Real Change is all about our vendors. They’re often the first people you, our readers, greet from the organization. They bring their stories to us, which often become feature news articles on these pages. They turn a storefront or a street corner into a community.
As we bid good riddance to 2016 and look with hope and more than a little trepidation to 2017, we asked our vendors to share their own plans and hopes for the coming year. — RC Editorial
SERAH BURNHAM
Location of vendor’s post: Central Area
What are your wishes for 2017?
Responsiveness and effectiveness in getting the whole issue annihilated — it wasn’t the homeless people, it was the homeless issue. The emphasis is our people, what are we going to do about it? Not them, not those homeless people, but us.
What do you hope to achieve, personally, in 2017?
I actually would like to get involved with the Real Change Editorial Committee (a group of volunteers and vendors who review the paper and make editorial suggestions). I can’t right now because of a program, but I’d like to in the future. I have more information to contribute to content. There can be more of a “holler back” thing going on, posing questions to the community at large to get feedback. When people see their responses in print, it makes a huge difference.
What do you think the government could do to tackle homelessness in the next year?
The government needs to create a task force that’s community-minded, supportive and participative, not “I’m gonna throw you in jail for being homeless,” not “Did you get your voucher?” If they really want to get down, they should become homeless for a day — scrounging for every meal, relying on everyone else to get their needs met. Shit, that would change everything.
What are your hopes for Real Change in the next year?
This paper won [many] awards just in 2015 (for the work done in 2014) and has one of the largest editorial staffs for a street newspaper, and the community needs to know that. The people who are in the know are always supportive and promote the good content inside the paper.
What are your fears about 2017?
I’m currently housed, but there’s a “but,” because it’s not necessarily stable. I got into Rapid Rehousing, which took a few years and I took the first thing that I could because I had an eviction from the domestic violence experience. It’s $1,100 a month and that’s steep. It’s been difficult to meet the rent.
Where would you like to be this time next year?
I have a job lined that’s starting on Jan. 9
What would your message be your readers for the New Year?
The humanization of homelessness is a really big deal — knowing that people have stories, they’re somebody’s brother, father, sister, mother, you know?
ANNA GIBSON
Location of vendor’s post: Queen Anne District & West Seattle (Metropolitan Market, Safeway, QFC)
What are your wishes for 2017?
Good health, happiness and prosperity for my support system, especially my fiancé. I want to be self-sufficient, well-balanced spiritually and physiologically, and helpful to my loved ones and society as a whole.
What do you think the government could do to tackle homelessness in the next year?
My government could raise pay rates for the working class and raise benefits for the impoverished, disabled and mentally ill. The government could also lower property taxes, and pass laws to regulate landlord and property owners’ rent and property prices!
What are your hopes for Real Change in the next year?
I hope Real Change gets the National Public Radio advertisement contract and recognition. I hope Real Change gets more support from readers, patrons and donors locally as well as nationally. Furthermore, and worldwide! Why not?
What are your fears about 2017?
My fears are that the nation will suffer from our new government from the last election, especially the lower working class, impoverished and elderly as well, from health care to Maslow’s basic needs for all citizens. (Editorial note: Maslow’s basic needs is a sociological model also referred to as the “hierarchy of needs.” It lists the elements that must be satisfied in order for a person to excel. These start with the physiological — food, shelter — and move up to the psychological.)
Where would you like to be this time next year?
I would like to be happily married to my true love William Scott Garrett (Bill), and both of us thriving in our careers and building a solid stable life from home life to peace of mind.
What would your message be your readers for the New Year?
Thank you for your support, loyalty, thoughtfulness and passion for Real Change and its growth.
SABINA LOPEZ
Location of vendor’s post: Fremont
What are your wishes for 2017?
Getting housing, better my life just a little bit more, maybe stop drinking.
What do you hope to achieve, personally, in 2017?
Housing — getting somewhere to live.
What do you think the government could do to tackle homelessness in the next year?
The government could put some more effort into it. Instead of saying all this crap, they should do something about it. Instead of putting all these buildings up (offices, businesses), they should build shelters and affordable housing instead.
What are your hopes for Real Change in the next year?
To get my own vending spot. I think it’s doing great, I like the way it is, it’s really awesome already. Without Real Change I’d be so poor right now.
What are your fears about 2017?
I don’t really have any. I’m just taking it day by day.
Where would you like to be this time next year?
Housed, making more money at Real Change, making better sales.
What would your message be your readers for the New Year?
Buy lots of papers, read lots of articles, and get more involved.
DONALD MOREHEAD
Location of vendor’s post: Ballard
What are your wishes for 2017?
To own my own house and not have a landlord.
What do you hope to achieve, personally, in 2017?
Same thing.
What do you think the government could do to tackle homelessness in the next year?
The government could make more affordable, low-income housing. They call it affordable housing; who’s it affordable for? They need to make it based off the person’s income. That’s affordable. Affordable housing is when they go off your income.
What are your hopes for Real Change in the next year?
I hope that the people in office finally listen to what we (Real Change) have to say. We’re the ones down in the rut. Listen to the stories in Real Change, listen to the news they give them on how to end homelessness, how to make affordable mean affordable. Not what the government thinks, but what is actually affordable. That’s happening to anyone who’s homeless. That’s the way you end homelessness. You get mental health help, you get drug counseling. I was homeless for 16 years, I know how it works. It feels like 18, though.
What are your fears about 2017?
I’ll get in trouble with one of Trump’s voters.
Where would you like to be this time next year?
In the Bahamas.
What would your message be your readers for the New Year?
Keep your head up, don’t let nothing bring you down and you’ll be successful. You’re going to be kicked, smacked, knocked down, get back up. Keep a clean head, it’s the only way you’re going get ahead, keep a clean head.
LARRY BRINEGAR
Location of vendor’s post: Fourth and Pike. I’ve been selling at that corner since 2002.
What are your wishes for 2017?
Peace. Peace, and homeless people being able to get off the streets. And hopefully Trump won’t take office. That man scares me.
What do you hope to achieve, personally, in 2017?
Decent health, keep my roof over my head, and the best for other people.
What do you think the government could do to tackle homelessness in the next year?
Start thinking about the homeless and take care of our own people before we take care of others. Stop the hatred. Trump’s strategist (Steve Bannon) has connections to the American Nazi party and the KKK.
That’s scary. Keep peace. We’ve seen enough war. Way too much. I put in two tours in Vietnam; war is ugly. It takes too many innocent lives. We call it “acceptable casualties.” There’s no such thing as acceptable casualties. Innocent lives are innocent lives.
What are your hopes for Real Change in the next year?
That we keep going. Next year, September, I’ll be doing this 15 years. It’s the longest gig I’ve ever had. I’ve met a lot of good people selling Real Change. A lot of good people, business owners. At first they never talked to me; now they talk to me. If they don’t see me for a few days, they start worrying about me.
hat’s what I call true friends. There’s even a bike cop who every time he sees me says hello.
What are your fears about 2017?
Trump pushing the button [for nukes]. He already said if some country says something he doesn’t like, he’ll do it. That’s what I worry about; we need to get rid of these nuclear weapons, in all countries. It’s bad when other countries are worrying about Trump.
Where would you like to be this time next year?
Inside, in a one-bedroom apartment. I’m in an SRO right now. That’s basically about it.
What would your message be your readers for the New Year?
Put pressure on their government for peace, and well-being of others, and treat people the way you’d want to be treated. And don’t treat people like they don’t exist, because they do.
Some people I say “Hi” to, they look at me like they don’t even see me, I look at them and I say, “I’m human too.” And thank you to all my customers for all their support, and all their concern, and all their friendships.