Advertisement
News

Tributes for US street paper pioneer Raven Canon

Founder of US street paper found dead on Colorado street

Raven Canon was a woman who set out to change the world.

Although she had no home and was sleeping rough, she was so incensed by draconian new anti-homelessness laws in her hometown of Colorado Springs, USA, she set up a Big Issue-style street paper to give people on the margins visibility, a voice and a legitimate income.

The first issues of The Springs Echo went on sale in January, and Raven received international praise for her supreme efforts.

But last week the tragic news broke that Raven had passed away. After a night sleeping rough in sub-zero temperatures she was found dead, wrapped in a blanket.

A rising star in her community and editor-in-chief of the world’s newest street paper, Raven was at least the ninth person to die on Colorado Springs streets this winter, activists say.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Such tragedies have played out in Britain too. In the space of one month in December-January four rough sleepers were found dead on the streets. Homelessness charity Crisis estimates one in three young people seeking help with housing is turned away by councils in England.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town
homeless peoples' tents in street
Homelessness

Cash-strapped council warns it's at breaking point as neighbour places homeless people in its town

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support
disabled person working
Disability rights

Disabled people losing jobs and 'falling out of work' due to months-long waits for DWP support

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'
Homeless families at a protest about council housing
Homelessness

Homeless families occupy council housing offices on Halloween in plea to fix 'houses of horror'

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say
woman in supermarket
Cost of living crisis

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue