By CORINNE Z. LYONS
The UNITY News

Bill Watson rang the doorbell outside the brick building on West Lake Street and then walked inside.

He walked up to the counter, handed a man some money, grabbed three bundles of newspapers and then began shoving the papers into a large, black duffle bag.

Watson was just starting his shift as a vendor for StreetWise, one of the largest and most successful street newspapers in North America. The weekly publication is sold primarily by homeless men and women on Chicago’s streets.

About four years ago, Watson says he traveled the country as a sound engineer. But he lost his job shortly after his employer became suspicious about his 40-pound weight loss, a result of his heroin addiction. 

Watson is among about 8,000 people who have a StreetWise vendor ID badge. 

The newspaper, which covers a variety of topics, uses homeless vendors to help them become gainfully employed – and self-sufficient, said executive director Michael Speer. The job has given them the means to secure food and housing and buy clothing and other essentials, Speer said. 

A study by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and the University of Illinois at Chicago found that 21,178 people are without shelter at night. Mayor Richard Daley vowed during the 2003 election that he would end homelessness in Chicago by 2012.

StreetWise, a not-for-profit organization, has battled to reduce homelessness since its launch in 1992.

Vendors go through two days of training, learning about customer service, sales and life skills such as opening a bank account. They also receive a mailing address and telephone number to use for job searches, Speer said.

Counseling is also available for vendors. 

At the end of training, they receive 15 free papers, which are then sold for $1 each. Vendors keep 65 cents, and any tips they receive. Additional papers cost 35 cents each. 

Greg Pritchett, director of distribution, said some vendors make anywhere from $40 to $200 daily from sales and tips if they’re consistent.

StreetWise vendors sell as many as 13,000 copies in a week, said editor Suzanne Hanney. The paper publishes every Wednesday.

Watson began working for StreetWise about a year after he lost his job. 

A friend, who was also a vendor, told Watson about the job, but it took him nearly a month to decide to sign up. It took three more weeks to find a good spot to sell the papers. He sets up outside Jewel Food Store at 4250 Lincoln Ave., the same spot where he met his girlfriend three years ago.

Watson, who is in a methadone treatment program, credits the paper with helping him take steps toward putting his life back together. 

He has been offered two or three full-time sales jobs, but Watson says he declined because he didn’t think he’d be good at them. 

Still, he has found other work. About three-fourths of his customers are regulars, and several of them keep him busy with odd jobs such as mowing grass or shoveling snow. 

StreetWise has been good to him.  

The newspaper has helped regain his focus, and he says that he continues working there because “you can make an honest buck.” 

topic: Chicagoland
tags: free paper, homeless, StreetWise

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 7:53 pm and is filed under Chicagoland, Print. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.