Dennis remembers moving up to D.C. from Ohio because it was his birthday. He had relatives in the city. He tells us he was married at the time too. "And when you're married, I believe it's for life - whatever happens between me walking down the aisle and me kicking the bucket doesn't matter." He moves one of his earbuds and lets it hang over the top of his ear.
Dennis is eager to get back to work and is waiting to hear back from a hotel nearby. "They're getting ready to open up and I want to see if I can find some maintenance work over there."
"What would you want people to know about you?"
He unwraps his blueberry muffin.
"I'm conscientious. I do details."
Guest Writer: Charmaine Runes
Charmaine Runes has a fluid definition of "home"; her heart stretches and surrounds Dubai, Minnesota, and the Philippines. Charmaine graduated from Macalester College in Saint Paul with a degree in economics and moved to D.C. in 2015. She currently works as a research assistant at the Urban Institute's Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population. Her projects relate to immigration and income inequality; racial and ethnic disparities; risk factors for homelessness and family interventions; and disconnected youth.