A lease agreement with the city of Sacramento allowed encampment residents to stay indefinitely while they sought permanent housing. When the agreement fell apart, the residents, many of whom are disabled, say that they were left without an accessible place to go.

Sacramento encampment residents thought they’d found stability. Why did their lease fall apart?

The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) has spoken out about the need to “tackle public perceptions about what its like to be homeless and in poverty”, as part of the solution to the UK’s growing poverty crisis. 

INSP’s comments are in response to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty report, revealing for the first time how many thousands of pounds are needed by families to escape poverty, and how that has got worse over time. 

INSP responds to UK Poverty report

Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce - designed by Studio Texture

INSP partners with Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) to provoke discussion on how people experiencing homelessness and poverty are represented in the media. 


Changing the narrative on homelessness and poverty 

Generally speaking, the less someone earns, the more government support they receive. But these programs also come with income restrictions, which cut residents off from benefits as their salaries rise. Street Sense Media reports from the ground in the District of Columbia, US.


How the “benefits cliff” traps people in poverty

"Welcome to my home," a man says. I think that he means that I should feel welcome in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, but it then becomes clear to me that Parliament is actually his residence.

Homeless on the doorstep of EU

Hannes Lindgren Eriksen is 28 years old and works as a Faktum vendor in Gothenburg, Sweden. His pitch is at Stenpiren, a central travel hub on the banks of the Göta River where people hop on and off buses, trams and ferries as they travel around the city, archipelago and beyond. It’s a perfect spot for him: he can indulge his love of trains, trams and ferries while working as a vendor and delighting in connecting with his network of customers.

Faktum vendor Hannes Lindgren Eriksen on growing up with autism

In Kirchdorf-Süd, a project developer has built micro-apartments for people in need of housing. Why doesn’t this happen more often?


25 square metres of freedom: inside Germany’s micro-apartments

Stefan Gogov, 47, started selling Serbian street paper Liceulice four years ago when he returned to his mother’s native country, Serbia, after growing up in France. He enjoys keeping busy and appreciates that his life is no longer monotonous.

Meet Liceulice vendor Stefan Gogov

Follow Chiu-yen’s journey from bundling magazines to selling them.

Meet Kang Chiu-yen, Big Issue Taiwan vendor at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei Bridge Station

“You will meet a lady who sells The Big Issue. At first, you will think this is a stupid idea, standing out there trying to sell the magazine. But you give it a go, and to tell you the truth, it will end up being the best decision you will make.”


Meet Ruth, The Big Issue Australia vendor in Adelaide

An artist from the Academy of the Street at work. Photo: Katharina Mayer

Street paper fiftyfifty and art professor Katharina Mayer founded the Academy of the Street with people experiencing homelessness. Mayer, an important contemporary photographer, has repeatedly photographed people experiencing homelessness in work, countering the often-negative perception of people experiencing poverty and exclusion with portraits that emphasise the dignity of marginalised communities.

Tagged with 'poverty'