Street Roots

Mission

Street Roots creates income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change.

Bottom Line for Portland

Homelessness and economic inequality are complex issues, but one thing is simple: income is an antidote to poverty. 

As one of very few low-barrier work opportunities in the Portland metro area, Street Roots addresses barriers to employment by offering an immediate, dignified, empowering work opportunity. Street Roots vendors earn an income by selling our weekly, award-winning newspaper. Vendors purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the profit and any tips.  

Our model promotes economic self-sufficiency, fosters connection and belonging, and contributes to our community’s understanding of the challenges and strengths of people living on the margins. Our community-powered reporting seeks to hold the powerful to account, amplify voices on the margin, and mobilize our community.

Quote

“As a long time Portlander, it's important to me that Street Roots exists - for its journalism, for the hope and income it offers its vendors, for the humanity that it provides the city. It matters, that's why.” 

– Street Roots Supporter

Incentives

🚨 DOUBLE YOUR DONATION and help Street Roots unlock $15,000 in funding for our newsroom when you give between Dec. 1 - 7. 🚨

↪ Thanks to our participation in NewsMatch, the largest grassroots fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news in the U.S., the first $15,000 in donations to Street Roots will be matched dollar-for-dollar, which means your donation — up to $1,000 — is doubled!

💥 GIVING TUESDAY TRIPLE MATCH 💥 Thanks to NewsMatch partner funds and a $2,000 pledge from KEEN Footwear, the first $7,500 donated on Tuesday, Dec. 2 will be TRIPLED. That means a $10 donation on Giving Tuesday turns into $30 for Street Roots! Supercharge your impact 𝙓𝟯!

🎁 SPECIAL GIVEAWAY - One Winner! 🎁 Donate anytime between Dec. 1 - 7 during our NewsMatch campaign, and you could win a fabulous Old Town prize package. (Multiple donations = multiple entries.) The prize includes special experiences and gifts from Street Roots' neighbors:

      ↪A one-night stay at The Hoxton, a boutique hotel in the heart of Old Town.

      ↪ A one-year Family & Friends membership to Lan Su Chinese Garden.

      ↪ Dinner for two at Mother's Bistro and Bar.

      ↪ $50 gift card to historic Dan & Louis Oyster Bar.

      ↪ $50 gift card to Raven's Manor and $25 to Black Cat Frozen Custard/Conspirators' Coffee Lounge.

→ ONGOING →

35 and Under 

• ✰ The first 50 donors 35 or under will receive a “Night Out” package from Hollywood Theatre, which includes two free movie passes, two free drink cards, and two free bags of popcorn. 🍿
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• ✰All donors 35 and under will have the chance to win a Movie Madness Miniplex rental for a private film screening with up to 18 of their friends! The movie? Well that’s up to the winner to select from the vast Movie Madness library. Multiple donations = multiple entries! 🎥 🎞
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First-Time Street Roots Donors ✅ (all 50 claimed!)

✰ The first 50 donors who give to Street Roots for their very first time will receive a bag of Marigold Coffee in a blend of their choice - Squirrel Rhapsody, Kaleidoscope, or Daydreamer. ☕️

Partner(s)

–NONPROFIT PARTNERS–

We are honored to partner with fellow Give!Guide nonprofits who share our commitment to shining a light on essential information and elevating diverse perspectives through journalism and community-centered storytelling. We encourage our supporters to check out Oregon ArtsWatch, The Immigrant Story, Underscore Native News, The Lund Report, Oregon Journalism Project, XRAY.FM, Oregon Humanities and Friends of Willamette Week.

🗞 Expand the impact of local news and storytelling by supporting the collective efforts of our partners!

–BUSINESS PARTNERS–

These businesses are joining with Street Roots to offer our Give!Guide supporters special incentives and matching gift challenges while encouraging their patrons to support our work.

🥾 KEEN Footwear: Headquartered in Portland, KEEN makes comfortable, durable & sustainable shoes made to last while investing their support in local nonprofits, like Street Roots. 

🌮 ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria: Our longtime supporters will be donating a 10% of the sales from their Mississippi and Hawthorne restaurants on November 19th to Street Roots! Add it to your calendar by clicking here!

🎬 Hollywood Theatre: This historic theatre offers a diverse array of film programming and initiatives that empower audiences to fully explore and participate in the rich cultural heritage of cinema. Look for Street Roots’ OnScreen Slide during your next trip to the movies!