Selling Czech street paper Nový Prostor is not only about money. It’s about the way the seller connects with other people, which in return reconnects them with the society. Here, the magazine talks to vendor Josef about growing up in Peru, working as a sculptor, and caring for his dog Kyra.

Nový Prostor vendor Josef: “I want to get off the street”

With the rise of shockingly adept and adaptable AI, such as ChatGPT and other large language models, what can they tell us about images, stereotypes and the, hopefully, changing perceptions of homeless people? INSP asked it...

What can AI tell us about perceptions of homelessness?

Photographer Giles Clasen has been taking pictures for Colorado, USA street paper the Denver VOICE for about 15 years. Here, he discusses his approach to photographing vulnerable subjects, and how the opportunity to work with the street paper gave him purpose when a Traumatic Brain Injury left him unable to work.

Q&A: Denver VOICE photographer Giles Clasen on using images to change perceptions

As of August 2022, groundbreaking legislation that made Scotland the first country in the world to establish a legal right to free period products nationally came into force. Ahead of International Women’s Day, INSP explored the impact of the policy to examine whether pathways to free menstrual items had been opened for society’s most vulnerable women, and how the cost of living crisis has affected the rollout.

Scotland enshrined the right to free period products into law – the cost of living crisis has made it even more essential

Sex work is a subject that can arouse strong opinions and action-paralyze politicians. This is the story of sex worker Anne, who is also a vendor of Danish street paper Hus Forbi. They describe how paving their own path into a line of sex work that is “for them” means they are now in control as “a photographer, model, coordinator and customer service provider, all in one.”

The story of a homeless non-binary sex worker: “It’s a game. I get into character. I have control of my life”

Scottish homelessness charity the Simon Community announced plans to open a dedicated support centre in Glasgow, the country’s largest city, for women experiencing homelessness. INSP spoke to those involved in bringing the project to fruition about why it is needed and what it will offer.

Inside plans for Glasgow’s support centre for women experiencing homelessness

Thifany Branco grew up having her identity rejected as she came out as transgender. It led to some traumatic experiences. However, at 41 years old, she has been able to shine as part of Brazilian street paper Revista Traços.

Revista Traços cultural spokesperson Thifany Branco: “Over the years, I have learned that my gender identity is rejected by society. Traços accepted me as I am and gave me back the self-esteem I had lost”

Paul Shawdover, who sells Megaphone, a street paper based in Vancouver, Canada, says he is proud to be a Black Jamaican Canadian and appreciate the values and lifestyle that he has learned and earned in this piece reflecting on the country’s celebration of Black history.

Megaphone vendor Paul Shawdover on what Canada’s Black History Month means to him

Written and organised by Street Sense Media vendors, a performance staged on 6 February was the culmination of six months of hard work. The show, which last for an hour and included multiple singing ensembles, examined solutions to homelessness via stories of lived experience.

Street Sense Media vendors stage play exploring solutions to homelessness

Thousands of people die homeless every year in the USA. Israel Bayer, who leads INSP’s North American project, and has worked with street papers and people experiencing homelessness for more than two decades, recounts times in his work that have intersected with the tragic stories of some of the victims of continually frightening trend.

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