It’s the giving season, stop by and say hello to a StreetWise vendor, it will make their day.

StreetWise, Chicago’s award-winning news source and social enterprise supporting the city’s homeless and at-risk population, is honoring its 30 years of giving a hand up to Chicagoans in need.

Now the nation’s longest-running street publication, StreetWise published the first edition of its newspaper on August 24, 1992. In its 30 years, it has evolved to become an award-winning weekly magazine that features stories about justice, equality, poverty, climate, human rights, homelessness and life in Chicago. It is a platform for people who are homeless or formerly homeless to share their stories and their views as writers, speakers, and storytellers.

“StreetWise has witnessed many changes in our country in the last 30 years, but our mission has held firm,” said Judd Lofchie, Founder of StreetWise. “Our commitment to supporting our city’s vulnerable communities has transformed thousands of lives by helping people achieve financial stability and self sufficiency,” he added.

Selling StreetWise magazine is a job that gives our vendors a community, a sense of purpose, dignity, and income; truly offering a hand up and not a handout.   The magazine is sold on Chicago street corners by low-income or homeless vendors. Vendors are licensed and trained to sell the magazine that they buy for $1.15 and sell for $3.00 plus tips. They use the proceeds to meet their basic living needs and embark on a path toward economic stability.

To purchase an issue from the StreetWise vendor in your community, please visit our Vendors Page. You can make a donation to StreetWise at

https://ywcachicago.salsalabs.org/streetwise/index.html

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