By Nicki Vogel and Jodi Peterson-Stigers
What is Word on the Street?
Once a month, a small team of writers, designers, and editors—all residents of the shelter—produces an issue of Word on the Street (WOTS), a newspaper dedicated to Boiseans experiencing homelessness and those who wish to understand their lives. The paper features poetry, art, short articles about shelter staff, and news about social services in the city. It is distributed free of charge, available inside copies of the Idaho Press and in newspaper boxes around the city.
The History of Word on the Street
Founded in 2019 by a group of guests at Interfaith Sanctuary, Word on the Street began as an inspiring initiative by Jacob Hieter, one of the first participants in Interfaith Sanctuary’s Project Well-Being—an on-site mental health program. Jacob approached Nicki Vogel, the program’s director, with an idea: to create a newsletter for the unhoused community where Project Well-Being could share stories about its work. He hoped that by highlighting the program’s impact, others in the unhoused community might feel encouraged to seek support for their mental health needs.
The first newsletter, filled with stories of resilience and recovery, was shared with Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers, who was deeply impressed by the content and the initiative shown by the group. Recognizing its potential, Jodi met with the contributors and proposed turning the newsletter into a community newspaper. The group enthusiastically agreed. By that time, they had already completed three newsletters, which Jodi shared with Scott McIntosh, then editor at the Idaho Press. Scott loved the concept and offered his guidance.
Scott visited Interfaith Sanctuary to meet with Project Well-Being participants and walked them through the process of creating a newspaper. The first step was naming the paper, and after a lively brainstorming session, Word on the Street was born.
With Scott’s help, the group developed a content template and got to work. The first edition featured guest narratives, poetry, photography, and articles about homeless community resources. They printed 600 copies through the Idaho Press and distributed them to the community, receiving enthusiastic support.
Later that year, at Interfaith Sanctuary’s annual gala and awards event, the Idaho Press was honored with the Partnership of the Year award for their dedication to the paper and its mission. During his acceptance speech, then-publisher Matt Davison expressed pride in their involvement with Word on the Street and announced an incredible commitment: the Idaho Press would begin printing 30,000 copies of the paper monthly, inserting them into their home-delivered newspapers.
Over the years, Word on the Street has produced more than 50 editions, covering significant issues related to homelessness and housing. The paper has created a bridge between the unhoused and the larger community, fostering understanding and support. Readers often reach out via email to connect, offer resources, and provide encouragement to contributors. This outreach has been transformative for many guests, helping them feel seen, valued, and supported. This connection with the community is perhaps the most powerful purpose of the paper: to give guests a voice and a reason to believe in themselves.
Word on the Street has had four editors-in-chief who have shaped and evolved the paper: Jacob Hieter, Erin Sheridan, Amanda Niess, and now Molly Balison. Molly, a Boise State University student who joined WOTS as an intern, is currently leading the team.
Today, Word on the Street reaches a much broader audience and continues its mission to break down the stigma surrounding homelessness. Through authentic and powerful storytelling, it inspires understanding, compassion, and change.