A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness
Charles Davis sat down with Victor Floyd, Minister of Spiritual Care, and Joann Lee, Associate Pastor for Community Foundation at Calvary Presbyterian Church, a local church that has invited Charles to sell Street Sheets to their congregation every Sunday.
When asked why Calvary had decided to invite a vendor into the church, Floyd spoke of his connection with the paper, saying “I have followed the Street Sheet for 20 years, and it is the best thing ever written.
A Brief Introduction
By Leslie Dreyer
If you see DPW, you see that truck, you know that something’s getting got. Yesterday they took my tent and tarp… Why would you take someone’s shelter in the rainy season? That makes no sense to me. It’s cruel.
I really miss the altar they took. I’ve had that for six years and I’d gotten it the year after my ex-husband’s death.
In all senses of the word, there has been a lot of movement from homeless people on the West Coast.
There have been move-along orders issued by cities to unsheltered people, as well as unhoused people moving to advocate for themselves.
But they have a long, tough road ahead. San Francisco police and other city workers continue to seize the property of unhoused and unsheltered residents, as we’ve documented in the Stolen Belonging project.
By Meghan “Roadkill” Johnson
Sweeps in San Francisco have been keeping many houseless residents cautious and afraid at the looming uncertainty, “Is today the day? Am I going to be targeted again?” We are seeing a hike in the number of women and queer folks slowly coming forward. Revisiting open wounds surrounding their traumatic encounters of sexual harassment and assault while on the streets and at the hands of the city.
Thief: The City of SF – DPW & SFPD
Interview with Angel Amador by the Stolen Belonging team, January 4, 2019, Soma District, San Francisco.
Angel Amador: My name’s Angel. I’ve been in San Francisco since 1998. I ran away from home at 15, and San Francisco was one of the first places on my things to do, places to go list. [The sweeps have been] an ongoing thing where they’ve taken my belongings over and over and over and over.
By the project’s core team members: TJ Johnston, Shanna Couper Orona, Meghan “Roadkill” Johnson and Sophia Thibodeaux
Performed at the Stolen Belonging: A Public Reclamation action at the DPW yard, June 22, 2019
Edited by artist Jadelynn Stahl in collaboration with the Stolen Belonging team through a series of creative writing workshop, using interviews taken by Leslie Dreyer of each team member
TJ: My name is TJ Johnston.
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,
