Street roots., January 23, 2009, Page 8, Image 8

STREET ROOTS
street roots
2008
Jan. 23.2009
ANNUAL REPORT
Vendors are at the core
of Street Roots9 mission
ur vendors, those men and women out selling the paper, rain or shine, are at the
heart of Street Roots' mission. The relationships built with the broader
community and more than 70 active vendors who sell Street Roots in the Portland
metropolitan area and Vancouver are at the heart of the program. Over the course of a
year more than 250 individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty sell Street Roots.
Last year, more than two dozen individuals gained housing while with the organization.
Through them, approximately 14,000 copies of Street Roots are sold or distributed every
month.
Vendors purchase papers for 25
cents each and sell them for $1.
The 75 cents that a vendor nets
from each paper sold helps him or
her meet basic housing, food,
clothing and hygiene needs. Many
vendors support themselves
primarily through the sales of the
paper. The 25 cents from each
paper that remains with Street
Roots is used to cover printing
costs of the paper itself.
Vendor applicants must attend a
one-hour training orientation to
earn a badge certifying them as a
Street Roots vendor. The
orientation outlines the rules and
regulations of Street Roots, while
Above, vendor
offering vendors sales techniques and empowerment tools through a sales Vicky Sittinghawk
training video for getting involved in the organization. We are a low-barrier heads out into the
organization, giving new vendors the opportunity to start from scratch and snow to her sales
spot, Powell’s City
develop their own sales schedule. New vendors receive 10 free papers to
of Books.
sell to kick-start sales.
To help our vendors, we work to provide an engaging newspaper every
two weeks. Vendors are a key part of the process, offering suggestions and
support for the continued improvement of the newspaper’s presentation, as
well as the operation of the vendor program itself.
The popularity of our vendors has created many new friendships within and beyond
wcomnmmlyrTOânyTrâv^^
housing and
new opportunities. And on a day-to-day basis, they are changing the paralyzing
stereotypes directed at the streets.
So the next time you see a vendor, say hello and buy a paper - and stop and chat if
you have the time. You can find vendors selling the paper 365 days a year, in all kinds of
weather, waiting for you to come along.
O
Vendor Millard Gulledge with a friend
"I always look forward to
reading Street Roots. It helps
keeps me in touch with what
homeless people and
advocates are saying about
day-to-day, real conditions on
the streets. We are in earnest
about our efforts to change
the homeless system, bring
homeless people into housing
and end homelessness. I
appreciate Street Roots so
much for its fair reporting and
critique of these efforts."
Left, vendors fill
the office on a
Friday morning
when the paper
arrives. The first
Friday of a new
edition is always a
busy event, with
vendors unloading
the truck, stocking
the bundles,
buying their papers
for the day and
then reading and
catching up. It is
one of the most fun
times to be in the
office.
- PAUL CARLSON,
U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL
ON HOMELESSNESS
Saying goodbye to an old friend
I 'joger Gates captured the hearts and minds of
1^ Portland’s Northwest neighborhood where he sold the
X Vpaper for seven years. In the two days leading up to
Street Roots finding out about his death in July of 2008,
nearly a dozen customers called the office asking where
Roger was. In the days after his death Street Roots recieved
more than 200 cards and phone calls requesting information
about Roger’s life and asking when a memorial would be
held.
At a memorial held in Northwest Portland more than 200
of Roger’s family, friends and customers paid tribute to
Roger’s life.
Roger embodied what it meant to be a Street Roots
vendor and why the organization matters. In 2009, Street
Roots will be creating a Roger Gates Memorial Fund for the
Street Roots vendor program. Any donations received for the
fund will go directly to the vendor program to help
individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty with
daily supplies meant to improve the lives of our vendors. For
more information, contact Israel Bayer at 503.228.5657, or e-
mail him at streetroots@hotmail.com, or make a donation to
Street Roots, 211 NW Davis, Portland, OR 97209, noting that
the money donated is for the Roger Gates Memorial Fund.