C.A.R.E. (Citizens About Real Empowerment)

Greetings from the Convener!

On behalf of all C.A.R.E. members, I am very excited to welcome you to our brand new website. With the assistance of the Advocacy & Social Justice Department at SOME, we have officially become mainstream residents of the World Wide Web!

If you are new to C.A.R.E., please allow me to introduce our group. We are composed of current and formerly homeless women and men who advocate on behalf of disadvantaged and disenfranchised DC citizens. We believe that DC can and should be a just and inclusive city that considers the needs and rights of all its citizens. Those of us who are formerly homeless know very well what it means to feel isolated, alone, and ignored. We refuse to perpetuate this problem. Instead, we work to encourage a citywide conversation about the plight of poor and homeless people and ensure that these issues remain on the government's agenda until significant progress is achieved.

When I originally learned of C.A.R.E. eight years ago, I was skeptical about its value and felt removed from the advocacy community's efforts to advance policy initiatives in support of our disadvantaged citizens. Eight years later, I have witnessed and participated in a voter registration and education drive that directly presented more than 100 district residents with an opportunity to lend their voice in the 2004 presidential election, assisted C.A.R.E. in its efforts to co-sponsor a mayoral candidate forum in 2006, and celebrated with fellow members when we successfully lobbied the city government to fully fund the DC Housing Trust Fund.

As a concerned citizen, not only as the Convener of C.A.R.E., I can confidently say that C.A.R.E. is on the rise. We are very committed to reaching our objectives and will remain steadfast in our efforts. I encourage everyone who visits this website, especially members of SOME's Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, to consider participating in the efforts of C.A.R.E. If you CARE, we have a seat reserved for you at the table.

Jackie L. Chandler
Convener of C.A.R.E.

History

Shalom House

C.A.R.E. was founded in March 1995 by a group of residents in SOME's Shalom House trying to preserve their local housing subsidies. Residents organized successfully around this issue and ensured that the District government honored its contractual agreement.

With the momentum of this initial victory, C.A.R.E. members continued to take on important advocacy issues in the community. Perhaps most notable were their negotiations with the city regarding Housing Choice Vouchers, a program administered by the DC Housing Authority to allow very low-income families to choose and lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing. Due to the affordable housing crisis faced by District residents, however, there is a significant waiting list for receiving assistance. C.A.R.E., in an effort to support homeless individuals on the waiting list, successfully negotiated with the city to include a preference for people who are homeless, or living in substandard housing. In fact, this is listed as the number one preference on the programs regulations.

Another major achievement of C.A.R.E. was its voter education and registration drive prior to the 2004 Presidential Election. As a group concerned with empowering disenfranchised and silenced citizens, C.A.R.E. is very aware of the importance of voting. Therefore, members took to the streets during the hot summer months to assist citizens in registering and educating them about the value of expressing one's voice through voting. In the end, over 100 people were registered to vote and countless people were provided with a new respect for voting and ensuring the vitality of their democracy.

Recent Activities/Achievements

Carl Smith testifies at the DC Fair Budget Coalition's Press Conference

C.A.R.E. Members Testify at Fair Budget Coalition Press Conference
Ron Shepperson and Carl Smith had the unique opportunity to testify before Fair Budget Coalition members on Tuesday, December 6, 2006 at the John A. Wilson Building during the annual FBC Press Conference. The FBC fights for a just and inclusive District of Columbia through advocacy and organizing and by advancing budget and public policy initiatives which reflect the interdependency of the District's community and economic development systems. Ron and Carl powerfully shared experiences of navigating through the complex web known as the Social Welfare System of the District of Columbia.

C.A.R.E. Celebrates its 11th Anniversary
On Thursday, October 19, 2006, twenty-five members of C.A.R.E., old and new, gathered to celebrate 11 years of hard work, determination, and resolve in advocating for the poor and homeless of our nation's capital. The night began with an address by Jackie L. Chandler, Convener of C.A.R.E., and congratulatory words from Father John Adams, President of SOME. Energy could be felt circulating throughout the room as members discussed the importance of C.A.R.E. and shared hopes for the future.

C.A.R.E. members at Mayor Fenty's Ward 5 Town Hall Meeting

C.A.R.E. Attends Mayor Elect Fenty's Ward 5 Transition Town Hall Workshop
On Thursday, November 30, 2006, six C.A.R.E. members attended the Ward 5 meeting at the Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center. Within the crowded gymnasium, C.A.R.E. members provided policy recommendations on a range of issues; including Schools & Education, Public Safety, Healthcare & Human Services, Economic Development & Affordable Housing, and Environment & Infrastructure. At one point, Jackie L. Chandler, Convener of C.A.R.E., even had the opportunity to talk with Mayor-Elect Fenty regarding DC's public safety system. All in all, it was quite a night of civic engagement.

C.A.R.E. Members Attend a Nationals Game
Few experiences compare to a group heading out to enjoy one of our Nation's greatest past times. It manages to lighten the mood of everyone involved and allow some time for relaxation. Well, C.A.R.E. members had the wonderful opportunity during the 2006 season to go down to their team's brand new RFK stadium (conveniently located ¼ mile east of SOME's Jeremiah House and cheer their team on to victory. We hope to increase the number of FUN outings in the coming months, as it is integral for a group dealing with such sobering issues.

Mayoral candidates preparing at a pre-primary discussion forum co-sponsored by C.A.R.E

C.A.R.E. Co-Sponsors Mayoral Candidates Forum
Leading up to the primary election for the next DC Mayor on September 12, C.A.R.E. did its part to ensure that voters had ample opportunity to make an informed decision by co-sponsoring a forum in which audience members posed questions and received answers from each candidate. Of the nine questions asked at the forum, two came from C.A.R.E. members.

Recent Testimony

C.A.R.E.'s Corner

Please read recent editions of our bi-monthly newsletter:

Contact Us

To learn more about C.A.R.E., please contact our Social Justice Associate in SOME's Advocacy & Social Justice Department, at 202-797-0701 ext 108 or socialjustice@some.org.