DC launch "OUTRIDER Magazine: Helping the Homeless Help Themselves"
Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Mon, 19 Jan 1998 01:24:33 -0800 (PST)
FWD http://web.idirect.com/~outrider/helpyou.html
http://web.idirect.com/~outrider/simple.html
mackin@the-wire.com (Buffolo Office) *more contact info at bottom*
THE OUTRIDER MAGAZINE: HELPING THE HOMELESS HELP THEMSELVES
This newspaper can help your community
See also: Our approach and philosophy
What is The Outrider:
The Outrider offers a simple and innovative solution to the problem of
homelessness and the connected scourge of panhandling.
We produce a quality newspaper sold by the homeless.
City fathers struggle to find a solution to these problems. They are faced
with the high cost of policing and have in some cities (because of citizen
complaints), been forced to ban panhandling altogether.
It's stating the obvious but, people are homeless and they panhandle,
because they are broke, The Outrider newspaper and its sister publication
Metro Magazine employ the homeless, in so doing end their homelessness.
For the people who contact us, we do this in ONE DAY!
There is no longer a need to beg!
How can The Outrider help your neighbourhood?
The Outrider was born out of very real need to clean up the streets of our
community. Aggressive panhandling was rampant. With the appearance of The
Outrider the panhandlers and others took advantage of what was offered or
moved on. Persistant beggars could not compete with the friendly and
mannerly vendors selling The Outrider. The public showed themselves willing
to help those who can be seen making an effort to help themselves.
The call, "Extra, extra! Read all about it!" was back on the street and the
panhandlers were gone - we had the streets of our community back again.
How does The Outrider work on the street?
When a homeless person first approaches The Outrider for help, he/she is
given free papers this gets them started but it is the last hand out they
get. They then sell the newspaper for $1. The next time they pick up their
papers they pay for each copy. The amount they pay depends on the city and
the local cost of operation, however it is never more 40 cents per copy.
Without exception!
At the close of the first day the people who sell the paper are no longer
homeless, they are business people. They have regained their self-respect
and they are again independent having earned enough money to pay for food
and a room - the 'hand out' cycle has been broken.
Can we at The Outrider say that we help the homeless?
Yes, but only for a day, after one day they are no longer homeless.
After one week they are on the way to regaining their self-esteem and have
established some confidence in the program, it is then that we help them
find permanent accommodation.
Is any attempt made to find them other work?
If the individual is willing we will evaluate their skills and make
suggestions on a course of action for employment or skill
upgrading. We have a job placement service and appropriate job training
courses - all of this is peopled by volunteers.
How can The Outrider help your community?
1. The Outrider helps end street begging.
2. The Outrider's vendors get the support of the public - "a good
read for a good deed."
3. Seeing people work instead of begging uplifts any community.
4. People with cash in their pocket are less inclined to be involved
in street crime.
5. This project reduces welfare roles and therefore taxes.
Are these vendors supervised?
The Outrider goes to extraordinary lengths to supervise the conduct of
those who sell the paper.
What is the attitude of the business with regard to The Outrider?
Business people grow to respect The Outrider and its vendors. We have often
received phone calls from businesses asking that we send a vendor to their
location - they too realize that the presence of The Outrider cause
panhandlers to move on.
What about the police, how do they feel about it?
The police appreciate the newspaper and what is achieves on the street - it
makes their job easier.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOUR COMMUNITY
The introduction of a low quality newspaper into a community will work for
a time, however it has been demonstrated again and again that if it is to
continue to help the poor on a long term basis then it must be a high
quality publication.
The logic is unescapable: a quality publication, the content of which is
designed for the reader and not the seller, will continue to wanted and
read.
Producing a quality newspaper calls on the expertise and talents of many
disciplines: writers, editors, copy editors, graphics design and layout
people, cartoonists, lawyers, social workers and distribution experts.
If one of these elements is missing then the quality of the publication
will suffer.
Some facts:
1. We have been producing a quality paper for over five years.
2. We have the staff.
3. We have a regular publication schedule.
4. Our paper IS read and not just purchased out of sympathy.
How we can help you:
1. We can send you saleable copies of the published newspaper, or
2. We can send you the paper in electronic format, all you have to do is
hand it to your printer.
There can be little argument that strength is gained through alliances...
together we are stronger.
Simply fast mail us at:
The Outrider's Metro Magzine or write us at one of the following address:
Published by METRO MAGAZINE
__________
For matters related to training or educational videos and our newspaper
production please contact our
TORONTO office
Suite 610
341 Bloor St. W.,
Toronto Ontario
Canada M5S 1W8
Our magazine will be published in Washington D.C. on March 1st. 1998
For addition information please contact the Toronto office. Watch this space for
the location of the address of our new Washington D.C. address.
For question related to distribution or subscriptions of our magazine or
newspaper please contact our
BUFFALO office
Suite 273,
2316 Delaware Ave,
Buffalo, NY 14216-2687
Phone(416) 591-1464 Email: mackin@the-wire.com
END FORWARD