Homelessness is a significant issue around the world, and the people experiencing it are often judged for their situations and appearance.
But homeless people often do good things, both for themselves and others. This year, in particular, has seen a wide range of good news stories about homeless people.
In February, for example, there were stories of a homeless man in Missouri who held onto a diamond ring that was accidentally dropped in his change cup along with some coins.
Instead of hawking it – as clichés might suggest – the man kept it and gave it back to the woman as soon as she returned looking for it.
More recently, Glen James – another homeless man in the US – was praised for his honesty after finding a backpack with more than US$40,000 in cash and traveller’s cheques and giving it straight to the police.
As well as earning a formal thank you and special citation from the city’s police chief, reports of the story inspired someone to set up a fundraising campaign for James – which has so far raised US$158,900.
Similar stories are being reported around the world, highlighting how many honest people are experiencing homelessness and challenging archetypal stereotypes.
These stereotypes often range from “lazy” to “dangerous”; views that many support organisations – such as Homelessness Australia and US-based Friendship Place – have found paint all people with the same brush.
The Friendship Place website even has a Homelessness 101 page that dispels common myths about homeless people and explains the facts.
When it comes to working, for example, Friendship Place says “Homeless people do work, and a relatively small percentage of them receive government assistance.”
This fact holds true to varying degrees all around the world, and people need only look as far as homeless magazines to consider the work opportunities specific to people experiencing homelessness.
In Australia, around 540 people sell The Big Issue, with half the profits from the $6 magazine going to the vendors. Not only are these proactive homeless people helping themselves, but they are also helping the Australian economy.
“Research shows The Big Issue magazine saves society approximately $20,000 per vendor per year through a reduction in demand for social services such as hospitals, welfare support, emergency services and correctional facilities,” the publication’s website says.
“This equates to a total annual economic benefit to the community of $11 million.”
Upgrading These Magazines
The positive results of magazines like The Big Issue have been seen all around the world, leading to more vendors, more sales and more opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.
But like any print publication, these magazines are dealing with the pressure to adapt to technology.
With more and more standard newspapers and magazines offering digital options, these proactive publications are starting to do the same.
The UK’s version of The Big Issue in the North, was the first to develop an online option, released in October 2012.
But The Big Issue Australia was the next to follow, launching its digital version in June 2013.
“We recognise that an increasing number of people now prefer to read magazines online,” The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson said at the launch.
“By offering a digital version, we hope to meet the needs of customers and reach out to new audiences to help increase sales for vendors.
Another tech-savvy solution recently launched in Stockholm has increased payment options for customers buy providing vendors with credit card readers.
The move should help The Stockholm Situation magazine keep up sales as cash becomes increasingly rare in Sweden, with bills and coins representing just 2.7% of the Swedish economy in 2012.
“More and more of our sellers come in and say that people don’t have cash—they have told us this for a long time,” The Stockholm Situation’s CEO, Pia Stolt said in a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.
“This becomes frustrating, but now they feel they offer an opportunity to buy the paper.”
While this move is the first in the world, other similar magazines are bound to start providing this option, making it easier for people to buy print or digital editions and helping homeless people earn money from their work.
The growing awareness of homelessness and the fact that it affects a wide range of people means that more and more resources are being provided to help fight off poverty around the world.
But just as important, on the human side of things, is the fact that these news stories and publications are also giving homeless people a chance to dispel the long-established stereotypes and connect with a wider range of people.
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