The Stewpot discusses STREETZine and partner programs
BY KRISTIN MERRON | June 11, 2020Another Stewpot program that has been severely impacted by social distancing guidelines is The Stewpot’s in-house newspaper STREETZine. STREETZine provides a financial opportunity for clients of The Stewpot to become vendors of the paper and sell the monthly issues for a profit.
“So far, most have asked for help with groceries and we’ve been able to add them to our food distribution list. It’s been a really good thing for a lot of our clients that are housed, and I hope it’s something we can continue even when things open back up because it helps many budget-wise.
— Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot
With in-person distribution of the paper temporarily suspended, current vendors have been unable to earn funds from transactions, resulting in a loss of income. “We’ve been making efforts to keep in contact with a number of vendors, checking in weekly or bi-weekly, asking if they need help with anything,” says Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot. “So far, most have asked for help with groceries and we’ve been able to add them to our food distribution list. It’s been a really good thing for a lot of our clients that are housed, and I hope it’s something we can continue even when things open back up because it helps many budget-wise.”
“We currently have about fifteen vendors on our books, but I’ve only been able to reach about half of them. Right now, it’s very difficult to locate clients who are homeless and have no way of being contacted through a personal phone or email address. If we don’t know where they are and they don’t have a phone number, there’s not a whole lot we can do.”
“Many of our vendors take a lot of pride in the personal responsibility that comes with selling the paper and they don’t like taking handouts. Some of our recent conversations just include encouraging them to accept the help they are able to receive right now, which means taking food, even if they are reluctant to do so.
— Suzanne Erickson, Director of Educational & Workforce Programs at The Stewpot
As for ways vendors are currently coping with the loss of income from street paper sales, Erickson says, “A few of our vendors are on disability, so they are still receiving help, just not able to do a whole lot extra. Many of our vendors take a lot of pride in the personal responsibility that comes with selling the paper and they don’t like taking handouts. Some of our recent conversations just include encouraging them to accept the help they are able to receive right now, which means taking food, even if they are reluctant to do so.”
At the end of March, a newly revamped issue of the April/May edition of STREETZine was released online (See it here). The next two digital editions will drop on June 15 and July 15. “We hope by July we can also go back to selling in person, but it’s a wait-and-see kind of thing,” explains Erickson. With current issues of the paper available online, The Stewpot continues to accept donations to support the vendors, as well as the production of future issues of the paper. “Currently we’ve been utilizing online donations to the paper to purchase Walmart gift cards which are then being supplied to our vendors to help supplement income and aid with monthly expenses,” she says.
Virtual meetings continue to take place regarding the content of future editions of the paper. “Our advisory board is meeting monthly over Zoom to discuss strategies for the paper. We’re working about two editions out at this point, and upcoming editions will include more coronavirus content with stories about how coronavirus has impacted the homeless population, as well as info about how The Stewpot has been adjusting,” says Erickson.
Recently, Erickson has taken on a new endeavor for the paper, joining virtual meetings every three weeks with a coalition of street paper organizations arranged by the International Network of Street Newspapers. “This has been very insightful and helps us to take a look at what other street papers are doing around the nation. Talking about different ways sales might be able to happen using social distancing techniques –like using a bucket to collect donations instead of hand-to-hand exchanges. We’ve also had discussions about providing safety supplies to vendors (i.e. masks and gloves). It’s a group reimagining the way street newspapers are done. Reimagining how things will have to change in order to be able to sell safely while keeping our vendors safe.”
Until vendors are able to return to their posts and sell papers, the best way folks can continue to support the STREETZine program is through online donations. Erickson says those interested in writing for the paper or joining the advisory board are also welcome to reach out to her directly at suzannee@thestewpot.org.
“I have vendors who ask me essentially every week ‘when are we going to get back to selling?’ Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that right now, but I know our vendors are very eager to get back out there,” says Erickson.
As for other Stewpot workforce and enrichment programs, Erickson says a few of our partnerships persist but appear a little different. “We’re maintaining our relationship with the CARDboard Project to assist with job-seeking and resume help but instead of working on-site at the Community Ministries building, I’ve referred a few Stewpot clients to their virtual services.” Stewpot Garden Club meetings, which typically take place in the Encore Park Community Garden, have been suspended for now, but The Stewpot’s resident Horticultural Therapist Sandra Zelley continues to pop by to maintain the garden so that it will be ready for when garden club members can safely return and gather there.