The Contributor will start publishing twice a month starting in February 2012 as it attempts to increase its support for the vendors that sell it.
The move is part of the newspaper’s “Next Step” initiative announced in an email sent to supporters Tuesday. The goal stated on the paper’s website is a “greater level of service and impact in our community.”
That next step includes plans to hire a “vendor outreach worker” to help connect vendors to social service programs as well as providing financial and legal assistance to support the vendors’ business.
“By publishing twice a month … The Contributor will be at the forefront of critical journalistic excellence covering issues related to poverty and homelessness — all from perspectives that simply cannot be found in other publications,” the email stated.
Founded in 2007, The Contributor is the “street newspaper” with the highest circulation in North America, printing a minimum of 100,000 copies every month.
Homeless citizens sell the newspaper for a profit, and according to The Contributor website, 35 percent of vendors secured housing using money earned from sales.
The “Next Step” program also aims to double their donor support in 2012. For more information, visit thecontributor.org.