The Contributor: January 1, 2025

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IN THE ISSUE 1

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This year more than 110 people from the homeless community died in Nashville. We remember them in this issue.

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A FEW QUESTIONS

Q&A with Alberto Gonzales

BY JUDITH TACKET T

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the Dean of Belmont University’s college of Law. Gonzales currently is the highest-ranking Hispanic American who has served in an executive position in the United States government.

He started his political career in Texas, when then-Governor George W. Bush appointed him as his general council in 1994.

Gonzales consequently served as Secretary of State of Texas in 1997 and was named to the Texas Supreme Court in 1999. In 2001, he started working as White House Counsel under President George W. Bush and was appointed by the President as U.S. Attorney General in 2005.

With such strong roots in Texas and D.C., The Contributor wanted to know what brought Gonzales to Nashville.

“Coming to Nashville was purely by chance,” Gonzales said, adding that his son was looking at faith-based colleges including Lipscomb, Trevecca, and Belmont. “My wife normally took him to college visits, but she was sick, so I brought him.”

Belmont University had just launched its College of Law and when founding Dean Jeff Kinsler heard that Gonzales had been on campus, he reached out and inquired whether Gonzales would be interested in teaching at their brand-new law school.

Gonzales said no, he had no intention of leaving Texas. Kinsler persisted, Gonzales’ son chose to go to Belmont, and Gonzales himself got offered a job at a local law firm, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, which is now Holland & Knight. So, he and his wife moved to Nashville, and Gonzales also started teaching at Belmont’s new College of Law. Two years later, he became the Dean.

You have been closely involved in state and federal politics. What are some of the biggest lessons you would like to share with our readers from that time?

I've been very fortunate. First of all, let me just say I've had some incredible opportunities primarily at the hands of George W. Bush. As you might imagine, [I’m] very grateful. I'm a big fan of his and his family.

I had a great salary working in a private firm in Texas before he became governor.

Then I realized being in public service is rewarding, perhaps not in terms of a salary but certainly rewarding in terms of experiences and satisfaction, knowing that you’re doing something for the benefit of others.

The main thing I learned about my service is how challenging it can be. I worked in the White House during 9/11, of course, so I know how difficult public service can be.

I talk to our students here at Belmont a lot about public service, about the fact that you have a lifetime to make money.

Try to dedicate a few years of your career to public service, because it is so rewarding. I warn them, however, that it can be challenging. Sometimes, even when you make the right decisions, you're going to be criticized. You're going to make mistakes.

If you think the President is not making a mistake from time to time, you have no

appreciation of the difficulty and the magnitude of the decisions that are actually made by people in public life. You have to be willing to withstand the arrows that come with those kinds of positions.

How would you explain or define what the term public service means?

Public service can mean so many different things. It obviously includes serving in local, state, or federal government at either elected or appointed positions. But also, public service can simply mean being a volunteer.

Most of the volunteering that happens in this country happens at the local level where you meet face to face to help those in need. And in many ways, it’s even more gratifying than serving in Washington. The things that we do in Washington, you don’t really see the effect that it has on a person or individual case because it’s so far away. But when you volunteer locally, particularly here in Nashville, you get to see the faces. You get to see the impact, and that is extremely rewarding as far as I’m concerned.

Some people use your career’s history as an example of the American Dream.

In your opinion, is the American Dream still possible?

Absolutely. I really think it is still possible. It is what makes America so great.

We are going through a challenging time; I think everyone would admit to that.

But our country has been through challenging times before. I think about the Civil War, the Vietnam War. We've had our struggles before, but we've always overcome those struggles mainly because of the leadership that we've had in our country and also because I think American citizens generally have an ethos of working hard and being optimistic about their future success.

I think around the world, while there may

be some questions about America's leadership, I still believe that America is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. When other countries get into trouble – they’re attacked, they suffer financially, whatever — they look to America. We are considered the beacon of hope as far as I'm concerned.

You have served as the 2024 Board Chair of United Way of Greater Nashville. What are some of the achievements of this past year you would like to highlight?

We have a staff with a lot of longevity, a lot of experience. The senior leadership starting next year will be entirely female.

Maybe even the only all-female leadership team in the United Way family across America. They are so good that they made the work of my chairmanship relatively painless.

Every year we provide backpacks for school children, food baskets for people during the holiday season. This year, we responded to those affected by tornadoes and disasters. We have nine satellite offices, the most recent in Clarksville, which unfortunately was targeted by tornadoes this past year. We stepped up and worked with volunteers at Fort Campbell.

It was somewhat an unusual year in that our CEO Brian Hassett is stepping down this year. That means Erica Mitchell who heads up our community involvement efforts is going to be the first female, black CEO of the United Way. We’re really proud of her. There is going to be a seamless transition from Brian Hassett to Erica, and there is going to be seamless transition from my [chairmanship] to Lee Blank who is a senior executive at Regions [Bank].

With new leadership at United Way starting in 2025, what are some of the goals you would like to see, and can we expect specific changes?

Obviously there are challenges that

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

sometimes cannot be predicted and that may change the focus of the United Way. But people are still hungry in this community.

People need help preparing their taxes in this community. People need employment training. Those kinds of efforts are going to continue.

We want to formalize our role in disaster response. Perhaps set up a fund or endowment because if you have a tornado and people suffer, you go out in the community trying to raise money for it. But it may be a better structure to have an endowment to have money readily available, so we don’t keep coming back to businesses over and over in a short period of weeks because of disasters that happen, say multiple tornadoes.

And so, we want to formalize that effort.

We want to solidify our relationship with Clarksville, solidify our volunteer structure and the leadership there. That’s an important partner for us. And then of course, we want to make sure that Erica's transition as CEO goes as smoothly as possible. We have every expectation that will happen.

She will have her own set of priorities in terms of what she wants to focus on. I can assure you the work of the United Way will continue uninterrupted and will continue as dedicated and focused as ever to serve the people of Middle Tennessee.

In the current political climate, what is the role of local government and local leadership such as that of United Way and other community organizations in your opinion?

Leadership can come from the state or the White House and Congress. That’s all good, if they can make resources and expertise available. That's all very helpful. But at the end of the day, it's going to be the local folks, the local volunteers, local organizations. They are going to do the heavy lifting — local individuals, local government, the Mayor’s Office, the County Commissioners Office, and the local nonprofit organizations. They are going to make the big difference, and of course the state as well.

Everyone has a defined role, but I would argue it’s the local response that is the most critical in responding to an emergency or disaster.

How can local government, universities, and other institutions ensure that people with lived experience such as homelessness are included in shaping our local community?

It requires local involvement on the ground. Having actual communications with people in need, trying to get a better understanding of what the needs are. What are the reasons for those needs? Education is critical. Healthcare is critical. Hunger is critical. These are all things that we know exist. We want to get a better idea of the scope of the problems, but even more important is to understand what the causes of these challenges are. I think that's the thing that the local folks can do best, and it's a responsibility that they should take on.

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Let Our Family Fight For Yours.

Over 75 Years of Combined Experience.

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 4

NEWS BRIEFS

News Briefs Metro Cold Weather Shelter Opens 11 Days in First Month From Nov. 1 through March, Metro operates overflow shelters to help support the city’s shelter needs during cold weather. The operation complements partnerships with the Nashville Rescue Mission, Room In The Inn, Launch Pad, and Oasis. Overflow shelters open at or below 32°F for three consecutive hours, and are based on capacity and funding. People are encouraged to use long-term shelters like the Mission before seeking the emergency overflow shelter, and decisions about opening are typically made by noon the day before the shelters open. The following shows how many people attended overflow shelters as they opened this season: Cold Weather Shelter Daily Report November 29, 2024: 87 November 30, 2024: 122 December 1, 2024: 163 December 2, 2024: 224 December 3, 2024: 225 December 5, 2024: 247 December 6, 2024: 240 December 11, 2024: 180 December 20, 2024: 161 December 21, 2024: 197 December 22, 2024: 201 Metro Creates First Office of Youth Safety Mayor Freddie O'Connell issued an order at the end of November creating Nashville's first Office of Youth Safety. The Office, made by Executive Order 53, will be charged with tackling youth safety and well-being in the city. "Our youth are increasingly susceptible to violent interactions, and I

join many people in the community who want to change that," said Mayor Freddie O'Connell. "Any approach to youth safety must be comprehensive and collaborative. Aligning our goals and our collective work in the area of youth safety, provides us the greatest opportunity to prevent violence and criminal justice interactions for youth and improve their educational outcomes and overall well-being." Metro will appoint a Director of Youth Safety to serve in the Mayor’s Office — the job will work first at uniting all of the current efforts happening in the city toward ending youth violence.

Metro Nashville receives grants to improve Murfreesboro Pike, Nolensville Road In December, Metro Nashville received two Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants from the US Department of Transportation. The two grants, totaling almost $12 million, will improve Murfreesboro Pike and Nolensville Road. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure received a grant of $10 million for work on Nolensville Pike, and WeGo Public Transit received a $1.9 million grant for better bus service on Murfreesboro Pike, the route with the highest transit ridership in Nashville. "These competitive grants will help us accelerate improvements on two of our busiest roads that were a priority of our Choose How You Move program," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "We're excited to be able to showcase how smarter streets are safer streets, especially on some of our most dangerous roads."

VENDOR WRITING Vendor Howard P. made a 100x100 Sudoku puzzle that's too big to fit in the paper! Scan the QR code below to download it from our website!

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

COLUMN: LEARN MORE ABOUT

Learn More about Partners in Care

BY JUDITH TACKET T

Partners in Care is a co-responder program between the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the Mental Health Cooperative that serves to divert people who experience a mental health crisis from the criminal justice system.

In early December, Cpt. Anthony Brooks who oversees MNPD’s Office of Alternative Policing Strategies together with Michael Randolph, director of Emergency Psychiatric Services-Co-Response at the Mental Health Cooperative, presented an update of the Partners in Care Program to the Metro Council Public Health and Safety Committee.

The Office of Alternative Policing Strategies was created in 2021, Brooks reported, and the first project was to develop and implement the Partners in Care co-response program with the Mental Health Cooperative to protect vulnerable populations as an alternative to traditional policing.

“A lot of this came about in order to simply address mental health crisis calls out in the public with first responders,” Brooks said. “There are a lot of opinions about how those [calls] should be handled.

There are a lot of opinions [of people who think] that those in my profession should not be interacting in some of those incidents as much as we do. And certain times I would actually agree with it.”

When people see an incident out in public, they generally do not recognize it as a mental health crisis and call 911, Brooks explained.

“And when a 911 call comes in, law enforcement and/or fire is going to have to respond,” he said. “So, whether we like it or not, we’re going to be involved in these interactions.”

The program started as a pilot in 2021 in the North Nashville and the Hermitage police precincts. By May of 2024, it had expanded to all eight precincts. It has proven successful with only about 4.5 percent of the mental health crisis interactions that the Partners in Care teams respond to end up in arrests.

Since the program’s start, co-responder teams have answered 41,000 overall calls for service. Of those, 8,300 turned out to be mental health crisis calls.

“We are going through a lot of things that are not necessarily mental health related,” Brooks said. “But there are benefits there as well.”

He used the example of the Covenant School shooting where teams of the Partners in Care program were able to help with the reunification process of parents and their children immediately after the shooting. In other instances, it was helpful to have a mental health clinician present to talk to the victim of a violent crime.

Every officer assigned to one of the Partners in Care patrol units receives 40 hours of crisis intervention training. A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training coordinator from the Mental Health Cooperative is embedded in the police training academy.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideations, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just needs someone to talk to, here are some options to call to help: • 988 – the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• 855-274-7471, the statewide crisis line.

• 615-726-0125, Mental Health Cooperative’s Emergency Psychiatric Services serving Nashville and Davidson County.

The 40-hour CIT training is offered once a month and teaches officers how to recognize signs of mental illness, how to perform de-escalation training, and connecting a person in crisis to proper resources.

Mental Health Cooperative’s counselors also receive 16 hours of police policy training to understand better what officers are required to do when responding to a call. Brooks said when a clinician and a police officer look at the same situation from different perspectives, things sometimes may not add up. Providing some baseline understanding helps with the success of the program and avoid friction on the same team.

Randolph explained that there is a trained counselor (which Brooks referred to as clinician) assigned to each precinct with a supervisor, who is also a counselor, covering two precincts. Supervisors provide clinical supervision for the counselors, perform note reviews and build partnerships with the precincts’ police leadership to resolve operational issues on a day-to-day basis. They also work with community resources located within those two precincts to build ongoing collaboration and get people connected with needed services in the areas they live.

The teams currently go out Monday through Friday during the day and evening shifts, which leaves the Midnight shift not covered by a Partners in Care team yet. That’s why Brooks said he believes that it’s important that eventually every officer assigned to MNPD’s patrol division receives the extra 40 hours of crisis intervention training to help guide them through a situation where they encounter someone experiencing a mental health crisis, even if no clinician is present.

While clinicians take part in full-time ride-alongs, they are kept from harm’s way, as officers are instructed to stabilize a situation before a counselor gets involved, meaning police will never allow a counselor to engage with an individual who is armed.

The program shows a very low use-offorce rate. Only in 2 percent of situations was force used, which may sound worse than it often is. Brooks gave examples of restraining a person to administer life saving medication or keeping a person physically from jumping off a bridge. The rate of use of force is less than half of the

arrest rate of 4.5 percent. And of those arrested, about three quarters of charges are dropped eventually due to the mental health care programs arrested people may be connected with through the jail system, which offers additional diversion strategies.

Overall, 364 officers have received the CTI training. Of those, 258 are still assigned to patrol. Others have meanwhile transferred to investigations, and some were trained because their specialized units have seen the benefits and asked for the crisis intervention training. In addition, 108 supervisors have been trained with 82 of those still in patrol.

Randolph provided more details of the calls received during the first 11 months of 2024. About 3,400 mental health calls were answered and about 20,000 other calls for service citywide.

Out of the 3,400 mental health calls, 55.5 percent received a full mental health crisis assessment, which Randolph explained means that an individual had a suicide ideation or suicide attempt, homicidal ideation, or some type of psychosis, or a combination of all three. Of these calls: • More than half were able to be resolved in a person’s home with a safety plan and follow-up plan in place.

• About 34 percent went to an emergency department either for medical clearance, for inpatient hospitalization, or for a medical concern such as a suicide attempt or acute intoxication.

• About 6 percent went straight to the Mental Health Cooperative’s crisis treatment center, which is located in Metro Center, where they were able to begin their mental health treatment.

• And another 5.5 percent went directly to a psychiatric hospital to receive treatment.

Randolph further reported that of those 55 percent mental health crisis calls, about half were actively suicidal at the time, 10 percent had homicidal ideation, and 45 percent had some form of delusions or hallucinations going on.

Some of those were also a combination.

Data shows that 75 to 80 percent of the people served live in an apartment,

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 6

house or a group home.

“We thought there would be a higher number of unhoused,” Randoph said. But only Central Precinct, which covers the Downtown area, shows a significantly higher rate of service for people who are unhoused than those in housing.

Consequently, the Central Precinct’s Partners in Care team functions a little differently from other teams. The Mental Health Cooperative counselor is embedded in the Central Precinct’s Quality of Life Team, which is a special team of officers who have a heart to work with the unhoused population, Brooks explained.

They check on encampments, give out food alongside The Salvation Army and build relationships with unhoused individuals. In partnership with the Salvation Army and the Office of Homeless Services, that team has been able to find housing for more than one hundred people who were staying in the Downtown area. Having a relationship with people in encampments often helps officers to learn if another person is not doing well in a tent, and they consequently reach out with the counselor to do a wellness check.

Once individuals have received help through Partners in Care, they will get up to three follow-up calls within the first 24 hours. Furthermore, follow up coordinators will check on people within a week and in some instances provide short-term case management to ensure people are linked with the resources and services they need. Tennessee law permits the initial crisis intervention to happen without signed consent, but counselors obtain consent before they are able to follow up with calls.

In 2025, the Partners in Care program will expand to include School Resource Officers (SROs) in the training and embed a counselor to MNPD’s School Safety Division. The program will partner with Metro Nashville Public Schools counselors to avoid redundancy yet support SROs with de-escalation and trauma-informed interventions in schools.

Co-responder programs across the nation have shown promise. So far, research of these programs has found enhanced crisis de-escalation, increased connection to services, reduced pressure on the criminal justice system and the health care system, and cost-effectiveness.

Partners in Care is not the only co-responder program in Nashville. The Fire Department/EMS paramedics also pair a crisis counselor from the Mental Health Cooperative to respond to mental health calls that do not require a full ambulance response. That program is called Responders Engaged and Committed to Help (REACH) and was launched in February of 2023.

For those interested in more detailed program data of Partners in Care, they can visit MNPD’s Website, which currently lists full data sets for the first two years of the program.

PIECES OF POETRY - 41

Imagine a Relationship?

How the Story Goes

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman / Vendor #0015

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman / Vendor #0015

I wish I could start a Non-Profit Organization,

Begging for something for nothing,

Called “The Eagle’s Nest Foundation”

Is a whole lot different than,

With City, State and Federal money coming in,

Daring and Caring and being out there Sharing,

Overseen by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Kind of like managing an Indian Reservation.

I like the idea of a Pioneer on Probation.

If the Compadre’ of Wisdom is always Patience?

I’m quite capable of overcoming the cost and the loss, And all of the wasted frustration, For the good of the City... For the good of the State...

For the good of the entire Nation...

Hanging on to a Relationship based upon Imagination...

Step by Step without hesitation, being able to speak, Every 2 weeks, with or without appreciation.

Whatever happens, I’m here for the duration.

To be brave enough to survive the situation, Of a Relationship based upon Imagination...

Always remembering and never forgetting, The day of my salvation.

After all of the struggles, the heartache and troubles, A chance to begin again, Overcoming all of the Trials and Tribulation.

Taking on every challenge with a smile, With Gratitude and Appreciation, Standing upon a firm foundation, A Relationship based upon Imagination...

Something that’s supposed to be sold.

Some things in life are well worth the price, And some things are worth far more than gold.

Moment by Moment... Day by Day...

And the way that things unfold.

The cards that you’ve already played, And the dice that you’ve already rolled.

Thank you for the treasures that last forever, Instead of those that just only grow old.

There’s no sense wondering and worrying, About the things that you cannot change, The things that you cannot control, And the things that seem all pre-arranged.

It’s just “How the Story Goes.”

I’ve earned everything that’s come to me.

I learned how to sing in Music City, With or without Music’s company.

It’s weird how some things that happen, Come upon us so unexpectedly.

Almost as if it wasn’t an accident, And some things are just meant to be.

Every moment wisely spent is an opportunity, An open invitation to do with as you please.

Heartfelt Melody

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman / Vendor #0015 A little piece of my history, Delivered through “Pieces of Poetry.”

How much are the words that I’ve written worth monetarily?

I really don’t care all that much about the money, Because I’m still willing to see things - differently.

Pursuing my Love of Life and the Fight for Liberty.

Doing what I think is right, Despite the bad hand Life’s given me.

Your Food Stamps can help someone else much worse off, Suffering from Hunger and Poverty, Who’s not above taking handouts or accepting charity.

And thank you Section 8 Housing for putting out the money, To help pay the rent for those formerly homeless participants, Whom you decide... Might be Worthy.

I just keep giving it my best shot.

I’m not good enough, I get that a lot.

I still give it every-thing that I’ve got, Cause, I am what I am and can’t be what I’m not.

Outstanding... Too cool to look desperate...

Representing a beggar with ulterior motives.

Just someone unknown, you still haven’t met - and yet?

Just possibly not, Just one of so many, Forgotten Memories, That may or may not, Have any affect upon, Right now or Eternity.

There’s no sense wondering and worrying, About the things that you cannot change, The things that you cannot control, And the things that seem all pre-arranged.

It’s just “How the Story Goes.”

I’ve taken my share of trips in the past, And look where I am today?

Able to savor the flavor of, Another Nashville Sunset, And grateful every step of the way.

When it’s not about the money, It’s all about the truth, And the Wisdom to make a difference.

I’m here to offer up living proof, Not the Path of Least Resistance.

A whole lot more than you thought you’d get.

There’s no sense wondering and worrying,

Here I am standing out in the cold,

About the things that you cannot change,

When I should be planning on getting old,

The things that you cannot control,

With a part of my heart and a piece of my soul,

And the things that seem all pre-arranged.

So they can never say that... “They’ve never been told.”

It’s just “How the Story Goes.”

THEME: SY NON Y MS ACROSS 1. Half of half-and-half 6. *Gratuity 9. Remain unsettled 13. Pita, alt. sp.

14. Uncle Sam wants whom?

15. Played violin, e.g.

16. "Encore!"

17. Young canine 18. Amber warning 19. *Entice 21. *Agreement 23. "____ Te Ching" 24. Goose egg 25. Antonym of keep 28. *Affection 30. Open wine, e.g.

35. Frosts a cake 37. Leave in a bucket 39. *Parlor 40. Coating of aurum 41. Like many bathroom floors?

43. Border pass 44. Full of emotion (2 words) 46. Opposite of talker?

47. Tel ____, Israel 48. Auto____ website 50. *Module 52. Compass point between NE and E 53. *Insane 55. Old-fashioned before 57. *Prevent 60. *Ditch 63. Peninsula of 38th parallel fame 64. Single-____ plastics 66. Donkey + horse, pl.

68. All told (2 words) 69. '80s band "____ At Work" 70. Bay window 71. Chapter 11 issue

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

72. Mouse turf 73. Email option DOWN 1. Tax pro, acr.

2. Capital of Latvia 3. Bibliographical abbr.

4. Not upright 5. Instructions handbook 6. Use an Underwood 7. Promissory note letters 8. Cocoon dwellers 9. Horse and mallet sport 10. *Pitcher 11. One ridiculed for studiousness 12. Banned insecticide, acr.

15. Kevin ____ and Sir Francis ____ 20. Resting spot for a chicken 22. French vineyard 24. *Avid 25. *Correct 26. *Slipperier 27. 4th letter of Greek

alphabet 29. *Nothingness 31. Spanish sparkling wine 32. Martini garnish 33. Violinist's pine resin 34. *Rogue 36. Wall support 38. It often precedes "eye" 42. Laundry room appliance 45. Correspondence friend 49. Feel remorse 51. Seismic shake 54. Card game move 56. Accustom 57. *Sharpen 58. A in UAE 59. Cheesy patty 60. Be inclined 61. Paper holder 62. Dog command 63. Baby goat 65. Pirate's turf 67. "Rocky" creator

TENNESSEE

FURNITURE

Selections from the State Museum Collection CLOSING MARCH 17, 2025

FREE Admission 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

Nashville, Tennessee

615.741.2692 • TNMuseum.org

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 8

COVER STORY

In 2024, more than 110 people died while living on the streets in Nashville. At the 2024 Homeless Memorial on Dec. 14, all of them were remembered in a ceremony downtown at Riverfront Park by the Tara Cole Memorial Bench.

Members of the community read aloud each name and gave remembrances in the form of poetry, prayer and comments about their loved ones and neighbors.

Following the ceremony, attendees placed flowers in the Cumberland River to honor each person who lost their life while living on the streets.

Jimmy Andrews Beth Bacon Gerardo Behori Brent Bidwell William Brinkley Andrea Brown Trumaine Brown Kenneth Bunyard William Batts Burney III Lolinda Burns Brandon Calloway Dewayne Carr Adam Carter Kianna Cayetano Stanley “Cowboy" Chase Bong Cho Joseph Christofora Wilbon Claybrooks Caroline Conner Ricky Cook Francis Crayner Quartez Dangerfield Steve Daniels Kirk Dickens Isaac Dodd David Empey Sharon Foster Beverly Gleason

Rose Mary Goode Jimmy Hall Christopher Hall Stephen Harford Robert Harris Rodney Hays Angela Holt Craig Hunley Nicholas Taylor Hunt Eugene Ilsley Jamesha Jackson Gary Johnson Madge Johnson Travis Johnson Jessie Johnson Charles Johnson Charles Kenley Jones Melissa Kandlstorfer Stacey Michelle Kennedy Jeffery Kimbrough Jarred Jay Kleinart Mellisa Lay Henry Lehr Frankie Lewis Lauren Lunsford Matthew Lyons Joseph “Clint" Martin Keith Mason

Timothy Maye Tavarius McDowell Jamar McGavock Phillip Meadows Robert Meece Richard Millwood Crystal Miller Christopher Eric Minchey Jeremy Mooneyham Timothy Wayne Moore Dennis Morgan Monica Nolan Johnny Norris Wilbon O’Neil Claybrooks Shellice Offutt Chad Orr Edward Overton Christopher Owen Isaac Owens Jr. Angela Patton Richard Perry Clellan Perryman Jr. John Pierson David Pike Jeffery Ping Jada Pratt Patricia Ramos Charles Rhoda

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

John Rogers Scott Thomas Sazama Timothy Seeds Carly Shea Darin Slater Richard Smith Kevin Snell Justin Matthew Stephens Robert Talley Jeffery Teague Michael Tinch Thaddeus Vaughans Aquila Vaughans Cynthia R. Vaughn Ronald Vaughn Charlie Walpole Christopher Walter Patricia Walton Richard Watkins Jr. Avian Watts Lauren Emma Wegerbauer Douglas Jay White Jessie O. Whitworth Stephanie Wilkins Charles Williams James Williams Robert Yancey Tay

COVER STORY

On Dec. 14, several community members gathered on the bank of the Cumberland River to read the names of those who died living on the streets in 2024. India Pungarcher, shown top right, is an advocate and street outreach worker at Open Table Nashville who assembles the list each year. PHOTOS BY ALVINE

Over the past six years, nonprofit Open Table Nashville has collaborated with various service providers, including Nashville Rescue Mission, the Office of Homeless Services, Metro Social Services Indigent Burial Program, the Medical Examiner's Office, Room In The Inn, and People Loving Nashville, to document the deaths of homeless individuals in Nashville and to organize the annual Homeless Memorial. PHOTOS BY ALVINE January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 10

COVER STORY

Howard Allen spoke on Dec. 14, and has almost every year the memorial is held. An advocate with lived experience, he's lost many friends to harsh conditions over the past few years. PHOTOS BY ALVINE

Chris Scott Fieselman, a longtime Contributor vendor and poet shown second row left, read one of his recent poems at the memorial on Dec. 14.

PHOTOS BY ALVINE

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

COVER STORY

Longtime Contributor Vendors Remembered for Deep Connections Brent Bidwell

By Contributor Staff Longtime Contributor vendor Brent Bidwell passed away in March. He was 32 years old.

Brent started selling The Contributor in 2009 and worked closely with staff and volunteers over the years.

“Brent was a ferocious and flawed human being who made me confront some of my own flaws,” said Contributor volunteer Mike Reilly.

“For that, I am grateful, and will remember him.”

Contributor staff immediately felt a deep absence of his presence in the office and his customers have also missed him on his corner at Hillsboro Pike and Harding Place.

Carli Tharp, Contributor SNAP Specialist, wrote: “One time, the food stamp office asked us for proof that Brent wasn’t in jail. He had no papers, we didn’t know where to get papers, so I thought this might work. We had him and several staff members sign a note saying he wasn’t in jail and took a picture of him holding it in an obviously not-jail environment. Funny enough, we sent it in, and it worked.

Brent had a firecracker personality. He demanded your attention. He had a great sense of humor, and he used it to make his hard situations easier. He stood up for himself and fought so hard to improve his situation. I fought for him, too.

Serving Brent felt like helping a friend.

Helping move him into his place in 2023 was the victory of victories. I talked about it all year. I was so proud of him and my team. It was a pleasure to know and serve Brent. I am devastated by his loss. He was and is so very well loved.”

Justin Wagner, Contributor Resource Coordinator & Reporter, wrote: “Brent Bidwell was hastily making promises. Whenever we talked our way through whatever challenges he was facing — whether it was housing-related, legal, or more personal — he would always forecast his next steps, often weeks in advance, and commit to a detailed plan of action. It rarely worked out. If it did, there tended to be another burden awaiting him right around the corner.

But Brent stared down eviction after eviction, caught in an endless tangle of court-ordered formalities, and endured lengthy bouts of homelessness — for years — and he never stopped promising himself the blissful future he was owed. I wish I had told him that I admired that unflinching hope.

Knowing the better things Brent was clawing toward, his death feels outrageous and unpardonable. I am tempted to think of Brent’s passing as just one of many senseless deaths preventable by a more empathetic world. I am tempted toward bitterness and hopelessness.

But Brent always endured. He always saw a way forward. And he didn’t just wait for bleak times to pass him by — he promised he’d outlast them. I will do my best to take after his resilience.

Working against systems which tear people from their homes and spare no expense in keeping them down is numbing, and, as times like these demonstrate, rife with tragedy. I owe my ability to continue to the people I’ve worked

with, such as Brent Bidwell, who have allowed me to share in the euphoria of their hope.”

John Robert Parker

By Linda Bailey John Robert “Bobby” Parker passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024. He was 76 years old.

John was born in Nashville on June 21, 1947. He was the 11th child out of 12 and lived in Nashville for most of his life. In 2009 John began selling The Contributor, which is where I met him when I started working for the paper in 2011. John said that selling the paper kept him alive and gave him something to do. He enjoyed meeting people and making them smile, something we have in common.

The first time I met John Parker was at a vendor paper release meeting. He called me over in his gruff voice to help him fill out a survey we were asking all of the vendors to fill out.

This survey, like so many in homeless service spaces, was full of deeply personal information used to collect data for things like grant funding that allow us to continue helping people at the low cost of dehumanizing the people we serve, but I digress. I started filling out the survey with John who questioned every question, but answered them nonetheless. Eventually, and I don’t remember the question this happened on, he broke into a huge laugh and I realized he didn’t care that I was asking him a million personal questions, because he was used to answering them already. He had done it most of his life. So when he started laughing, I started laughing and I made it a point to talk to him every week at these meetings.

Those conversations quickly turned into a friendship, and on my birthday that year he bought a cake, balanced it on his rollator, got on the bus and brought it to the vendor office for me and we had a birthday party. I’ve never been so stunned at an act of care and generosity than that. He was so good at showing love.

John took me to Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, the church he attended from childhood. I had the honor of hearing him sing a solo in the choir. He had a soft but powerful voice that filled the auditorium. We ate a potluck lunch after it was over and he introduced me to the church family he loved so much.

John’s faith was important to him, and while we didn’t always see eye to eye on religion, we both respected the other’s perspective. He was so good at being faithful.

When I left The Contributor in 2017 we were, as John described it, “kin.” I reassured him that we would still see each other even if we didn’t work together anymore. This turned into me picking him up for Saturday breakfasts at Shoneys. We’d hit the buffet, sometimes just us and other times with Contributor volunteers. We’d talk about our lives, our dreams, our hopes, the hard times, the good times and we’d both throw in jokes for good measure. He was always making me laugh.

During the pandemic things got hard.

We were both concerned with his health and wanted to be as safe as possible. I’d bring him groceries or pick up his prescriptions.

We’d talk on the phone when he got lonely.

BRENT BIDWELL. PHOTO BY CARLI THARP

JOHN PARKER. PHOTO BY LINDA BAILEY I did what I could, but I never felt like it was enough. John never made me feel like that though. He appreciated everything and always understood my limitations. He was always kind to me.

Throughout my time knowing John, he was in and out of hospitals and doctors offices. I think he would want me to mention his appreciation for the staff at Tennessee Oncology where he received treatment for at least a decade. He especially admired Dr. Doss.

Eventually his health declined to the point of needing to have both of his legs amputated.

He got a nice motorized wheelchair through his insurance (his Mercedes, as he called it).

He moved into a rehab facility that we both knew he would stay in until he died, though we never talked about it that bluntly. I think it was hard for us both. I know it was hard for me. He frequently reminded me of all the people I had in my life — ones that he had introduced me to and ones that I had found on my own — who

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 12

would be with me when he no longer would be able to. I thanked him and told him I hoped that wouldn’t happen any time soon because I wanted more time. He reminded me the Lord was in charge of timing, and I said, “Amen.”

We both laughed.

The last time I saw John, he came to The Contributor office to bring me lunch, something he did frequently when he was more mobile. He knew I had a habit of skipping lunch so whenever he could, he’d bring us the special of the day from a restaurant in the Arcade he frequented often. He hadn’t done this in a while both because it was harder now and also because I was better about bringing my own lunch. We talked for a bit. Not long enough for either of us, but we both had things to do that day. I gave him a hug and told him I’d see him soon. I, of course, did not bring lunch that day, so I was very grateful when I opened the styrofoam container and saw a pile of spaghetti.

He was always taking care of me.

VENDOR WRITING

Embracing Change: The Path to Becoming Better

BY MAURICE B. , CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR #4657

Change is an inevitable part of life. From the moment we are born, we start to grow, learn and evolve. Yet, many of us struggle with the idea of change, often clinging to what is familiar and comfortable. However, true growth and improvement can only come when we embrace change and strive to become better versions of ourselves.

Remaining the same may seem safe and easy, but in reality, it can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for personal development. It is only through change that we can break free from our limitations, challenge ourselves, and reach our full potential.

One of the key aspects of embracing change is the willingness to step out of our comfort zones. Growth occurs when we push ourselves beyond what we know and are comfortable with, confronting new challenges and experiences. It is in these moments of discomfort that we have the opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow.

Change also requires a mindset shift.

Instead of fearing the unknown, we should see change as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement. Each change, whether big or small, presents us with a chance to learn something new, develop new skills, and broad-

en our perspectives.

Moreover, it is essential to be open to feedback and self-reflection. By seeking feedback from others and reflecting on our own actions and behaviors, we can identify areas where we can improve and make positive changes.

Self-awareness is key to personal growth and transformation.

Another important aspect of embracing change is setting goals and working towards them. Whether it is pursuing a new career path, learning a new skill, or improving relationships, having clear goals can provide us with direction and motivation to keep moving forward. By setting achievable goals and taking consistent steps towards them, we can make meaningful progress in our personal growth journey.

In conclusion, the path to becoming better involves embracing change, stepping out of our comfort zones, adopting a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and setting goals. Change may be challenging and uncomfortable at times, but it is through change that we can break free from our limitations and become the best versions of ourselves. Remember, it is not about remaining the same, but about continuously striving to be better.

Gifts

BY WILLIAM B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR The gift my lord Jesus Christ gave me is my singing talent, playing the spoons, and he put me through some things where I could learn to be a better person. I used to be on drugs going on 19 years ago. And now that I’m clean, I found out I have other gifts that I never knew I had. I’m telling you a story! I couldn’t do this when I was on drugs. I’ve been telling stories for a few years now with The Contributor.

The Contributor’s been a big part of my life over the years. You may say they are part of my family now just like the Room in the Inn. The Room in the Inn is a big part of my family. They pulled me through a lot of trials, and I made a come back and made myself a better person now.

I love singing. I love playing my spoons. I love selling The Contributor for whatever I can get. It doesn’t make any difference what I get because it’s not all about money for me like it is with other people. For me it’s about getting out there and doing what I love doing and that’s singing, playing music and selling The Contributor newspaper. I would never have been able to do that if it hasn’t been for Room in the Inn (RITI). RITI has really made a big impression on me. In fact, when I meet my maker my Lord Jesus Christ, I want to pass away in my room there because I think that’s where the lord wants me to be. He’s given me some

things to do in the past and I’ve done them. But I think he’s got something real big in his mind for me because I have lived through three car accidents this year. It’s been a blessing because the only injury I really got was a broken toe. So, you may say the Lord is in my heart and in my mind and in my soul.

Keep listening, because every once in a while I write a story! Because The Contributor is part of my family and I want to always be there for them. My new years resolutions are to be able to get out more and meet more people and sell The Contributor to people coming in from out of town.

ARTWORK BY AARON S, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

LA NOTICIA “The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.

“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 14

VENDOR WRITING

You’re Not From Around Here, Are You?

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Many people are concerned about the number of immigrants coming to America, many of them illegally.

However that is not always the case.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a young man who introduced himself as Felix (like the cat), so right away that scored points with me. That was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid!

He said he’d been in this country for 30 years.

He became an American citizen in 2007, and even though he likes it in the United States (especially Los Angeles), he said it was time to return home to El Salvador.

He’s planning to leave on Saturday December 28th, leaving some family here, and

returning to others he’d left behind. But before he left he wanted to know one thing.

He asked, “I pass by almost every day, before I go, I want to know what is this you are doing?”

I smiled and explained the purpose of the paper.

He seemed equally fascinated with the wrapping paper, so I flipped through what I had on hand, and he chose the Grinch, I guess no matter where you’re from EVERYBODY knows the Grinch!

The lesson here folks is you CAN’T always judge a book by its cover. Admittedly, many immigrants do come here illegally but not EVERYONE does.

Here’s a thought: rather than condemn

those who do, why not ask yourself WHY they chose to come here in the first place?

Many times they are fleeing horrific circumstances — inhumane treatment, governmental oppression, economic hardship. Ask yourself honestly what lengths you would go to escape such atrocities.

In other words, walk a mile in THEIR shoes BEFORE condemning them for their actions without ANY knowledge of what they’ve been through to get here all in search of a better life.

It is worth noting that many of these individuals make significant contributions to the economy.

In light of this fact, I’d like to say this:

To my Spanish speaking customers, I’d like to thank you for your support — especially those of you who actually take the paper and read it!

A mis clientes de habla hispaña, me gustaría agradecerles su apoyo, ¡especialmente a aquellos de ustedes que realmente toman el papel y lo leen!

It’s VERY rewarding when you see me with The Contributor to hear a few of you ask: “La Noticia en espanol, sÍ?”

Es MUY gratificante escucharte preguntar: “¿La Noticia en espanol, sÍ?”

Again, to you all I can say is a heartfelt thank you! Una vez más, ¡te doy las gracias de corazón!

Where is Your Hope?

BY LISA T., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I look around seeing all kinds of pain.

The feeling that our worlds have fallen apart.

Our confidence shattered as bottom dropped.

We Are Left To Grieve

BY NORMA B.

Our loved one blame us for it regardless of truth.

We learn to believe we can never get right.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

However a piece of us dies each trial.

How do you cope when life feels unbearable?

A “normal” Monday morning like so many others before — A new week just beginning you never know what’s in store — Children go to school to learn

What keeps you trying serving as your driving force?

To spend time with friends, to have fun

How can we turn the hurt to wisdom not hate?

All of that suddenly came to an end because of someone with a gun

In our darkest hour where is hope and love?

In the blink of an eye, three young children lost their lives

How can we force ourselves to seek and hold on?

Others hid in fear as they no doubt shed many tears And though they weren’t hurt physically They will carry the scars with them through the years

Not Ashamed

BY LASHIKA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Sadly this story doesn’t end there Three more lives were lost that day as they tried to protect the young children in their care Putting themselves in harms way so that others might live A truly selfless act of love they made the ultimate sacrifice

Dear God please give me strength

A community, friends, and families shattered numb in disbelief are left to grieve trying to

when I am weak. Give me a

make sense of this tragedy

shoulder to depend on when I am sad and lift me up when I fall. Help me trust your plan and learn to wait for your time patiently. Remind me that you will never give me a burden that I cannot bear because where there seems

Looking for anything to give some relief To those left behind to pick up the pieces I say Cherish the photographs and memories of your loved ones in your heart each day And each night as you close your eyes Until you see them again in paradise, when you will never again have to leave their side!

no way you make a way.

If you love God you are not ashamed of him.

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

FUN

HOBOSCOPES CAPRICORN

In the year 2525, Capricorn, if humanity has survived, I wonder if they’ll think about us much. I mean, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about people from 1525. Well, except for maybe Michaelangelo. And I guess Martin Luther. Do you think they ever met? I bet they wouldn’t have liked each other very much. Maybe that’s what people 500 years from now will think about you and me, Capricorn. But they’re wrong. Here’s the evidence. I like you a whole lot. Don’t worry too much what the 2525ers will think of you. But do like what you like.

AQUA RIUS

I’m pretty popular, Aquarius. I mean, when I pull up to the pond all the ducks run up to my car quacking. That’s cause they know that I have their best interests in mind. No stale white bread in my sedan. Just rolled oats and fresh-cut carrots for these fine waddlers. Sure, empty calories are fun, but what’s gonna keep you swimming in the marshes all day, Aquarius? That’s right. You’ve got to be the overly conscientious park visitor you wish you’d had in your life. Take in the things that will keep you feeling good and strong. Leave those crusts for the worms.

PISCES

Is there a specific point when it stops being a hole and becomes a cave, Pisces? When I started digging this on the beach I thought I would just go deep enough to bury my feet. It’s chilly out here and the water is downright frigid. But once it was up to my waist, I thought I should see if I could get up to my neck, just as a bit. Now I’m a good 30 feet down, sending buckets of sand up on a rope and I don’t think I’ll stop anytime soon. It’s a good season for excavation, Pisces. There’s not much to do but dig a little deeper. Just make sure you've got an exit strategy.

ARIES

What happened to the vultures that used to roost on that electrical tower in the park? It used to be full of them all winter but I haven’t seen them this year. I’m worried they got run off by the power company or the park people. It’s strange how every little change feels like such a loss lately. It would be nice if all the vultures and restaurants and people I care about could just stay put, Aries. It seems like everything changes so fast lately and it all comes with more grief than it used to. How about this, Aries, you stay put and I’ll stay put and we’ll talk about all these losses and changes until somebody tells me where the vultures went.

TAURUS

I’m sorry, Taurus, I’m having trouble focusing today. I just got such terrible sleep last night. The room was too hot and I had to kick off too many blankets which made me feel like I was gonna come undone from the bed and then my white-noise air purifier kept cycling through this vvvHHHvvmmnnn sound that I got overly tuned-in to and I kept checking my phone to see how long till my alarm would go off and then it finally did and it was just awful and now I feel out of sorts and overly emotional.

Anyway, Taurus, I’m glad you’re here. You remind me that things can get better after something as simple as a good night’s sleep.

GEMINI

Bill next door is out there with his leaf blower again. I thought we finished blowing all those leaves away last month, Gemini.

But wait, Robert across the street has his leafblower out too. Robert’s blowing Bill’s leaves back out of his yard.

Oh no! There’s gonna be a leafblower fight! Sometimes, Gemini, when you’re trying to keep your side of the street clean you end up pushing your mess into somebody else’s space. Just remember to stay willing to cross the street when you see your neighbor is cleaning up your mistakes.

In fact, I’ll give you the same advice I’d give Bill. Next time, just use a rake.

CANCER

How come nothing is open all night anymore, Cancer? It’s not very often that I’m craving pancakes and hashbrowns at 2 in the morning. But when I am, it’s pretty disappointing to discover that Hank’s Shortstack closes at 9 p.m. now. It’s probably better for me to go to bed anyway. I guess part of life is learning to pivot when disappointments arrive.

But part of life is also learning to improvise a late night breakfast out of whatever you can find in your kitchen.

A “Closed” sign doesn’t mean you can’t solve it yourself.

LEO

Remember last year when you said you’d always wanted to go on a helicopter ride and then I said we should do it before the end of the year and that I’d pay for the tickets? Yeah, I guess we never got around to that one, Leo. I’m sure there’s still helicopter opportunities out there, but maybe this year you should take the lead. Think about something you’ve always wanted to try. Don’t wait till December, Leo. January’s a great month to get started.

And if you book something I’ll Venmo you for my share.

I really will this time.

VIRGO

I ordered one of those digital cameras that you can use to look in your own ears.

It’s pretty cool, I guess. I looked in my right ear and there were more hairs than I expected and a little bit of wax. And then I looked in my left ear and there was a tiny golden statue of you with an even tinier inscription that said “World’s Greatest Thinker.” I’m glad I got that camera, Virgo, because it reminded me that while you are an exceptionally good thinker, sometimes it’s good to take a break from all that. There are some things in life you shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about. Like that story I just told you.

LIBRA

There’s a cat on my shoulder and I guess it’s a mutually beneficial kind of deal. I get the benefit of purring in my ear and a warm neck. She gets the benefit of reading what I’m writing before it goes to press. When she has suggestions, they’re usually just about grammar or word choice. But when I got you Libra she whispered, “go easy.” I think she just knows that things have been hard enough for you lately without an amateur astrologer making suggestions. So I’ll just pass that on, Libra, go easy. And keep your neck warm if you can.

SCORPIO

They say life is short, Scorpio, and so is Tom Cruise. I mean, the internet says he’s 5’7, but I’m guessing he’s even shorter. I mean, if he was 5’7, he’d probably hire a publicist to convince the internet that he’s 5’9, right? What I’m getting at here, Scorpio, is that life is only as short as you say it is. Or as Tom might say, “Spending time in the present feels like an impossible mission but avoiding this moment would be risky business.”

That’s a direct quote.

SAGITTA R IUS

When I sent you that text earlier, Sagittarius, well I didn’t really proofread it before hit send. I think there were a few autocorrected words that I wish I’d caught. Like, when I said “yes” that I’d come over on Saturday and help you take the Christmas lights off your roof, what I’d actually typed was “I’m so sorry, I can’t do it this weekend. I’ve got my microwave cooking class.” You know how autocorrect is. Anyway, Sagittarius, good luck with the ladder. And don’t forget to read twice before you hit send.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a registered pit digger, or an official representative of Mr. Cruise. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 16

INSP

End of pandemic aid leaves US families struggling

BY CAROLINA BOMENY

The end of pandemic-era benefits, which provided nearly $30,000 on average to many low-income District of Colombia (DC) families from 2020 to 2022, has left some facing food and housing insecurity. According to a new report from the United Planning Organization (UPO), many families are now struggling to meet rent and other expenses after a period of relative stability.

“The pandemic provided an unprecedented level of economic security for a lot of people and then it just disappeared overnight,” said Ed Lazere, UPO’s legislative advocacy director.

For three years, a typical low-income single-parent family with two children received four main federal benefits totaling almost $10,000 per year: three economic stimulus payments between 2020 and 2021, an expanded Child Tax Credit that offered enhanced monthly payments in 2021 and 2022, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increased monthly allotments in 2020-2022 and two rounds of federal Emergency Rental Assistance, via the Stay DC program, to assist with rent in 2021 and 2022. While support dropped off in 2023, families still received an extra $400, according to the report, thanks to some continued higher SNAP benefits.

As federal programs have waned, the city has seen rising rates of people experiencing homelessness, being evicted, and seeking out food assistance. Additionally, the District has cut housing and rental assistance programs over the last two years, meaning that there are fewer local resources to make up the difference.

Despite high demand for the program’s services, the 2025 DC budget cut the local Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) by over $13 million. On 1 October, the same day that the program was scheduled to reopen for new applications, the DC Council passed emergency legislation that further cut back on pandemic-era tenant protections.

These changes mean that tenants are no longer automatically protected from eviction when applying for ERAP and have to provide additional proof of their eligi-

ILLUSTRATION BY JIHOO YANG

bility, including income and the nature of the emergency situation that qualifies them for the program.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a 30 September press briefing that the program hurts affordable housing providers, who she said report $100 million in unpaid rent. In September, the affordable housing developer Neighborhood Development Corporation closed after 25 years, contributing to the urgency of the market’s difficult situation.

But advocates say that the new policy will only make evictions easier and lead to further displacement in DC. “The huge problem is that people don’t have money to pay rising rents and rising food prices and if we don’t address that, changing how people qualify for ERAP isn’t going to get landlords any more money in their pockets,” Lazere said.

Applications for ERAP did not open in October as scheduled and a new opening date has not been publicly announced. The program will no longer open quarterly, as it did in 2024. Once the portal reopens, it will remain up until funds for the 2025 fiscal year run out. Before the 2023-2024 cycle, when the program ran in this form with

significantly more funding, there was usually no more money by the middle of the year.

Housing isn’t the only area nearing a crisis. Over 250,000 DC residents — 38% of the city’s population — are facing food insecurity, up from 35% in 2023, and from almost 12% in 2020. Many nonprofits that provide food assistance have reported a surge in demand and a lack of resources to keep up.

DC Central Kitchen’s Chief Development Officer Alexander Moore said that the increased emergency SNAP allotments allowed people to afford healthy food in small community corner stores. But with the end of those benefits, the choice to eat well, have agency over what products to buy, and support local businesses has greatly diminished.

“What we are facing is, I think, a really significant potential perfect storm that impacts food security. It impacts wellness, it impacts public health, all at a time when we now have a pretty good evidence base for what works, and we’re making choices to do the opposite, frankly,” Moore said.

Deschawn Cromartie, 56, is one of the DC residents severely impacted by the

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

pandemic. Without programs like UPO’s food package distribution, she said that she would not be able to afford food and feed her family. “I get only $33 dollars for SNAP, and $33 doesn’t carry you a long way in the grocery store,” Cromartie said. “Can I live off of that for the whole month? No.” Cromartie is diabetic and said that UPO’s food program was a lifeline during the pandemic, and still is, allowing her to access fresh food and vegetables, meat, and other nutritious items for a better diet. “My grandkids were so fond and proud to see so much vegetables,” said Cromartie, who recently lost a son and suffered a stroke shortly afterwards. She says that UPO was critical in helping her to get back on her feet.

“I’ve been gaining my weight back. I’ve been doing things that were out of the ordinary.

My grandbabies come, and they’re just like, ‘Grandma, what’s on the menu?’”

While the end of emergency allotments “absolutely cratered the sales” of healthy foods and vegetables, Moore said that the 2024 Give SNAP a Raise policy had a significant impact in restoring some of the pandemic-era resources. The program, which increased SNAP benefits by 10%, ended in September and is not included in the 2025 DC budget.

“It’s really important here in DC and across the country that we flip this idea of funding food as being a social program.

It’s not. It is one of the most cost-effective investments we can make in public health, in educational achievement, in closing economic disparities and the racial wealth gap,” Moore said.

Both Lazere and Moore asked DC policymakers to think of food provisions in terms of economics rather than social assistance. “It’s better for the whole city, including for the landlords who worry about rents being paid and the grocery stores that are worried about shoplifting. Everybody’s better off if we pay attention to the economic security of the people with the lowest incomes in DC,” Lazere said.

Courtesy of Street Sense Media / INSP.ngo

ABBY R. RUBENFELD Attorney at Law

arubenfeldlaw.com

202 South Eleventh Street Nashville, Tennessee 37206 Telephone: (615) 386-9077 Facsimile: (615) 386-3897

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MOVING PICTURES

The Substance is a sensational gross-out that’s heading for the Oscars

BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC Is it weird to be writing about horror movies as we head into the New Year? It was below freezing when I woke up this morning, the top of my living room bookshelf is crowded with colorful Christmas cards, my neighbor has Christmas ornaments hanging from the actual trees in her front yard, and I just watched somebody walking by the window in my front room with a dog dressed in a red and white Santa suit sweater.

We’re smack dab in the middle of the holidays folks, so why do I insist on writing about psychos, slashers, and slimy spooks?

Holiday season is also when the movie award season hype train leaves the station. I’ve been getting links to screeners in my email and movie studio swag in my actual mailbox since just after Halloween. This is also the time of year when we see studios releasing their most epic, star-studded fare, hoping to make a fresh impression in the minds of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences members just in time for their upcoming Oscar voting. And 2024 has been a big year for horror films: Maxxine brought Ti West’s X Trilogy to a screaming end; Immaculate gave us the best final film frame of 2024; Late Night with the Devil broke streaming records on the Shudder platform; and The Substance is the first horror movie since Hereditary that might actually win some little gold men in March.

The Substance is set in a near-future, fictional Los Angeles. The architecture might have come straight from the story boards of Dune 2, but its aerobic exercise television shows and no sign of the internet also make the movie feel dipped in the cheesy-sleek commercialism of the 1980s.

It’s all rather disorienting, and that’s the point.

The Substance is a movie about appearances and surfaces, and it’s also about the entertainment industry’s zero-sum limits on imperfect beauty and natural aging. Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is a former movie star whose now turning 50. She’s fit and beautiful, but nobody is sending her scripts and her day job is a television exercise program that’s a fun reference to Jane Fonda’s pivot from Barbarella to body sculpting. When she’s unceremoniously fired by Harvey (Dennis Quaid), the show’s producer, she winds up in a hospital where she’s secretly given a flash drive and a phone number that lead Elisabeth to a second chance at youth, beauty and the spotlight.

The Substance reminded me a lot of the classic short story, “The Monkey’s Paw” — it’s a wish tale fraught with unintended consequences. This movie strikes a bonkers balance between gruesome and gross, sensational body horror and a satirical tone that borders on the hysterical. It’s a picture that features some of the most queasy-making effects of the year, but the over-thetop characterizations and unreal locations are almost as unsettling as all the squishing viscera.

Moore and Margaret Qualley play Elisabeth/ Sue with a grounded realism that keeps viewers fully submerged in the unreal story-verse of The Substance. Ray Liotta was going to play Harvey before the Goodfellas’ star’s untimely death. I’d have loved to have seen his version,

but it’s hard to imagine anybody but Quaid in his scene-stealing role.

The Substance is a movie about Hollywood.

The Academy Awards love those. It’s also a movie written and directed by a woman — Coralie Fargeat. And it addresses the experiences of women in the entertainment industry. The movie scores diversity points, but never panders or peddles activism. It’s a genuinely entertaining blend of horror and science fiction, comedy, tragedy and gallons of bodily fluids. It terrified

Cannes audiences into a standing ovation and a Best Screenplay award, and it killed at the box office. Aren’t you just dying to see The Substance win an Oscar?

The Substance is streaming on Mubi --Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.

January 1 - 15, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19