I stood anxiously with the others. We all waited, silently, many staring down at bright little screens, to board the long elevator down to the metro. None of us looked at each other, and the man with the sign didn’t look at us either. He didn’t call out, forcing us to acknowledge his existence, pushing … More Angels in “The Swamp”
Since declaring myself as an actual writer, I’ve been trying to send my essays out for publication attempts prior to posting them on Rough Outlines. My first little success in this regard was an op-ed I wrote for my hometown’s newspaper in response to the changes the area is making around its homeless services system. … More When Ending Homelessness Hits Home
My toes were a combination of numb and painful. It was below freezing on a Friday night in the District of Columbia, and I was spending it walking around Capitol Hill talking to people living life unsheltered. I handed Dan and Jenny each a cup of hot chocolate, as they playfully teased me for the … More Conversations with God: Being a Servant
I’m a Californian. But, for over two years, I’ve resided in D.C. This city has widened my opportunities, and provided me a sense of community. Yet, during this time, I’ve lived and thrived within its borders while retaining my vote in California. Last month, realizing the fallacy in doing so, I finally let go. I … More Your Vote Counts Toward Ending Homelessness
“Everyone here is valuable,” she said to me, “Everyone plays an important role.” I could tell that she meant it. It wasn’t just one of those nice things you say to try to make everyone feel like a winner. I looked into the eyes of this woman one Sunday at the New York Avenue Presbyterian … More I Saw God Today
Last February, I was walking home one morning after doing an overnight volunteer shift at a local homeless shelter. I was content as I walked to the metro, thinking about the extraordinary women who lived there and all of the hard work and passion they put into bettering themselves everyday. Together, they created a community … More Housing as Healthcare
As part of my day job, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of getting to speak with communities across the nation about their successes with the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP). HPRP was a $1.5 billion stimulus program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and distributed out to qualifying … More HPRP Success Stories
No. We’re not all social workers. We’re not all extroverts, we don’t always feel safe, and we don’t always know what to do. However, I would wager that when most of us see someone in need, we want to help. I work on homelessness issues, and the numbers I see in my research are disheartening. … More The Man in Chinatown: What You Can Do to Help
Wearing comfortable boots and warm layers, I walked through the chilly night along Massachusetts Avenue towards Thomas Circle. Passing 16th Street, I gazed down rows of city buildings framing the illuminated White House and Washington Monument, icons of American history. I smiled at this quintessential Washington, D.C. moment where I clearly saw where I was … More The Faces Behind HUD’s PIT Count Data
Life is a composition of story arcs. This is one. I first met him one year and one month ago today. I use the term “met” lightly. One year and one month ago today, I was dragging my feet in self-pity up a metro escalator at Union Station. I was hanging my head in disdain … More To Say, I Love You
ROUGH OUTLINES 