Homeless newspaper sales down by a third in just one year

People are still handing over their money, but not taking a copy – which is bad new for Hus Forbi and its sellers

Sales of the homeless-run newspaper ‘Hus Forbi’ have plunged by a third in the past year – a fall of 30,000 between April 2017 and 2018.

This is largely due to many people paying for the paper but not actually taking it with them. However, although the same amount of money is being donated, it’s actually bad news for the newspaper and its sellers.

A good deed?
Many think they are helping by giving the sellers a chance to sell it to someone else while still giving them money, but this often ends up having the opposite effect. This is because the newspaper doesn’t receive revenue when a buyer just gives the money to the seller without taking the paper.

If the newspaper continues to lose revenue there are consequences for the sellers as well.

“The sellers receive both summer and winter clothing from us, but that will be something we need to cut down on because revenues are lacking,” Henrik S Pedersen, the paper’s chairman, told DR.

Remember to take the paper
‘Hus Forbi’ was founded in 1996 and largely focuses on issues related to homelessness and is distributed by the homeless. The paper is sold by about 2,750 registered sellers all over Denmark.

The paper costs 20 kroner and the sellers receive 8 kroner from each sale, while also being provided with clothing for the summer and winter.

“Take the paper with you. Both we and the sellers will profit. Besides that, it’s a worthy way of supporting the sellers – by buying a product and not giving out charity,” Pedersen added.

 




Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.