Homeless, not helpless

The sense of unawareness surrounding the issues that face homeless people inevitably lends itself to certain typecasts, with those who live permanently or temporarily on the streets viewed with pity, completely separated from the rest of society.

Clad in bright yellow vests and peaked red caps, perched with magazine in hand upon busy city streetscapes, The Big Issue magazine vendors are a marked disruption to any stereotypes of homelessness or social marginalisation.

Not all vendors are without a home, but each has in some way been placed on the “outer” of society through circumstances such as mental health issues, drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, long-term unemployment or disability.

Though hailing from all walks of life, there appears to be a uniting characteristic amongst vendors. They are assertive, determined and appreciative of those who invest in their product. They are not, in fact, helpless, but actively engaged in the process of helping themselves by distributing quality products to their communities.

The Big Issue street magazine itself is an initiative of The Big Issue Australia, a social enterprise that seeks to provide creative solutions to homelessness. Filled with hard-hitting features, photo essays, tongue in cheek social commentary, pop culture reviews as well as fiction, poetry and letters from vendors themselves, it is most definitely more than a “charity” magazine.

Its funding draws from sources that include actual magazine sales, philanthropic organisations, sponsors and advertising revenue, however the long-term goal is to have total self-sufficiency, with all surplus directed back into the vendor support program.

Since its launch in 1996, the national publication has sold over five million copies, all the while priding itself on being “a hand up not a hand out”. Authorised vendors purchase their stock for $2.50 each from The Big Issue offices and sell them on the streets for $5, keeping the profit from each that is sold.

According to The Big Issue website, the complete flexibility of working hours means that vendors can “be their own boss” and make the crucial steps toward self-sufficiency, aiding in the development of business and personal communication skills as vendors work their assigned pitch area.

The SSH encourages our readers to be aware of their local vendor and take the time to get to know him or her. To learn more, or to become a vendor, visit  http://www.bigissue.org.au .

Source: South Sydney Herald July 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au