STREETZine
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
Offering financial opportunity to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals. STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot and a member of International Network of Street Papers
Suggested donation to a vendor with a badge: $1.00 or more - La donación sugerida a un vendedor con insignia: $1.00 or more
People Experiencing Homelessness Need Livable Wages By Wendy Rojo The American dream is what people seek here in the United States, the land of opportunity and riches. However, reaching these opportunities comes with a number of challenges. For example, a formal college education is encouraged in part because it can lead to a lifetime of higher earnings. But college is not the only path a person can take to reach the American dream. An associate degree or technical training can help individuals become culinary artists, auto mechanics, and drug counselors, to name just three wide-ranging types of employment that do not require a four-year degree. Here at The Stewpot, we see clients pursuing these types of degrees to gain work that they find personally and financially rewarding.
Artwork by Stewpot Artist Donald of Dallas. In fact, the National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that a person needs to make at least $25 per hour to afford a two-bedroom rental home in Texas. Even if someone is working full-time and making minimum wage, it is difficult for them to succeed. That can lead to food insecurities, housing insecurities, or medical uncertainties.
In fact, the National Low Income Housing Here at The Stewpot, we see clients pursuCoalition reports that a person needs to ing these types of degrees to gain work that make at least $25 per hour to afford a twothey find personally and financially reward- bedroom rental home in Texas. ing. But even if a person does get hired, the state of Texas has a set minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. If a person is working full time at 40 hours, and making $7.25 per hour, that translates into $290 per week or $1,160 per month. That amount is before any deductions. Earning a minimum wage in Texas cannot cover those housing costs plus daily expenses. If you look for apartments or houses for rent in Dallas, you will notice that prices start at around $900 per month. Earning a minimum wage in Texas cannot cover those housing costs plus daily expenses.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has found that those who are homeless face four main challenges when searching for a job: discrimination, logistics, accommodations, and hiring. Discrimination may arise when employers require a permanent address. Logistics may present a problem if a job-seeker lacks access to the proper facilities to prepare for a job interview. And accommodations may not be offered if an individual has an existing disability. What local organizations and the larger society can do is provide the tools a person may need to get the job interview and ultimately the job. For example, Workforce Solutions launched the Income Now program to assist people who are experiencing homeless-
ness. The organization helps them find ways to finance their housing needs, guides them through the hiring process and maintain their employment. Organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area likewise assist people applying and preparing for jobs.. For example, caseworkers at the Stewpot support their clients by helping them get all the documentation that jobs usally require. The Stewpot also partners with Streetside Showers to provide showers to clients twice a month along with hygiene items and clothes. Still, we must address the issue at the core and that is that the minimum wage has not risen while the cost of living has skyrocketed. Still, we must address the issue at the core and that is that the minimum wage has not risen while the cost of living has skyrocketed. We all want people experiencing homelessness to find meaningful work, but the ultimate aim is work that provides the means to afford an apartment, pay bills, buy food, and pay for transportation. Wendy Rojo is managing editor of STREETZine.
2
STREETZine
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
Pastor’s Letter: Living the Power
Stewpot.
Editor’s Note: This essay is excerpted from a sermon that Rev. Findeiss preached on June 2, 2019 Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana
STREETZine is a program of The
The STREETZine is a monthly newspaper published by The Stewpot, a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. The Stewpot provides services and resources for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of being homeless. The organization also offers opportunities for a new life. As part of this ministry, the STREETZine seeks to raise awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The monthly publication also offers financial opportunity for Stewpot clients who sell the paper to Dallas residents. Vendors are able to move towards economic self-sufficiency by using the money they receive from selling copies to purchase bus passes, food, and necessary living expenses. Clients also receive stipends for contributing articles to STREETZine. The content in STREETZine does not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of its publisher, editors, contributors, sponsors or advertisers. To learn more about this publication, contact Betty Heckman, Director of Enrichment, 1835 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 or BettyH@thestewpot. org. To read more about STREETZine, a member of the International Network of Street Papers, go to www. thestewpot.org/streetzine.
STREETZine is published by The
Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church. Managing Editor: Wendy Rojo Editorial Advisory Board: The Rev. Amos Disasa Brenda Snitzer Suzanne Erickson Russell Coleman Poppy Sundeen Sarah Disasa William McKenzie Betty Heckman Photo Editor: Jesse Hornbuckle
By Reverend Meagan Findeiss
Have you ever been asked what your superpower would be if you had one? Several years ago, I was driving my daughter to school, and we were talking about how quick we needed to be with drop-off. You see we needed to drop off the baby first so that we would not be late for her school party. As we drove in the car, my daughter commented that she had cheetah speed, and was so fast. She then questioned me, on whether I had cheetah speed, with which I responded, “I think so. But I don’t know how to turn it on?” My daughter then told me that there is a button on her leg, and that I have one on my leg too. The conversation continued, as all threeyear-old conversations do, with her commenting on her superpowers. “Mom I just turned on my superpower, did you turn yours on?” Did you know that we all have superpowers? In fact, you might even have access to it by a button on your leg. Inside all of us is an incredible gift that God has given us. This gift is the power of faith. As gifts go, it is unique to each person and goes by different names. Sometimes it is called vocation, sometimes it is called courage, and sometimes it is called love. The word faith does a marvelous job of encapsulating such variance. Theologian and minister Frederick Buechner defines vocation as “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” Inside all of us is an incredible gift that God has given us. This gift is the power of faith. To utilize this power that we have within, we must begin first with our self, and then move out. We must recognize that, as author Parker Palmer wrote in Let Your Life Speak: “We are here on earth to be the
gifts that God created.” Paul and Timothy In the second letter to Timothy, Paul greets his friend. The relationship between these two is more than just a friendship, though. Timothy is Paul’s mentee, his protégé, his apprentice. This letter represents the correspondence from Paul to Timothy following Paul’s imprisonment. When Paul references Timothy’s tears in verse 4, “Recalling your tears, I long to see you…” I imagine the scene of a dearly beloved being forcefully taken away. That was the last interaction Paul and Timothy had with each other: Timothy weeping as officers escorted his close friend away. What was Timothy left to do? He found himself at a crossroads, and of course his mentor Paul recognized it. Timothy saw what would happen if he were to follow in the footsteps of Paul. Paul recognized the position Timothy was in and offered him words of encouragement. To live a life of faith meant he would experience suffering, shame, and almost definitively death. To choose not to follow in faith meant to abandon how he had been raised. Paul recognized the position Timothy was in and offered him words of encouragement. Lewie Donalson, a New Testament professor, described this letter as one of the most personal and intimate letters in the New Testament. Paul tells Timothy to “rekindle the faith.” The gift of God, the power of faith is in you. It has always been in you. Paul even reminds Timothy about his family upbringing. Remember the stories Grandma Lois told you, and the way your mother Eunice taught you to pray. Paul knew that Timothy had to make a choice. He reminds him: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” Identifying our gifts What helps you when you are tasked with making a decision?
Continued on page 5
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
Executive Director’s Report By Brenda Snitzer Editor’s Note: In keeping with the theme of this edition, STREETZine asked Stewpot Executive Director Brenda Snitzer about her various jobs. Below are her responses. What was your first job — and any others that followed that you want to tell us about? What skill/s did you learn from them? I’ve been working since I was 16. And I’ve had a number of different types of jobs. Mostly, in order, they go like this: Christian bookstore clerk, camp counselor, student teacher, probation officer, marketing director for a psychiatric hospital, therapist for a girls’ residential home, therapist in private practice, nonprofit program director (twice), educational trainer and nonprofit consultant, substitute teacher, fundraising director (twice), Christian educator and youth director for a church, and last an executive director (three times). Some of the time, those jobs overlapped. My favorite job of all time was working as
a camp counselor. From all of these positions, I learned that being able to work with others enables you to do almost anything you want. I was able to transfer these skills into many different roles and companies and organizations. Continuously being eager to learn from others and being confident in my skills and abilities built upon everything I learned from before. I also have become very good at interviewing. These are the jobs I obtained, but I interviewed for many more that I did not get. What do you see as the most common barrier to Stewpot clients finding employment? Transportation? Knowing about jobs? The right skills? ID papers? Something else? The hardest thing for Stewpot clients in finding employment is a combination of things: Having a network of people to learn about job openings, transportation to a site, a solid resume that they can update quickly to focus on a particular position, and a broad enough skillset with up-to-date technology skills. It is also difficult if a client isn’t confident
STREETZine 3
in themselves or has any challenges from their previous jobs. Interviewing is also something that clients may be uncomfortable doing. Clients need coaching to help them know that others, like me, haven’t always been successful but can work their way back up or into jobs that they really want or love. Where do you see clients having the most success in finding employment? The most success is when employers give them a chance to prove that they can be good employees. Workforce partners help by giving them additional skills, such as resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search opportunities. How does The Stewpot help clients secure or locate a job? The Stewpot has had various programs to help clients with job skills or finding jobs through years. We have had partnerships with Goodwill, the Cardboard Project, and Workforce Solutions, to name a few. Our caseworkers also try and help with recommendations and jobs they hear about. Brenda Snitzer is executive director of The Stewpot.
Things to Know about People Experiencing Homelessness and Employment “About 53 percent of the sheltered homeless had formal labor market earnings in the year they were observed as homeless, and the authors’ find that 40.4 percent of the unsheltered population had at least some formal employment in the year they were observed as homeless.” Source: University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute study, June 2021 “People experiencing homelessness may need to access public facilities to properly prepare for interviews, and their living situation may not be feasible to do so.” Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness A worker would need to earn $25 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental home in Texas. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition “Consistent work isn’t enough to help Americans facing skyrocketing housing costs.” Source: University of Chicago “The mean annual earnings for people experiencing sheltered homelessness aged 18 – 64 was $8,169 in 2015 (pretax income, which excludes benefits). Mean earnings for unsheltered people were even lower at $6,934 in 2015. Accounting for inflation, even the top earners in both groups could not afford a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment in 2022, which are $44,200 and $53,706 respectively.” Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness
4
STREETZine
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
Darrell Plunkett, When growling stomachs lead to growling patrons, Darrell assuagServer: Bringing More es their hunger by offering up an apology and free house-made to the Table potato chips. “My challenge is to By Poppy Sundeen
make sure everybody’s happy.”
Just east of White Rock Lake in Dallas, there’s a neighborhood restaurant called BarNone. Customers like it for the drinks, the food — and for the chance to chat with server Darrell Plunkett. “Interacting with the customers is my favorite part of the job,” he says.
The extra efforts pay off with loyal customers. “There’s a family that comes in regularly after church and requests my section. They have two young boys, first and third graders, who call me Mr. Darrell.” When the family learned by chance that Darrell’s birthday was coming up, the boys brought him a card. “They wrote little notes inside. It was so sweet.”
Sometimes the interaction goes above and beyond the expected — like when Darrell brings his experience as a recovering alcoholic to bear. “I tend to notice when people are drinking too much, and I try to suggest food or maybe iced tea.” When it’s appropriate, he shares the story of his addiction and recovery. A bumpy road to a stable life In July 2024, Darrell will celebrate a decade of sobriety. In the years before that, he struggled with an addiction that eventually landed him on the street. “I was a working alcoholic. If I didn’t make enough money to get a room at night, I’d have to sleep outside.” The hardships of street life combined with alcoholism took a toll on Darrell’s health. In 2014, he was hospitalized suffering from alcohol poisoning and dehydration. “I thought I was having a heart attack.” The episode got his attention. “I was determined never to touch the stuff again.” Sobriety was the first step to getting his life in order. Next came a safe place to live. “I’ve been in the same apartment building since 2014.” It’s a healthy stroll away from White Rock Lake and a mere three miles from work. Challenging times for time-strapped servers With the restaurant industry in the midst of a server shortage, Darrell’s work can be demanding. “Last night, I had nine tables working at once for an hour.” Most of his regular customers are understanding if it takes a little longer to get their food and drinks. “Like on Father’s Day, people realized that the kitchen was overwhelmed.”
Serving food, creating art Getting to know Darrell also means getting to know his art. An accomplished painter, he spends much of his free time at The Stewpot art studio working on his colorful creations. Recently, the AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas hosted a showing of The Stewpot artists’ work. “Some of my customers came by when I was there.”
Photograph of Darrell Plunkett.
At age 59, Darrell knows it’s important to plan for retirement. “I’ve never been good with money. I have that old waiter thing of thinking money is to be spent. But now that my addiction is under conDarrell has also done commissioned piec- trol, I’ve been able to open a savings es for BarNone patrons. “Customers tell account and get a credit card. I have a me my art makes them happy and makes checking account and emergency money them smile.” saved up.” An extra helping of encouragement As the server-guest relationship develops, Darrell sometimes learns about his customers’ health challenges. He can relate. Diagnosed with neck cancer in 2019, he went through surgery and radiation therapy. “There are different ways it comes up but I’m always giving my testimony on what I’ve survived.”
While retirement is on Darrell’s radar, it’s still a long way off. “I want to work another 10 years,” he says. That gives those who have yet to meet Darrell plenty of time to stop by BarNone and experience his brand of hospitality. Poppy Sundeen, a Dallas writer, is a member of The STREETZine editorial board.
When he hits the five-year survival mark in 2024, Darrell will no longer need to take off from work for follow-up medical appointments. He looks forward to having some time freed up, so he can consider additional work opportunities. “When I was young, I worked in offices and branched out to working in hotels. I’m thinking about getting back into reception work. Now that I have my health back, I might be able to work two jobs.” Looking ahead to retirement
Artwork by Stewpot Artist Darrell Plunkett.
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
Second Timothy 1: 1-7 New Revised Standard Version 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God — whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did — when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
DIAL 211
For help finding food or housing, child care, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment. ANONYMOUS AVAILABLE 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR 2-1-1 Texas helps Texas citizens connect with state and local health and human services programs.
STREETZine
5
Continued from page 2 Choosing to live your life faithfully does not mean that things will be easy. The story of Paul and Timothy exemplify this. But we all have choices we have to make. Let Your Life Speak is a book about calling and vocation. This book discusses how the things that ignite your soul and bring you excitement and energy have been there from a very early age. The newspaper clippings and notes to friends that have resided in shoeboxes and journals over the years, these are the things that bring meaning to your life, the little knickknacks that you stowed away because they brought you joy. These are the things that illustrate your passions before they were overpowered by society. How do you live the power? Palmer writes, “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent.” We have been given gifts from God, all unique in their own right, our own “sacred soul,” as Palmer calls it. It is never too late to identify what these gifts are. Buechner says you must first start with yourself. It is then you can focus outwardly. How do we live the power of our faith? How do we harness our vocation, stand bravely, and love boldly? A faith that is brave and bold follows where and how God calls. Identify the gifts that abide within and live your life with generosity, courage, bravery, kindness, grace, mercy, and selfdiscipline. Then continue your good and faithful work of rekindling the gifts of others. Now is the time to turn on your superhero button and live the power of faith. Reverend Meagan Findeiss is associate pastor for care and belonging at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
6
STREETZine
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
My Parents Gave Me a Solid Foundation By Vicki Gies I’ve lived a pretty good life over the past 71 years. I had a solid education from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade and graduated with a diploma. I didn’t fail any grades and had mostly a “B” average. I also had a couple of “C” averages, but I learned from my mistakes. After graduation from high school, I juggled several ideas about what I wanted to do. I debated going to college right away, staying at home for the summer and going to college in the fall, or finding a job after a couple of months of rest and relaxation. Well, my mother wasn’t about to let me sit at home and do nothing like I did in the previous summers between grades. And, I didn’t want to jump right in to more classes and harder books and studies. So, we agreed that I would find a job! I had two years of typing instruction during 11th and 12th grades and one year of civics. Those were both a plus for me when it came to my job search. I applied to several jobs only to find out they were looking for people with “job experience.” My only work experience involved me helping my mom file and copy documents at her job. I was only 17 years old then, and it was a part-time job that my mom had, and she paid me out of her own pocket.
Dallas County, Bill Decker! I was absolutely stunned! I got the job, and part-time work turned into a full-time job. That started my career in law enforcement. I worked in several different areas including civil division, real property and liens, and the keypunch board. In 1978 I joined the Dallas County Sheriff’s Reserves and got to work in the patrol division. I loved it! I could work in any area of the county. In 1978 I joined the Dallas County Sheriff’s Reserves and got to work in the patrol division. I loved it! In 1979, I decided I wanted to be a real law enforcement officer. I passed the verbal test; next came the academy and six months of learning laws, case files, and procedures, along with learning the Texas penal code! We also had to pass the shooting range, of course. A score of 70 was acceptable for those who had never qualified on a shooting range. I scored a 98 out of 100 points, and I was third in graduation. I started out working in the jail in 1982. From there I moved to the warrants di-
vision, which was fun, but felt kind of dangerous when we searched people’s homes. From there I worked the bond and warrants desk, and then on to bailiff in the courts until 1986. A sheriff’s job is an elected position, and I worked under five different sheriffs. After a while, I got tired of all the politics, and I resigned. It was about that time that my mom became sick, and I was needed at home to help my parents. I started selling STREETZine in 2008, and I am still selling it today! My other jobs have included work in the food and beverage industry, which I did for several years in various locations around Dallas. I started selling STREETZine in 2008, and I am still selling it today! I became homeless in 1990 after my dad died. But being homeless hasn’t kept me from having a job. I always held some type of a job here and there and yonder. This story is dedicated to my parents, whose unconditional love, kindness, and strength helped me get through life and accomplish everything I set out to do. Vicki Gies is a STREETZine vendor and frequent contributor.
Going to work with my mom was kind of like job training for me because I learned a lot. I only worked for a couple of months with my mom, and then came the real test: finding a job of my very own. Working in law enforcement One of my parents’ friends came to the house to visit with us one day. His was name Jimmy, and he was the chief jailer of the Dallas County Jail System. He said there was an opening for a part-time clerk in the civil division of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. I had no idea what Jimmy was talking about, but it sounded good to me! That was on July 9, 1970. Jimmy said he would pick me up and take me to the job interview. When we arrived, I was introduced to a gruff-looking older man, who turned out to be the legendary Sheriff of
Artwork by Stewpot Artist Fernando Segovia.
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
7
Writers’ Workshop Essays Editor’s Note: Each Friday morning at 10 a.m., The Stewpot hosts a Writers’ Workshop. During the sessions, participants address selected topics through prose or poetry. In this edition of STREETZine, we feature the essays of writers that explore the topic of employment. Confession of a Homeless Woman By a Women from a Dallas Shelter I used to admire my coworkers’ hands. Whether it be sorting clothes at a retail store, stuffing envelopes for an advertising company, keying test results into a computer at a hospital lab or juggling test tubes at a chemistry lab, theirs came alive like small-winged creatures flying to and fro. It’s a sight of seamless beauty, precision, and proficiency. Although I was resigned with the fact that my hands didn’t have the elements to acquire fine motor skills, it didn’t assuage my anguish for being eliminated from an array of jobs that called for nimble fingers. I had aspirations to become a construction worker or janitor. My dream of holding a macho woman job was dashed when I compared my weak and uncoordinated muscles to the physical requirements of these types of jobs. My driving skill would have recommended me for a job except I got confused among landmarks every time I drove a little further away. My unsociable nature was soon brought to the surface when I tried customer service as a cashier. To prevent any mishaps, I prepared my speech ahead of time. To my chagrin, my prescribed speech was unsatisfactory. On top of that I was unable to interpret body languages and social cues. I felt the word anxiety written all over my face. Not only did I forget to smile, but I also had difficulty focusing on counting out the change for customers. As a result, I made errors in something as simple as coin combinations. I lived in constant failure and dilemma till my mind started to break down. Mental breakdown resembled a bomb detonated in my head. The highway system in my brain was destroyed in some parts and mangled in others. Medications brought me back from the brink of death. They also rearranged my brain. For a long time, all I could do was stare at the walls. I moved from group home to group home. At some point I ventured out and
Artwork by Stewpot Artist Stephen Kehr. discovered a medium-sized public library nestled in the neighborhood. In the library I was ecstatic to find misplaced books on the shelves and around the library. There’s a need for volunteers who read to shelve and straighten the books. Soon I became a volunteer there, shelving books. I moved from group home to group home. At some point I ventured out and discovered a medium-sized public library nestled in the neighborhood. In the library I was ecstatic to find misplaced books on the shelves and around the library. One day my enthusiasm carried me away. I pulled all the books with missing or incorrect labels off the shelves and piled them up together. The librarian came back. She had a disgusted look on her face when she saw the pile. She ordered her assistant to put all of them back on shelf. I felt like Sisyphus who rolled a large boulder uphill only to see it roll back downhill. It’s clear I was sweating over the little things and forgetting something much more important. And that was asking permission from my supervisor. I was made to clean mildewed cloth-bond books the next day as a punishment. But I didn’t think it punishing as all. I loved every little thing that had to do with books although I had to leave the following day
due to mold allergy. I volunteered from library to library. After a while I either left or was let go due to the awkward situation when I was around people. I was the elephant in the room thinking I was invisible by not talking whereas I was more conspicuous than anyone else. It’s true I felt uncomfortable around customers and staff. I asked to volunteer after hours but was denied. My history as a library volunteer ended with a lesson on library inventory. My ignorance led me to check the box “inventory” on the volunteer application after which I was taught a lesson by the chief librarian who initially thought I had something to add to their inventory acquisition. Today, physically dilapidated, I continue to struggle with my mental handicap and illness. A shelter in Dallas let me stay with them. Strangely, I still have dreams. One of them is to become a street musician playing the guitar in spite of my clumsy fingers. I’m looking for ways to play it as in puppetry converting it from a fine motor task to something that can be managed with muscles further away from those at the tips of the fingers. A Woman from a Dallas Shelter is a participant in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
8
OCTOBER EDITION 2023 STREETZine Finding a Job May Be More Daunting Than You Think By MIke McCall
Many people view the homeless issue as one that involves a lazy person who doesn’t want to work. The looks and voices saying, “Why don’t you just get a job?” have been directed towards many of us. The truth of the matter is that it’s easier said than done. Look at the situation from my perspective and you will see the barriers that restrict my employment. Starting at zero requires time and effort to make yourself even close to employable. It is hard to get your foot in the door when you can’t even afford the shoes to walk through it. Finding a job when you are struggling with homelessness is a more daunting task than some realize. To begin with most of us must get help to acquire all the documentation it takes to become legally employed. This takes time and effort along with a usable address to mail the documents once you complete them. For me this process took five months and that was considered fast. So even if you are ready to start working you can’t even fill out an application until you have all your paperwork in order. This is the first hurdle one must clear, and it is nearly impossible to accomplish alone. Now that you have your documents in order, you need to be in a stable location with reliable transportation. The simple acts of washing clothes, waking up on time, taking showers, and making it to the job are serious challenges for those without a home. I wasn’t always homeless so I can remember a time when these actions weren’t even a concern but trying to meet these requirements on the streets becomes the second wall you must climb. This climb must be planned for and scheduled because these basic services cannot be taken care of on your own time. You are at the mercy of the shelters’ schedule and must find a way to weave it together with your work schedule. The final barrier I want to discuss is the effect your background could have on you. Unfortunately, most of the individuals who struggle with homelessness have had run-ins with the law. This can really hurt your chances of getting a job. Once you have a criminal background, your access to employment is drastically altered. There is still work for felons out there, but it is hard to find something you could call a career. The reality of the situation is you will be stuck with what you can get and struggle to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living. We live in a time where some barriers might just be too hard to conquer. While the process of gaining employment can be an uphill battle, it is possible to become part of today’s workforce. You may have to put in a lot of time and effort, but the result could be life changing. View your situation with compassion instead of hopelessness and have the courage to continue doing what it’s going to take. Months of waiting to get things in order can blaze a trail that leads you off the park bench and into a sustainable living situation. So let’s try looking at individuals who are struggling with softer eyes and a more caring voice. Many of us are starting at zero with nothing but hope for a better day. Mike McCall is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop. Trying to Land Jobs I Could Enjoy By Charles Duff In 1985, I applied for the summer jobs program and found myself working in the Hattiesburg Zoo. Now, me, I love animals. Some say I’m more attuned to animals, because they won’t lie to you, and here was my chance to work with not only domesticated species of animals but a tiger, a baboon, an elephant, and a friendly black bear. With our city being so small, I had time to create a relationship with them. All my life, I’ve tried hard to land jobs I could enjoy and grow. Needless to say, a lot of the jobs I had didn’t work out that and they really weren’t “jobs.” You have to be careful picking out jobs. For example, as I got older, I found myself wanting more money, fast money, so I switched to the illegal occupation of robbery. Not as fulfilling but a hell of a lot more exciting. Nowadays, I search for more peaceful, meaningful employment. I want to work in the Dallas library system. I love the library. I love all libraries. One of my favorites is the Denver Public Library. It’s built with oversized geometric shapes in bright colors. I believe our jobs should project our entire selves. Me, I’m a collage of different shapes, colors, and characters, so I’m best at public relations work. I can pretty much talk to anybody about pretty much anything. Maybe I could be a talk show host. Charles Duff is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
Work Ethics By Gershon Trunnell I remember my first job, when I was nine years old. I sold candy and household products door- to-door, in parking lots, and other places. After my second year selling candy, I started throwing newspapers for the Dallas Times Herald. When I was 12, I bought a lawn mower, hedge trimmer, and weed cutter. I would cut the neighbors’ yards. I did all of this until I turned 15. That’s when I started working at McDonald’s. I worked there, cut grass, and threw newspapers until I turned 19. That’s when I started working in the lock box mailroom at Bank of America in downtown Dallas. After a year, I was promoted to being a research agent recovering lost or stolen checks. I did that until I was almost 30. I moved to Savannah, Georgia, shortly after that to train new employees in the field of recovering lost and stolen checks. After I lost my job there, I experimented with a partner in setting up a coffee shop and also worked for Coastal Scooters, where I was a supervisor. After that, I started working with Southern Revenue Roofing Company, where I was a foreman for three years until I fell off a sevenstory roof. I went through a long period of recovery but was no longer able to perform manual labor. I then moved back to Texas, where I worked at the NRG Center in Houston as a housekeeping supervisor. I also was a waiter for a collaboration of catering trucks near Houston’s Toyota Center. And I managed an oyster bar. But I decided to work more on my artistic and creative talents. Since moving back to Dallas, I have designed clothing, made music, styled hair, painted pictures, and wrote poems and articles for the STREETZine. I also have produced art that is now in the Dallas Museum of Art, sing in the Dallas Street Choir, and make jewelry and clothes. In working for other people and companies, you have to represent them. But in pursuing my artistic and creative work, I get to represent God and myself through my God-given talents. I get to perform the duties of delivering God’s message to his people with art and the gifts and talents God gave me to do the job and get the job done. So now, when people tell me to get a job, i tell them I’m on the clock as we speak. Gershon Trunnell is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop. A Jack-of-All Trades By Jason Turner A jack-of-all trades is said to be a master of none. It sounds so demeaning to Jack, for never becoming a master. Jack got a bad rep and being a jack-of-all trades is actually handy and cool. In no particular order, I’ve worked as a dental assistant, cashier, barista, call-center crew member, overnight stocker, temporary laborer, fabrications worker, and truck driver. I would never trade those experiences for one solid trade. As good as one of those sounds, my experience in working different jobs has shaped my character and skills. For instance, fabrications taught me how to follow molds and stack inventory in a warehouse setting. Being a dental assistant led me into the medical field and take x-rays with strong customer care. Temporary labor brought me to the widest variety and range of work than all of my other jobs. The work ranged from heavy lifting, event set-up, parking lot attendee, assembly line work, laundry services, and concrete work, to name a few. My love of coffee got me a job as a barista. Now I have the skills to make a cappuccino, lattes, and espresso drinks. That is quite an amazing talent to have. So, too, is being able to drive a truck. Trucking helped me make extensive trip plans and think a couple miles away. Would I appreciate gainful long-term employment? Absolutely! Being able to learn new things constantly is something I owe to the job industry. Jason Turner is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Living in the Clock of Borrowed Time By Charles Duff Walking among the living, feeling alone and dead. Walking in this world of happiness, consumed with dread. Tears are many, smiles are few, Exhausted from being this way, Torn, bleeding, and abused. Maybe if I give up. No, that can’t be it. How do you live in a world where you feel you don’t exist? Known by a number, barely mention your name. Living in the clock of borrowed time. Charles Duff is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
9
10
STREETZine
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
The Joy of Helping Others By Aneshia Owens In my current state of unemployment, I reflect on my many past job titles. I’ve been most satisfied by the impact of having one-on-one daily interactions with those who were either mentally or medically challenged. Being able to assist in improving each individual’s quality of life has been my most centering experience. It’s helped me focus on others and not just myself. As an able-bodied individual, I enjoy using my capabilities to improve someone else’s daily life. What could be more rewarding than to spend one’s time helping and being an asset? This includes having the heart to fix meals, assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, laundry, tidying the living space, or finding needed resources for someone who is not capable of doing such tasks for themselves. Whether my title was administrative assistant, patient advocate, or direct support professional, I’m most grateful for my ability to earn my living doing something I love by caring for others. But the most rewarding of all my positions was being caregiver both physically and professionally for my mom. I drove back and forth between Texas and Arkansas over nine months, at first to be assured of her medical care at the hospital, then progressing to becoming her sole physical support and care. All the training that I had received, I poured into her. There is no more joyous reward on earth than to honor the one who gave to me, who brought me into life, and was my spiritual mentor. She has not passed on, so while she is on earth and very alive, I want her to see the legacy that is blossoming from her seed; the path and plan now set before me is to gain stability via housing, employment, and spiritual sustenance. I’m not recovering from any substance other than life — no criminal background —so my worst of days will not outweigh my best of days. Aneshia Owens is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Work is Not Alone By Larry Jackson Incorporated into a growing America is work in exchange for a wage. For decades, the work exchange has endured the test of time. Work has really changed the face of this world where the common answer to a problem, no matter the question, is just work it out. At a very young age, work was incorporated into my life. My family made this area a point of importance. From my grandmother unto great-grandfather, the work exchange would last a lifetime. My very first job in this exchange was harvesting pecans. My grandmother taught me how to tell the good pecans from the bad ones. This simple lesson has lasted a lifetime. As I grew, many different work-related lessons were taught. I found in the Bible God was at work creating. Imitating God is a formula that has brought me enjoyment. Establishing a good work formula is very important in life, because good work will open and close doors. Always in all communities, through family and friends, the art of work has resided. My great- grandfather was a master carpenter. He constructed most of the churches in my region. Most crafts and trade skills were passed down. The art of work for a wage was taught in all my community, as God passed down the requirement for work. Truly, the work world is the field of the champion. Residing in this field are the fruits of my labor, security from hardship, and the comfort of life. Also following the benefit package for good work. Many families and households have been established through a workfor-a-wage formula. Yes, work will take you on a journey. There are many different stages of work. From experts, pros, trade skills, and general labor, there’s a plan in work. My skill level allowed me to experience different crafts. I could work with the carpenter, plumber, electrician, and cement worker. My work history will tell a long story in the work world. I’m available and able to pick my work today. Today, we have on-the-job training moving forward in the work world. I cherish the thought of learning, working and earning a wage. Extra, extra, put a little on my plate. On your job my very best effort is coming on display. Money well spent is the exchange for good, hard work. I’ll cling to things I’m happy to have found. God is always at work creating a way for me. I’ll imitate God’s formula for work 100 percent. Now it’s time to go back to work. Thank you, God. Larry Jackson is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
I Had My Dream Jobs, but Jesus Had Other Plans By James Varas I remember growing up and at an early age wanting to become an animal trainer. Then my dad talked me into wanting to become a doctor. “Jamie,” he would tell me, “Use your mind. You have such a wonderful mind.” Brain surgeon. That’s the ticket. However, after doing studies on the heart, I wanted to become a heart surgeon. I’m pretty sure my dad didn’t want me living in poverty, training animals, and having them run around the house when he would visit. I was very young, though, and he did his job in pushing me in the right direction. Heart surgeon sounded too easy. I had a friend who was planning on becoming a pilot, flying jets. The F-15, he would always brag about, and I enjoyed his enthusiasm in wanting to defend our country. I too wanted in on this exciting opportunity, so I decided I would become Special Forces and join the Air Force Pararescue — a surgeon who jumps out of helicopters on searchand-rescue missions. Usually, a pilot would be injured in enemy surroundings and the special forces and Air Force Pararescue would go in and save the pilot and do surgery or whatever was needed for the injured troop. I went to military school at the age of 13. It was my choice, and I was serious about joining the special forces. I boxed for four years in the Golden Gloves and became very loyal to the Marine Corps training. I would visit the Naval Academy and decided I would pursue Navy Seal training. To make a long story short, Jesus Christ had other plans for me. You ever watch a movie and then they just leave you wanting to know what happened? Well, this is like one of those movies. See you in Heaven. James Varas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
The Satisfaction of Having a Job By Darin Thomas I work at Goodwill Industries in Dallas on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. My job began there in October 2022 after I worked at the State Fair. Those were my first jobs after several years of being homeless. Getting them felt good since I had not worked in so long. Getting a check, working part-time, and having a regular schedule meant a lot to me. At Goodwill, my work involves loading and unloading trucks. The flow of trucks coming and going is constant. This keeps me busy during the day, when I work from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. We break for lunch for an hour between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Some of the people I work with are acquaintances from the recent past. When we aren’t busy, we have time to interact with each other. Beyond the paycheck, what I get the most out of from this job is working around other people. While I was homeless, I often felt isolated. Now, I talk with co-workers throughout the day. And I have good supervisors and Human Resources people to work with. My dream is to start my own janitorial business. I once owned DRT Janitorial Services, serving a barber shop, a Whataburger, a tattoo parlor, and a church. I had several other contracts. I need to renew my business license, purchase equipment, and find new clients. I don’t think finding them would be hard because of people I know from growing up in Dallas. I liked owning my own business because I worked for myself. I could set my own hours. I could determine my own money. And I had my own business name. The hardest part was making sure everyone was working hard. Also, I had to get enough contracts to make enough money for myself and the three workers. And I needed enough money to buy equipment so that we could get the job done. I am now able to start putting money away from my Goodwill job. And I am working at the State Fair again this fall. I hope to build up enough savings to get my own business going again. Darin Thomas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
11
OCTOBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
12
Street Newspapers - A Voice for the Homeless & Impoverished What is STREETZine? STREETZine is a nonprofit newspaper published by The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church for the benefit of people living in poverty. It includes news, particularly about issues important to those experiencing homelessness. STREETZine creates direct economic opportunity. Vendors receive papers to be distributed for a one-dollar or more donation.
Distributing STREETZine is protected by the First Amendment. STREETZine vendors are self employed and set their own hours. They are required to wear a vendor badge at all times when distributing the paper. In order to distribute STREETZine, vendors agree to comply with Dallas City Ordinances. If at any time you feel a vendor is in violation of any Dallas City Ordinance please contact us immediately with the vendor name or number at streetzine@thestewpot.org
CHAPTER 31, SECTION 31-35 of the Dallas City Code PANHANDLING OFFENSES Solicitation by coercion; solicitation near designated locations and facilities; solicitation anywhere in the city after sunset and before sunrise any day of the week. Exception can be made on private property with advance written permission of the owner, manager, or other person in control of the property. A person commits an offense if he conducts a solicitation to any person placing or preparing to place money in a parking meter. The ordinance specifically applies to solicitations at anytime within 25 feet of: Automatic teller machines; Exterior public pay phones; Public transportation stops; Self service car washes; Self service gas pumps; An entrance or exit of a bank, credit union or similar financial institution; Outdoor dining areas of fixed food establishments.
Want to be a vendor?
Come visit us at The Stewpot! 1835 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201 Mondays at 1 PM or Friday mornings, or call 214-746-2785
Want to help?
Buy a paper from a vendor!
Advertise in
STREETZine
Support STREETZine and its vendors with your business or personal advertisements and announcements.
Email:
streetzine@thestewpot.org
Buying a paper is the best way to support STREETZine and our vendors.
Make a donation! thestewpot.org/streetzine
Write for us!
Contact us at streetzine@thestewpot.org
Any other ideas? Take our survey:
https://bit.ly/2WbMRsg
VENDOR #