Being a “Big Issue” Vendor – social enterprise as one response to homelessness.

1. Being a “Big Issue” Vendor – social enterprise as one response to homelessness. Nola Kunnen & Robyn Martin Curtin University of Technology Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

2. Overview • Project background & aims • Process & Methodology • Findings • Discussion Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

3. Background: The Big Issue in WA • 2002 Big Issue WA commenced • Social enterprise model: ‘hand up’ not ‘hand out’. • Street press with business partnerships. • Vendors’ target group: homeless, marginalised/vulnerable • Initial aim: 30 – 35 vendors Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

4. The research…. • August – December 2006 • Perth & Metro area • Exploring vendors perspectives on their being involved with BI • Research focus: one question What difference does The Big Issue make to Vendors’ lives? • Research team Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

5. Methodology: Ethics & rigour • Inclusive Research practice (all stakeholders) • Full ethics approval: ‘vulnerable’ clients • Ethically informed approach to the Vendors • Research team: briefings and debriefings maintained reflexive & rigorous process. • Orientation and ongoing supervision of social work student Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

6. Vendors interviews - Sampling - 3 strategies • Invitations via Vendors Meetings • Focus group • Researchers building rapport at office, visits to pitches and inviting input via snowball sampling technique (word of mouth among Vendors) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

7. Methodology: Board/staff interviews • Identified via Chair • Focus on Board/Staff with relevant experience & background • Telephone and in-person interviews • Confirmed information during interviews Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

8. Methodology: Vendors’ Interviews • Open conversational interviews using interview guide. • Follow up after each interview • Ongoing feedback to Vendors to validate interview material, interpretation and findings. • Participant observation at ‘pitches’. • Rapport building at office Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

9. Information from... • Interviews with 13 Vendors, 11 men and 2 women • Focus group – 7 male Vendors • 6 Board/staff interviews Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

10. What did we find out? In summary… • Positive Impacts reported • Social • Health & wellbeing • Housing & homelessness • Governance issues emerged • Social Enterprise questions Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

11. Positive impact: social • ‘Mainstream’ interactions and ‘regular friends’ • Positive community interactions • Reinforcement of self worth • Increased and improved social networks and contacts • Improved, maintained and transferable social skills • Provision of a social service to others Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

12. Social dimension - quotes I reckon it’s great the people you meet and get to talk to. (G4) They always come up and ask about you, how you’re going. If you miss a day people always ask whereabouts you’ve been. (G5) I do it for the social aspects. The money helps but I do it for social reasons. Up at (location removed for confidentiality purposes) they have time to talk on their lunch break. (G6) I should have done this years ago. Me and the Vendors get together for a few sherbets on Saturday, then we become the Big Issue Bendors. You gotta have a bit of fun. It can’t be all work. (G4) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

13. Positive impacts: Health & wellbeing • Improved nutrition, self care and overall physical health • Decrease in, abstinence from or controlled substance use The thing is you don’t drink when you sell. I’ll still have a few sherbets after work but I don’t drink on the job. You don’t look for it. I used to drink coz’ that’s all I had to do. You don’t care if you have it or not when you’re selling. (G4) • Able to work, despite disability • Improved emotional wellbeing and mental health due to meaningful and purposeful activity (one respondent noted they were left exhausted from selling The Big Issue.) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

14. Positive impacts: Housing & homelessness • Decrease in experiences of homelessness • Decrease in risk of homelessness • Related impacts: • Able to eat well, as storage and cooking facilities available • Able to save money on cost of clothes through washing, rather than replacing • Maintaining accommodation through extra income source Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

15. Housing - quotes Now I have my own place. The Big Issue assists in paying the rent. (G1) Now I share accommodation in a Homeswest house. At least it’s a home. (G2) I’ve been living on the streets for a year. Just got a place 3 nights ago at a room at a pub. When people ask me what it was like living on the streets I say to them “expensive; bloody expensive!” Always eating out. You can’t just make a coffee. It’s bloody $3 just to get some toast with butter on for breakfast. Plain toast with butter. (G4) I still live in the same house as I always have so no not really. It helps out with rent though I guess. (G5) Since selling the big issue I’ve got my house (G7) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

16. Positive impacts: Lifestyle & income • Enactment of citizenship rights and activities. • Maintain accommodation through regular and reliable payment of housing costs • Meet day to day needs (nutritious foods, clothing etc) • Increased and improved money management skills Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

17. Lifestyle and income dimensions - quotes I’ve learnt to handle my money better. I used to have money problems. What you can afford you invest. A lot of the other guys spend all their money and they’re broke. I’ve learnt now to get magazines first. Then spend whatever you have left over but invest first. The other day I received $70 credit from Telstra for being a good customer coz I’ve been able to pay my bills. It’s a good feeling. It’s a little thing but it makes you feel important. Coz I pay my way now. I’m independent. (G3) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

18. Lifestyle & income dimensions – quotes cont’d I know now that I’ll always have money to buy me food. Always have a bit of pocket money. I don’t need to loan off anyone. You know if you can get down to your pitch you always have money. I get a pension but I keep the Big Issue money as social money or pocket money. (G5) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

19. Recommendation 7: Promote the impact of The Big Issue on vendors’ lives Personal • Increased confidence • I’m much more confident now in myself. Every day you’re a success. It doesn’t matter how many issues you sell. By getting up and getting out there you’re a success. (G1) • Improved self worth • The thing I love about The Big Issue is that somewhere along the line someone said to a down and out person ‘you’re valuable enough to take a chance on.’ (G7) • increased experiences of social inclusion • Having a job matched to one’s personality When I started selling I decided I had to be true to myself. I couldn’t be anything other than me. (R2) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

20. Recommendation 7: Promote the impact of The Big Issue on vendors’ lives General impacts: • Opens up horizons and other possibilities • Gives people a sense of a future • Promotes a belief in individual capacity Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

21. Roles & Support • Interacting and supporting vendors…… • ‘Step into the shoes of a Vendor’ – what is it like to sell street press? • Role is supportive, non interventionist, business focussed role = skilled workers • Development of communication protocols recommended Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

22. Staff roles are demanding • Staff roles involve: • Supportive understanding • Enterprise focus • Sales motivation and maximisation • Self reliance • Transferability of skills and knowledge beyond The Big Issue • Enact boundaries • Model appropriate behaviour • Address and contain challenging behaviour Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

23. Pathways beyond The Big Issue – varying ideas • Transition and short term vs Developmental and longer term • Vendors seek a collaborative partnership with Management to inform strategic thinking, planning and action. • Some seek roles beyond Vendors: such as Board or staff positions. • Board/staff commented that now the project is ‘off the ground’, it is timely to consider governance and relationships with Vendors as project moves to consolidation & growth phases. Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

24. Governance model • Well established focus on providing an alternative pathway out of disadvantage. • Some concerns expressed about passive welfare approaches to Vendors – needs further discernment at Board level. • Social enterprise model mentioned, not discussed in depth • Variety in Board/staff responses about ‘where to next’ with the governance model, including questions about partnership approaches with vendors. Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

25. Model of governance, quotes The intention is that there is a clear delineation between Vendors and Board’s governance (N1). The initial model was a typical Board model – a separation in governance … (N2). The Board was cautious about having Vendors involved with Board and Staff… the next phase of the Board’s role is working out where the Vendors fit in (N1) We are beginning to realise that the standard business, government model…is not one that is going to work in the long run. (N5) Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

26. Selected issues raised by Vendors • Relationships between vendors • Sales strategies – business mentoring • Customer typologies – abuse at pitches • The ‘product’: Views on content and relevance • Trajectory of vendor career • The future beyond The Big Issue and life without it Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities

27. Further Information: Nola Kunnen Alcoa Research Centre for Stronger Communities Dept. Social Work & Social Policy Curtin University of Technology 9266 7185 n.kunnen@curtin.edu.au Robyn Martin Dept. Social Work & Social Policy Curtin University of Technology 9266 2756 r.martin@curtin.edu.au www.strongercommunities.curtin.edu.au Connecting + supporting people + places to achieve liveable, viable + sustainable communities