Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project Revenue and Competitors

Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice. Over the last twenty years, Real Change has grown to become the leading street newspaper in North America. Real Change has an average of 325 vendors per month who collectively sell 10-14,000 copies of our newspaper each week. Real Change accomplishes our mission through three integrated programs: Our Vendor Program offers low-barrier work opportunity to 800+ homeless and very low-income men and women annually. Vendors are not required to provide ID or any other personal information to get started, and begin immediately after attending a ninety-minute orientation. Vendors pay Real Change 60 cents per newspaper and resell the paper for the $2 cover price plus tips. Additional opportunities include advanced sales trainings, elected vendor leadership positions, and paid internships. Real Change Newspaper is North America’s leading street newspaper and won 14 first place awards for excellence in 2015 from the Washington Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. The newspaper is produced by four professional staff and dozens of volunteers, and is informed by a homeless and formerly homeless editorial committee that meets weekly to discuss and review content. Real Change Advocacy leverages the relationships that exist between vendors and readers to build a cross-class movement for economic justice that defends the survival needs and civil rights of the most poor. Our advocacy begins with the Vendor Organizing Committee, which meets every two weeks to democratically determine organizing priorities and strategies.