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<\/figure>Location: Seattle, Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mission: “Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice to low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice.1<\/sup>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus:2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Real Change Cover VOL. 29. NO. 413<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Location: Washington, D.C<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mission: “Our mission is to end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. area by empowering people in need with the skills, tools, and confidence to succeed. Together we use a range of media platforms to raise awareness and spotlight solutions to homelessness in our community.4<\/sup>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus: “Street Sense Media produces journalism, film, theater, photography, audio, illustration, and more, all for the purpose of providing economic opportunity for and elevating the voices of people experiencing homelessness. The content of our media center aims to challenge perceptions of homelessness and those it affects while creating common ground upon which we can build a stronger community.5<\/sup>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Sense Cover VOL. 19. ISSUE 466<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Location: Portland, Oregon <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mission: “Street Roots creates income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change.7<\/sup>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus:8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Roots Cover October 12, 20229<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Each street paper has a vendor program in place to help both the homeless population and impoverished individuals. Each paper emphasizes the fact that they provide an income to vendors without some of the barriers that occur when looking for a \u201ctypical\u201d job. Vendors for each paper do not need an ID, references, or to even fill out an application. All that is required is a short orientation and agreement to each paper\u2019s set of guidelines. Vendors are self-employed without a boss to dictate their hours. You will see an individual vendor wearing a badge provided by each paper; ultimately they will be seen as legitimate salespeople. There is a sense of community as a vendor and within that community there is someone to report grievances to in regard to other vendors or the general public. To protect vendors\u2019 rights each website informs the public of their vendors\u2019 first amendment right to sell the paper on public property. An online payment system is available through each paper for those who do not carry cash. Both Real Change and Street Roots use Venmo while Street Sense Media has its own app for mobile payments.10,11,12<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are differences in the profit and support each paper gives their vendors in reference to the vendor program. Real Change vendors make a profit of $1.40 to $1.50 per paper (purchase price: $0.60 or $0.50 on Tuesdays, selling price: $2)13<\/sup>. Street Sense Media vendors similarly make a profit of $1.50 per paper (purchase price: $0.50, selling price: $2)14<\/sup>. Street Roots vendors only make a profit of $0.75 per paper offset by a lower purchasing price (purchase price: $0.25, selling price: $1)15<\/sup>. Real Change16<\/sup> and Street Roots17<\/sup> both offer a leg up with 10 free papers after completion of orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Real Change puts extra effort into helping vendors sell more papers. Each vendor has a chance to earn $25 if they win Vendor of the Week and a profile in the paper which potentially brings more business to the vendor. Each vendor receives support in finding a selling location or choosing an available post that is at least one block away and across the street from the next nearest vendor. There is support available for building a regular customer base18<\/sup>. Once vendors establish a customer base Real Change offers a reserved selling location program. According to this program, vendors that sell 300 or more papers in a month can reserve their spot from 6 am – 2 pm or 2 pm – 10 pm. Vendors who sell 600 or more papers a month apply to have their spot reserved 24\/719<\/sup>. Vendors\u2019 locations, names, and badge numbers are posted on the Real Change website so that their customers can always find them20<\/sup>. There is even a Facebook page just for vendors to get updates21<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Roots also provides vendor support but it is not as personalized. Their website provides common locations where vendors can be found but they do not list individual vendors’ locations. Street Roots also allows customers to order a bulk subscription for at least $25\/week from a vendor. Also, they encourage the public to inform them if they have a location where they\u2019ll welcome a vendor to sell at22<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each paper has a page that sheds light on the plight of many vendors. The stories are authored by someone other than the vendor so that those who don\u2019t want to test their journalistic abilities can still have their story told. Real Change, Street Sense Media, and Street Roots each allow vendors to write their personal stories and perspectives if they wish23,24,25<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, each paper informs the homeless population of resources available outside of their own resources. Each paper provides an online resource list of shelters, meals, medical and employment assistance, etc. but Real Change and Street Roots provide an extensive printed resource list keeping in mind those without access to the internet26,27,28<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Real Change believes that the best solutions comes from those experiencing the problem and makes it their priority not to assume what is best for their vendors. The Vendor Organizing Community allows vendors to use their expertise to inform Real Change which policies are most beneficial and helps vendors advocate at the city, county, and state level for these policies. To prepare VOC members they take speaking training and prepare written testimonies to share in city and county meetings29<\/sup>. Vendors inform Real Change\u2019s decision-making in which they participate in the editorial committee and develop vendor-centric programs and procedures. Individual vendors have access to \u201ccase management, food assistance, service referrals, medical care, mailboxes, and a computer lab” to help them escape homelessness30<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to helping on the individual level, Real Change wants permanent, systematic change. Real Change regularly interviews government candidates and has many articles about the policies affecting the homeless and impoverished community of Seattle31<\/sup> so readers can make informed political decisions. They are active civic members and have confidence in their use of civil power. Real Change advocates against the criminalization of the homeless which include the ongoing camp sweeps. House Our Neighbors! is their initiative for social housing on the 2022 City of Seattle ballot32<\/sup>. Their efforts for social housing include permanently affordable, comfortable, healthy homes that have \u201c low energy costs, are resilient to cold snaps and heat domes, and are free from the buildup of condensation and mold33<\/sup>\u201d and provides \u201cventilated air that offers a respite from air pollution, and wildfire smoke during the extensive smoke events induced by a warming world34<\/sup>.\u201d Their website is full of information to inform readers about social housing and its benefits. Another example of Real Change’s civic involvement is their push to install \u201cstreet sinks” to provide hygiene facilities to the homeless population in The City of Seattle which has no public restrooms\/facilities. The city initially guaranteed to fund the project but has since created barriers to the actual construction of the sinks35<\/sup>. Real Change is present at town hall meetings with the mayor and rallies including a \u201cTax the Rich” rally36<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Sense Media takes a much more individualistic approach to bringing about change and encourages individual development. Their programs are not as concerned with vendors and case management clients being civic members of the community. Vendors participate in the paper though various media platforms including film, illustration, photography, podcasts, theater, and journalism. Vendors have access to numerous workshops exclusive to vendors and case management clients where they develop their artistic skills. An art workshop is available to develop material for the art section of the paper38<\/sup>. An illustration workshop allows vendors to \u201cillustrate content for the newspaper, advertise other programs of our media center and take on contract work as available39<\/sup>.\u201d There is a weekly writing workshop where vendors develop ideas and produce material for the next Street Sense. Vendors develop news material in addition to expressing themselves through poetry, essays, fiction, etc40<\/sup>. A bi-weekly photography workshop \u201ctrains participants in the technical operation of a camera, how to choose a composition and how to develop strong concepts41<\/sup>.\u201d Using these skills they produce material for the paper and document the work of the paper\u2019s media center42<\/sup>. The podcast series is contributed to by participants in the podcasting workshop43<\/sup>. The Staging Hope workshop is where vendors create and perform scenes, monologues, poetry, and songs44<\/sup>. Devising Hope is a weekly workshop where vendors partner with high school students to discuss their life stories, examine literary themes, and engage in theatrical exercises and improvisations. The group then develops scenes and monologues to perform for the public45<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Sense Media’s individualistic approach is further shown in their case management in which it is built \u201caround close relationships that allow us to tailor the support we provide each person to their particular needs and capacities.46<\/sup>\u201d They believe this approach is possible due to \u201ca person\u2019s long-term involvement as a vendor and\/or participant in our workshops.47<\/sup>\u201d Regardless, anyone experiencing homeless receives support which includes direct services such as \u201coffering a person dry clothes or an emergency gift card to purchase food or medicine, working with individuals to secure a new identification card, or as involved as years-long efforts to secure housing.48<\/sup>\u201d Unlike the other street papers, staff goes to the homeless population in which staff makes on-site visits to \u201coffer seasonal toiletry supplies, an invitation to become a vendor, and an offer of assistance through \u2026 case management work.49<\/sup>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n They rely on the reader to become informed so that they can be inspired to bring systematic change. Street Sense Media works to inform the public about an extensive list of topics to inspire people to make a change. Their news web page has 82 tabs along the side directing you to 82 topics affecting the community50<\/sup>. Street Sense Media’s civic engagement lies in support of other organizations who fight for systematic change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Roots seems to be the middle ground between Real Change and Street Sense Media. They provide a balance between civic engagement and the individualistic approach. Civic engagement includes challenging sit-lie ordinances, advocating against the criminalization of homelessness that creates further barriers to housing and employment, and fighting to put an end to camp sweeps52<\/sup>. One way they hope to bring about systemic change is the Portland Street Response plan in which they report on why police sweeps and arresting the homeless population are ineffective and a better system is available for helping those on the streets53<\/sup>. They work to inform the public of political candidates and policies54<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To help individuals their Ambassador Program vendors have additional chances to earn an income including public health outreach, surveys, and trainings. Additionally, ambassadors are connected to jobs with Street Roots\u2019s community partners55<\/sup>. One of their most important aspects will be the building when is it finished. Many individuals will be able to improve themselves through this facility including having a place to shower and do laundry56<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their main approach is reporting what is happening to individuals to the public and creating or collaborating with others to develop different approaches to addressing homelessness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On their website, they explain their approach in which they bring \u201csystemic change by drawing from the expertise of vendors who experience homelessness and poverty, and the investigations of the editorial department.60<\/sup>\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each paper provides a direct link between the homeless population and the overall community. The community can donate, intern, and volunteer65,66,67<\/sup>. Each paper ensures to make the community comfortable when engaging with vendors in which they only sell papers on public property unless they have permission otherwise, vendors are not allowed to harass potential customers, and there are systems in place to report grievances68,69,70<\/sup>. Outside of <\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Sense Media allows the Opinion Section of the paper to be open to anyone who wants to speak about local homelessness and poverty71<\/sup>. They provide the opportunity for the community to listen to presentations from and about the homeless population. There is a cost associated with these student seminars to compensate speakers who are not full-time staff72<\/sup>. Not to mention, Street Sense takes accessibility to the next level with various ways to engage with the material such as films, illustrations, photography, theater, podcasts, seminars, and writing groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Street Sense Media is especially essential in its community as it is the \u201conly newspaper focused on homelessness and poverty issues in Washington, D.C. And we are the only newspaper produced by and for people who are homeless and impoverished in our nation\u2019s capital.73<\/sup>\u201d Street Sense Media encourages the community to advocate for the homeless population. They provide hotlines to call if you see someone in need and informs the public of other organizations to volunteer at. Information is provided about various campaigns that help the homeless. There is a section labeled \u201ceducate\u201d to provide ways to be part of the solution in which they point you to various organizations and programs that are dedicated to bringing an end to homelessness and other injustices74<\/sup>. Readers are encouraged to \u201cstay informed about policy initiatives that might need your support, and write to your local officials.75<\/sup>\u201d The community is also encouraged to be understanding about why someone is considered “lazy,” “uneducated,” etc, and to use sympathetic language such as “people experiencing homelessness” instead of “bum.” Then, readers should pass on this knowledge to others to build a community dedicated to bringing about change76<\/sup>. Street Sense Media is big on how the homeless population is represented and understood in the community. Their Homeless Crisis Reporting Project aims to push newsrooms to dedicate a week to reporting on homelessness and provides a guide for journalists who want to report on homelessness77<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/english-iui\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/147\/2022\/10\/street-e1665882559766.png\")
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/english-iui\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/147\/2022\/10\/roots-1.png\")
<\/figure>Economic Independence: The Vendor Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Support Within The Vendor Program <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Are Vendors’ Voices Heard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do We End Homelessness?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Interaction With the Community <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Statistical Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n