Finally, Larson says, she was given a medicine called Clozaril that "restored [her] mind and intellect," allowing her to become the editor of Spare Change.

And as she looks around her office, Larson recognizes how far she has come.

"This is the first time I have had a job longer than six months in my life," she says. "It's a privilege to be able to do this, a privilege to be able to work with vendors and staff."

The Mission

Larson and Dougherty's stories are testaments to the program's ability to help people pull themselves up.

Not only does the paper give its vendors and writers income and skill development, but it also provides a forum to address social issues. The most recent issue of the paper featured a story on the right to vote and register without a permanent address.

The paper also includes interviews with prominent community figures, poetry and short stories.

While there are some consistent writers, many people write only once, after being moved by a certain event. Some relate their experiences from prison or a halfway house.