Spare Change grew out of a need to give voice to those who had been silenced. One of the first street papers to emerge, it was born from a desire to empower those that are typically marginalized in society. In 1992 a group of homeless individuals met to develop a vehicle that could serve multiple needs. The street paper could serve as a medium through which homeless and low-income individuals could share their thought, talents, views and challenge the status quo. Additionally, the paper could do more than organize and send a message; it could also serve as a dignified source of income by allowing homeless and low income individuals to sell the paper. Finally it could also educate the public about the issues of homelessness and thereby create action.

The newspaper was an immediate success but in order to thrive it was decided that a stronger infrastructure was needed; and the Homeless Empowerment Project became a non-profit organization that produces Spare Change News. The content of the paper has always been a call to action and a challenge to the status quo. They have stood up to the shelter system, at times angering those in power, by questioning whether the best interests of the homeless were being served by practices and policies. the mission and work has remained the same over the years but specific content changes with the burning issues of the day.

When the first issue of Spare Change was published in 1992 there were a mere handful of people involved in all aspects of production and distribution of an eight-page paper that was published once a month. Today Spare Change News has sixteen pages, is published twice as often, and has separate departments responsible for production, sale, and editorial concerns. The increase in editorial capacity has allowed us to provide a greater range of material and attract people with diverse interests. In a single issue Spare Change can update homeless advocates and providers of events and circumstances affecting the community, offer readers creative stories and artwork produced from the perspective of someone who was or is homeless, and provoke thought and reaction about a significant issue through thoughtful stories and deliberate editorials. As physical and conceptual capacity has increased, so has the quality and appearance of the paper. Part of that improvement comes from the development of a stable and dedicated staff. The combined stability and experience of our staff offers a great deal of comfort to writers and vendors.

Spare Change News publishes 8,000 copies every two weeks and approximately 95% of those papers are sold to the public by vendors; who have been or are homeless. Depending on how often they work, vendors are able to earn a respectable wage selling the paper and many support themselves through paper sales. Vendors who sell Spare Change purchase newspapers for 25 cents each and resell them for $1.00, thus making a 75-cent profit on each paper sold. Currently there are about 130 enrolled vendors, with approximately 60 selling Spare Change News each month. Vendors who wish to sell Spare Change must meet a few requirements: they must be sober, respectful and courteous to Spare Change staff, other vendors, and customers. Since it was founded the program has helped nearly two thousand people by providing this source of immediate, personal income.

The Spare Change News mission is to provide opportunities to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through the writing, production, distribution and sale of our newspaper. While providing these opportunities, the newspaper serves as both an avenue for expression and an advocacy tool for the homeless community—giving homeless and formerly homeless writers, poets and illustrators space to showcase their skill and share their experience. Through our newspaper the contributors, vendors, and staff of Spare Change News play an educational role by promoting facts and destroying myths about the poor. While doing all this, Spare Change News encourages a sense of community among our constituents and invites those who are more fortunate, people who may otherwise have little interaction with the homeless, to become involved in the struggle for economic and social justice.