When I was sleeping on the street, I got robbed twice. One time was down at Franklin Park. Two girls, one Black and one white, got out from a car and followed me. It was Christmastime and people were giving me a lot of stuff.
The other time I was down by the Green Turtle at the Capitol One Arena. I was in a broken wheelchair and using a cement block to lean against the wall. While I was sleeping, someone took my money right out of my pocket and took the shoes right off my feet.
I’m not vulnerable to those same situations because I moved into a place last year with a voucher. But I’ve had serious housing issues for a year now.
The place flooded in October 2020 and all of my things were damaged. I had to throw most of the food and clothes away. I had to put my basketball wheelchair on the wall and spray it down to try and clean that smell out. I was sitting in the house when the water hit a cable and damaged the TV. The motor in the refrigerator doesn’t work properly anymore. To make things worse, the building manager lied to me. She said they would fix and pay for everything.
But it still smells. Everything was catching mildew. The property management company has worked on the apartment, but it’s still leaking. Bugs were brought in by the water, and there are bugs all in the hallway. Not many people want to come see me either, or if they do they leave quickly. So I pray the mayor will be able to heal this and the rental office at Sedgwick Gardens, where I live, will cover my stuff.
I called Best Buy to replace my electronics, and they did — three times! The third time the lady suggested maybe I need to find a new apartment.
Not all of this loss is money either, some is sentimental and you can’t get it back. Some of the nice gifts my customers have helped me with were damaged, too.
Several weeks ago the D.C. Housing Authority told me I’ll finally be able to move. But ever since, my case manager won’t answer the phone or return my calls.
I just want to have a stable, safe place so I can put all this behind me and get back to my team. I want to inspire a lot of people in wheelchairs and people not in wheelchairs. I pray all children will come to see the wheelchair basketball. And I pray that more community and wellness will be built around the NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) in DC, VA, MD, and other states, through you, me, and Street Sense.
I first learned to give back through wheelchair basketball. I want to give back to the community, to kids, disabled and not disabled, parents as well as single people.
I got in the habit of buying a case of Gatorade and getting it cold to share with everyone at the games. People really loved it. Some even called me “Gatorade.” Sharing, giving, and looking out for people feels good and showing them love makes them feel good, too.
I saw a guy eating in the trash last month and I went and got him food. The hot rice and chicken. I also helped Catholic Charities give out food. They were giving out bags where they normally do down here on G Street, so I started grabbing extra and helping to distribute it. I got several bags and pushed right up to the park. One guy said “Bro, you came at the right time, I’m so hungry.”
If I see someone that’s hungry on the street, white or Black, I’d give them my shoes if they needed them or sell my papers and go get them food.
Sleeping on the street was tough. Not just for me. I pray that more changes gonna come, that more vouchers will come. There are many people in need.
