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Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Amina Washington, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Anthony Pratt, Archie Thomas, August Mallory, Betty Everett, Beverly Sutton, Bob Davis, Brianna Butler, Brandon Archer, Candice Wilkes, Carlos Carolina, Carlton Johnson, Carol Motley, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Chris Cole, Chris Sellman, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Cortney Signor, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon (Gigi) Dovonou, Don Gardner, Donté Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Eric Glover, Eric Thompson-Bey, Erica Downing, 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, Khadijah Chapman, Kym Parker, L. Morrow, Laticia Brock, Laura Smith, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Malcolm Scott Jr, Marcus McCall, Mark Jones, Mango Redbook, Maurice Spears, Melody Byrd, Michael Warner, Michelle Mozee, Michele Rochon, Mildred M. Hall, Morgan Jones, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Reggie Jones, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Sasha Williams, Shawon McCrary, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Susan Westmoreland, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams
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
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Darick Brown
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DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT Thomas Ratliff
VENDOR PROGRAM ASSOCIATES
Aida Peery, Clifford Samuels
VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS
Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Madeleine McCollough, Dylan Onderdonksnow
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 Neil Franklin
MICHAEL STOOPS DIVERSITY FELLOW Sophia Thomas
ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
ATHIYAH AZEEMOriginally 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.
Ariane Mohseni (Film), Bonnie Naradzay (Poetry), David Serota (Illustration), Lalita Clozel (Film), Willie Schatz (Writing)
ARTS EDITOR (VOLUNTEER) Austine Model
OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER)
Rebecca Koenig, Emily Kopp, Lydia DePillis, 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
For every year since 2016, our newsroom has led a collaborative reporting project bringing together outlets from across D.C. to report on homelessness for one, 24-hour period. The project initially began as an effort to persuade other local newsrooms to cover the issue. With dozens of project partners over the years, we feel like we’ve largely succeeded in this effort. Local newsrooms are paying attention to homelessness.
Since assuming the role of editor-in-chief, I’ve spent a long time thinking about how our newsroom should conwtinue to lead this effort. Given how we’ve already achieved the initial intent of this project, I felt like we needed to establish a new goal. In my view, it is no longer enough to ask other news outlets to pay attention to homelessness. Instead, we should be providing them with the tools they need to report on the subject with care, empathy and compassion.
But what exactly do newsrooms need to accomplish this goal? As an outlet, we specialize in reporting on homelessness and poverty. We work daily with people going through some of the most difficult periods of their lives. And we have often navigated difficult-to-understand subjects. However, we have found that many journalists working with other publications have a much broader focus area. For them, reporting on a subject as complex as homelessness can be daunting, especially if their reporters are juggling multiple stories on varied topics.
Since we occasionally field phone calls and messages from reporters seeking advice, we thought it would help if we consolidated some of the information we provide. This idea led to the creation of the first piece to our journalist’s guide for reporting on homelessness. Our imperfect guide, which is on pages four to seven of this edition, covers what we feel are the concepts all journalists seeking to report on the subject should consider at a minimum. We hope to grow this into a much more comprehensive
guide that includes links to data, terms and definitions and advice for conducting interviews.
We built this part of the guide by conducting interviews with around 30 people from around the country: journalists, homeless service providers and people without homes. In fact, approximately, half of the people we spoke to had firsthand experience with homelessness. While conducting these interviews, we found some interesting divides in values between what journalists and people without homes felt about journalism and the ways stories are composed. Many people who had experienced homelessness shared stories with us about how they felt exploited by journalists. And several even communicated feeling remorse for sharing their stories.
In addition to conducting interviews with people across the country, we also conducted an online survey to measure public perception of homelessness. Of the close to 90 respondents, almost half were journalists. We found that even among journalists, there was not a clear consensus of how to approach common ethical questions.
While our guide is imperfect, the advice we share here applies to anyone seeking to report on the subject. Since our goal is to improve the way journalists report on the subject, we felt it important to break from our past tradition of completing this work in a single day. Additionally, since homelessness is also an issue that our neighbors across the region are facing, we felt we should extend our reporting this year to include them.
As you have a look through our paper this week, check out our project page at: homelesscrisis.press.
Will Schick, Editor-in-Chief
• Apply for a job at Street Sense! Must submit a resume by Friday, Oct. 14. See in-office announcement for details.
• Street Sense will be closed Monday, Oct. 10, for Indigenous Peoples Day.
• Apply for a job at Street Sense! Must submit a resume by Friday, Oct. 14. See in-office announcement for details.
• New workshops and workshop times!
• Watercolor workshop is every Tuesday at 11:45 a.m
• New workshops and workshop times!
• Women’s workshop is every Tuesday at 2 p.m.
• Watercolor workshop is every Tuesday at 11:45 a.m
• Women’s workshop is every Tuesday at 2 p.m.
• Theater workshop is every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. on the 3rd floor.
• Theater workshop is every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. on the 3rd floor.
• Photography workshop is every Thursday at 11:45 a.m.
• Photography workshop is every Thursday at 11:45 a.m.
• Reminder! Show us your CDC card and get free papers.
Note to readers: This is a work in progress. We would love to hear from you.
Street Sense Media is a nonprofit newsroom based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2003, we produce solutions journalism on issues related to poverty and homelessness.
We built this guide to improve the broader public conversation around homelessness. We think that if journalists do a better job of reporting on homelessness then the public will have a much better, nuanced understanding of the issue.
Many local newsrooms and re porters turn to us for guidance when reporting on homeless ness. Often, journalists want to know what language they should use or how they might be more thoughtful in their reporting.
This guide is not prescriptive. It provides a list of broad principles and considerations for reporters and draws its inspiration from the Society for Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
In summer 2022, our team conducted around 30 interviews with journalists, homeless rights advocates, government officials and homeless people from across the country. We also conducted a survey to gather input from the broader public about how they feel homelessness is covered in the media and what journalists can do better.
Clichés and stereotypes often define stories about homeless people. These may include any of the following characterizations: a drug addict, a mentally ill person, a criminal, an alcohol abuser. These struggles are not unique to homeless people and many people who live in stable housing grapple with addiction and mental illness.
When broad stories about homelessness center on the experience of a single source’s experience with addiction, it perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes and disregards the complex and multiple reasons why a person may become homeless.
When reporting on homelessness, journalists should consider the role pover ty plays in a person’s life. Many people become homeless due to their inability to make a living wage and to afford a place to live.
Speak to people with first-hand experience with homelessness
It is important to consider the perspectives of the sources you include in a story and equally import ant to consider the perspectives you leave out. When producing a story about homelessness, it is best to solicit input from people with first-hand experience. It may help to ask a local homeless services nonprofit or street paper for help with connecting with someone who is homeless.
In the United States, there is a pervasive, negative social stigma attached to the word “homeless.”
Some people view the term as offensive and associate it with dehumanizing stereotypes. Alter native terms and phrases are often used as a way to draw attention to an individual’s humanity (such as in the case with people-first language) or a person’s lack of access to housing (as in the case with terms emphasizing lack of physical housing).
While these terms can be helpful and sufficient to describe homelessness in general, consid er that they are usually insufficient for fully describing a person’s living situation. Homelessness is a spectrum and can assume many forms. For instance, the experience of a person sleeping in a tent on the sidewalk is vastly different than that of someone who couch surfs. We advise journalists to be as specific as possible when reporting on homelessness.
Finally, some critics argue that using people-first language draws attention away from the deeper issue of homelessness, and that alternative phrases such as “people experiencing homelessness” carry the same stigma as the term “homeless person.”
What do you do when someone asks for money in exchange for an interview or a photo? What do you do if someone asks for food in exchange for an interview?
We posed these questions to everyone we interviewed and found there is no clear consensus amongst journalists. Some journalists work in newsrooms and have editorial budgets that allow them to take sources out to coffee or lunch. They generally responded by saying that they felt it was more ethical to provide food to a person than money. However, others said they would never — under any circumstance — give someone food or money in an exchange for an interview.
However, most of the homeless people we interviewed are strongly in favor of compensation.
They argued that since journalists are paid for their time, they also deserve some form of compensation. After all, time is money. Many of the homeless people we interviewed expressed frustration with the extractive nature of journalism and felt that asking a person to recount a traumatic personal experi ence without any compensation was in itself unethical.
Many of the homeless people and social workers we interviewed for this guide said they wished journalists were more critical of both homeless services nonprofits and government agencies. Some people we interviewed asked that reporters steer clear of advocacy and simply describe situations as they uncover them.
When speaking to sources for a story, it is important for reporters to be upfront about their expectations. Journalists should also be transparent with their audience about anything they exchange with sources when producing stories.
Reporters should practice the golden rule by giving homeless people the same respect they would for a source who lives in stable housing.
In our interviews, we’ve heard stories about TV news crews show ing up to homeless encampments at 4 a.m. to set up for live shoots without providing any of its residents advanced notice. Others talked about how they feel infantilized, mistreated and sometimes, exploited by journalists.
Whenever possible, introduce yourself to a source before snapping their photo or asking them questions. Many people living in homeless encampments and shelters have a variety of valid reasons why they might not want to have their image broadcast on TV or published in a newspaper. Some people may be fleeing domestic violence situations. Others may be fearful of retribution from employers.
Additionally, journalists should consider whether a source is in a stable emotional or mental state to provide them with consent for sharing their story. In this same vein, they should also refrain from infantilizing sources and allow them to speak on their own terms.
Newsrooms should consider using anonymity for sources in cases where a person could face retribution or face violence upon publicly speaking out about their situation.
Journalists should seek to be trauma-informed in their reporting. This means being mindful of the way report ers ask sources questions intended to uncover deeply traumatic experiences. In general, reporters should re frain from interviewing sources who are homeless the same way they would a public figure deserving of more scrutiny.
Some sources we interviewed for this guide cau tioned about the potential recurring negative impact of reporting. For instance, there may be cases where a source agrees to an on-therecord interview about their living situation and struggle with addiction. However, years later, that same source recovers but has a hard time finding a job because when employers look up their name on the internet, they find a story about their history with homelessness.
We asked respondents to rate 12 statements
Number of respondents
Journalists say:
We asked respondents how they felt about five ethical situations.
Mental hospitals are supposed to help those who are sick. This is a story from inside a mental hospital in New York from a person who would like to stay anonymous.
The first day I walked into the hospital it looked like a fancy camp with a diverse group of people. I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. You could hear the cries of those being locked up in a padded room with a mattress. I wanted to avoid being put in there, so I stayed quiet like a mouse.
In these types of places you don’t want to be the eye of the crowd. People who are loud or misbehave get put down with an injection. The word “triggered” was used a lot and people with different problems are all put together in the same house. I’m 16, and was put with about 10 other teens in a house. The house was large and comfy, with nice furniture.
The first day, the people who worked there took me to a
room with two other roommates. The room was nice and had a comfortable bed. I made friends and we went to the lounge where there was a TV. The food was decent and the kids were nice and not judgmental. We would sit into a circle everyday to meet in a group for therapy.
But the people who worked there had a negative attitude. They even said we were all criminals, which is wrong. Some people in mental hospitals come for bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, bulimia, anorexia and drug abuse. Most of them are labeled as dangerous, even if they’re not.
People with mental illness are usually targets, not criminals, and often only a danger to themselves. The hospital takes all the sharp harmful products out of your way, but one girl who harmed herself tried killing herself with a pillow. She was sent home the day after she tried killing herself because insurance wouldn’t let her stay there. One girl was there because she was an orphan, and another
was abused by her parents by being locked in a closet. A lot of patients got sick on the medications. During the day your parents could visit you and bring you food.
I would recommend that those who are likely to harm themselves should go to day programs instead. The mental health facility I was in was not a good experience, but I was lucky to go to one of the nicer ones, and I appreciate the social workers and psychiatrists and nurses who work there.
Also, insurance needs to be improved because people can’t afford the help they need and some end up on the streets.
Raquel Lesser is studying for a master’s degree in social work at SUNY Albany and has self-published five books.
The United States of America is in need of a fresh start to achieve the leadership status it once held in the global economy. But right now, the U.S. is struggling with inflation, which makes everything less affordable. The current chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, has led a charge to stop prices from rising. The Fed is responsible for creating, organizing, and implementing monetary policies based on economic trends and forecasts of the economic direction of the country. Powell, a Washington, D.C. native, is serving his second term as chair since being appointed in 2018 and strives to “make America great again” as best said by former President Donald Trump. But at the moment, he can’t do that without help from Congress.
The pandemic affected global economies drastically and revealed weaknesses in the American economy. The prevailing weaknesses are primarily in the supply chain and dependency on imports from competitors, namely in semiconductors (“computer chips”) from China. Semiconductors now go in most consumer electronics, so when they’re not available, everything from cars to phones gets more expensive, which drives inflation.
In 2021 Congress enacted the Chips for America Act, or “Chips Act,” followed by the CHIPS and Science Act in early 2022 to foster the implementation and expansion of the programs within the 2021 law. Combined, the policies are an effort to increase available jobs nationwide, mitigate the country's dependence on imports, and reestablish America’s status as one of the leading global producers of semiconductors. The United States currently produces 12% of the world’s semiconductors, which is a significant decline
The bills contain $250 billion for manufacturing and research and development of semiconductors. That makes
the CHIPS and Science Act one of the largest publicly funded initiatives in the history of the United States. The five year programs authorize the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and State to assist domestic manufacturers of semiconductors in production and expansion efforts, including provisions to prevent outsourcing to top competitors, including China and Taiwan.
Nearly 85% of U.S. productivity growth is from tech through partnerships between federal and private entities. The aforementioned policies encourage the construction of tech hubs across the nation, increase America’s competitiveness, and increase job availability nationwide. All of this sounds excellent and gives citizens hope for the future of our economy, but the funds are just sitting there waiting to be utilized. As the United States economy hovers at a recession state, the citizens are waiting with bated breath for relief and hopes of growth.
Despite the Fed’s gloomy economic forecasts, these bills are a step in the right direction to help boost economic growth in the United States and reestablish the international economic leadership role that is slowly fading away. If implemented properly, the bills will help lower unemployment and increase GDP for the United States through the increased job availability and production generated through the nationwide tech hubs. More skilled workers will be needed, and training should be provided to help fill the positions. The tech hubs will place the United States and its citizens in a position to compete with the world leaders in chip production such as China and Taiwan.
Erica Downing is a vendor with Street Sense Media.
motivate, inspire and kick into action feasible, viable and comprehensive housing solutions. Ms. Harris has set a new mark in homeless documentary narratives by not just telling the story, but also providing real-life examples of how to fix the problem. We look forward to more films showing that homelessness can be ended and how to do it.
The screening was followed by an experienced panel who shared experiences and acknowledged the comprehensive need to end homelessness, along with the actual administrative, political and financial barriers.
My experience with winter as a child was fun. I celebrated Christmas every day and loved playing in the snow. The only rough time I had with snow was slipping on ice. That hurt. But other times, I loved it and still
I like looking at the nature of winter, staring at ice crystals freezing on the rooftops and tree branches, leftover leaves covered with white sparkles, the smell of salt in the air and watching other children playing in the snow. I like making real snow cones with sprinkles and flavor and building snowmen. When the parks are empty, it’s as if they’re waiting just for me and my snowmen.
I loved the silence and break from school. I remember how I would put on my gloves and boots and march and crunch the snow under my feet, then go home to drink hot cocoa. My dad would put me to bed with a
Winter is cool. In this illustration, I’m dressed in a hat and scarf with a red sweater. I have my lips painted blue like snow. Unlike other people, I like winter. When the chill comes, I know the feeling can be uncomfortable. But I go to warm up just so I can play outside.
What makes me so happy after a winter storm is the fact that the next season will bring new life. It will bring birds and babies. However, in the meantime, I can enjoy the winter fun, the Christmas shows and lights. Bundling up and hot drinks. I am happy and smiling on days people are hiding and sleeping in. I wonder why
As I wait for the lap of time, within the hour of the movements, time keeps moving. The seconds pass into minutes and fold into the hour of the light. Night will soon fall on the day. We ready ourselves to pass into the night and into the days ahead. Let’s hold onto every second of every minute. Let’s make this our hour of the day.
To respect, to love, to stay true to your life. Love life.
That feeling that’s overwhelming. Will give anything to help.
Friends, lovers, family.
Karma works in this world.
Life. It guides us and gets us in the right direction.
When we’re feeling bad about ourselves, family steps in. God’s love gives us direction in this world.
I learned to empathize, love, to respect all of God’s creatures.
Family.
The Italians, the Greeks, the Japanese and the Native Americans believe wholeheartedly that family is all.
Being of all races, I believe in our family.
I believe that we all should.
When you believe this is true, you reach out and help with a home.
For a place to help them stay safe.
Help them when they need help.
Give them rest.
Know that family will always be there.
When it comes to lips, say “yes.”
Never “no.”
Say yes to helping.
Yes to love.
Yes to now.
That’s family.
My elementary school had all white teachers and administrators, except one Black teacher who taught third grade: Mrs. Watson.
How strange it felt to be in such a distinctly different environment five days a week.
“Urban America,” a term coined today, used to be known as the “ghetto.” It is where I received my core values and education.
AKINDELE AKEREJAH Artist/Vendor
People start to close down their homes. People bring in the things that make them comfortable: the comforter on the bed, all the spices that they need to cook at home. They pull out the most comfortable slippers they own, and arrange things in reach of the sofa and bed.
When fall comes, make sure your windows are clean, so you can look out and daydream. This is one of my favorite pastimes. Get your favorite movies lined up. Look up food recipes so you can master them.
Prepare yourself for the end of fall that will turn into winter.
You want to be well stocked with comfort food, soft pajamas and good smells. There is nothing worse than a bad odor in the house that you have to air out, letting in the cold air.
One thing you don’t want is a dirty house. If it’s junked up or has trash around, it might make you want to get out, which is the opposite of comfort. But, when you are relaxed, there’s nothing like home.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is a great quarterback. He’s the next thing to Tom Brady. In fact, he played many great games before he ran into Brady. Mahomes played back-toback championships. He won a Superbowl, and I think he was the best quarterback that year next to Brady. I think he will be the greatest quarterback in the NFL.
He wins more than he loses, which is why I love to see him play. Coming out of college, he knew he was going to be good. He doesn’t get hurt as much as Brady did. He tried to beat Brady as often as he could, though he failed. I know he wanted to win another Superbowl, but he didn’t. I know he will try again.
Mahomes doesn’t throw all over the field like other quarterbacks, and sometimes he takes a lot of big hits. Coach Reid also loved to watch him play. I think Mahomes is the best quarterback that Reid’s ever had. Maybe Mahomes will be our future quarterback for years to come. It’s hard to win a Superbowl, but I think Mahomes will win two or three more.
When words fall short, when they can’t explain these days and times, the history being told becomes based on lies.
I don’t want to think about all those innocent people who have died. I don’t want to say the anniversary of 9/11 was just the other day, my niece’s birthday. She was 10 then.
I can’t even feel myself breathe. My mind doesn’t want to think about the queen being dead. Long live the king.
I can’t believe it’s coming up on three years of Covid-19. The president seems so old, Joe. I never met my grandfather, he lived through Jim Crow.
I don’t know, will the Republicans take the Senate? And why do people go against their own best interests?
Voting is a funny thing, politicians telling me to fear people in need. It’s a religious thing. I have no heart to even sing a song, it’s been so so long.
I saw Jesus the other day, He told me the world could end any day now. I couldn’t even wonder about what I might miss, then I remembered that I’m already dead.
The leaves are falling from the trees, turning into those lovely fall colors. More acorns are falling from the trees, while squirrels search for nuts and enjoy climbing them. They are so happy, and so are birds who are out chirping and singing. They are all full of joy and happiness. Fall brings lovely rays of sunshine, waves of cool crisp air, 7 a.m. sunrises, and late 7 p.m. sunsets. The fall breeze is so relaxing. I enjoy cool and calm walks and jogging. I also like bike rides, sitting in the park and taking our pets for walks. And enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea, or even
hot soup.
Now is the time for us to get out our fall jackets, sweaters and hats. Soon it will be time to turn on our heaters. The temperature is changing. It’s time for a fall cleaning. Put away all of your summer clothes, and clean your house, and your yard. It’s easier to get a lot done when it’s cooler. During hot weather, it’s harder because you are constantly sweating. I really enjoyed my summer, it was so much fun. Fall is here, lasting for four months until mid-December. Fall brings Halloween, joy for everyone and the kids. Also Thanksgiving joy in November. Everyone enjoys fall.
Here’s a playlist for you all:
Sitting in the Park - Billy Stewart
CHRIS COLE Artist/Vendor
Sept. 24 is always a hard day for me. It’s the birthday of one of my childhood friends who passed away in 2016. I wrote a short poem about him earlier this year called “For Yusef” which Street Sense published.
My world changed forever. I walked off my job and quit right after the phone call. It’s been six years, but it still hurts me like it happened yesterday. I talk to him and think about him every day.
He had the most incredible energy, and the temperature in the room would change whenever he entered. He was so loving and spiritual that he turned every moment into a lesson. He loved music, and, boy oh boy, that man loved his kids more than life itself. Yusef Aziz White was his name. We had known each other since we were six and had the most lovely chemistry and bond. I always wonder if anyone will ever love me again the way he did. He was the first person ever in my life to make me feel beautiful. He told me and showed me every time I saw him.
I spent the day looking at pictures of him and reading a lot of his writing. I tried to just focus on his smile and his all-knowing eyes. I get signs from him pretty often, so I know that he is protecting me and guiding me from the other side, and it gives me comfort.
Happy heavenly 38th birthday, Yusef. I love you.
The salesman starts his day with breakfast and coffee with cream. He leaves the coffee shop in the blazing heat of the sun. He loves being a salesman, calling on his first customer. He always making sales. He follows something called the “seven steps” for selling a product. His product is pots and pans. Some days he doesn’t sell anything. These are the days that will be the death of him. He knows money makes the world go round. But some days are better than others. That’s the life of a salesman.
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Línea directa de alojamiento (202) 399-7093
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 - 1700 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 924 G St., NW catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp
Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org
Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1820 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 // 202-540-9857 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
Línea de juventud (202) 547-7777
Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org
Línea directa de violencia doméstica 1-800-799-7233
Línea de salud del comportamiento 1-888-793-4357
Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org
Potbelly // 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org
Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org
Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.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 // 202-529-5261 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org
N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org
New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE
Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.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
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, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3946 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place NE, 810 5th Street NW, 850 Deleware Avenue SW, 65 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 4515 Edson Place NE
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 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org
For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide
Responsible for operating the cash register, restocking food, using the automatic slicer to prep food items, and providing an excellent customer experience.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/potbellyteammember
Marriott // 515 20th St. NW
Respond promptly to requests from guests and other departments, deliver guest requests and set up furniture items in guest rooms as requested, remove items from hallways and transport to service areas and maintain cleaning equipment.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/marriotthousekeeper
Hyatt Regency // 400 New Jersey Ave. NW
Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of all hotel china, silverware and cookware, and for banquet event preparations such as organizing items and transporting food.
REQUIRED: N/A
APPLY: tinyurl.com/hyatt-dishwasher
Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org
Street Sense Media is a nonprofit newsroom based in Wash ington, D.C. Founded in 2003, we produce solutions journal ism on issues related to poverty and homelessness. We built this guide to improve the broader public conversation around homelessness. We think that if journalists do a better job of
Be aware of the many clichés and tropes used to inaccurately describe homeless people
Clichés and stereotypes often define stories about homeless people. These may include any of the following characterizations: a drug addict, a men tally ill person, a criminal, an alcohol abuser. These struggles are not unique to homeless people and many people who live in stable housing grapple with addiction and mental illness.
When broad stories about homelessness center on the experience of a single source’s experience with addiction, it perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes and disregards the complex and multiple reasons why a person may become homeless.
When reporting on homelessness, journalists should consider the role poverty plays in a per son’s life. Many people become homeless due to their inability to make a living wage and to afford a place to live.
Speak to people with first-hand experience with homelessness
It is important to consider the perspectives of the sources you include in a story and equally import ant to consider the perspectives you leave out. When producing a story about homelessness, it is best to solicit input from people with first-hand experience. It may help to ask a local homeless services nonprofit or street paper for help with connecting with someone who is homeless.
When describing homelessness, be specific
In the United States, there is a pervasive, negative social stigma attached to the word “homeless.” Some people view the term as offensive and asso ciate it with dehumanizing stereotypes. Alternative terms and phrases are often used as a way to draw attention to an individual’s humanity (such as in the case with people-first language) or a person’s lack of access to housing (as in the case with terms emphasizing lack of physical housing).
While these terms can be helpful and sufficient to describe homelessness in general, consider that they are usually insufficient for fully describing a person’s living situation. Homelessness is a spec trum and can assume many forms. For instance, the experience of a person sleeping in a tent on the sidewalk is vastly different than that of someone who couch surfs. We advise journalists to be as specific as possible when reporting on homeless ness.
Finally, some critics argue that using people-first language draws attention away from the deeper is
Note to readers: this is a work in progress. We would love to hear from you.
reporting on homelessness then the public will have a much better, nuanced understanding of the issue.
In summer 2022, our team conducted around 30 interviews with journalists, homeless rights advocates, government of
sue of homelessness, and that alternative phrases such as “people experiencing homelessness” carry the same stigma as the term “homeless person.”
Be upfront with your readers and your sources.
What do you do when someone asks for money in exchange for an interview or a photo? What do you do if someone asks for food in exchange for an interview?
We posed these questions to everyone we inter viewed and found there is no clear consensus amongst journalists. Some journalists work in newsrooms and have editorial budgets that allow them to take sources out to coffee or lunch. They generally responded by saying that they felt it was more ethical to provide food to a person than money. However, others said they would never — under any circumstance — give someone food or money in an exchange for an interview.
However, most of the homeless people we inter viewed are strongly in favor of compensation.
They argued that since journalists are paid for their time, they also deserve some form of compensa tion. After all, time is money. Many of the homeless people we interviewed expressed frustration with the extractive nature of journalism and felt that asking a person to recount a traumatic personal experience without any compensation was in itself unethical.
When speaking to sources for a story, it is import ant for reporters to be upfront about their expecta tions. Journalists should also be transparent with their audience about anything they exchange with sources when producing stories.
Many of the homeless people and social workers we interviewed for this guide said they wished journalists were more critical of both homeless services nonprofits and government agencies. Some people we interviewed asked that reporters steer clear of advocacy and simply describe situa tions as they uncover them.
ficials and homeless people from across the country. We also conducted a survey to gather input from the broader public about how they feel homelessness is covered in the media and what journalists can do better.
Reporters should practice the golden rule by giv ing homeless people the same respect they would for a source who lives in stable housing.
In our interviews, we’ve heard stories about TV news crews showing up to homeless encamp ments at 4 a.m. to set up for live shoots without providing any of its residents advanced notice. Others talked about how they feel infantilized, mistreated and sometimes, exploited by journal ists.
Seek informed consent and consider anonymity.
Whenever possible, introduce yourself to a source before snapping their photo or asking them ques tions. Many people living in homeless encamp ments and shelters have a variety of valid reasons why they might not want to have their image broadcast on TV or published in a newspaper.
Some people may be fleeing domestic violence situations. Others may be fearful of retribution from employers.
Additionally, journalists should consider whether a source is in a stable emotional or mental state to provide them with consent for sharing their story. In this same vein, they should also refrain from infantilizing sources and allow them to speak on their own terms.
Newsrooms should consider using anonymity for sources in cases where a person could face retri bution or face violence upon publicly speaking out about their situation.
Journalists should seek to be trauma-informed in their reporting. This means being mindful of the way reporters ask sources questions intended to uncover deeply traumatic experiences. In general, reporters should refrain from interviewing sourc es who are homeless the same way they would a public figure deserving of more scrutiny.
Some sources we interviewed for this guide cautioned about the potential recurring negative impact of reporting. For instance, there may be cases where a source agrees to an on-the-record interview about their living situation and struggle with addiction. However, years later, that same source recovers but has a hard time finding a job because when employers look up their name on the internet, they find a story about their history with homelessness.
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