Real Change in Seattle from a Newspaper...

Photo from here

Homelessness is a major problem in any major city, regardless of stats and shelters.  And there are just as many responses to the "homelessness issue" as there are stars in the sky; I have even heard of counties and cites in the US that give homeless individuals a bus ticket to a different city so they'll no longer be their problem! (which is kind of like using ducked tape to hold up your bumper...)

Real Change isn't an over-all solution to the issue, but it is a band aid on the side of an open sore; Real Change is a local investigative newspaper in Seattle that sells it's copies for $.35 or so to homeless individuals, who then sell the papers on the streets and keep the rest of the money made.  The paper is made in a location near Pike's Place at as low a cost as possible so it's as affordable for the homeless to sell as possible (typically people pay $1 for the news paper, so they make roughly [very roughly] 3 times as much money when they sell it, so $.35 can go towards future purchases, $.35 repays the initial amount lost, and $.30 goes straight into their pockets).  I believe it's partially subsidized by advertisements, and a lot of the reporters and authors write for free for the paper. 

It helps in that it provides a (meager) form of income for individuals who would have a hard time achieving employment otherwise, and the main topic in a lot of these editions tends to be homelessness; the latest homeless camp; the latest homeless beating (far too frequent in Seattle); the latest miracle for a well-known homeless individuals (Seattle isn't that big of a city, and you can get to know a lot of the homeless by first name and astrological sign); the latest issues with this shelter; the latest successes with that shelter; and so on.

Again, not an answer but a help.

If you ever get the chance to visit Seattle and you see someone selling one of these, grab one.  You're not only investigating in something local and supporting real journalism, you're essentially giving alms in the process.





Seattle rules; when buying Real Change.

Rule #1: Pay at least a buck.  The people selling these newspapers tend to be mildly dependent on the income generated.  $5= 5 times the good vibes.

Rule #2: if you give someone who is selling one of these a bag of food (or something edible) and they offer you one as a thank you, take it.  It's impolite not to. 

Rule #3: don't expect one of these in exchange for food.  That's not necessarily a kosher form of bartering.

Rule #4: do not EVER tell whoever is selling these to get a real job; the obstacles between a homeless person and a job can only be appreciated by someone (who says this sort of nonsense) once they or someone they love has already gone through them. 

Rule #5: if you don't like one of the articles, don't complain to the person selling the newspaper; I can almost completely assure you they had nothing to do with writing or editing and probably never will.

Rule #6: Say "thank you".