Looking back at five years riding the Street Sheet editorial/production/coordination desk and setting it down on paper isn’t nearly as simple as it seemed when I agreed to do exactly that for this 15th Anniversary issue. I guess I have to confess an utter lack of objectivity when discussing work with which I feel such a deep, personal connection.

It’s somehow both appropriate and odd that the oldest continuously published street newspaper in the world (by our count there are now 98 such papers published in 28 countries around the planet) currently has an unpaid, homeless editor. Fortunately, I can safely say that I am a part of one of the most amazing support systems any homeless person could ever hope to have backing his play in such a jam, so any hardship has been minimal. And the only thing I can say about becoming homeless AGAIN is that there’s not much terror left in it—like anything else, it’s only as temporary as your determination to overcome it.

Determination is one of the most important qualities that mark the Coalition on Homelessness. In an organization created 17 years ago as a self-defense response to the adversity of homelessness, such determination became a vital part of our collective culture. And being part of the passionate, committed, fierce crew of people who are the staff and volunteers of this organization is an experience that has brought me more genuine pride than any other. That big “we” is the true voice of the Street Sheet.

And that “we” is so big it extends far beyond this office. Laying out each issue’s back page serves yours truly with humbling monthly reminders that there are lots of people out there who pony up fifty bucks a month, month after month, to ensure that our smudgy little paper keeps hitting the streets. People like Darin Wilson and Terry Irwin have been steady underwriters for five years, as have Karen and Joe Weisman for the past six. One particular anonymous underwriter has been doing her part to make this paper possible since 1997, while Bob Prentice, Randy and Toni Remillong, Zvi the Fiddler, and the irrepressible Swine Brothers have been mailing us those vital checks since 1996.

In the decade-plus underwriting category, Street Sheet salutes William M. Roth and David and Lore Phillips for 11 years of steady support. And Mr. Rich Suen has been on board 12 years, since 1992. Then there’s this incredible soul who prefers being listed only as “Backpack Jack” who has been keeping us alive since 1991. On behalf of Street Sheet and the Coalition on Homelessness, please permit me to offer our warmest, heartfelt THANK YOU for all of your many years of generous support.

And while we’re talking about money, there’s also the Coalition’s recent financial emergency which you may have read about in these pages and in the SF Bay Guardian. As scary as that recent episode was, the response from the community was nothing less than overwhelming. At this writing, we are pleased and grateful to report that we are no longer looking at closing our doors. Instead, we are continuing our policy, organizing, and public education efforts, and we hope that most of us will soon be returning to salaried employment. THANK YOU to everyone who responded so generously, you’re all definitely vital members of that big “we” I mentioned earlier.

But Street Sheet is unique for many reasons besides its longevity, its underwriters and its phenomenal community supporters. The fact that we prioritize this paper’s continued production over paying our own salaries is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Just as important is the fact that we’ve never charged our vendors to help underwrite our production costs—something that saved our asses after some nameless habitants of City Hall (along with some die-hard fans in the Police Dept.’s ranks) decided our novelty factor had worn thin and decided to try to shut us down. Because we’re a non-commercial publication, the San Francisco City Attorney found Street Sheet to have “no intrinsic value other than to convey a message,” exempting the vendor who asked for your dollar donation from vending permit requirements under the auspices of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

Good thing, too, because our 400 or so currently active Street Sheet vendors have been able to earn upwards of $6 million over the past 15 years simply by helping us get our message into your hands—and restoring some valuable dignity and purpose by utilizing our paper as an alternative to panhandling.

Street Sheet also stands out for the fact that most of each issue’s content is planned, written, produced, and created by homeless and formerly homeless activists, writers, poets and artists—folks who can speak authoritatively about homeless issues without reciting some scripted public relations doublespeak. Or commissioning and following recommendations from a marketing survey. We figure there will always be a market for the truth, regardless of who sits in the mayor’s office, the governor’s mansion, or the White House. And it only costs you a dollar.

Truth is, one of the most amazing things about the whole process of getting this paper into your hands has been learning just how much homeless people have to say, whenever someone cares to listen. In fact, homeless people have so much to say about so many issues that the message sometimes grows diffuse. Having fewer pages to work with in these lean financial times compels us to consolidate that message.

In Street Sheet’s 15 years of existence, and the Coalition on Homelessness’ 17 years, that core message hasn’t changed: It is NOT a crime to be homeless. And every time we ask homeless people what they need to get off the streets (because it’s our job to act on the issues our homeless constituents prioritize), it always boils down to the same four answers:

1. safe, affordable housing;
2. quality, accessible healthcare;
3. jobs paying wages workers can actually live on; and,
4. lifelong educational opportunities in order to catch a piece of that American Dream our leaders continue to promise.

If that makes us “radicals,” well that’s just one more place where we can find some well-earned pride. Because we are the American Dreamers—we exercise the First Amendment to serve the public’s interest. And we share a vision of an America we can all call home, where we all have a home.

But until that day comes, gentle readers, you can rely on the fact that we won’t be backing down or changing our tune. We will continue speaking truth to power as long as we still have a voice, and you’ll continue finding Street Sheet available on a street corner near you as long as homeless people still need cash to survive.