For 25 years, L'Itinraire has helped paint 'different perception of homelessness'

While struggling to hold down a full-time job, Roger Perreaultwas facing a tough decision each month eat, or pay rent.

He saidworking for Montreal's L'Itinraire magazine saved him financially.

"I was living in the street, because I lost a few jobs, because of alcohol problems," he said.

The magazine is celebrating 25 years of helping marginalized people get back on their feet2,500 people since its founding.

Perreaultis now not only a vendor, but alsoone of the magazine'swriters. He said the magazine helps raise awareness.

Building bridges

He said it offers vendors financial support and a sense of community, sinceselling it is "like a little outing" for people who may otherwise be socially isolated.

Some people work one or two hours per week, others, likePerreaultput in up to six hours a day, six days per week.

He said, because of all the standing and walking involved, six hours is the maximum most people can handle.

But a quarter-century after its creation, times are changing and the magazine has to adapt.

L'Itinraire's executive director, LucDesjardins, said because many people don't carry cash on them anymore it is more difficult to sell to customers on the street.

"A smile, 'Hi, how are you? Is it okay today? It's cold outside.' That two, three seconds, 15 seconds, that you have with the vendors, this is more powerful than the money," he said.

Plans are in the works for vendors to accept new payment methods, but details are only expected this summer.

About 150 people sell24,000 copies ofL'Itinraireeach month.