05.04.2022 by Street Sense Media

VOL. 19 ISSUE 24

MAY 4-10, 2022

Real Stories

Real People

suggested donation goes directly to your vendor

Real Change

People for Fairness Coalition Celebrates

14 years

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

@ STREETSENSEDC

2 // ST REET SENS E ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 22

BUSINESS MODEL

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

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

VENDORS Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Amia Walker, Amina Washington, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Anthony Pratt, Archie Thomas, August Mallory, Betty Everett, Beverly Sutton, Brianna Butler, Carlos Carolina, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Chris Sellman, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Cortney Signor, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Don Gardner, ‘Donte’ Julius Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Eric Thompson-Bey, Evelyn Nnam, Floyd Carter, Franklin Sterling, Frederic John, Fredrick Jewell, Gerald Anderson, Gracias Garcias, 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 Littlejohn, Joshua Faison, Juliene Kengnie, Justin Blakey, Katrina Arninge, Kenneth Middleton, Kym Parker, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Malcolm Scott Jr, Marcus McCall, Mark Jones, Melody Byrd, Michael Warner, Michele Rochon, Mildred M. Hall, Morgan Jones, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Redbook Mango, Reggie Jones, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Sasha Williams, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Susan Westmoreland, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM.

Pay vendors with the Street Sense Media app! S EARCH “S TREET S ENSE ” IN YOUR APP STORE .

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Brian Carome

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT AVAI LABL E

Doris Warrell

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR PROGRAMS Darick Brown

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT

CASE MANAGER

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 Cover Michael Coleman, a founding member of the People for Fairness Coalition poses for a photo. PHOTO BY KAELA ROEDER Deputy Editor

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.

Leo Grayburn

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT Thomas Ratliff

VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES Aida Peery, Clifford Samuels

VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

Jeff Barger, Haley Gallagher, Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Kevin Jaatinen, Jacob Kuba, Eva Reeves, Mauricio Reyes

MANAGER OF ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS Maria Lares

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Will Schick

DEPUTY EDITOR Kaela Roeder

STAFF REPORTER Annemarie Cuccia

INTERNS

Hajira Fuad, Jem Dyson, Nick Pasion, Ashleigh Fields, Ingrid Holmquist, Alex Lawler, Amanda Oliver

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Willie Schatz (Writing), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration)

ARTS EDITOR (VOLUNTEER) Austine Model

OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER)

Rebecca Koenig, Emily Kopp, Lydia DePillis

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS

Ryan Bacic, Katie Bemb, Megan Boyanton, Lilah Burke, Lenika Cruz, Roberta Haber, Alison Henry, Kathryn Owens, Priya Rhoehit, Nick Shedd, Andrew Siddons, Jenny-lin Smith, Rebecca Stekol

DESIGN VOLUNTEERS

Dylan Presman (Graphic Design), Julie Mazur (Graphic Design)

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

NEWS IN BRIEF

// 3

AT A GLANCE

Invisible Words recognizes the harsh reality of people experiencing homelessness

VENDOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALEX LAWLER Editorial Intern

In an open, well-lit room, the walls are filled with art. Inside a multitude of white frames lie pieces of cardboard with writing scrawled across in varying colors. “Please Help / I’m not a bad girl / I just made bad decisions,” one of the posters says. Last month, the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) and the Eleven Eleven Foundation premiered the exhibit “Invisible Words” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, dedicated to furthering people’s understanding towards the hardships of people experiencing homelessness. The display will be available through June 30. Located on the 5th floor of the library, the exhibit features a curated collection of signs made by people experiencing homelessness globally. Invisible Words engulfs the viewer in raw shame, desperation, anger, humor and insight of the homeless community. IVC is a Catholic organization where volunteers over 50 utilize their skills in an effort to make an impact on the world. IVC members serve in 20 regions across the United States and volunteer with over 300 service organizations. IVC co-sponsors Invisible Words in hopes to build empathy to the experiences faced by people experiencing homelessness and those facing deep poverty. The Eleven Eleven Foundation works to support leaders and organizations that seek to better the planet and future generations with an emphasis on environment, health care and education.

• Take a vendor survey. Collect 10 papers and make $10! See Thomas, Darick or Leo. The “Invisible Words” exhibit. Photo by Alex Lawler

• “Beat the Streets” is every Tuesday. Meet at Street Sense at 3 p.m. to level up your sales! • Papers for vaccinations? Show us your CDC card and get 15 papers for being fully vaccinated plus 10 more for being boosted.

Dive into a ‘Cherry Pie Mindset’ at the Corcoran Gallery Museum

• Interested in speaking about your experience as a vendor? See Thomas for details.

BIRTHDAYS

ALEX LAWLER Editorial Intern

James Fuller May 4 ARTIST/VENDOR

Malcolm Scott May 6 ARTIST/VENDOR

The “Cherry Pie Mindset” exhibit. Photo by Alex Lawler

A university student debuted a photography exhibit in collaboration with a Street Sense Media artist/vendor at a gallery in downtown D.C. last month. The exhibit will be featured until June 10. Hosted by George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, the exhibit is titled “Cherry Pie Mindset” and features Queenie Featherstone, a homeless rights advocate with the People for Fairness Coalition. Camille DeSantos, a junior at the Corcoran School of Arts and Design, met Featherstone at the beginning of her thesis while she was an intern with Street Sense Media. A photojournalism major,

DeSantos was immediately enamored by Featherstone’s style, determination, generosity and faith. In addition to her advocacy work, Featherstone also serves on the board of directors for Unity Healthcare. Every spring, the Corcoran school hosts an exhibit where students showcase their theses and capstone projects. The photos of Featherstone are interspersed with pieces of her own writing, so as to seep into the hearts of viewers like the filling of a cherry pie.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Queenie Featherstone

Photos of Queenie are featured at the Corcoran Next 22 exhibit at George Washington University ARTIST/VENDOR

4 // ST REET SENSE ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 2 2

NEWS

When buying a house goes wrong: the home that punctured the dreams of one DC family ALLY SCHWEITZER DCist

This article was orginially published by DCist.

he little house on First Street SE was supposed to fulfill a lifelong goal for Tasharn Richardson. The mother of 10 bought the threebedroom bungalow in Congress Heights last summer — her first home purchase, after living in public housing her entire life. When her family unloaded the moving truck on a bright day in June, an NPR reporter was there to document the big day. Richardson’s kids ran through the house squealing with excitement, taking in the shiny kitchen backsplash and gleaming bathrooms. The excitement didn’t last. Richardson began to notice problems with the house weeks after her family moved in. The air conditioning wouldn’t turn on. The dishwasher didn’t work. Her kids’ bedroom doors hung precariously from loose hinges. Electrical outlets caught on fire. Mice streamed in, finding their way inside through holes in the exterior. Water pooled on the kitchen and basement floors. Black mold sprouted in the walls. The 100-year-old property sat vacant for seven years before Richardson purchased it, and her home inspection report revealed a long list of issues. But she says the seller and her realtor assured her that the problems had been fixed before she closed on the $475,000 property. Less than one year later, the D.C. government employee says she’s spent thousands of dollars on contractors and exterminators. Her husband Lionel traps mice in the basement and conceals mold splotches with plyboard. Richardson says she regularly sends the kids to stay at her mother’s apartment so they can breathe without coughing. She feels heartbroken, frightened — and ashamed. “It took me months to talk about this,” she says, wiping tears from her cheeks. “For me, it’s just the shame of bringing my family here.” Richardson is not alone in her despair. In 2015, WAMU documented a string of shoddy house flips that left new homeowners in unsafe conditions after they paid high prices typical of D.C.’s frenzied housing market. The city’s attorney general sued a Virginia couple responsible for some of the poor renovations; they were ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution to homebuyers and they were banned from selling homes in the city. Richardson’s home on First Street SE was sold to her and renovated by Monir Dellawar, a Virginia-based real estate agent who owns the company Hafiz LLC. Public records show Hafiz LLC has flipped more than 20 houses and condominiums in the city since 2013. According to Richardson, she informed Dellawar last fall about the problems she was having with the house. She says he sent contractors who made minor and incomplete repairs. One worker who turned up to fix her HVAC system left large holes in the wall and never returned, she says. In an email she shared with WAMU/DCist, Richardson wrote Dellawar in November saying she would pursue legal action if he didn’t make additional repairs. He wrote back saying he wasn’t obligated to continue work on the house — she now owned it, after all — and that most problems with the home were her fault. “The home has been maintained very poorly. The HV/AC

Tasharn and Lionel Richardson say their home has been a constant source of stress for their family. Photo by Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

Lionel Richardson pulls back plyboard, exposing a hole in a bathroom wall. Photo by Tyrone Turner / DCist/ WAMU

filter hasn’t been changed since you moved in,” Dellawar wrote. “This threat to take legal action is absolutely unacceptable and shocking after [the work] we have done.” Dellawar did not return multiple requests for comment. Richardson acknowledges she has much to learn about caring for a house, but she says issues with the property go deeper than a lack of basic maintenance. She points to a light fixture above her bathroom sink. It’s falling out of the drywall, but Richardson says no one in the house has touched the light. Most of her children aren’t even tall enough to reach it.

“I came from public housing. Wear and tear with children is expected. But none of our doors fell apart. None of our door knobs fell off. None of my bathroom fixtures fell apart,” she says. “I didn’t have to go through that there, so I didn’t see it coming after buying a new home.” Her experience is echoed by a woman in Shipley Terrace who purchased a house from Dellawar in 2018. The homeowner, who asked WAMU/DCist to withhold her name to protect her privacy, says she has been plagued by persistent leaks from her roof. The home’s original real estate listing, which

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

is still online, advertised a brand-new roof in addition to other upgrades throughout the home. “As the years have gone by, I have so much water damage and leakage,” the homeowner says. “If they put a new roof on my house, I should not have all this damage.” Public records show that Dellawar did not pull any construction permits for the house in Shipley Terrace. A new roof doesn’t necessarily require a permit, according to a Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) spokesperson, but it’s not clear whether other permits may have been required. The city has placed stop work orders on at least three properties renovated by Hafiz LLC — including Richardson’s house — citing illegal construction. Not every house flipped by Hafiz LLC has resulted in unhappy surprises, however: WAMU/DCist spoke with four buyers in D.C. who said homes they purchased from him appear to be in good condition with no structural issues. He has a high rating on Zillow for his work as a real estate agent, and DCRA says it has not received any “identifiable complaints” for work his company has overseen, aside from complaints filed by Tasharn Richardson. Richardson’s situation exemplifies larger problems within D.C.’s bustling renovation market, says Ethan Landis, co-founder of the D.C.- based remodeling firm Landis Architects/Builders. Some developers cut corners to defray the high cost of doing business in the District, he says, and the city has struggled to crack down on bad actors. “DCRA has worked really hard to try to double check inspections … but as busy as the marketplace is out here, that’s probably a difficult proposition,” Landis says. A home inspector with more than 15 years of experience in D.C. says shoddy house flips sometimes fall under the radar because the city allows developers to select their own thirdparty inspectors from a list of approved companies. Some of those firms, while technically cleared by the city, are known for being unscrupulous. (The inspector asked DCist/WAMU to withhold his name because he’s not authorized by his employer to speak with media.) “If you’re a contractor and you’re aware of a third-party inspector that’s viewed as being less rigorous, you’re likely to contract with that inspector,” he says. “Why doesn’t DCRA have a program where they randomly choose the inspector for the contractors, so there isn’t this incentive system in place?” Tasharn Richardson’s home underwent two inspections. The first — the one that uncovered extensive problems with the property — was required under the terms of the Home Purchase Assistance Program loan she received from the city to help her buy the house. The second, required by the city, was conducted by CamJap, a third-party company hired by Hafiz LLC. CamJap’s owners did not return requests for comment. A spokesperson for DCRA writes in a statement that the agency reviews and approves each report filed by third-party inspectors such as CamJap, and they haven’t received complaints about the company’s inspections. A public records request for the inspection CamJap completed for Richardson’s home is pending. Richardson feels let down by her real estate agent, whom she says didn’t warn her about potentially major problems with the house, or push for Hafiz LLC to place funds into escrow to cover any needed repairs. The agent, Lee Gochman of Eng Garcia Properties, told WAMU/DCist in a phone call that he does not want to be linked publicly with the sale of Richardson’s home, but as her agent he already is. “I don’t want my name associated with that transaction,” Gochman said. “I did everything that I needed to. We got the home inspection done. I brought in structural contractors. I did everything I could to be an ally.” Gochman adds that as far as he knew, the house was in livable condition when Richardson bought it. He says Dellawar made repairs as needed before the sale closed, and that some

// 5

Tasharn and Lionel Richardson in their basement, where black mold is flourishing and rodents scale the furniture. Photo by Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

Tasharn and Lionel Richardson’s children play in their front yard after returning home from school. Photo by Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

problems with the house could be the Richardsons’ fault. “Four months after they moved into the house, they called me out of the blue and said things were going wrong,” Gochman says. “I’m hearing conflicting things from the buyer and from the seller as to how this home was cared for and how it was constructed.” Richardson says she stayed quiet about issues with the house because she was embarrassed and assumed everything was her fault. NPR had run a story about her new home, she had scraped together thousands of dollars in financial assistance to buy it, and she had given up a coveted five-bedroom apartment in public housing to move. “Even with my husband, I was trying to hide what was going on with the house,” Richardson says. “But there was no hiding this many issues.” Meanwhile, Richardson says she continues to find hazards around the property. She recently took one of her daughters to the emergency room after the child ripped open her foot on a broken fence pole in their yard. The hospital trip was just the latest in a series of health emergencies brought on by the home’s condition, she says. “My son has allergies now because of this,” she says. Richardson has worked with the nonprofit A Wider Circle

throughout her homebuying experience, and for several years before that. The organization didn’t help her buy the house, but it connected her with a financial coach who advised her on how to improve her credit score so she could qualify for a mortgage. Richardson spent years cleaning up her credit, getting out of debt, and cobbling together money for a down payment using low-interest loans and grants, says Liz Anne Ganiban with A Wider Circle. “This was supposed to be the biggest joy of her life,” Ganiban says. “She’s one of these people who has worked her whole life to have a happy, healthy life for herself and her family, just to watch all this happen.” But Richardson says she’s not giving up. “I’m ready to stand up and put forward the effort to fight,” she writes in a text message. “We received the worst end of the bargain and I believe [we’ve] been preyed upon.” She may not need to fight on her own. A Wider Circle has found Richardson a lawyer. “My next step is, hopefully, to get compensated,” Richardson says. “My family has been blaming each other for a lot of things that have gone on. But now we realize it’s not so much our fault.”

6 // ST REET SENSE ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 2 2

NEWS

Mayoral candidates challenge the Bowser administration, question success NICK PASION Editorial Intern

our mayoral candidates challenged Mayor Muriel Bowser and laid out their plans on hot-button topics like crime, affordable housing, education, policing and jobs at a mayoral candidate forum last Wednesday at the George Washington University. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Councilmember At-large Robert White, Councilmember Trayon White, James Butler and Rodney Red Grant highlighted their policy plans at a mayoral forum as they make their bids for the city’s top spot. The George Washington University and the League of Women Voters DC hosted the Wednesday evening at the event moderated by NPR correspondent and editor Cheryl W. Thompson.

Crime and policing The city experienced an increase in homicides and gun violence even after District crime fell over the course of the pandemic. The candidates recommended their own improvements to the Metropolitan Police Department like high school recruitment and community-based policing. Bowser said her office will try to hire, train and deploy 347 new police officers by the end of fiscal year 2023. She said her office wants to also target women in an effort to increase the percentage of female officers to 30% by 2030. “We have that experience in the last two years where our pipeline has completely dried up, because we haven't been able to hire so restarting that pipeline is important not only to this hiring year, but the years after that,” Bowser said at the forum. Bowser’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023 would allocate $30 million to the Metropolitan Police Department to “put the District on the path” to 4,000 sworn officers and would hire 347 officers in the next year. But after standard attrition the proposed change would only create a 35 officer net gain, keeping the total number of officers at around 3,500. Policing has become a contentious issue in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in the summer of 2020. City governments like Denver and Oakland have slashed police funding and removed police officers from schools in 2020, saving the cities a combined total of about $34 million in funds. But some D.C. officials have called for increasing the number of police officers while recommending officers take a “community-based” approach that recruits officers from D.C. and embed them into the District community. Last summer MPD officers walked throughout the District to build relationships with city residents, attempting to embody this approach. Other candidates like Butler and Grant endorsed the community-based approach. While they encouraged the increased hiring of more police officers, they said they wanted to recruit students from D.C. high schools to improve policing. “We will make sure they are recruited from our high schools and we will have community-based police officers,” Butler said. “We don't need to get it from our west or down south when we got probably right in our own communities.” Trayon White said increasing the number of police officers would not change the amount of crime in the District. “We have to put more money in prevention, we’ve got to

Cheryl W. Thompson and Mayor Muriel Bowser. Photo by Nick Pasion

put more money in education, substance abuse, mental health services,” he said. Robert White said if people had stable jobs and income, then they would be disincentivized from committing crimes. He promised if elected, he'll guarantee a job program that would offer a job to any D.C. resident who wants one. The new program would create a 30% increase in D.C. employees and cost an estimated $1.5 billion a year, but he said the city would see climate and public safety benefits. “We need to be focused on preventing crime,” Robert White said. “First and foremost, people with good jobs are rarely committing violent crime. That is why I've started by focusing on work.”

Housing With a decrease in affordable housing availability across the District, officials have pushed to increase the number of affordable units across the city. But the candidates said the D.C. government isn’t going far enough to protect residents from price gouging. Robert White laid out a plan to stand up to housing development companies to set a standard for affordable housing to ensure D.C. residents aren’t priced out of the city. He said if he’s elected, he will convert downtown office space into affordable housing and create a housing affordability covenant

that would impose restrictions and obligations to develop cheaper housing. “[I’ll] say to developers, you are welcome to develop housing here, but you are no longer welcome to develop the housing that you want that is best for your bottom line,” Robert White said. “What you need to develop is the housing that we need. We need affordable housing. We need workforce housing and we need multi-bedroom housing.” Grant said rising levels of gentrification around the District have led to higher costs of living that has priced people out of their homes. He explained the Median Family Income Index (MFI), which determines what housing qualifies as affordable, should be reevaluated so the system no longer compares pricing to surrounding counties, which bumps up the cost of housing. “We’ve got to penalize these [banks and housing developers] who break the rules to come to Washington D.C.,” he said. Bowser’s proposed budget would delegate more than $500 million to affordable housing in the District. She said her office has created more than 5,000 affordable units, but will continue to focus on more housing if she is reelected to a third term. “I have been very focused on how to make our city more equitable and fairer for more people and have made the creation of affordable housing a hallmark of our tenure,” she said.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

// 7

Lauren Grimes encourages high school students to be involved in civics on a local, national and international level. ASHLEIGH FIELDS Editorial Intern

auren Grimes encourages high school students to be involved in civics on a local, national and international level. A native Washingtonian, Grimes grew up in Wards 7 and 8, two majority Black and predominantly low income areas located east of the Anacostia River in D.C. This experience is what inspired her to create an initiative that gives students the opportunity to explore a connection between advocacy and the arts. She said she knows first hand how difficult it can be for young people to find opportunities to do something meaningful. In other words, she wanted to be an active agent for change so she became one. And now she is teaching others to do the same. In 2018, Grimes founded a local nonprofit called the Community Enrichment Project (CEP) to empower up and coming generations in D.C. “CEP’s programs are designed to empower youth to be lifelong active citizens and community leaders,” Grimes said. Grimes works hard to show her students different career paths. The program partners participants with professional mentors working in media and the arts. “With the right support and opportunities, they can disrupt systems and challenge status quos. They can make a real, longterm difference in their communities,” Grimes said. The Community Enrichment Project offers a $16 an hour paid summer internship program for local youth in the areas of digital media, videography and photography. “When we talk about creating equality in our communities, we are envisioning a society where everyone will be treated equally, but that mindset assumes everyone gets the same support,” she said. “That’s a false narrative.” There continues to be wide achievement gaps among students across D.C. who identify as white, Black and Latino, according to a 2020 report from the D.C. Policy Center. Most recently, in published data from D.C. Public Schools, The Washington Post revealed that white students were performing much higher when it comes to literacy than their Black and Hispanic classmates. While 70% of white students passed a literacy exam administered in 2021, it found 28% of Black students and 30% of Hispanic students to be proficient. In 2019, the same test 44% Black students and 42% of Hispanic students met the standard, compared with 73% of white student, the article revealed. Students participate in a CEP program called “HeART Expressions” at Phelps High School, located in Northeast D.C. Recently, they presented a short silent film titled, “Outside the Box.” Filmed from a variety of angles, the movie follows the journey of a box of books delivered to a school library. Grimes said this project helped students cultivate their creative voices. Jervey Staley of Staley Not Stanley (SNS) Productions helped train students to make artistic decisions as film directors, filling roles as actors, and recording video and sound for the movie. CEP also offers a variety of other creative programs to help students develop skills they can use in other contexts such as advocating for social justice.

Lauren Grimes. Photo courtesy of Lauren Grimes

The organization also sponsors a podcast called Youth Voices Amplified, Grimes has helped youth discuss what it means to be a resident and how they can become more impactful within their communities. The most recent episodes discuss food insecurity, mental health and childhood trauma. Episodes range from anywhere between five to 40 minutes. The nonprofit continues to organize other ongoing projects focused on elevating student voices through creative social media techniques. For instance, at Anacostia High School students are using their social media accounts and other media strategies to raise awareness about their community-based engagement projects. Through the “HeART Expressions,” the programs serve over 50 youth in hopes of uplifting their voice while deepening their connection to the city.

“We must create long term solutions based on the experiences of people that live here and that’s how we will have long term change,” Grimes said. “I work to help our students consider themselves local citizens that think locally but act globally.”

8 // ST REET SENSE ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 2 2

NEWS

Annual walk to end homelessness returns to DC KAELA ROEDER Deputy Editor

Jean-Michel Giraud, the president and CEO of Friendship Place, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to begin the walk. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Participants stretch before the Friendship Walk to End Homelessness. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Participants begin the walk to end homelessness at Constitution Gardens. Photo by Kaela Roeder

At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman speaks at the Friendship Walk to End Homelessness. Photo by Kaela Roeder

riendship Place, a local housing and homeless services provider, brought back its annual walk to end homelessness on the National Mall Saturday. About 200 people attended the Friendship Walk to End Homelessness raising over $100,000 for the nonprofit. Jean-Michel Giraud, the president and CEO of the organization, said Friendship Place serves over 3,400 people in the District through street outreach, job placement, medical and psychiatric care and housing. The organization also has specialty programs for youth and veterans. Giraud said he was excited to bring the community back together for the in-person walk since the pandemic began. Friendship Place hosted similar online events in previous COVID years, but this is the first in-person walk since 2019. “One of the goals of the events is to reach out to every part of our community and to new groups,” Giraud told Street Sense Media. “It’s a special moment.” The walk kicked off with music and stretching in Constitution

Gardens on the National Mall. Participants looped around the World War II Memorial, cut in front of the Lincoln Memorial, then returned to the gardens for more music and mingling after walking about a mile. The event was moderated by EZ Street, a local District DJ. He’s been working with Friendship Place for about a decade, he said. He also opened up to the crowd about how his father experienced homelessness. “I got involved in the effort so we could be able to end homelessness in Washington, D.C.,” he told the crowd. At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, the chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, spoke at the event and highlighted the need for an “employment first” model in addition to a “housing first” model in the District. Many cities across the nation have adopted the housing first approach, providing unconditional permanent supportive housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. Similarly, the employment first model connects people who don’t need training with jobs quickly. Friendship Place is an example of an organization that

employs both models through its housing and job placement programs, Silverman said. “I especially want to thank the staff at Friendship Place. You guys don’t get enough credit. You do amazing work,” Silverman told the crowd. “You change people’s lives.” Alan Banks, a community engagement associate at Friendship Place, shared his own experiences with homelessness at the event. He connected with Friendship Place in 2010 and their support team quickly placed him into an apartment. He said the provider not only helped him get into housing, but also helped him rebuild his life and reconnect with his children. “You see our tag line, it says ‘Friendship Place: ending homelessness, rebuilding lives.’ The ending homelessness is the first part, and maybe the easiest part,” Banks said. “The second part is the hardest. The rebuilding of the life … you have to relearn how to live the life of someone who is housed because when you’re in the street, you go into survival mode.”

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

// 9

People For Fairness Coalition celebrates 14 years KAELA ROEDER Deputy Editor

Nu Da Mention Band performs in Franklin Park. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Anthony Carney, a member of the People For Fairness Coalition. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Robert Warren, the former director and current treasurer for the People For Fairness Coalition. Photo by Kaela Roeder

Reginald Black speaks at the 14th anniversary celebration. Photo by Kaela Roeder

he People For Fairness Coalition, a local outreach, advocacy and peer-mentoring organization for people experiencing homelessness, celebrated its 14th anniversary at Franklin Park Saturday. Since its founding in 2008, the coalition has testified in front of the city council, hosted annual vigils honoring people who have died without a home and led a public restroom initiative to widen access for people experiencing homelessness. The People For Fairness Coalition has also been a leader in advocating for homeless people to be designated as a protected class against discrimination. The coalition was joined by several other organizations including Serve Your City. The local musical group Nu Da Mention Band also gave a performance. Reginald Black, the current director of the coalition, a constituent representative with the Interagency Council on Homelessness and a longtime Street Sense Media artist/vendor told the crowd if the city is committed to racial equity, then the District must eliminate housing instability and homelessness for all Black citizens. Over 80% of people experiencing homelessness are Black, according to this year’s Point in Time Count, which is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. The District is one of the most gentrified cities in the nation,

according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Previously, the District ranked first, but in 2020, it was ranked thirteenth. “This is Chocolate City, you’re not going to run us out. We built this city. We are the ones who have the historic pains and strife. We need to benefit from the advancement and prosperity of this city. This is what we fight for. This is what I continue to fight for,” Black told the crowd. “I’m a native, I spent 10 years homeless myself. And today I’m housed because of that hard work and being a part of an organization like this.” Robert Warren, the former director and current treasurer for the coalition and a Street Sense Media artist/vendor, said he wishes there was more progress for people experiencing homelessness after all these years. “I want change, like, yesterday,” he said in an interview with Street Sense Media. Warren said the sheer amount of deaths in the community has been disheartening. In 2021, at least 124 people died without a home, according to a story by DCist/WAMU. In 2020, at least 180 people experiencing homelessness died, which was a 54% increase from 2019, the Washington Post reported. COVID has also disproportionately affected Black District residents, according to the D.C. Policy Center. Seven Street Sense Media vendors have died since December, as well. People experiencing homelessness are also at a greater risk of illness and are likely to die 12 years before the general

population, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. People experiencing homelessness are also more likely to contract COVID-19, according to recent studies. But even still, Warren is committed to the organization advocating for people experiencing homelessness. “We just have to keep fighting,” he said. Michael Coleman, a founding member of the People For Fairness Coalition and constituent representative for the Interagency Council on Homelessness, said that initially, the coalition was formed out of necessity. For a long time, its founding members felt as though people experiencing homelessness were ignored by the city. Not much has changed, though, he said. “Fourteen years later, we are still ignored. It’s just on a lesser scale,” Coleman said in an interview. Anthony Carney, a member of the coalition who helps out with outreach and a Street Sense Media artist/vendor, said he’s proud to be a part of the People For Fairness Coalition. “We’re making a change for the better,” Carney said in an interview.

1 0 // S T REET SENSE ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 2 2

OPINION

Getting housing assistance shouldn’t limit where someone can live JACQUELINE TURNER

There should be no opposition against what neighborhood a person can live in. People should live wherever they want to. In other words, I should be able to live in Southeast, Northwest, Northeast or Southwest, Washington D.C. Nobody should say short people or fat people are not wanted, because who are you to judge? I really don’t understand why people in rich areas don’t want people with lower income to move to better housing. If your house or apartment is paid for and you keep up the maintenance to the standards and codes, you should be good, because no kind of discrimination or prejudice is right. The government has standards. First you have to apply for housing assistance. Then you’re put on a list. Then you have to go to class to learn what you can and can’t do with your voucher for housing. You also have to prove you are eligible to receive subsidized housing. For example, you have to have limited income.

The government is the people. They do what we say should be done. They don’t just give you money to get housing! You have to show a need. Say you have two children and your weekly income keeps you at the poverty level. Social service agencies frown upon letting kids over the age of 10 sleep in the same room with you. You can’t afford a two bedroom apartment or house; that is a big burden. So you have to sleep in the living room or kitchen, and you have limits. Then if you are fortunate to get help through an affordable housing unit or voucher, you have to live up to the government’s standards to keep a place to live. Along with making sure your part of the rent is paid on time, they check if it’s clean, safe, and well-maintained. If you or family is involved in any criminal action, you might be kicked out. Things like that don’t happen to people who don’t get housing assistance. If they want their grass to grow high, they

can let it. If someone comes to visit and stay a month, they can — but not when you are getting help from the government. When you get help, people are thankful and want to cooperate. They want a chance to live better in a nice place to raise their family, or be able to sleep without worrying about crime. They love feeling it’s their home, and they want to keep it. If only people who oppose knew how grateful and blessed they feel to have a home. I don’t think they would object to people moving in who are on vouchers or affordable assistance housing. If I could propose a new law it would be that you cannot protest against someone because they don’t have money.

it. And just as with the end of the enhanced child tax credit or modestly increased unemployment benefits, our government has once again decided to put short-term profits over people's lives. Since the Social Security Act passed in the depths of the Great Depression, the rich have only been interested in the safety net because it helps them squeeze as much work as possible out of the poor and vulnerable. For them, benefits are only relevant when too many workers would die without them. This is one reason why every year, hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans lose access to public assistance for food, housing, and medical treatment. For some, these benefit cutoffs are due simply to the absurdly low income and asset limits for these programs that render people ineligible during minor income fluctuations. The Urban Institute has estimated that more than 14 million Medicaid beneficiaries could lose benefits for this reason alone. Others inevitably run afoul of the countless regulations governing work requirements, drug use, family composition, and on and on. Since the welfare rights movement of the 1960s, states, counties, and the federal government implemented these restrictions to criminalize the poor and limit the population eligible for assistance. And still, others lose benefits only because all these complex application procedures have made them very difficult for most ordinary people to understand and complete. This barrier is exceptionally high for people without stable addresses or computer access, for whom English is not their first language, immigrants and people of color and the elderly and disabled. For these reasons, experts have warned since the pandemic began that once the public health emergency ends, states will be incentivized to review applications for these programs as quickly as they can. A politically charged time crunch will drastically increase the possibility for both caseworker and

applicant error. Those pressures will only increase as some states look to 'supplement' — or replace — their unionized staff with unscrupulous private contractors. Utah's experience with the end of policies preventing disenrollment from CHIP last year is illustrative. Though state officials argue that they tried to contact beneficiaries, time pressures and communication problems led to 41% of children in the program losing access to healthcare. In the short term, the best defense here is a good offense. The Department of Health and Human Services, President Joe Biden, and Congress seem either unwilling or unable to ensure people aren't left hungry and without healthcare. Individual beneficiaries and progressive organizations can help deal with this impending disaster by teaching people how to properly file their renewal paperwork and appeal if necessary to ensure they receive the benefits to which they are entitled. In the long term, however, the only real solution to these problems is to remove the profit interests of the wealthy few from the political calculations of government. But because the rich will not give up their power and influence willingly, just government requires renewal of the class struggle. This means a fundamental redistribution of economic and political power from the rich to the poor, brought about by workingclass organizations ready to educate and organize the people for an open confrontation with the 1% and their lackeys. As the National Union of the Homeless says, “You only get what you’re organized to take.”

Jacqueline Turner is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

The pandemic-era safety net will disappear soon. Here’s what to do about it. YVONNE BRAMBLE

A small but shining bright spot during this pandemic has been the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, passed just a week into the first lockdowns in the United States. In addition to raising the share of Medicaid costs covered by the federal government, it also largely prevented states from disenrolling individuals from the program. Further, the Act loosened application and renewal procedures for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, alongside emergency benefit increases for many SNAP recipients. As of last November, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program covered nearly 86 million people, while SNAP covered 41.3 million, a 22.2% and 11.9% increase respectively from February 2020. Those are record levels and these policies have stabilized services for many families rocked by this crisis. The catch: Those measures will only last as long as the federal public health emergency, which is currently scheduled to end in mid-July. On April 12, the Secretary of Health and Human Services renewed the state of emergency for the ninth time since the first cases were reported in the United States. With widespread 'fatigue' over the pandemic and the easing of public health measures across the country, this 90-day extension could be the last. States already facing dire personnel shortages will have one year to review eligibility for tens of millions of Medicaid recipients while maintaining timely review for all new applicants. Meanwhile, states will also have to remove flexible application procedures in SNAP and reduce benefits to pre-pandemic levels, an average cut of $82 per month per household. Of course, this is a capitalist country. Whatever politicians in either party say, our government is ruled by money and the big business owners, landlords, and stock traders who hoard

Yvonne Bramble is a researcher at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

Happy Mother’s Day!

The importance I pray of water

EVELYN NNAM Artist/Vendor

Without it, you die. It’s more than 50% of your body

A mother is kind. A mother is caring. A mother is nurturing. A mother is sweet. A mother is daring. A mother is loving. A mother’s love is like no other, a love that is pure of gold, a love that grabs you for dear life, because she wants you to grow into a wonderful human being. A mother is breathtaking. A mother will do life changing things just for her child to be safe and sound. A mother is a woman who changes the world. Giving birth to different nations of people, creating lives that can make this world different every day. A mother is a woman, who does whatever she has to do to make sure their little one is taken care of. Regardless of age, a mother will always make sure her child is well.

Who am I? DONTÉ TURNER Artist/Vendor

Am I a lawyer Am I a doctor Am I a realist Am I a peacemaker Am I a religious person Am I a teacher Am I a firefighter Am I a fighter Am I an artist Am I the next president Regardless of what or who I am, I won’t know unless I’ve tried, then I can honestly say, “I know who I am.”

/ / 11

KYM PARKER Artist/Vendor

JACKIE TURNER Artist/Vendor

A mother may not always be perfect, but she tries her best to be the best mother she can be. A mother is amazing, she makes sure her child experiences so much life, before they are away on their own, becoming a mother or father themselves. A mother is strong, her is so amazing, it covers you all up, so you can be protected. A mother is wonderful, because no matter how old she is, she never stops loving her child. Let’s give it up for all the mothers out there who do so much, also the foster mothers and mother figures in our lives who make sure we are all taken care of. We just want to say thank you and celebrate you for what you do. Happy Mother’s Day!

Anywhere QUEENIE FEATHERSTONE Artist/Vendor

The importance of water– You use it to wash your body; You use it as a beverage. The importance of water– You use it to clean your house The importance of water– Water is life

We all feel, I pray. Just to understand Her will I pray. Just to get others to understand Her, a day we all pray together. To know our place in this world, for each other, for Her to show us how to live our lives, we pray. I pray when my day is bad, and there is pain in my heart. Just pray, so we all know Her love.

RONALD SMOOT Artist/Vendor

1 2 // S T REET SENSE ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 2 2

ART

10 reasons why I’m good at writing

Peace, joy and happiness BRIANNA BUTLER Artist/Vendor

A bright, clean blue sky with the sun shining uplifted my spirit with joy. On that very morning, I am thanking God for what he’s done for me, while strolling on yellow sand. There were small waves thrashing along my feet. God taught me to appreciate and dwell on what I have, not what I don’t have. My life has been changed to a new one; I’ve been made whole and set free. I decided to stroll through a pathway, entering a world filled with clothes. It had all kinds of colorful clothes and every kind of style you can imagine. But, you have to look up, because the walls were 10 feet tall. You could shop till you drop here, because with putting discounts on items that lowers the price to fit your budget. It can even fall to free, so everyone can leave happy. The clothes fit and make anyone look fantastic in them, no matter what size you are. The place has an automatic bag that follows you everywhere you are going, so that you don’t have to carry the bags through the shopping world. The food court has massaging chairs, which at a push of a button bring a cheerful lady or a handsome man out. The pleasant food is a mile high, and you lay in the chair and talk. You don’t have to even get out of your seat until you leave. I left that place with peace of mind, which helped make life good.

Street Sense paradise JAMES DAVIS Artist/Vendor

We’ve been spending some of our lives living in this Street Sense paradise, been spending most of our lives, as we tried to survive. One day says Jehovah Jog thou will all owneth houses, no saving the child, no sparing the rod, all west coast fires doused. Hundredth dollars donation for one issue, no chaos at the workshops. I cried, somebody give me a tissue. Paradise is where it all stops.

New beginnings of Street Sense ABEL PUTU Artist/Vendor

We need more people to buy the paper. Sometimes when people see us, they hold their noses. That takes away our hope and makes us not want to do Street Sense. We are not treated well. People need to take us seriously, the way we vendors take the paper seriously. I’ve been selling the paper since 2009, and I want to keep selling. I also think our vest needs to be changed, removing the word homeless. That way, maybe more people would buy the paper. One lady told me I smelled like a dog and said she never wanted to buy Street Sense papers. People should experience the kind of things we vendors go through. We are out here struggling. But, some customers support me and tell me they’re glad I’m selling.

AMINA WASHINGTON Artist/Vendor

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

I love it, and it makes me happy. Writing inspires me. I just love poetry! I have been writing since I was little. Since I love nature, that’s what I write about. My life story is always based on my writing. I just love telling stories! I’m motivated by everything I write. When I write, I also get inspired by what I read. I like to write, because someday I want to become a poet, or maybe write a book. My skills are awesome and everyone loves my writing!

Got to the point where I was driven LEVESTER GREEN Artist/Vendor

The Hampton / Norfolk leg of my adventure in Virginia pretty much cured me of my initial real latenight street stage fright, which I had in my initial plunge into the real hard knocks of life. With that return to college play initiated in Norfolk, I proceeded to move on to Newport News. There, I began looking for a job with temp. agencies in the area. I ran into the same manager that had hired me as the omelet chef at Golden Corral back in Landover at the Capital Crossings, where I used to often frequent to critique movies at the Magic Johnson Theater. Anyway, she refused to hire me, because she was mad I had gotten fired by another manager, who got mad because I wasn’t sure where everything went. I left early the day before; it was a Saturday. I eventually found a gig. I became a trash man and messed up my brand new Timberlands. I couldn’t take the smell of the garbage gig, so that was very short-lived. I ended up working at Long’s Billiards. I worked putting their patent pool stick tips together. Again, short-lived due to an out-of-state manager

Paradise

getting unruly with me for whatever reason. I think it was because I was getting SSI. It was really bizarre and odd! I did meet a good friend and co-worker, who helped me get through the workdays and helped me cash my check. I lost patience with him during a lunch break when he took too long in the store, so I drove around the block and back. He didn’t even get mad, and I just thought that was really cool of him. That was also the same day the manager bugged out and fired me. I ended up traveling to the next town in my quest for a library and ended up finding a strip club right next to a motel, where I got a room and went over next door and met a corn-fed white girl. I was impressed, but she had to work her shift, and I was still on a budget. Trying to survive first! She never came over to visit, and I ended up going back to town where the Greyhound station was in Newport News. That was also where the day work pay was always shorter than the hotel fee for a night, which is why I tried to stretch out. I was also a porter at the Tidewater Auction, which was a very fun and cool job.

REGGIE JONES Artist/Vendor

Good morning! Another day in paradise, I can say for me. Thank you, God for waking me up to another day and many more to come. I pray for them, my family, and friends. Still trying to figure out, and understand, what God has in store for me to succeed here on this beautiful planet we call Earth. But, other than that, life is good. I can say for me, as I enjoy waking up and getting myself together for the day, to get out and accomplish what I need to accomplish here, as far as appointments, etc.

People

ANTHONY CARNEY Artist/Vendor

People come and go in your life. So, remember to cherish the love forever. We are here for a season. So, if no one told you today, let me be the first: I love you. Spread love.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

Slippery Slope: Aeisha is having a baby JEFFERY MCNEIL Artist/Vendor

Zuri just got off work. She is a stripper, who does lap dances in a club called Sin, just outside of East Baltimore. Her stage name is Fantasy; she is biracial with bronze skin. She can pass for white or Latino. Zuri has a 12 year old daughter named Aeisha. Being tired, she's not worried about the commotion. Her instinct is to see if her daughter is ok. She opens the door, no one's home. It is 3 a.m. in East Baltimore, and Aeisha is not in bed. Zuri believes Aeisha’s staying with her cousin, Dimika. But when Zuri opens her bedroom, it is as if a sledgehammer hit her. A funny smelling scent hits her face. She looks. On the floor, there’s a box of condoms, and her sheets are ruffled. This pain is indescribable for Zuri – to know her daughter lost her virginity in a crappy apartment in East Baltimore is heartbreaking. Later that night, the door opens. Aeisha tries to tiptoe past Zuri, when she says, “where the hell you been?” Aeisha tries to lie. She says she was over at her cousin's house. She smells like weed. “My daughter's a hoochie momma,” Zuri says. "Who the man you running with, Ho Rita?” “ "Who are you to lecture anyone about men? I know what you do! I'm teased in

school because you come to pick me up halfnaked and all the guys just stare at your short shorts,” Aeisha yells back. Zuri is too tired to fuss with Aeisha. She goes to sleep. It’s early morning, the sun's out. Everyone is either heading for school or off to work. Zuri is making breakfast when Aeisha’s cousin Dimika knocks on the door. Tamika and Aeshi are dancing to Lil Wu's latest. Zuri can't help but join in with her daughter in doing the Wu Wu. They were having so much fun Aeisha almost missed her bus. While Zuri believed her daughter was getting a quality education, she knew she was being indoctrinated. Although Aeisha is a great student, she isn't reading the classics or learning about Einstein. She isn’t playing instruments or learning theater or the arts. Instead, she is learning about racism, feminism, and sex. Hearing about condoms and birth control made Aeisha curious about sex. She never thought about boys before her teachers brought up the subject in school. Not long after, however, Aeisha becomes pregnant and is forced to deal with a situation no 12 year old should ever endure. She decides to have the baby.

Malcolm DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor

Food for thought! MARCUS MCCALL Artist/Vendor

Take one minute to read this devotion. Start your day right. Live with intention, one day at a time. Everyone wants to go to bed at night feeling accomplished and successful. But life happens. We can’t do everything we want to do when we want to do it. There will always be to-do lists and wish lists and dreams and goals. Those can’t determine our sense of accomplishment as they’re

ever-changing. What we can use to gauge our day are our values. When we lay down at night, are we able to say we were loving and kind all day? Did we freely forgive? Did we encourage anyone? Were we patient with others? Being better than we were yesterday is the ultimate goal. A day well-lived. Of course, we go about our business every day, we do what we can, to the best we are able. But our self-worth isn’t in getting things done. Feel accomplished being a good human being, one day at a time. Thank you.

// 13

OnlineCrosswords.net This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle #3 for Apr 1, 2022

1 4 // ST REET SEN S E ME DI A / / MAY 4 - 1 0 , 2 022

Across

1. Spanish house Across

Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Volume 12, Book 26

Sudoku #1 3 4

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

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. If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork. Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle. Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page if you really get stuck.

>> This crossword puzzle’s answers: https://tinyurl.com/SSMcross-05-04-2022

<< LAST EDITION’S PUZZLE SOLUTION

The man who says he is willing to meet you halfway is usually a poor judge of distance.

5. Serbhouse or Croat 1. Spanish 9. Pool marking 5. Serb or Croat 14. Wilson of "Wedding 9. Pool marking Crashers" 14.15. Wilson of “Wedding Crashers” Parisian pop 15.16. Parisian "___ pop there yet?" 16.17. “___Completely there yet?” mistaken 17.19. Completely mistaken Educator Montessori 19.20. Educator Montessori Floral display 20.21. Floral display topic Freudian 21.23. Freudian Iowa topic hrs. 23.24. Iowa hrs. or pigeon Dove 24.25. Dove or pigeonfor strangers to Occasion 25.meet Occasion for strangers to meet 28.28. Satellite soundsound provider provider Satellite 30.30. Online merchant Online merchant 31.31. Tennis call call Tennis 32.32. Silent indication of approval Silent indication of 34.approval Commands 35.34. Touchy topic Commands 38.35. River in a Strauss Touchy topicwaltz 41.38. Ms.River alternative in a Strauss waltz 42.41. CornMs. unitalternative 45.42. Roots Corn unit 47.45. Deep down Roots 50.47. Graveyard shift Deep down 52.50. Bus.Graveyard aides shift 53.52. ___Bus. kwonaides do 54.53. Military address ___ kwon do 55.54. Subdued Military address 56.55. “What ___!” (“Bummer!”) Subdued 59.56. Ungracious also-ran "What ___!" ("Bummer!") 62.59. TakeUngracious potshots also-ran 63.62. Aspersion Take potshots 64.63. Dark purple Aspersion 65.64. “Endymion” poet Dark purple 66.65. Peak"Endymion" stat. poet 67.66. Word thatstat. can follow the first Peak part 17-, that 25-, can 35-, follow 50-, and 67.ofWord the 59-Across first part of 17-, 25-, 35-, 50-, and 59-Across Down

1. Package letters 2. Terrific, to teens 3. New Orleans or New York

FUN & GAMES

Find the solution at https://onlinecrosswords.net/6151

4.Down News reporter Mitchell 39. Daughter of King Minos 5. Nimble 40. Country on the Gulf of Guinea 1. Package letters 40. Country on the Gulf of 18. City district 6. Zodiac lion 42. Backs off Guinea 2. Terrific, to teens 22. How caviar may be 7. Textile trademark 43. Style of the 1920s 42. Backs off served 3. New Orleans or New 8. Burger variety 44. ACLU concerns (abbr.) York 43. Style of the 1920s 24. 140, to Caesar 9. Barrier 46. Credit ___ First Boston (investment 4. News reporter 44. ACLU concerns 25. Betty of cartoons 10. Part of B.C.E. bank) Mitchell (abbr.) 26. Pub projectile 11. Sheet fabric 48. Burglar’s booty 5. Nimble 46. Credit ___ First Boston 27. Mythological queen 12. Classic party game 49. Bars, in law (investment bank) 6. Zodiac lion of Carthage 13. Warming devices 51. Fairy tale creature 48. Burglar's booty 7. Textile trademark 29. Has in mind 18. City district 55. Griffin of game shows 49. Bars, in law 8. Burger variety 33. ___ Pérignon 22. How caviar may be served 57. Appropriate 51. Fairy tale creature 35. Actor Jackman 9. Barrier 24. 140, to Caesar 58. Some appliances 55. Griffin of game shows 36. Parting words 10. Part of B.C.E. 25. Betty of cartoons 60. Montreal street 57. Appropriate 37. Butler's burden 11. Sheet fabric 26. Pub projectile 61. Like Gen. Powell 49. Bars, in law 58. Some appliances 38. Response to "How 12. Classic party game 27. Mythological queen of Carthage 51. Fairy tale creature bad was it?" 60. Montreal street 13. Warming devices 29. Has in mind 55.ofGriffin shows 39. Daughter King of game 61. Like Gen. Powell 33. ___ Pérignon 57. Appropriate Minos 35. Actor Jackman 58. Some appliances 36. Parting words 60. Montreal street 37. Butler’s burden 61. Like Gen. Powell 38. Response to “How bad was it?” 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

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 - 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.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 Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 communityofhopedc.org

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

1-888-793-4357 Laundry Lavandería

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

JOB BOARD Greeter SUCCOTASH Prime // 915 F Street NW

Full-time/Part-time // $18-$24 per hour // Monday to Friday

Welcomes customers as they enter a restaurant, takes their reservations or puts them on a waiting list, gives them menus and shows them to their seats. REQUIRED: Ability to stand for long periods. APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/SuccotashGreeter

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

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

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-800-799-7233

Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento

// 15

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

Merchandise Associate Marshalls // 529 14th St. NW

Full-time/Part-time Responsible for engaging and interacting with customers, ringing up purchases/returns and accurately processing merchandise for the sales floor. REQUIRED: Must be able to work a flexible schedule and capable of lifting heavy objects. APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ MarshallsDCAssociate

Laundry Attendant Willard InterContinental Hotel // 401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Full-time/Part-time // $23.2K - $29.4K a year Laundry attendants clean and store hotel linens, operate washers and dryers and fold clean linens..

REQUIRED: Must be able to carry or lift items weighing up to 75 pounds and push and or pull approximately 400 pounds as well as frequently standing up and moving about the work area. APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ WillardICLaundryAttendant

Guest Service Attendant East Potomac Golf Links // 972 Ohio Dr SW, Washington

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

Part-time // $15.20 per hour Guest services attendants provide guests

with bag handling and club cleaning services, maintain accurate records of golfers renting clubs, assist with food and beverage activities. REQUIRED: N/A APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ EastPotomacGolfAttendant

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

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

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

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

Living your life to its fullest, Part II MICHELE ROCHON Artist/Vendor

Living life to its fullest means making a daily cursory examination of your environment and enjoying what it has to offer. This might be pictures, color schemes, furniture, landscaping and other natural beauty that encompasses curb appeal or appeal. How do you remain mentally balanced? Dwell on thoughts that elevate your mood or make you smile. Walk, read scripture often, face the good, bad and ugly in your life and know that in spite of challenging situations you can still remain hopeful. It’s all about perspective, do you see your glass half filled or half empty? Life is a game, play it well.

Coming to DC

DONTÉ TURNER Artist/Vendor

PHILIP BLACK Artist/Vendor

GERALD ANDERSON Artist/Vendor

When I first came to DC on Sept. 5, 2005 after Katrina, we went to the DC Armory. They refused me housing saying that my history was bad. So, from there, I left the DC Armory and went and stayed in a hotel. I was working with a case manager but I didn’t have anything like identification or anything like that. I had a friend who lived up in Northeast D.C. and she let me go stay with her for a while. Every day that I stayed with her, I would go out and wash cars. And I would make a little money washing cars. That’s when I got plugged in with the neighborhood. They was asking me where I was from in the neighborhood. They would say, “You talk funny like you from the country.” And I would tell them that I was from down South. But at the time, I kept wondering…I mean, I made money washing cars but that wasn’t enough money for me.

Thank you for reading Street Sense! CARLOS CAROLINA

From your vendor,

Artist/Vendor

MAY 4 - 10, 2022 | VOLUME 19 ISSUE 24 NO CASH? NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE AN APP! SEARCH “STREET SENSE” IN THE APP STORE

WWW.INSP.NGO

4 million READERS

9,000 VENDORS

100+

STREET PAPERS

COUNTRIES

LANGUAGES