Think - when was the last time you used your phone? What did you use it for? Checking Instagram? Netflix?
Dinner plans? How about the essentials, like your bank account, or paying your bills? Medical appointments?
Job applications or communication with your employer? GPS? Emergency services?
Chances are, you use your phone or computer for ALL of these things, and more.
Are you surprised at how often you need your phone? If so, you may also be surprised that houseless individuals
need access to all of these essentials too, (not that Netflix and Instagram are essentials!) and they need technology
to do so: Phones, tablets, computers, whatever gets the job done.
Research on the digital divide shows that the overwhelming majority of houseless people are using smartphones
on a regular basis, going through devices at twice the rate of the general population. Statistics on mental health,
physical health and aging, chronic illness incarceration, becoming a victim of violence or harassment, and more
show us that houseless individuals are more likely than the general population to experience all of these hardships
on a daily basis, in addition to lack of access to stable housing, utilities, technology, and community. The terms
‘houseless’ and ‘homeless’ do not even begin to scratch the surface of what life is actually like in our current society
without shelter. That being said, access to technology, including the internet and electricity, is crucial for our
survival. Not having a reliable source of internet or electricity means you have to plan your life around those
services - not around what’s best for your health. A dead phone or ‘dead-zone’ could cause you to miss essential
communications outlined above, including but not limited to financial accounts, medical communications,
employer communications and job inquiries, GPS services, emergency services, and more.
Because these essential elements of our lives are wrapped up in the digital wild west, we need to incorporate
access to technology as an essential part of our infrastructure, like water or other utilities, instead of assuming
that everyone has the means to gain access to technology, or that someone can bypass the technology altogether.
Our infrastructure doesn’t care about those that can’t access the internet or aren’t tech-savvy. I propose that we
change public digital infrastructure, for built-in connections. This would enable houseless individuals to participate
in society more effectively and regularly, increasing their chances of obtaining shelter, steady employment, and
access to healthcare. Tech companies could also be incentivized to benefit from an increase in use of these services,
as we already know that the overwhelming majority of houseless individuals use smartphones, jumping through
whatever hoops and obstacles they need to in order to stay connected.
If we increase public access to technology with infrastructure, our society will benefit as a whole from the increase
in societal connectivity and individual stability.
No Digital Divide? Technology Use among Homeless Adults
What is Digital Public Infrastructure and why does it matter?
Why digital public infrastructure is key to building a connected future
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