What is your next step/goal? I am working towards adjusting to life in an apartment and budgeting. Where do you sell TSN? I sell at the courthouse, but haven’t sold a lot since I got my apartment. What is your favorite part of selling TSN? I meet nice, normal people. I am not used to people treating me like that. What is the most inspirational/interesting thing that has happened to you while selling the newspaper? I had a regular who used to bring me coffee and food. Then she retired, but she returned to give me a big tip, which meant a lot. What do you want people to know about your past? I had a really bad childhood, but my faith has gotten me through. What is something unexpected that you have gotten from TSN? They helped me get my apartment and I didn’t expect that. Vendor Spotlight: Andrew Chappell Andrew Chappell Andrew has been a vendor for just over a year. He is truly one of the sweetest and most selfl ess people I have ever met. He was recently housed after years of being homeless. This photo was taken of him recently after he got the keys to his apartment. The shift in his spirit and the hopefulness that he radiates is remarkable. Although I miss seeing his smiling face across the street in the mornings, I feel relieved that he is no longer sleeping outside and getting robbed. He lives wholeheartedly into our vision and he has broken the cycle of homelessness. He is the embodiment of what we aim to do here. In one sentence - who are you? I am a God-fearing man who believes in balance and karma. What is a recent accomplishment you are proud of? I got an apartment after being homeless for many years. Page 12 What is one misconception you think people have about people who are homeless? They think we can’t function because we are drug addicts or criminals. But that isn’t the case. When and why did you start selling Toledo Streets Newspaper? I have been a vendor since last September. I started selling the paper so I could afford food while I was living on the streets. What is one thing you want people to know about you? I believe in God and that he protects us. How would you like to see Toledo/Lucas County change for the better? It would be nice if the police took people who are homeless seriously when we are victims of crimes and that happens frequently. Anything you want to add? I want people to know that I am grateful to Toledo Streets Newspaper, the people at Unison, and all the people at the courthouse who bought my papers. It’s something I will never forget. The screaming and thrashing. What you don’t understand is that I will never forgive myself for when I stopped fi ghting It’s only in the darkest moments when I am riddled with guilt that I’m honest with myself. I gave up. I stopped fi ghting. It’s like my mind and body went blank and the only energy I had was the devoted to breathing. Even though I wanted so badly to stop breathing. What you don’t understand was how slow those moments moved. It’s like time stood still to watch you break me. It’s like you took a part of me that I never knew I had to keep safe. What you don’t understand is that I’m weary of people like I never was before. It’s like you caused me to second guess my instincts. It’s like I blame myself for not knowing any better, when honestly I couldn’t have known any better. You Don’t Understand What you don’t understand is that I will never stop feeling your hands on me It’s like you seared your handprint into my thighs. It’s the kind of dirty that won’t ever come clean. What you don’t understand is the feeling I had in my stomach when I knew you were going to rape me. It’s like my stomach turned inside out
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