But after accruing advice from other vendors and garnering much encouragement from customers, Shawn has succeeded as a Spare Change vendor. “The customers were great,” Shawn says, a smile dancing with the tips of his blonde mustache. “They saw that I was struggling, so they asked me my name, helped me to relax, and encouraged me to stay.”

Shawn is adamant about how important sticking it out has been. He insists that “This job has been a lifesaver for me,” enabling him to weather a period of homelessness with food in his stomach and on the right side of the law. Recently, through the help of a caseworker and the financial support provided by selling Spare Change, Shawn has overcome his situation of homelessness. He currently resides in transitional housing, but hopes to move into a Single Room Occupancy apartment in the near future.

While Shawn appreciates the income that working as a Spare Change vendor provides, he asserts that “it’s not just about the money.” Elaborating, Shawn explains that being a vendor affords “that sense of purpose that you get when you have a job.” Such a feeling is especially important for people who have experienced relatively prolonged periods of unemployment, in order to ward off psychological ills such as depression or lowered self-esteem. Aside from the economic benefits, it is this intangible egocentric boost that many vendors report which makes Spare Change News a unique model for self-empowerment. As Shawn puts it, “The encouragement and friendship I’ve found through Spare Change have enabled my transition.”

As a man who has seen substantial success in his life, to Shawn there is a clear link between self-esteem and the ability to effect positive change for himself. Prior to moving to Boston six years ago and becoming homeless three years later, Shawn once owned a home as well as his own computer repair shop in Bennington, New Hampshire. However, through what he describes as a series of bad investments and business decisions, he was forced to shutter his business and leave his home. Later, after a few years of working in carpentry and construction while based in Boston, Shawn was injured on the job and rendered unable to work. His assets gradually dwindled and he became homeless.

Today, though, Shawn’s outlook is positive. Now housed and anticipating further steps forward—into an SRO and beyond—Shawn is beginning to formulate renewed career plans. First, he hopes to return to college and complete the two and a half years that remain before completing a degree in computer science. Later, Shawn envisions himself as a help desk technician, perhaps at a local university.

Until then, Shawn will continue to vend Spare Change, meanwhile planning his future. You can support Shawn's education by selecting the "donate" icon on this page - proceeds will go towards enabling him to finish his computer science degree. If you want to buy a paper from Shawn, you can find him in Boston Common next to Park Street station, behind the information booth, from 11-4pm, Monday through Friday, Saturday morning and Sunday after 11am. Towards you, his customer base, Shawn will dedicatedly strive to impart the friendship and support that he has found in Spare Change News.