StreetWise exists to elevate marginalized voices and provide opportunities for individuals to earn an income with dignity. Anyone who wants to work has the opportunity to move themselves out of crisis.  StreetWise provides “a hand up, not a handout.”

Assistant Director Alex Diamond jokes that his professional abbreviation, “A.D.,” should really stand for “Anxious Director.”

“We always have to think of what could go wrong, and what could be an issue,” explained Diamond, a graduate of Columbia College and a veteran of several local independent productions. A resident of Chicago’s West Side, he is currently working as an assistant director on the longtime NBC drama Chicago P.D.

Be Your Own Boss!

• Over 125 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.
• StreetWise vendors are investing in their future as they seek a pathway out of homelessness and poverty.

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 offers additional resources to vendors 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