The economy is driving people who are not homeless to our door

“The economy is driving people who are not homeless to our door,” said Jim LoBianco, director of Chicago StreetWise Magazine.  Chicago Program students met with LoBianco at the new StreetWise location in Uptown.  StreetWise ,  the oldest street newspaper in North America, started 20 years ago.  It’s mission is to help people help themselves to self-sufficiency through gainful employment.   Vendors purchase the magazine for $.90 and sell it for $2 -- the profit of $1.10 goes directly to the vendor.   Content of the magazine focuses on social justice issues, poverty and homelessness. 

The newspaper started as an enterprise for the homeless only.    However, more and more the program is helping those facing homelessness due to loss of employment, or loss of income.   

Streetwise has 200 vendors, and actively recruits panhandlers to join the program.  Each vendor abides by a code of conduct.  He/she establishes two or three personal goals, and goals are tracked.  Most vendors can afford to pay for a room within a couple of weeks.  Sixty percent of the vendors are in the program short term, from nine months to three years, as they move on to other employment opportunities.  

The program provides direct support  to social service programs that help clients overcome barriers that contribute to unemployment and homelessness, such as workforce development, housing/shelter and medical care http://streetwise.org/2011/10/social-service-support/ .

Of the 40 percent that remain n the program long term, 10 percent are physically challenged and 30 percent sell StreetWise as a means of extra income.  These vendors are all in stable housing; StreetWise will not enable homeless living.