The voice of Columbus' streets may soon be silenced.
Street Speech is a paper that employs dozens of people who are, or have been, homeless.
But now the paper is in need of a hand up.
Loren Council has learned a lot in his 53 years.
"The most important thing anyone can do for another human being is speak to them,” he said.
He does it every day in front of the Franklin County Courthouse. The sidewalk is his office. At points in his life, the streets have been his home.
He has faced the challenges of stereotypes.
"Most people think homeless people are less than, that all they want to do is some drugs or alcohol," Council said.
And he knows the struggle of simply surviving.
"I'm out here rain, sleet, snow or shine. No matter what the weather condition is. This is what keeps me going," he said.
What keeps him going is the focus of a job, the pride of earning a living.
"Every morning I get up and I come out here, I'm going to be productive. I'm going to achieve something,” Council said.
He says what has helps him do that is employment through Street Speech.
It’s the monthly paper produced by the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, sold by 50 to 60 licensed vendors like Council.
"It provides an income. It provides a roof over their head, it provides food on the plate. And most importantly for the city, it lessens the strain on social welfare services," Street Speech Editor Jess Peacock said.
The paper is supported by personal donations and grants. Peacock said last year it lost a $30,000 annual grant from a local church. Now, he said, the paper in jeopardy of folding.
"As of right now, we close the end of November. November would be our last issue. And those 50 to 60 vendors that we have would have to find other means of support," Peacock said.
The prospect worries Council not only for himself, but the dozens of others whose jobs are on the line.
"It's going to hit them (the vendors) the hardest,” Peacock said. “They're going to have the most difficult time bouncing back from it. And we want to do our best to prevent that."
The Columbus Coalition for the Homeless is actively looking for new funding sources.
The editor says his most urgent concern is keeping the paper afloat through the winter, protecting the jobs of vendors through the coldest months of the years.
Street Speech has set up a GoFundMe page and you can access it by clicking here.