The notion of a street paper was first established by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to tackling homelessness and poverty based in Glasgow, Scotland. According to the INSP, street papers are‘magazines or newspapers sold by people experiencing poverty, homelessness or other forms of marginalisation. Together with investigative journalists, people living on the streets report on the challenges they face, detail their own personal experiences of homelessness and write poetry to express themselves. Not only do homeless people contribute to the written content of the papers, but they also sell them on the street and keep the proceeds.

Shifting Public Perception Through Street Journalism

Vendor Programme Director of Street Roots, the street paper based in Portland, Oregon, DeVon Pouncey, outlines how the introduction of street papers has allowed readers to see how systems have failed people, rather than people on the streets have failed themselves. This helps redefine the general negative public perception of people experiencing homelessness, supporting efforts to address homelessness and poverty. The INSP has helped to found street papers in 35 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Since the first street paper was published in New York in 1989, the INSP has supported almost 400,000 people in poverty.

Employment, Voice and Empowerment

Street papers not only help address homelessness and poverty by providing people on the streets with work, but also give them a platform to express themselves and share their stories, allowing them to represent and speak for themselves. By featuring content written by homeless people, street papers raise the profile of social justice issues, such as the rise in the number of people who work but still live in poverty, or the criminalisation of rough sleeping in Australia. This challenges global preconceptions of people living in poverty. In selling the papers on the street, vendors also gain social skills and a renewed sense of confidence. In addition to the income and skills earned from selling the papers, the INSP is also committed to creating lasting change for homeless people, which is why it partners with local services to help find housing, provide employability training and supply food and clothing.

Boca de Rua: A Model in Brazil

Boca de Rua (Mouth of the Street), published in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is one example of a street paper. Founded in 2000, it features text, photos and drawings by 30 homeless people who then sell the papers and keep the profits. Boca de Rua also has a supplement, Boquinha (Little Mouth), which presents the work and activities of a group of 15 children and teenagers at risk of homelessness. Coming together in leisure spaces such as parks and theatres, the young people participate in games and create crafts and music, which is then documented in Boquinha. Boca de Rua has also partnered with Casa Alice (Alice’s House), a space for its vendors to take part in festivals, markets and classes and to access a library and lessons in reading.

The Global Impact of Street Papers

The INSP has a global readership of 3.2 million people supported by more than 900 volunteers. In 2021 alone, vendors sold 13 million street papers in 1350 towns and cities, allowing them to earn more than  £17.9 million. This model helps address homelessness and poverty in communities around the world.

– Elsa Tarring

Elsa is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels