Over 150 active vendors buy and resell StreetWise each month, with over 200 vendors who sell the magazine each year. Vendors purchase the magazine for $1.15 and resell for $3.00, keeping the profit and any tips. Selling the magazine is an opportunity to earn an income to meet immediate and basic needs. We offer a "hand up, not a hand out." StreetWise vendors are investing in their future as they seek a pathway out of homelessness and poverty.
StreetWise offers additional resources to vendors and job seekers including:
Free meals and pantry items provided daily in the StreetWise Café
Emergency and seasonal clothing in our free store
Toiletries and hygiene kits from our Molina Health Closet
Assistance with or referral or enrollment in public benefits, including SNAP, medical insurance and care, reduced-fare CTA, etc.
Assistance getting Birth Certificate, State ID, and Social Security Cards
Referrals for community resources to meet basic needs
Case management, referrals for housing, healthcare, and legal services