NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For years, a local non-profit has utilized journalism to help the unhoused find a job and housing in Nashville.
In our all-day special report: ‘Everybody's Problem:’ News 2 talks to The Contributor — a newspaper written and sold by the unhoused community.
A beginning, middle, and end. It's the foundation for a good story. However, when it comes to an individual narrative, every story is told differently.
“I took a lot of thought, and this is how I said it, the piece is called pioneers,” Chris Scott said.
Scott is both a writer and a poet for The Contributor. He read his latest piece “Pioneers,” to News 2.
“Just for the hell of it, make homelessness in Nashville just part of the mix” Scott read.
It’s at The Contributor where Scott shares his story, passion and love through the art of writing.
“I came here on a Greyhound bus five years ago with a crack and cocaine addiction,” Scott said.
The paper hires the unhoused to not only help write and illustrate the publication, but distribute it across Nashville for profit.
“It's nice to be self-employed,” Keith Doehring, Vendor for The Contributor said.
Keith Doehring has worked for the contributor for 12 years. When he spoke with News 2, he had taken the bus downtown to pick up the latest issue. He sells the paper near the Walmart in Antioch.
“I'm not going to get rich, but I can make a living and that's the whole purpose of this,” Doehring said.
The purpose has allowed Keith to find housing and help pay his bills. Co-founder and Executive Director Will Connelly said that as of publication, 50 percent of the vendors are housed.
“Our street newspaper vendors buy the issues from us for 50 cents and then sell it for $2, usually, plus tips," Connelly said. "They keep the profit."
The vendors are not only obtaining a house and a job, but a sense of pride.
“I can go into any store, and they are like ‘Aren’t you the guy that sells the paper?'" Doehring said. "Yeah!”
“If you sell the newspapers for six months, the chances of you obtaining housing are over 70 percent,” Connelly said.
It also gives vendors like Doehring the power to write their own stories.
“We can end homelessness right here and right now if we allow the unhoused to become pioneers,” Scott said.
Connelly said the vendors also accept Venmo. Connelly also urged those who purchase the paper to take it and read it.