders, assaults and rapes committed against our nation’s homeless I ask myself: Is this America?” began Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), who presided over the hearing. Sen. Cardin champions a bill which would require law enforcement around the nation to record statistics on any crimes committed against the un-housed in America. This legislation would, for the first time, identify homeless persons as a class of people who need to be given special consideration, similar to those who are discriminated against by sex, race or religion. Speakers at the hearing included The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson, United States Representative for the 30th District of Texas, Professor Brian Levin from California State University, San Bernardino, Professor Erik Luna from Washington and Lee School of Law, Commander Richard Wierzbicki of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, David Muhlhausen, Ph.D. from the Heritage Foundation and Simone Manning-Moon, whose brother was killed in an instance of violence against the homeless. Of these speakers, only Muhlhausen expressed skepticism.“Policymakers should be cautious in accepting the validity (of) statistics generated by homeless advocates,” said Muhlhausen. He argued that “crimes against the homeless have not risen to a level that requires formal data collection by the federal government.” Muhlhausen challenged National Coalition for the Homeless’ statistics, which indicate that the deaths of 43 homeless people were caused by violent crime last year and portrayed the homeless as more frequenly perpetrators than victims of crime. Cardin as well as the other speakers who were in attendance expressed shock at his comments, contending that Muhlhausen made no compelling argument against the law which would be set to protect a class of people who need protection. Neil Donovan, CEO of the National Coalition for the Homeless, who was in attendance, but did not speak during the hearing,
concurred with the Senator and other speakers, stating that Muhlhausen’s arguments were “ill constructed” and ignorant,” because they do not take into account the dignity of each individual who was slain. The other speakers pointed to the need to identify crimes against the homeless population and how, as that population continues to increase, so does violence against it. Cardin specifically referenced the beating death of Norris Gaynor as well as John McGraham, who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in a horrifically violent incident. “These are only two examples of a larger problem,” said Cardin. The state of Florida enacted legislation earlier this year that requires the reporting of crimes against the homeless. Speaking from his experience in the state, Wiezbicki stated that it would take very little to put this policy into use, but that the change would help to significantly protect the vulnerable community of the un-housed. Wiezbicki said that the new Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md), presided over the hearing championing the bill that will require law enreporting requires only a small software forcement around the nation to record statistics on any crimes committed against homeless people. change and an additional box for law enforcement to check in their paperwork. This information however permits law enforcement agencies to pinpoint precise areas where crimes that target the homeless are occurring and help identify the culprits. According to Wiezbicki, previous hate crimes legislation have allowed his department to deploy more officers to areas which such crimes take place and have lowered such incidences. He said being able to identify potential criminals and classes of -Simone Manning-Moon, sister of Norris Gaynor, who individuals who the crimes may be commitwas beaten to death by two teenagers in 2006. ted against is invaluable. The most emotional testimony of the day derers,” she said while holding back tears. lect the data?’ to the importance of the came from Manning-Moon, sister of Norris “And make no mistake; he was murdered data itself.” He went on to say that this hearing and the data that can be collectGaynor, who was beaten to death by two because he was homeless.” Johnson, the Congresswoman from Texed will shed a much needed light on the teenagers in 2006. “It is a tragic twist of irony that my big as, concurred with the sentiment that this topic of violence against the homeless. brother wanted only to live a rather anony- legislation is necessary. Citing data from Cardin said he believes that this legislamous existence and mind his own business, the National Coalition for the Homeless, tion will easily pass by a supermajority in and yet we’re here today…in our nation’s Johnson stated that between 1999 and the Senate in 2011. According to not only Capitol to discuss him – and to put a face to 2010, there were more than 1000 bias-moti- him, but other experts in attendance, there him,” said Manning-Moon. She described vated attacks committed against the home- is very little cause for opposition to this her brother as a humble man and one who less, 291 of which were homicides. She legislation. “Homelessness should not exist and took responsibility for himself and his own first introduced the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act in the 110th homeless people should not be targets,” actions. said Cardin when asked why he is chamAccording to her, even when Gaynor Congress. “The National Coalition for the Home- pioning this bill, “(this violence is) undiscovered that he was eligible for Social Security benefits, he refused because ac- less has done an outstanding job collecting American and we must take up the cause cording to him, he was able to take care data on homeless hate crimes over the past of vulnerable populations in this country 10 years,” she stated. “However, federal and around the world.” of himself. “And the supreme irony? The taxpayers recognition is essential in order to underare not taking care of his bat-wielding mur- stand and curb this type of violence.” “It has taken a long time to get to (the point where we are having a congressional hearing on the topic),” said Donovan. Summarizing what was gained from the hearing, he said, “This is about moving the conversation from ‘Can that National Coalition for the Homeless col-
“Homeless people should not be targets”
-Senator Cardin
“
It’s a tragic twist of irony that my big brother wanted to live a rather anonymous existence and mind his own business, and yet we’re here today...in our nation’s Capitol to
”
discuss him.
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