On the first page there is a little blurb with the headline "Street Trade, Not Street Aid..." and it explained what the magazine was all about. For 70p vendors can buy the issue and then resell it for 1.50 (in pounds), pocketing the profit. It says that the magazine was started in 1991 to help the homeless and those struggling with housing earn an income. Anyone who wants to sell the issue has to go through training and sign a code of conduct.
It also says that the magazine has editions in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Zambia. The 4 main parts of the issue are N&C, Arts, Street Level, and You Are Here.
I think it is interesting to mention that as soon as I bought the issue, Glenn, Michele, and I watched the guy walk across the street to a woman sitting on the sidewalk. They exchanged something (looking very suspicious), talked for a second, and then the guy left.
Very interesting.
2 comments:
I am really glad you researched this out because I was wondering the same thing. It sounds like a good idea, although it might now be working!
I witnessed this situation from Glenns window and I am pretty sure the people are using the money to buy drugs and not to get back on their feet. I wish they could make sure the money was being used for the right expenses.
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