Spare Change News

Posted by Adam
September 24, 2007

For this episode, I took a good look at something many of us find ourselves pointedly avoiding: Spare Change News, a newspaper sold - and written - by Boston’s homeless.

Of course, Spare Change News doesn’t just help the homeless; the vendors may have a place to live (and even a job). The paper is there to give anyone who needs it a way to make money.

My guest is James Shearer, President of the Homeless Empowerment Project and one of the founders of Spare Change News. He and a number of others started the paper 15 years ago while living on the streets, then turned what sounded like a crazy idea into a paper which now publishes thousands of copies every month.

I’d always been intrigued by the paper and wanted to learn more, so I visited the paper’s office in the basement of the Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Harvard Square for a conversation with Mr. Shearer.

Spare Change News [15:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Information: September 24th, 2007; 4 Responses

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Reader Comments

Comment Number:: 1
Written by:: Joanne Weiss
Posted on:: September 25, 2007 at 10:36 am

What a Great segment! You are like the Charles Kuralt of the podcast world! He would have loved your style.. I certainly do…
You find some wonderful people to be in touch with…so eclectic…so interesting…..
This one really helps give a face to the people you see around town…so many stories..such varied backgrounds… I guess we need to stop and get to understand these people…….just a paycheck or two from where a lot of us are…..<br />
thanks for another great choice of stories….</p>

Comment Number:: 2
Written by:: Harvey
Posted on:: November 7, 2007 at 7:34 am

This reminds me of “The Big Issue”, another homeless supporting magazine. Do you get that in Boston?

Comment Number:: 3
Written by:: L
Posted on:: December 20, 2007 at 12:22 am

I would not give a dime to these people as they are mean.

The two that I see hang around street corners and I pass them every day. I bought the paper from the guy near my office in longwood and when I did not buy it another time he said something nasty under his breath to me. That was last year and still a year later I run into him on a daily basis and when someone does not buy the paper he gives a curt in your face remark.

Near Trader Joes in brookline there is a woman who sits in a chair near starbucks. Last year she came up to me and I told her I did not have a dollar on me and the woman had the nerve to say that is not what I asked you!!!!

Being rude and sarcastic is not the way to have people buy your paper. I love helping people out and give money to different organizations but refuse to give Spare change anything because of these two rude individuals.

Comment Number:: 4
Written by:: Jamie Kerry
Posted on:: June 19, 2008 at 8:41 am

Hi, one correction: Spare Change is not written by the homeless, only sold by them. They use freelance writers. I am one of them. =)

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