A lot of people come up to me when I am selling Street Sense and question why a young white female would be out on the street selling these papers. I would like all who read this paper to know that at any time and for any reason people could lose their job, not be able to pay their rent and become homeless. There are not many options for homeless women who need a place to stay. I have called around to all the shelters in the D.C. area and have been told that they are overcrowded and space is given on a first come, first serve basis.
Women on the street have only a few options. One: try to get to a shelter early. Two: sleep on the street. Three: sell their bodies to stay with someone night to night.
Street Sense has given me the ability to go out, sell papers, be able to take care of myself and not have to resort to things that could make my self-esteem go down and make me feel worthless. I have also run into men who told me they had a job for me; I would give them my number, they would call me and it would turn into a trick situation. It made me feel like crap. Just because I am down and out, I refuse to use the only body God gave me to make money.
How did I end up in this situation? I broke my arm, lost my job, was unable to pay rent and ended up homeless.
I am grateful for Street Sense because the people who work there are so positive and go out of their way to help me in any way possible. When I feel down they lift me up. Another great thing is that some of the other vendors, in passing, give me hugs and smiles, and I have learned that a smile and a hug can change a person’s day and make her feel happy.
Christina has been a vendor for Street Sense for two months and this is her first editorial for Street Sense
