The Street Magazine Enterprise is an initiative of The Big Issue Australia. It uses the publishing model to deliver an independent, sustainable and self-funded business solution to homelessness. By selling The Big Issue magazine, homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people have the opportunity to earn an income and be actively included in society.

How the Street Magazine Enterprise works…

Authorised vendors purchase copies of The Big Issue for $2.50 and sell it on the streets for $5.00, keeping the difference.

Vendors come from a range of backgrounds including mental illness, homelessness, long-term unemployment, intellectual and physical disability, drug and alcohol dependency, family breakdown, and others suffering from social isolation, such as refugees.

Vendors come to The Big Issue through referrals and leads from hostels and boarding houses, community centres and welfare agencies, and word of mouth among existing vendors. They are then recruited, trained and supported throughout their time selling The Big Issue magazine.

Many people find it hard to access employment for various reasons, but selling The Big Issue is an attractive option where vendors can choose their own hours, days and periods of work.

Why does it work?

Purchasing The Big Issue provides mutual benefit to the vendor, the buyer and the community. It’s a good read for a good deed.

Selling The Big Issue helps vendors by: 

• Earning an immediate income where they may have no other employment option
• Boosting their self-esteem and confidence
• Preventing social isolation and giving the opportunity to make friends in a positive environment
• Bringing awareness to the community about homelessness and breaking down stereotypes
• Promoting positive changes such as improved housing situation, addressing drug and alcohol abuse, seeking help for mental illness or reconnecting with family.

 Selling The Big Issue helps the community by: 

• Breaking down stereotypes
• Providing savings for taxpayers
• Building social capital

 The economic impact

 Recent research conducted by RMCG Consultants to Business, Communities and Environment, showed that The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise is estimated to save society $20,000 per vendor per year from a reduction in the level of demand for a range of social services such as hospitals, welfare support, emergency services and correctional facilities.  With approximately 400 vendors working across Australia, this equates to a total annual economic benefit of $9 million.

In addition, The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise generates commercial benefits of $3 million per year from sales of the magazine, which are shared equally between the vendors and The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise. The vendors earn $2.50 per magazine, and $2.50 goes to cover operational costs.

Taking into account the total annual operating cost:

Every $1 invested in The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise is generating benefits to society of $4.50.

Some facts and figures

The Big Issue has more than 242,000 readers per issue

• The Big Issue is a member of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a global network of over eighty street papers sold in 34 countries around the world
• Since 1996, The Big Issue vendors in Australia have sold over 6 million magazines
• $12 million has gone into the pockets of Australia’s homeless and unemployed
• Australia-wide, magazine sales exceed 30,000 copies per fortnight
• Around 3,000 homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people across Australia have been recruited, trained and supported by The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise