Word on the Street

Word on the Street is a collection of personal narratives, artwork, poetry, and reporting on social issues in the Treasure Valley and beyond. Our newspaper addresses the stigma of homelessness and its material consequences while also providing a platform for people to tell their own stories. Our purpose is to raise awareness and motivate the community to create change that benefits all of us.

Word on the Street was founded through Project Well-Being, a day program at Interfaith Sanctuary focused on mental health and recovery and is edited by journalist and Boise State alumni Amanda Niess. The newspaper is printed and distributed to 30,000 Treasure Valley households once a month with the help of the Idaho Press.

If you have a story you’d like to see in Word on the Street, please feel free to send them to amanda@interfaithsanctuary.org. We would love to hear from you!

WOTS Pickup Locations

The Record Exchange………………………………………………….1105 W. Idaho St.
Downtown Boise Public Library…………………………..715 S. Capitol Blvd.
Downtown Boise YMCA…………………………………………….1050 W. State St.
Corpus Christi House ……………………………………….525 S. Americana Blvd.
The District Coffee ……………………………………………………..219 N. 10th St.
Laundry Haus……………………………………………………………..222 S. Orchard St.
Washing Time Laundry ………………………………………………4744 W. State St.
Americana Pizza…………………………………………………304 S. Americana Blvd.
Neckar Coffee……………………………………………………………..117 S. 10th St.
Guru Donuts………………………………………………………………928 W. Main St #100
Broadcast Coffee…………………………………………………………….1100 W. Idaho St.
Interfaith Sanctuary ……………………………………………………1620 W. River St.

Red Rock Christian Church …………………………………1124 S Roosevelt St.
Liberating Spirit Metropolitan Community Church……1088 N Orchard St.
Collister United Methodist Church………………………….4400 W Taft St.

 

First Congregational United Church of Christ…………….2201 W Woodlawn Ave.
Once and Future Books……………………………………………….1310 W State St
Jesse Tree………………………………………………………………………………1121 W Miller St
ā café………………………………………………………………………………………109 S 10th St
St Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral……………………………………….518 N 8th St
One Stone………………………………………………………………………………1151 W Miller St
WCA……………………………………………………………………………720 W Washington St
New Path Community Housing…………………………….2200 Fairview Ave
Viking Drive-In…………………………………………….  …………………..3790 W State St
Library! At Collister…………………………………………………………..4724 W State St
All Saints Church………………………………………………………………….704 S Latah St

Read the latest on the Word on the Street Blog!

A shelter full of hope and second chances

A shelter full of hope and second chances

In the past year our shelter has not grown any larger but our ability to serve our guests in more meaningful ways has grown in leaps and bounds. Witnessing the daily shelter activities designed to bring safety, stability, employment and wellness to our guests is inspiring.

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Where are they supposed to go?

Where are they supposed to go?

Word on the Street gives voice to a community that has decisions made around them, about them and against them, with little time spent by the decision makers talking to them. Stories from individuals experiencing homelessness can facilitate deeper learning about social justice issues by putting a face to them. Policy affects people.

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Blankets of Hope

Blankets of Hope

Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is for you is that you don’t know how great you are and can be. How much you can love. What you can accomplish and what your potential is. You be you and it will be better.

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Art gets personal

Art gets personal

Interfaith Sanctuary launches #GetToKnowMe campaign in anticipation of World Homeless Day. Interfaith Sanctuary is excited to partner with local photographer Matthew Wordell for #GetToKnowMe – An Art Exhibit.

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The stigma of homelessness

The stigma of homelessness

People spend their lives tearing each other down destroying each others careers, reputation, and metal health. Society creates an expensive world with sky high rents, pricey automobiles and services that not all can afford. We live in a world where how much you earn is more important than treating another person fairly.

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