Groundcover News

Mission: To provide economic opportunity to self-determined individuals impacted by poverty, to produce a street newspaper that uplifts underrepresented voices in Washtenaw County, and to promote an action that contributes towards a just, caring and equal society.

Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April, 2010 as a means to empower low-income persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Street newspapers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless and combat the increase in poverty.

Groundcover is one of many street newspapers across the United States and the world publishing news and information focused on raising awareness of issues related to poverty, joblessness, and homelessness. We publish Groundcover News monthly and sell copies to our vendors for $0.50. Vendors work on their own selling the paper for a $2.00 donation in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, Dexter, and Chelsea. We also publish Special Editions which the vendors purchase for $2.00 and sell for $10.00.

Our work:

• Provides Economic Opportunity – Groundcover News vendors can earn an income by selling the paper, writing for the paper, and selling advertisements for the paper. We train interested vendors at our office twice a week and start them off with 10 free papers and a Groundcover News badge. We also host biweekly workshops that strengthen employable skills.
• Produces a Street Newspaper – Groundcover News publishes our $2 street paper every two weeks. A majority if not all of the writing and photography is done by Groundcover News vendors and freelance writers. Groundcover vendors are invited to write about what they want to share with their customers and community.
• Promotes an Action – Groundcover can only be purchased in person, from a Groundcover News vendor! We believe the act of buying and selling Groundcover News strengthens the community by creating relationships, starting conversations, and inspiring positive street activity. Groundcover News also often organizes free community events that bring people together across differences to have fun, share ideas, or experience the arts.