Maria has always held physically demanding jobs, but recently that has been causing her pain and difficulty. Selling Street Roots gives her independence while she finds the right career. “They have always welcomed me,” she says.

After surviving an attempt on his life, Bluey developed PTSD. Drug use eventually cost him his career and he became homeless and isolated. Selling The Big Issue has helped him re-engage and secure a roof over his head, as well as enjoy a good book or a movie when his finances allow.

Rainer has always loved sailing, so after years of unstable employment he was happy to turn his hobby into a career. The boat became his home, so when his employer filed for bankruptcy he lost more than just his job. Through Hinz&Kunzt he has found new work, and hopes to one day buy his own boat.

Nathanial is an entrepreneur, inventor and artist, but what truly defines him is his talent for making friends. His customers feel they can open up to him, returning time and again to talk – and buy the paper.

In 2013, Heiko lost his job, his marriage and his apartment. He lived under a bridge for two years. Just as he was getting help, his daughter died and he turned to drink, but he has managed to turn things around again. Now he is a Surprise vendor, and a city tour guide.

Having fled Ghana due to political instability, John has lived in Italy since 2007. Selling Scarp de’ tenis lets him keep in touch with family back home as he seeks his dream job as a gardener.

Rachel loves her home city of Seattle, but also feels a strong connection to Montana – she named her beloved Chihuahua-terrier puppy after a city there. When she’s not selling Real Change, or advocating for people with disabilities and service dogs, she likes to make balloon animals and even perform as a clown.

When June’s husband died five years ago, she struggled to cope. Soon she was in a lot of debt and worried about losing her home. Thanks to selling The Big Issue, she has worked her way out of trouble.

Sheila has lost many things in her life, but never her creativity or her desire to make a difference. Through art, poetry and activism, she uses her experience with homelessness to educate the public and advocate for others in her position.

Vickie is currently homeless and battling cancer for the second time. She sells The Contributor to provide for her family.

Roger Meier used to work in construction: he helped renovate the concrete walls of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant and once plastered a concrete dam. Now he sells Surprise at the Bärenplatz in Bern.

Frances wanted to become a university lecturer in her home country of Nigeria, but she was forced to leave. After arriving in Austria, she began selling Augustin to support herself. Now in the second year of her Master’s degree in Sociology, she sells the paper as often as her studies allow.

Salomon has always been a salesman. After falling into bad company and trouble with the law, he now sells Mi Valedor. “My self-confidence is returning,” he says, as he works toward his dream of being a family man with his own house.

Ken sells the Big Issue North with his faithful canine companion, Bailey. He has lived in all sorts of places: motorhomes, static caravans, even an old French police riot van. Having moved to York after someone set fire to his tent, Ken recently got his own room. “I’m a happy man,” he says.

This Valentine’s Day, read about how Trevor and Ellen have The Big Issue Australia to thank for bringing them together for a second chance at big love.

From Melbourne to Denver, Taipei to Athens, vendors across the globe share what it’s like to sell a street paper in their city… and so much more.

When Norm lost his job and his home, it was thanks to the kindness of a stranger he ended up in housing once again. Now he sells Street Roots, accompanied by his dog Heidi. He says being a vendor is an adventure – and good for his mental health.

George has had quite a few housing problems over the past year and he was finding it difficult to get by. But selling The Big Issue gave him a boost. “I’ll do a wee dance on my pitch and the staff inside Starbucks will chuckle,” he says.

Ten years ago, after the collapse of his marriage, Peter became homeless. “I deliberately wanted to destroy myself,” he says. Peter’s story is one filled with loss, but thanks to Hinz&Kunzt, he now has a “brighter future”.

“Despite all the tough situations I’ve been through, I know the best is yet to come,” says L’Itinéraire vendor Tania. Having experienced poverty and teenage pregnancy in her youth, Tania has been hurt many times. But she says selling L’Itinéraire is like an oxygen mask – now she has helped herself, she wants to help others.

Formerly homeless vendor Mario spread some kindness with a donation to the victims of the devastating East Tennessee fires. Mario saved three days of street paper sales to give to the official victim fund.

“Thanks for being there when others weren’t.” Philadelphia street paper One Step Away’s new video is a powerful testament to the power of buying your local street paper.

Martin has been selling Augustin since nearly the very beginning. Now, 20 years later, he talks about money troubles, about getting older and being free.

Selling the paper helps with the basics like bills and food, but also helps vendor Mellie Kaufman to feel better about herself and her life. “”Before I sold Real Change, I felt like I was nothing. Now, I feel better,” she says.

In the last of our vendor wishes series, Surprise vendor Tatjana tells us she hopes to be reunited with her family in Switzerland in the coming year.

We’re in Macedonia for our vendor wishes series today, where Ilfeta tells us that she hopes to be a good mum, while Armando wants to travel…

Today, as part of our vendor wishes series, we visit Vicky who sells The Contributor in Tennessee. She has big plans for the new year…

For New Year’s Eve, we have a bumper series of vendor wishes to share from StreetWise in Chicago.