So Others Might Eat . . . At Others's Expense?

I came across this CNN transcript the other day:

November 20, 2001 - 11:33 ET BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Awaiting word from the White House. The unveiling, the debut of a new public service announcement coming up momentarily from the first couple to talk about getting Americans, encouraging them more to get out and volunteer. * * *

JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Mr. Bush also, today, visiting a local shelter for the homeless here in Washington. A program called "So Others Might Eat." It feeds the homeless here in Washington. It is run by a local catholic priest. One of the faith based initiatives, one of the faith based programs the president says the federal government should support. And as the president announced, the amount of funding the federal government will provide to help the homeless this year, $1 billion in grants, he said, that's a record level.

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a faith-based program that the president said the federal government should support? Maybe someone should make the feds more aware of who (or what) they are funding. Despite performing very important services to the less fortunate, SOME reportedly has not been very responsive to community concerns about crime and trash allegedly stemming from that organization's presence in the neighborhood.

One 1st Street N.W. resident told me "It's like the 'Night of the Living Dead' between 5 and 7 a.m. every day. " That same resident has experienced five car break-ins and two house break-ins, which he attributes to the criminal element attracted by SOME. Another resident is concerned about trash being left on her property by SOME beneficiaries. Some people have positive words for the work done by SOME, but then admit that SOME is a drag to have in the community.

Back in July of this year, another 1st Street resident, Michael Thiem, was particularly adamant about highlighting SOME's negative influence in the community. In an e-mail to Linda Cropp, he wrote:

As I mentioned last week, crime in my neighborhood is a very big issue. Despite the efforts of the MPD, there are several major issues that, when combined, create a very negative drain on the East Shaw area in general. * * *

So Others Might Eat (SOME) Food Kitchen: This facility is located in the unit block of O Street NW and has been a magnet for crime since its inception. Everyday, hundreds of people visit SOME for their three meals and then proceed to litter the neighborhood with plastic cups, trash bags, and human excrement. Although I realize we have a homeless problem in the city, and I understand the need to provide services to those who are disadvantaged, I am also exasperated over this. I simply cannot 'accept' that the homeowners in my neighborhood have to endure this kind of behavior from people who may not even be legal U.S. citizens -- much less
residents of Washington.

SOME has a large endowment and is well-funded (mostly by wealthy Virginians and VA-based religious charitable organizations). However, the SOME food kitchen is holding back the development -- and progress -- of Truxton Circle and East Shaw. Last week you talked about the transformation you have seen in the city over the last ten years, but that transformation is uneven in some pockets of the city.

This is such an example. We cannot move forward with this insurmountable burden blocking the path to sustainable growth.

I contacted SOME twice to get its side of the story, but two different individuals, including the Catholic priest mentioned in the CNN report, did not return my phone calls. I'll keep trying.
Residents are unhappy, and SOME appears indifferent.

Word on the Eckington listserv is that SOME has bought more properties in the area. This is precisely the area of 5C-02 that is struggling to attract retail and office tenants. Now more than ever SOME must demonstrate that it can be a good neighbor. I will bring SOME to the discussion table.