I first met Joshua during a Street Treats vendor training the day before the launch at this year’s SXSW. I had just assumed all of the homeless people in the program were “sheltered homeless”, but I was wrong. Joshua sleeps in a tent!
As you can tell by his smile, Joshua is excited to have the opportunity to make a few bucks and meet some new people.
Normally Joshua survives by food hand-outs from homeless shelters. Joshua said with the money he will make that day he’s going to grab some fast food and a hotel room with air conditioning. Before you judge, in his shoes, you’d probably do the same thing.
Street Treats is an amazing program and I encourage all of you in homeless services to think of creative ways we can empower our homeless friends to generate revenue and create purpose.