Street Sense

Street Sense provided economic opportunities to 164 homeless men and women including 50 new, first-time vendors in 2023. Vendors earn an average of $680/month, with the highest performing vendors reporting single day earnings up to $400. In 2023, Street Sense continued to offer multiple platforms for self-expression and the production of content aimed at public engagement. In 2023, we produced content in print, illustration, photography, theater and audio. These workshops are led by artists in residence, practicing professionals who donate their time to the organization. These workshops provide homeless men and women a forum to express their views while raising their self-esteem. Street Sense encourages public debate about homelessness and poverty through their newspaper published weekly with a per issue print run of 4000, consisting of 16 pages of local news features, poetry and editorials. Street Sense also has an active presence on social media, promoting their print content as well as material from other independent sources on the issue of homelessness and extreme poverty. Street Sense also operates a case management program to help its program participant navigate towards housing, health and mental health care and other public benefits as well as an emergency assistance fund to help vendors with rent and utility arrearages as well as to purchase food and medicine.