Homeless Grapevine
Encyclopedia
The Homeless Grapevine is a street newspaper
sold by homeless in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. It is published by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH). Vendors buy the paper for 25 cents per copy and sell them for 1 dollar. The papers attempts to be a voice for the homeless and content is entirely dedicated to homeless issues, much of it is written by current or former homeless. It is a monthly magazine of 16 pages and it has a circulation of 5000 copies sold by 15-20 vendors. Sellers are often at The West Side Market, Public Square, E. 9th St., East 12th and Coventry.
student Fred Maier and was originally photocopied and sold for 25 cents. In 1993 it was taken over NEOCH and its former director Bryan Gillooly, who published the first issue of the new Homeless Grapevine that spring.
The special issue 65(a) in May-June 2004 was entirely dedicated to Daniel Thompson
, the poet laureate
of Cuyahoga County
, who was also a homeless advocate and had often written for the paper.
The Homeless Grapevine was listed as a "notable entry" in the 2006 Knight-Batten Awards with the comment "A pat on the back for job well done". The paper won the Greater Cleveland Community Shares Social Justice Reporting Award in 2005.
of Ohio argued that it was a violation of the First Amendment
and the charges were dropped. A lawsuit was also filed on behalf of homeless vendors and the Nation of Islam
that was selling their newspaper The Final Call
in public. A district court ruled with the vendors, but the Sixth Circuit Appeals Court
reversed it, siding with the city.
According to ACLU representatives, the Grapevine coverage also played a major role in resolving another ACLU lawsuit, which had been brought against the city for transporting homeless to isolated areas.
Street newspaper
Street newspapers are newspapers or magazines sold by homeless or poor individuals and produced mainly to support these populations. Most such newspapers primarily provide coverage about homelessness and poverty-related issues, and seek to strengthen social networks within homeless communities...
sold by homeless in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. It is published by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH). Vendors buy the paper for 25 cents per copy and sell them for 1 dollar. The papers attempts to be a voice for the homeless and content is entirely dedicated to homeless issues, much of it is written by current or former homeless. It is a monthly magazine of 16 pages and it has a circulation of 5000 copies sold by 15-20 vendors. Sellers are often at The West Side Market, Public Square, E. 9th St., East 12th and Coventry.
History
It was started in 1991 by Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
student Fred Maier and was originally photocopied and sold for 25 cents. In 1993 it was taken over NEOCH and its former director Bryan Gillooly, who published the first issue of the new Homeless Grapevine that spring.
The special issue 65(a) in May-June 2004 was entirely dedicated to Daniel Thompson
Daniel Thompson (poet)
Daniel Thompson was a Cleveland poet, civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless. Thompson became the first Poet Laureate for Cuyahoga County, Ohio.-Work:...
, the poet laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
of Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
, who was also a homeless advocate and had often written for the paper.
The Homeless Grapevine was listed as a "notable entry" in the 2006 Knight-Batten Awards with the comment "A pat on the back for job well done". The paper won the Greater Cleveland Community Shares Social Justice Reporting Award in 2005.
Legal activities
In the mid-1990s, the city required that Grapevine sellers have a peddlers' license, costing 50 dollars. After one vendor was ticketed, the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
of Ohio argued that it was a violation of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
and the charges were dropped. A lawsuit was also filed on behalf of homeless vendors and the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
that was selling their newspaper The Final Call
The Final Call
The Final Call is a newspaper published in Chicago. It was founded in 1979 by Minister Louis Farrakhan and serves as the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam.-History:...
in public. A district court ruled with the vendors, but the Sixth Circuit Appeals Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
reversed it, siding with the city.
According to ACLU representatives, the Grapevine coverage also played a major role in resolving another ACLU lawsuit, which had been brought against the city for transporting homeless to isolated areas.