Founded in 1999, Street Roots is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Portland, Oregon, that publishes a weekly alternative newspaper sold by people experiencing homelessness and poverty to earn an income.
Each week, about 180 Street Roots vendors purchase copies of the newspaper for 25 cents each, then sell them on the streets of Portland for $1, keeping the profits. More than 800 vendors sell the newspaper during the course of a year.
Filled with quality local journalism focused on social justice issues, each edition also features poetry written by vendors during weekly creative writing workshops. Street Roots is a member of the International Network of Street Papers, which includes more than 110 similar, but independent, publications in 30 countries worldwide.
The most comprehensive list of services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, more than 215,000 guides are published and distributed annually. The information is also available digitally, updated throughout the year.
Streets Roots advocates for systemic change by drawing from the expertise of vendors who experience homelessness and poverty, and the investigations of the editorial department. Most recently, we introduced the Portland Street Response plan in our newspaper and then campaigned for its implementation.
