Street vendors are the most visible of those working in the informal sector andrnattract attention than any other occupation in the informal economy. The mainrnobjective of the study was to investigate whether the livelihoods of these vendorsrnhave improved or not. Arada Sub city was randomly chosen using the simplernlottery method and sample of 60 vendors were selected from a total of 93rnregistered vendors. Primary data was used to instigate the study. As such selfrnadministered questionnaires and key informant interviews were used to assessrnthe situation. The result of the study indicated that more than half of the vendors'rnlivelihoods still remain subsistent. Vendors were prohibited to construct thernmake-shifts shelters because of the' city's administration modernistic view ofrncities which highly emphasized on orderliness and cleanliness of the city.rnEffective participation in the selection of vending space, and other services isrnproposed by the author. Most of all, Government's attitude towards streetrnvending should change to create a badly needed policy.rnKey WordsrnLivelihood, public space, street vendors, Policy change, Assets, shelter andrnAddis Ababa trade and industry bureau