Via Chicago Breaking News CenterStreetWise, the weekly Chicago magazine for the homeless, has fallen victim to a hobbled economy and could be forced to close its doors by June if it cannot replace hemorrhaging foundation support, its managers say.
A shutdown would end 16 years of publication and put at risk a non-profit publication that employed homeless Chicagoans as writers and vendors.
"We've been in trouble for a long time, but now we're feeling like we can't dig ourselves out so easily," said StreetWise executive director Bruce Crane.
Trying to stem the tide, the publication has switched from a weekly newspaper to a magazine, changed the makeup of its board and slashed staffing, services to the homeless and costs. The organization has sought to replace lost income with stepped up fundraising and grant-writing, and expanded its efforts to seek out advertisers. Continue Reading
I really won`t miss them at all. I am tired of them yelling at me and pushing thier paper in my face everytime I enter and leave stores. Its about time for them to move on and get a real job and quit bothering and insulting shoppers all over the city..........
ReplyDeleteOh good lord. bf, you need to take a class in social inequality. You're forgetting about, I don't know, folks who are homeless dealing with past felony charges, chronic underemployment, poor education, lack of family support, trauma, stress, mental illness, addictions, and... oh gee, homelessness. You need to find something better to do than put down an organization that teaches fiscal responsibility and promotes self-esteem over crack and depression. I'm sorry someone tried to sell you a newspaper instead of just ignoring you the way I wish I were ignoring you right now.
ReplyDeleteI have never found Streetwise sales people to be pushy or insulting or a bother. They have always been pleasant and polite. It will be a sad day if they go under.
ReplyDelete1) I wish Streetwise were more interesting. I buy it, but only to help someone out, not because I'm particularly eager to read it.
ReplyDelete2) Gotta give credit to the vendors for making an effort to make money legally and honorably. I'm so sick of being panhandled when I leave the dollar store, when I leave the post office, when I'm at the drive-thru. God bless the men and women who sell Streetwise as an alternative.
3) Hope they can stay afloat. I've gotten to know a few of the regular vendors and worry about them when they're not there. Hate to think about what may happen to them if this legitimate entrepreneurial venture is closed to them.
How come I never see a streetwise vendor in Uptown?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Brendan Shiller work at Streetwise publishing for a while?
ReplyDeleteto be named later, I could usually get a copy in front of the Blockbuster Video on Broadway. Granted, that is technically Edgewater (but only if you are a "post secession" Uptowner)!!
ReplyDeleteOne time, a streetwise vendor gave me a copy for free after we had a nice chat. Although I tried to pay, this person kept refusing and it would have been insulting on my part to refuse to take the gift. I hope that Streetwise is able to keep on.
Seriously... why do we not have Streetwise vendors here in Uptown?
ReplyDelete"Why dont we have streetwise vendors in Uptown?"
ReplyDeleteThe vendors are no dummies. Are you going to make more money standing out side the Jewel on Broadway and Berwyn or the Jewel on Ashland/Wellington. Are you going to make more money standing out front of the 7-11 on Wilson? Or the 7-11 on the corner of Armitage and Sheffield? You go where the money is.
Didn't Brendan Shiller work at Streetwise publishing for a while?Yeah, and the real interesting part is that neither he nor Streetwise will talk about why he was relieved of his duties.
ReplyDeletebarryfishing... head of the local chapter of the Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't Society.
ReplyDeleteNot to get out my Crystal ball or anything, but barryfishing strikes me as being one of the Helen followers just trying to shake up UU. A "real" job? Come on.
ReplyDeleteI would be sad to see SW close up shop. There is no shame in this licensed business creating jobs for people who might lack other skills. There is something to be proud of that these sellers are trying to work hard as apposed to the other Uptown vision of standing in the methadone line. They can go home at night and be proud that they did what it took and earned enough to put dinner on their plate.
I do not believe for one minute they offend this barryfishing. I think anything remotely Capitalist does.
Shame.
It might help public interest if SW could provide stats on the length of time vendors were able to obtain permanent housing. Do the vendors usually remain homeless or does it lead to more stability? I wonder about it.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right chip, barryfishing has all the classic signs of one of Helen's plants.
ReplyDeleteNever posted before and they just drop in to say something incredibly insulting and incindiary.
I'm waiting for the next election when people like barryfishing are quoted as being "James' People"
Barryfishing posts pretty frequently. I think his MO is that he is a longtime Uptowner & he is sick of the status quo around here.
ReplyDeleteJust my recollections from threads past...
But speaking of "plants," whatever happened to that investment banker who was going to have a blog about Helen Shiller being a washed-up hippy? I am kind of sorry that so many people called him/her out on it before it got off the ground. It looked like the whole hot mess was going to be very entertaining.
OH WELL
ReplyDeleteDear David:
ReplyDeleteYou must bea newspaper seller too. I lived here and own property in this area for 40 years and I see nothing good from these homeless except the crime, bad health habits and the dirty trail they leave behind. Many others suffer too from what you say they do too but I don`t see them shooting up drugs or laying in the curbs drunk whicloe they use the paper as a excuse to really get a honest job. I would say again I will not miss them. If you do so much let them move in front of your house and sell papers there.