In this guest post, Brian Connelly reflects on INSP's new journalism training academy. 

"I recently had the privilege of attending the open lunch meeting for the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) new project, "Changing the Narrative on Homelessness & Poverty." This innovative initiative aims to challenge perceptions, elevate voices, and create pathways for those with lived experience of homelessness and poverty to enter the world of journalism and storytelling."

INSP launches Journalism Training Academy 

Between 1915 and 1925, the International Brotherhood Welfare Association in Chicago, US published the “Hobo” News, the world’s earliest known street newspaper. Like many subsequent papers, it provided subsistence by allowing vendors to keep a portion of the proceeds. Dr Owen Clayton investigates.

Hobo News: the first street paper?

Hans Baars is 65 and has been homeless for almost a year. Today, he is a “homeless street newspaper vendor with a passion,” travelling around various weekly markets. Always with him are his belongings in a bicycle trailer – and a whole lot of optimism.


Draussenseiter vendor Hans Baars: “I have to think positively, even though the world isn’t positive at all”

In Brussels, a group of volunteers have created an informal network that is activated every time someone dies while experiencing street homelessness, to ensure a dignified burial and honour their memory.



Les Morts de la Rue: Brussels’ network to eulogise people experiencing homelessness

The concept of a girls-only rock camp was born in 2001 in Portland, Oregon, US as a form of empowerment for girls who want to play rock music in a male-dominated environment. After that, the same principle was adopted by many organisations across the world. In Serbia, a similar initiative was founded by members of the young women’s activist collective Femix in 2017.


Inside Serbia’s girls-only rock camp

After waiting three years for a housing voucher, Street Sense vendor Nikkie Smith had a vision for her apartment — namely, that it had a light color palette and was a place to call her own.


“I’m coming back for them”: Street Sense vendor on securing housing

Mark Gaskin, 61, lives in a tent trailer down the street from his 82-year-old aunt’s apartment, and cares for her daily, giving up his own comfort to protect her.


Familial love transcends homelessness

Psychiatrist Ingo Schäfer heads the Centre for Traumatised Refugees at UKE, the university hospital in Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. He criticises the migration debate for causing many people’s mental health issues to worsen. 


“Mass accommodation exacerbates the problem”: Ingo Schäfer on refugees’ mental health

Micro Rainbow is a UK-based social enterprise that provides safe housing, employability and care services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. INSP sat down with CEO Sebastian Rocca to investigate.



In Conversation with Sebastian Rocca: Micro Rainbow

Gendered violence is a growing national emergency – with last year’s death toll of women and children among the worst on record. Journalist Sherele Moody has dedicated her life to honouring those lost to femicide. Here, she asks what it will take to end this country’s shameful epidemic.



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