A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness
The paper is published by the Coalition on Homelessness, a policy and advocacy organization that fights for housing justice and human rights of San Franciscans.
The Street Sheet is an independent street newspaper dedicated to covering issues of homelessness and poverty in San Francisco from the voices of homeless people themselves.
Street Sheet vendors sell the paper and receive 100% of everything they sell, providing them with employment and a source of income.
The Street Sheet hosts creative writing, poetry, and journalism workshops, fostering community, creativity and expression.
We are so excited to kick off our 30 Year Anniversary with this issue, featuring reflections from former and current writers, contributors, vendors, and editors.
And we are SO honored to finally release to you this incredible image created by local artist Alejandro in honor of this special anniversary!
Artwork by Alejandro (they/them)
web: aledelacosta.net
ig: @aledelacosta
This image celebrates the thousands of people like yourselves who have donated and read the paper,
by Quiver Watts
OAKLAND, CA — On October 24, BART’s Board of Directors declined to consider a proposal to formulate a new ordinance that would criminalize people for panhandling or busking on BART platforms or on trains after hearing public comment from a variety of patrons, including a rapper who performs on trains, an ACLU lawyer, a career musician and a human rights organizer for the Coalition on Homelessness.
If the board had decided in favor of a panhandling ban they would have tasked the general manager and staff of the Bay Area-wide transit agency with formulating an ordinance that would make it an infraction to panhandle or perform,
by Zach K.
“Save the 24th St. trees? …Hi, would you like to save the 24th St. trees?”
A bearded activist in a wheelchair is handing out flyers at the 16th and Mission BART plaza while a pink sunset fades across the skyline. Passengers scurry past, traveling their daily commute with hive-like purpose and intention.
“The city wants to cut down 48 trees along 24th street…”
Eventually,
By TJ Johnston
Since 2001, I’ve been involved with Street Sheet in some capacity — then as a freelancer, and now as a sort-of managing editor — but my relationship with the Coalition on Homelessness’s newspaper began long before it printed my first article that year.
I started buying Street Sheet from vendors when I moved to San Francisco in 1994. A friend told me, “That’s the paper homeless people sell for a dollar.” I learned that the vendors keep every penny,
Sam surrounded by many of the Street Sheet team.
What were the key issues homeless people in San Francisco faced during your time as editor?
The same ones that they are always facing: Folks were dealing with a lack of affordable housing the midst of the criminalization of homelessness. In 2016, criminalization manifested itself in then-Supervisor Mark Farrell’s Prop Q, the anti-tent ban. We ended up printing 50,000 Street Sheet-style papers agains Prop Q and included it in our campaign against the measure.
