04.12.2023

How It Works

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.

$.50

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM.

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT

Street Sense Media publishes the newspaper

YOUR SUGGESTED

$2.00 DONATION

goes directly to your vendor, empowering them to overcome homelessness and poverty

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

1. I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.

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

3. I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.

4. While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $2 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.

5. I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.

6. “I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.”

7. I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.

8. I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”

9. I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

10. I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”

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

The Street Sense Media 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.

1317 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347 - 2006 streetsensemedia.org info@streetsensemedia.org

VENDORS

Abel Putu, Aida Peery, Akindele Akerejah, Amia Walker, Amina Washington, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Archie Thomas, August Mallory, Beverly Sutton, Brianna Butler, Carlos Carolina, Carlton Johnson, Carol Motley, Charles Armstrong, Chon Gotti, Chris Cole, Chon Gotti, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon (Gigi) Dovonou, Don Gardner, Donté Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Eric Thompson-Bey, Erica Downing, Evelyn Nnam, Floyd Carter, Franklin Sterling, Frederic John, Freedom, Gerald Anderson, Greta Christian, John Alley, Henry Johnson, Ivory Wilson, Jacqueline “Jackie” Turner, Jacquelyn Portee, James Davis, Jeanette Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Jeffery McNeil, Jeffrey Carter, Jemel Fleming, Jenkins Daltton, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jermale McKnight, Jet Flegette, Jewel Lewis, John Alley, John Littlejohn, Josie Brown, Juliene Kengnie, Katrina Anige, Kenneth Middleton, Khadijah Chapman, Kym Parker, L. Morrow, Laura Smith, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Mango Redbook, Marcus McCall, Mark Jones, Marc Grier, Mars, Martin Walker, Mary Sellman, Maurice Spears, Melody Byrd, Michael Craig, Michael Warner, Michele Modica, Michele Rochon, Morgan Jones, Nikila Smith, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Rashawn Bowser, Reggie Jones, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Ronald Smoot, Sasha Williams, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Susan Westmoreland, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Vennie Hill, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams, William Mack

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Coller Albert, Blake Androff, Nana-Sentuo Bonsu, Jonquilyn Hill, Stanley Keeve, Clare Krupin, Ashley McMaster, Matt Perra, Michael Phillips, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson, Corrine Yu

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Brian Carome

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Doris Warrell

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Darick Brown

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT

Thomas Ratliff

VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES

Aida Peery, Clifford Samuels, Chon Gotti

VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Madeleine McCollough, Dylan Onderdonksnow, Amelia Stemple, Tyler Bruno

MANAGER OF ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS

Maria Lares

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Will Schick

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kaela Roeder

PRODUCTION EDITOR

Athiyah Azeem

STAFF REPORTER

Annemarie Cuccia

EDITORIAL INTERN

Alexia Partouche

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Ariane Mohseni (Film), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration), Lalita Clozel (Film), Willie Schatz (Writing), Leslie Jacobson (Theater), Roy Barber (Theater)

ARTS EDITOR (VOLUNTEER)

Austine Model

OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER)

Rebecca Koenig, Emily Kopp, Bill Meincke, Candace Montague

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS

Josh Axelrod, Ryan Bacic, Katie Bemb, Lilah Burke, Chelsea Ciruzzo, Lenika Cruz, Alison Henry, Kathryn Owens, Nick Shedd, Andrew Siddons, Jenny-lin Smith, Rebecca Stekol

Poetry slam to feature work by Street Sense artists and vendors

KAELA ROEDER Deputy Editor

Street Sense Media will be hosting a poetry slam on April 18 at noon at Planet Word in downtown D.C. About 10 vendors will be performing.

“I’m hyped,” said Nikila Smith, who plans to perform three poems. She’s been writing poetry since she was a kid, but has been writing more consistently since becoming a vendor six months ago, she said.

“I have so many poems, I have so much poetry, and it was so hard to pick three,” Smith said.

Smith’s poetry explores marriage, love and heartbreak through subliminal messaging, she said. One of the poems she plans to perform titled “In those jeans,” is about a marriage breaking up and two people finding other partners.

Maria Lares, the manager of artistic workshops at Street Sense, said she’s looking forward to seeing the poetry performed live by vendors. Street Sense publishes poetry each week in the newspaper, but hearing people perform is a much different experience.

“I really want the vendors to have a space to tell their own poems,” Lares said.

Vendors have been asking Lares to organize a poetry slam since she came to Street Sense about a year ago — the last poetry slam was in December 2021, but it was not open to the public and was just for Street Sense staff and vendors. The plan for a poetry slam began to come together when vendors and Lares were invited to Planet Word a few months back.

Much of the poetry has been crafted during Street Sense Media’s poetry workshop, an hour-long, once-a-week event where vendors come together to write poems. This workshop is just one of a dozen workshops Lares organizes in her role at Street Sense. Some vendors have been working on the same poem for months, Lares said.

“I’ve seen how much they have grown in their poems,” Lares said.

The Street Sense Media 20th Anniversary

SELL-A-THON APRIL LEADERBOARD

HIGHEST SELLERS OF THE MONTH

SSM FAMILY UPDATES

• The poetry slam is 12 p.m. this Tuesday at Planet Word! Street Sense Media offices will be closed from 11:45pm - 1:15pm.

• April is the last month to compete in the 20th Anniversary Sella-Thon. Remember to pick up Customer Kudos flyers in the admin office.

• Receive extra newspapers for referring someone you know to new vendor orientation. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m.

• Vendors continue to receive free papers for proof of vaccination.

BIRTHDAYS

Warren Stevens

April 18 ARTIST/VENDOR

A new month, a new leaderboard! The Sell-a-Thon challenges vendors to sell as many Street Sense newspapers they can in one month. The highest and most improved sellers are awarded $50 at the end of April. We will update this leaderboard for each category every week. You can boost your favorite vendor’s numbers by giving them a “customer kudos” — ask a vendor to learn more!

M OST IMPROVED SELLERS OF THE MONTH

Street Sense Media vendors will perform at an upcoming poetry slam on April 18 at noon at Planet Word. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Here are the social services programs losing money in Bowser’s budget

ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Staff Reporter

The nine-hour budget oversight hearing for D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS) was full of warnings.

Dozens of witnesses testified that adopting Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget, which cuts pandemic-level funding for an array of housing and social safety net programs, would lead to increased poverty and homelessness in D.C.

From fiscal year 2020 to 2023, the District increased funding for a range of programs meant to provide economic and housing stability for residents. With the end of the public health emergency, federal funding is disappearing at the same time the District is seeing years of revenue growth stall. To avoid a budget gap, Bowser has proposed reducing spending on these programs to pre-pandemic levels — a step she and her administration say is essential to limit costs to what the city can afford.

But people who rely on these programs — as well as representatives of the nonprofits that help administer many of them — argue the pre-2020 funding levels were never sufficient, and say that many households are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and rising prices. At the Housing Committee’s March 31 oversight hearing on the proposed DHS budget, residents called for increases in funding for eviction and homelessness prevention, cash and food assistance, and domestic violence and youth workforce programs — demands largely echoed by the Fair Budget Coalition.

“The mayor’s budget is emblematic of a crisis,” Niciah Mujahid, the executive director of the Fair Budget Coalition, said at the hearing. “It is absolutely immoral, to the point of pure shamelessness, for the FY 24 budget to make proposed cuts to indispensable human services.”

Over the past few weeks, councilmembers have indicated some willingness to increase funding for social services, especially rental assistance, but they would need to cut other

programs to do so. Council committees will begin marking up the budget on April 25, with a first vote of the full council on May 16.

“It’s ridiculous how it always seems that the poor have to get shafted every time the budget needs to be made,” testified Francwa Sims, who previously experienced homelessness and now uses a housing voucher.

Eviction and homelessness prevention resources hit big

Lark Catoe found out just one day before the budget hearing that her eviction case had been resolved — because the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was able to cover the back rent she owed. ERAP isn’t just important to her personally, she testified, but can be an important tool to make sure people who are being priced out of the city aren’t

displaced.

“You can’t just fund ERAP — you have to make sure people can stay in this city. It has to be a larger amount, [and] you can’t have all these conditions,” Catoe said. “Help the many that are out here.”

ERAP, which saw large funding increases during the pandemic, provides a limited amount of rental assistance to tenants who have past-due rent or need help moving into a new home to avoid homelessness. For cases like Catoe’s, where overdue rent is the primary issue, the program can prevent evictions. Advocates see the program, which is already closed to applications in fiscal year 2023 due to limited funds, as a key way to prevent homelessness by keeping people in stable housing.

Catoe was among over 20 speakers at the hearing who decried Bowser’s proposed $35 million cut to ERAP in fiscal year 2024. Bowser contends that the outsized need for ERAP during the public health emergency has subsided. Councilmembers and advocates, however, estimate the need is in fact higher than this year’s budget of $43 million, somewhere between $85 million and $117 million. In questioning, DHS Director Laura Zeilinger predicted the proposed ERAP budget of $8.2 million for fiscal year 2024 would last two months.

“If we don’t significantly increase ERAP funding, there will be a flood of evictions next year,” testified Lori Leibowitz, who worked on creating an eviction prevention framework for D.C.

While ERAP has received the most attention, Bowser also proposed cutting funding by more than half for another eviction prevention initiative, known as the Access to Justice Grants Program. In fiscal year 2023, the program spent over half of its $31 million budget on eviction prevention. It is the main source of funding for the Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program, which provides representation to renters in D.C.’s Landlord-Tenant Court.

Leibowitz, who worked with other legal services providers to launch the Landlord-Tenant Legal Assistance Network hotline in 2020, said the decrease would jeopardize the work D.C. has done over the last few years to prevent evictions. Having access to an attorney through the hotline increases the likelihood that a tenant will win their eviction case; in fiscal year 2022, the program helped four-fifths of its clients stay in their homes. The cut comes as eviction filings are rising, according to the D.C. Access to Justice Commission.

Bowser’s proposed budget also halves the $2.4 million allocation for Project Reconnect, a diversion program that helps people entering the District’s shelter system connect with other resources, such as family, friends or past employers, in an effort to prevent homelessness.

Combined decreases in federal and local safety net

D.C. residents who receive government benefits would see decreased aid under the proposed budget, which cuts cash benefits distributed through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The mayor also did not propose using local funds to offset federal money lost from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The TANF cuts, which come mainly from an $11.2 million decrease in the program’s local funding for cash assistance, is a reversal of pandemic funding that was based on increased need at the time, according to the mayor’s budget. The program provides monthly cash assistance to low-income families, and it is one of the main forms of assistance targeting child poverty.

Several people who testified at the hearing said that D.C., rather than cutting TANF, should increase the monthly

payments. Haley Hoff, a staff attorney at Legal Aid DC, said that small increases in recent years have not been enough for TANF benefits to keep pace with inflation for the 15,000 families in D.C. who receive them. And, even before the pandemic, D.C. had a child poverty rate of 23%, the seventh highest in the nation among states. Hoff and other advocates suggested that D.C. match the benefit available in New Hampshire, which would increase the maximum monthly amount for a family of three from $696 to $1,151.

District families are already experiencing a cut in monthly SNAP benefits, which help low-income households purchase groceries. While the federal government boosted benefits during the pandemic — with an average monthly increase per person of $90 — the emergency allotments ended in February. This returned D.C. families to receiving an average benefit of just over $6 a day, with a food security gap estimated to be at least $160 million.

The decrease is already having an impact, Martha Assefa from DC Hunger Solutions testified, with families being forced to choose poorer quality food and running out of money by the last week of the month.

While D.C. can’t control federal levels of SNAP support, the D.C. Council last year sought to offset some of the loss of the pandemic emergency allotment by passing the Give SNAP a Raise Amendment Act of 2022, which would have raised monthly household benefits by $47 on average. The bill’s $50 million cost is not funded in Bowser’s proposed budget.

“For every dollar we’re spending in SNAP, almost two are going back to the D.C. economy. This is a stimulus program — every dollar is going back into D.C. businesses,” Assefa said, referencing research that points to a “multiplier” effect. “I just don’t get why this program is never at the top of everyone’s pile.”

Domestic violence, youth workforce programs cut

Over 40% of families experiencing homelessness in D.C. and 20% of singles report exposure to domestic violence. And the Virginia Williams Resource Center, central intake for all families experiencing homelessness in D.C., made 889 referrals to domestic violence services last year.

However, the proposed budget decreases funding for the center’s domestic violence program, jeopardizing families’ access to needed services, according to Koube Ngaaje, the CEO of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, which administers the program. The proposed allocation for fiscal year 2024 is $2.5 million.

Bowser’s proposed budget also reverses last year’s decision by the D.C. Council to increase funding for the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth Workforce program, which serves young people at risk of homelessness.

The program, which is set to lose $667,000 in 2024, can be a lifeline to youth who have few other resources, participant Jocelyn Rivera testified. Transgender and non-binary people — as well as people experiencing homelessness — often face discrimination in employment, and young people say workforce development programs not targeted for the population often fall short.

“By taking away that money, it makes us believe that … we can be disposed of, that our development and our career advancement is disposable,” Rivera said. This article was co-published with The DC Line.

How to end chronic homelessness in DC, according to new report

ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Staff Reporter

D.C. could end chronic homelessness by 2030 with over $770 million in new investments, according to a new report by the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) — if the city begins funding programs this year.

An annual survey conducted in 2022 revealed around 1,270 people were experiencing chronic homelessness in D.C., though that number is widely recognized as an undercount. People who are “chronically homeless,” according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition, must have been documented as being homeless for over a year or multiple times over three years, and have a disabling condition that makes it difficult to work full-time.

Since people continue to enter homelessness, ending it requires providing housing to both people who are currently homeless, and people who become homeless in the future. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), a program that provides people with a housing subsidy and supportive services, is generally seen as the best way to do this. If the city invests more in PSH vouchers over the next six years, the report predicts D.C. will have enough housing vouchers for everyone experiencing chronic homelessness by 2030.

“It’s urgent, because people literally die because they are chronically homeless,” Kate Coventry, the report’s author and deputy director of legislative strategy for DCFPI said at an

event promoting the report. “And they die from diseases the rest of us manage and prevent because we’re in housing.”

The $770 million price tag includes in addition to the cost of 3,100 additional PSH vouchers, stipends to hire case managers, and the construction of new PSH-designated apartments. While people using PSH vouchers may rent anywhere in the city, they often struggle to find landlords who accept them, though this practice is illegal.

Coventry based the prediction on two assumptions: one, as D.C. invests in prevention methods, the number of people entering homelessness each year from now until 2030 will decrease, and two, that the turnover rate for PSH vouchers, due to people leaving the program or dying, will remain steady. The $770 million does not include land costs for the new apartment buildings.

For fiscal year 2024, DCFPI estimates D.C. would need to spend $153 million on the initiative, a far cry from the mayor’s current proposed budget, which includes no new vouchers.

The report also includes suggestions for improving the administration of PSH vouchers. Today, applicants can wait up to nine months from when they are first identified as eligible for a housing voucher to when they finally use one to move into housing. If the process continued at the current pace, D.C. might not be able to administer all the proposed vouchers as suggested.

One of the reasons for the slow administration of vouchers

is a lack of case managers. To accelerate the process, the report suggests removing social work exam requirements for these positions and providing PSH providers with a hiring stipend.

In addition, the report suggests that the city could also give prospective PSH users free transportation while they're searching for an apartment, and pay security deposits quickly to help people secure a unit. To kickstart other much-needed fixes, the report suggests establishing a 100-day voucher boot camp for agencies who administer vouchers.

The report recommends improvements to the PSH program based on feedback from people who have experienced homelessness. Some recommendations aim to improve the experience of voucher holders overall, by retraining case managers to provide consistent services — panelists at the release event said that while good case managers are integral to the program, the quality varies widely. The city should also gather input from people who live in site-based PSH programs, which garner skepticism due to their resemblance to shelters.

Finally, the report argues the city should examine ways to give more extensive services to groups who need them, such as expanding the Department of Behavioral Health’s oftenfull housing programs and services for people with mental health challenges and exploring opportunities for seniors to use vouchers at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Graph courtesy of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, data from Homeward DC 2.0

‘You’ve got to draw, dude’: Akindele Akerejah on his artistic process

ALEXIA PARTOUCHE Editorial Intern

The glossy wrapper of a white Kit Kat is layered over a colored pencil drawing of the titular candy bar. An anthropomorphic cat in a bra leans one of her front paws against the supersized chocolate, staring out beneath thick black lashes. Giant milk bottles loom behind her, setting the scene for the thought bubble that floats above her head — “So he’s a two percenter?”

This is a panel from Akindele Akerejah’s series, the #WhiteKitKatSyndicate. “Iconoclastic” in his own words, it blends together pop culture references, product placement, homages to organized crime and elements of collage to explore themes of animal welfare and identity politics.

Street Sense has been releasing panels from this 100 page series since 2022. Although Akerejah’s art often graces the weekly paper, the solitary artist is harder to nail down. In the over 10 years since he first started with Street Sense, he’s started his own art studio for like-minded individuals, crafted collage-based graphic novels and dipped his toes into fashion. And the 38-year-old artist is just getting started.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Who is Akindele?

Right now I’m a man who — I’m learning to live independently in the absence of a nuclear family. No, I won’t say absence, but I’ll just say that I’m filling my life with fulfilling work items and points of achievement. I like to believe that Akindele that you look for, everything you need about him is in writing, and then [you can] find whatever you need [about him] in interpersonal conversation. I also say that Akindele is usually sharper than he gives off, and that’s an unusual disclosure. But additionally to that I’m also the founder of the Dopamine Clinic. It’s an 11-year-old studio, and almost 12 years old.

What are some of the influences in your art?

Something more of a folksy theme. You know, when things are folksy — like for instance, I didn’t want to run into this type of Senator Alan Keyes problem, or the Carlton Banks problem of “I am anti-Black through some type of propriety” or a Nas song that talks about avoiding oxtail to be seen eating foie gras or something else I haven’t tried. And I feel like by associating my roots, at least I’m giving maternal credit to my upbringing, since my mother’s family is American. I think that it also helps balance me out with some of the overachievement items that I am not alone in having experienced failure in as a first generation. Any Nigerian father whose son is not a lawyer, or some type of administrator, is really disappointed. So that’s why I got the news that my father died through email. Because at this point in time, I’m already solid enough a person to not need to be anybody’s son. Like defining myself as, “Well that’s my father,” it just seems very “Game of Thrones.” I think it’s more of an all-American thing to say, “Who are you? Who am I?” Because I’m not trying to get anybody’s hand claps other than mine at the end of the day.

focusing on yourself and your own achievement?

It’s kind of always been like that, but I thought more arrogantly before in the sense that I thought that giving everybody around

me the opportunity to be part of the greatness that I wanted to build was going to be the best way for them to cut themselves off at whatever point they decided to in the end. Because I’m not sure if you read about my background in hustling, cocaine importing and drug dealing downtown and everything like that — those are cutthroat enterprises, experiences. And if you’re not the smartest person out there, then you’re also the toughest

Art by Akindele Akerejah

person out there. And I think this is witnessed by the fact that I’ve sent practical jokes to the FBI.

You’ve spoken extensively about crime. How has that informed your art?

It’s informed my art because I’m one of the only people, aside from maybe Jay Z that I can think of, that has the authorizations historically, to submit work of that nature and have automatic authenticity.

Do you feel like you’d be able to portray the story of the #WhiteKitKatSyndicate as authentically if you hadn’t had those experiences?

Probably not. I mean, the thing about authenticity is the era that I come from as a listener to hip-hop music, before trying to make I guess what would have been called a fanzine mixtape. There was a family on 19 Hughes Road called the Ngangmutas. And I made this mixtape about, you know, “I’m shooting my gun and I’m getting money” and you know, the rap city era. And they were like, this is inauthentic. And so I think that they are the foreauthors of my crime resume pursuits.

What does your artistic process look like?

The technique is to use a mechanical pencil first. And after that is to use a pen, a Bic pen preferably, like somebody like Francis Akerejah, in Nigeria, or London, wherever he is, started me off with, and then the colored pencils, and whatever medium and sort of bits like in graffiti come up out of that. And it’s definitely about the bordering. Creating the border gives it a letterbox feel and the signature gives sort of a fine art motif.

So you’ve really moved away from collage, this art form that you were originally known for. How did that process happen?

I just felt as though I was in a position that I wasn’t able to justify to myself being the type of artist that my promotion machine was developing. And somebody I think, Mr. Goobie, and David Snebold from the University of Pennsylvania, he said, “You’ve got to draw, dude.” And that was pretty much where things got started.

And I mean, just drawing was really important. Knowing how to draw and not needing somebody to draw things for me was just so important because once people — like even the original members of my studio and associates, they stepped off by themselves when they realized this is no longer a “cut things up and glue” thing, you have to bring skills and be prepared to be serious.

Tell me a little bit about the imagery of the #WhiteKitKatSyndicate.

You just end up seeing the sort of Italian Mafia from the 1950s theme, or really more Mario Puzo sort of homages in my visuals. So what you’re seeing in the #WhiteKitKatSyndicate, it has

the air of organized crime. But really, all you’re seeing is a bunch of guys in suits, passing around specialty cakes, and you know, there are some women eating. They’re like professionals who get caught eating in certain neighborhoods because of that reputation for a fish fry or just the speakeasy atmosphere. So I think that I’m using stereotypes and distinctions on my own terms. And that’s what makes it collage in a sense.

What’s the impact you want the #WhiteKitKatSyndicate to have?

Who are you going to become?

A fashionista, funny enough. I think I’ve cultivated enough independence from groups of friends now to dress the way that I want creatively.

I think that I’m leaving it limited to T-shirts, and then having certain people having these things handmade to go beyond a product line that includes tote bags, and for limited people. What I mean by that is, I don’t want 400 million people buying them. I want to still have that feeling of that club membership.

What’s next for

I think that I’m getting to that Radiohead third album type of area where it’s like, you know, I don’t want to do this rock music exactly like a formula thing. I want to do something experimentally. #TheSummersetDessertShoppe, is what I’ve come up with to try and like, you know,

Akindele Akerejah.

Photo by Alexia Partouche

On the record

Where District leaders answer your questions

Editor’s note: We’re launching the first in a series of columns that we hope will advance meaningful conversations centered around homelessness and poverty in D.C. We are actively soliciting government leaders, officials and other leaders working in this space to participate. If you have a question you would like to pose to a councilmember or city official, please send them along.

ROBERT WHITE

D.C. At-Large Councilmember

You asked:

The District’s process for developing housing right now is not meeting the needs of people with low incomes, families looking for rental units, seniors on a fixed income or our unhoused neighbors. I am working to change this in several different ways. In 2019, the D.C. Council passed my Economic Development Return on Investment Accountability Act which requires the mayor to track and report on whether development projects that get taxpayer money produce enough affordable housing units and jobs for District residents.

I also want to give communities more say in development projects in their neighborhoods. I introduced the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) Participation in Planning Act, which the council passed in 2021. This bill provides training and support for ANC commissioners so they can

better negotiate with developers as they are planning projects, and before they come to the council for approval.

In January of this year, I reintroduced the Common Ground Act to require more low-income housing and more family-sized units, and ensure that neighborhood residents have a say in what gets developed when the city sells public land.

We’ve seen damming investigations by the local press recently highlighting that the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA) is paying rents for housing vouchers that are much higher than rent from other tenants. This has incentivized some landlords to push out residents with lower incomes to bring in more money from people with housing vouchers. That means taxpayer money is being used to displace residents. This is unacceptable.

In my oversight of DCHA as chair of the Committee on Housing, I have asked the agency to share how they will start ensuring vouchers align with market-rate rents to prevent people from getting displaced out of affordable housing.

The main tool D.C. uses to create affordable housing is the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF). Unfortunately, Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed a $344 million decrease in HPTF funding This means that D.C. will create less affordable housing in the coming years, and struggle to preserve the affordable housing we have.

As chair of the Committee on Housing, my goal is to dig into our housing system to focus better on the people struggling to stay here. I’ve visited public housing units, private apartment buildings, hotels serving as temporary housing for migrants, homeless shelters and encampments so far on my deep dive into our housing system. I’m going to keep bringing the housing committee to the community because that is the best way we can learn about problems and fix them.

I’ll look forward to answering more of your housing questions in the coming months. And if my team can be of service to you, please contact us at 202-724-8174.

“Over the years, many people have been displaced as a result of new housing developments. How is the city working to ensure that new housing developments are in fact equitable and do not displace people?”

Councilmember Robert White. Photo by Annemarie Cuccia

I’m beginning to understand the politics

NIKILA SMITH Artist/Vendor

Iwas taught there are two subjects you don’t talk about at work: politics and religion. If you would like to see people in an uproar, start a conversation about one of these two subjects. It seems that life is politics. How much you know, don’t know, and if you can benefit from them. Let’s talk about politics.

I noticed I haven’t seen any homeless animals since I came to D.C. from Philadelphia. There are homeless people, people living on the street yet, there are no stray animals here. Why? Is it because animals are more valued? What’s going on? Does it not break your heart to see people on the streets, digging in the trash? Or is it more heartbreaking for you to see a cat eating out the trash?

While I love animals, I don’t understand why people seem to be more concerned about keeping animals off the streets than helping people find homes. Last year, 77 people died while being homeless, according to the D.C. medical examiner. I think things have to change. We can’t just let things continue on like this.

When I was younger, if someone had a mental illness, their

family would take care of them at home or take them to a facility. It was the same thing for people with disabilities. But now it appears as if these groups of people have been abandoned and left on the streets. Why?

When I was younger, I couldn’t spot a person with mental illness. But today you can see them everywhere. How does it feel to take a walk with your children and have to explain tents, people sleeping on the ground in blankets? Don’t tell me it’s embarrassing. How many of you are keeping the truth from your children?

I know for sure kids are very intelligent. But this is something that’s really been rocking my brain since I came here. I see a lot of people with mental illnesses just walking around aimlessly. I didn’t know that mental institutions were widely shut down in the eighties. It feels like an episode from the “Twilight Zone.”

Ronald Reagan put into motion the effort to shut down mental hospitals across the United States. In my research, I learned that John F. Kennedy was the one who came up with the idea to have mental health care centers. He had a mentally ill sister, so he understood the problem. Initially,

he planned to build 1,500 outpatient mental health centers, according to USA Today. But the only reason why this never happened was because he was assassinated. So how come this idea hasn’t come about? How many people have to suffer directly or indirectly for there to be change?

I believe the reason has to do with politics. Politics brings you back to racism (remember, the stat about the percentage of homeless people in D.C. being people of color). Is that a coincidence?

It is capitalism’s fault we have people homeless on the street. Systems and social programs are designed to make it difficult for homeless people to vote. Elected officials work in buildings where you need an ID. When you’re homeless you’re viewed as a problem, not as a person with rights. People in power are making and saving money by cutting those human rights. If everyone was rich would that stop all these problems? No, because there would be no one to take care of wealthy people. Some politicians love controversy! Politicians are not all bad, the same goes for people.

Nikila Smith is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

The taking of the new

CARLTON JOHNSON Artist/Vendor

The taking of the hold life with no says to come life is filled with new holding out on something for all to see touch by what will be seen as the new creativity to be held by only person within the past when time has no end touch by the taking of the hold life to happen before the eyes of many.

The taking of the hold life with no says to come life is filled with new holding out on something

Distractions from destiny

CHRIS

COLE

Artist/Vendor

I’m over the moon you see for I’ve been seeing signs. Signs of what “could be” or what “will be” if only I give it some time.

There are no accidents or coincidences if you think you saw it, you did!

But did you recognize it as a negative? A positive? A distraction? Or a sign?

My second relapse

VENNIE HILL

Artist/Vendor

Tough year

AIDA PEERY Artist/Vendor

2023 is beginning to be a tough year and it is only April!

Back to back doctor’s appointments again since my bout with Covid-19 landed me in the hospital back in July of 2022. Very scary days for my family, close friends and co-workers. But thank God I was vaccinated. I probably wouldn’t have made it if I hadn’t gotten the shots with my health issues going on.

I saw on TV they have an updated vaccine that I am going to get. I got all of my boosters. I even got my pneumonia shot this past Monday because I have respiratory issues.

I can’t mess around with my health. I want to

Sidewalk cheer

BRIANNA BUTLER Artist/Vendor

Walk with me down the curving pathways to freedom with love, cheer and happiness.

Each step plays a note to uplift your spirits. Roller skate with excitement to relieve all the things you feel pressured about. Grab those skates and let yourself go free. Twist, slide and wave up and and down the lighted boulevard trail. Dance until your feet can’t handle it anymore. Let the music take you in flashy colors to places you’ve never been. Look around you and admire the scenery of teetering flower petals at the heartbeat of the music. Grab some popcorn and have a great time. Come on! Let your body flow with delight. The more people you bring the more we could be scouting for a star. Keep moving until the music stops!

Memory is translucent

JACKIE TURNER

Artist/Vendor

I was in the same program, about three and a half years ago. I graduated. Came home, and got into an outpatient program. Graduated from that, too. So I felt so good. Darn it. Then Covid hit. They closed down and went virtual. Why did that happen? So I started trying to sell newspapers but it got harder and harder. One day after selling newspapers, I ran into an old friend. That was always my downfall. Anyway, she was a counselor. I told her about my addiction. So she helps me get a job, and save up money to get back into this program. Today, I’ve been here for two months and two days. My plan is to stay in recovery. I also plan to do something called transitional housing. Looking forward to it. Stay clean.

see my grandchildren grow up. As soon as the Republicans loosened restrictions, it seems more people are getting Covid-19 and dying from it. Usually, these people are ones that aren’t vaccinated with underlying health issues.

I keep my mask on among crowds because I know everybody is not vaccinated. I can’t do Russian roulette when it comes to my health. I do encourage everybody to get vaccinated and to get their yearly shorts too.

Yes, it does take a toll on your body and mind, being vaccinated. At least I’m alive and can think about staying healthy at all times.

Syllabus

FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor

What shall our curriculum be today?

Shall it lay trivial or profound, “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,”

Or “John Brown lieth moldering in the ground?” The whirling orb persists in its spin Regardless the random note its trajectory Perhaps we plug our ears from the din And no solace is found inside the rectory! Would it be allowable a bold invictus — Anything to save us from fatal rictus: March on, take heart, recreate faith, Recall the nobility of native forest or heath! We have passed the age of mandated bloodshed; Time to pick up the horn and hit the woodshed.

When you’re young it’s not as though eight and nine-year-olds can remember events that happened when they were two or three. Of course, teenagers can tell you songs and history and all the latest happenings. By age 20 you are sharp and want to learn. But all you remember is whatever you are into at the moment.

For some reason, you remember as long as you can think. However, after age 65 or so things often move faster than you can think. Sometimes you need 60 seconds to remember!

It doesn’t help that you second-guess yourself because people say, “You’re getting old.” The truth is your brain can process as long as you stimulate it unless you develop a defect, which people worry about, although only one in nine people over 65 develop Alzheimer’s. So, memory is a thing you can work with.

Remember that!

Kid songs

GRETA CHRISTIAN

Artist/Vendor

Some songs are bad

When they sing a song

They’re cursing in their song

They sing like it’s a sex song

Kids should not listen to devil songs

They should hear nice, beautiful Songs and music

Songs that make them feel good

Cartoon songs

Family songs

Baby songs

Old McDonald

Baby Shark

Humpty Dumpty

And Jesus songs

God's promotion and a man's rejection for righteousness sake

MICHELE ROCHON

Artist/Vendor

Cold blooded attacks for no reason

Remnants of graveyard experiences, oh, Our dry bones live

These dry bones will live

No graveyard experiences offer a future

Dead things, dead relationships, Old ideas, old perspectives

Old ways, methods, conversations

Oh, these dry bones will live in 2023

Hello Michele, I call myself forth in 2023

Hello Michele, what new ideas do you

Have, I clothe myself with new garments, joy, faith, peace

Hello, Michele, your future looks bright

From my vantage point my glass is full

Fall

CARLOS CAROLINA Artist/Vendor

Settle for nothing and want it all, Is how every great man seems to fall,

Though falling isn’t the part that hurts the most; It’s looking up at the faces who watched you fall

“Be mindful of the mindful”

God’s Sunday

ROCHELLE WALKER Artist/Vendor

Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday. It’s important we celebrate it.

Palm Sunday is when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior entered Jerusalem triumphantly on his horse.

They took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and the people cried “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord Jesus.”

Palm leaves are considered to symbolize victory and eternal life.

It’s not a normal day

They follow him all the way

With his disciples on his back and believe me, they want to attack He ordered a donkey to convince those of bad soul Let us pray because Jesus is on his way

The reason

KYM PARKER

Artist/Vendor

I have something to say.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I see is that I am loved.

Every morning I am lucky to see the sun, to feel life, and to feel loved.

I am a very loving woman. I like to respect people and their opinions.

I believe that we are all children of God.

She created us in Her likeness, we are different from angels, but we are Her divine creation.

I firmly believe that deep down, we all love Her, and She loves us back.

Thinking about Her makes me happy. That's why I write and talk about Her. I want everyone to feel Her love and divinity.

She never abandons us. She always blesses us and gives us infinite love.

The reason for our existence is Her.

If you wanna

PHILIP BLACK

Artist/Vendor

If you wanna do something you’ve never done, you have to become someone you’ve never been. No matter what you go through, it’s never too late to change your life.

I was smoking weed. I knew I had to stop and the only way for me to do that was to change. But I also knew it wasn’t going to be overnight. I had to get professional help. And within seven months, I did it. I quit smoking!

So, I repeat: If you wanna do something you’ve never done, you have to become someone you’ve never been.

I love to eat pig feet. But it was killing me slowly, so much that I became sick. I tried to stop eating it, but it was so, so good! Sometimes food can be bad for you. But it can be more harmful than drugs. It can also kill you.

So, just remember: If you wanna do something you’ve never done, you have to become someone you’ve never been.

FUN & GAMES & GAMES

72. Chef’s measures (abbr.) Down

1. Parties

2. Love, in Florence

3. Actress ____ Evans

4. Brink

5. Paraphrase

6. Conger

7. Gun rights group (abbr.)

8. Prongs

9. Tranquilized

10. Artist Salvador ____

11. Sunburn remedy

Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc)

219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

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

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

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

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

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

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Road SE

2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

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

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

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

Samaritan Ministry

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

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

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

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

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

Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org

- Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500

- Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699

1500 Galen Street SE, 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 555 L Street SE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place, NE, 810 5th Street NW

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

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

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

Kitchen Team Member

Sweetgreen // 1221 Pennsylvania Ave SW

Full-time / Part-time

Follow food safety and quality standards, Maintain clean stations throughout the shift and prepare all cold and hot food items.

REQUIRED: Physically able to lift up to 25 pounds and stand for long periods of time.

APPLY: tinyurl.com/sweet-member

Housekeeping Aide

The Mayflower Hotel // 1127 Connecticut Ave NW

Full-time

Respond promptly to requests from guests and coworkers.

REQUIRED: Move, lift, carry, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 55 pounds.

APPLY: tinyurl.com/mayflower-aide

Dishwasher

Maggiano’s Little Italy // 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW

Full-time / Part-time

Responsible for washing and sanitizing all food service utensils and items such as plates, pots, etc, and maintaining the cleanliness of the back of the house area.

REQUIRED: Physically able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods of time.

APPLY: tinyurl.com/dishwasher-maggianos

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

Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org

All services listed are referral-free

Our lives improve -- mental well-being, physical health, and the ability to be productive -- when we have a home and a safe place to sleep At Street Sense Media, we support our artist/vendors and others who are working to improve their lives.

G i v e t o da y

This year we’ve seen a sharp increase over last year in people’s need for housing, mental health monitoring and assistance, and managing their money

So far this year, two people have moved from couch-surfing and sleeping in a shelter into homes of their own! Last year, we supported ten people who moved into permanent housing! Each of these is a life-changing accomplishment!

The aid and support we provide are only possible because of the donations people like you provide to Street Sense Media

Your gift today will help ensure that our case management services remain strong and vibrant as we support more people in reaching their goals

Thank you!

Forgiveness is for you, not for them

Victim or survivor is a mindset

Shift accountability for your actions on events past, victim

Letting the past dictate your present will sabotage your future, victim

Your life is under your control

You can’t control the actions of others

What they did, you can’t change and couldn’t control

Forgive by strengthening your mind, body and spirit

Forgive by letting the memories be filed in the archive of your mind

Forgive when your actions are no longer predictive of past actions and events of others and yourself

Forgive through a life of purpose, abundance and self-love

ERICA DOWNING Artist/Vendor