Newspaper For Rhode Island Homeless

(Providence, Rhode Island) Apparently the homeless population of Providence has grown to be a significant enough demographic that the need for a homeless newspaper has arisen. Called Street Sights, the eight-page newspaper is a free monthly publication for and about the homeless.

Elizabeth Ochs, a 23-year-old Brown University student, is the coordinating editor.

"It's sort of a platform for communication and self-expression," she said, and a glance through the paper confirms that.

A report of a recent rally for the homeless and another report of an advocacy meeting are on the front page.

Columnist Joseph Perry shares his thoughts on page 3.

Eight poems, each with a headshot of the writer, fill pages 4 and 5, the broadsheet's center.

Three cartoons are published.

The back page, called End Notes, lists coming events and phone numbers for more than 30 programs serving the homeless.

Sponsors pick up the costs of printing. Everything else is covered by volunteer workers. The staff of eight works out of a tiny, single-room office in the basement of a building on Chestnut Street. It's unclear who pays for heat, lights and rent.

Kudos to Ochs on the launch of the homeless broadsheet. Best wishes for success.

However, as a final comment, I was unaware that the homeless were such great fans of poetry. In all candor, I'm having great difficulty even imagining vagrants in their hovels reading and discussing poetry. Apparently, I need to get out more.