Final Reflection
As I stated in my conclusion: Especially today in these tough economic times, many are being forced to live on the streets. Technology is very much a part of our lives. It seems not to matter whether or not you have a warm bed, clean clothes and food, access to the Internet is easy to get (hotels/motels, public libraries, cafes). We are all cyborgs; it does not matter if we have roof over our heads or not. While having access to expensive items used to be a luxury, today having access to a computer with the Internet is the norm.
- We may have an email address instead of a street address.
-This has been my leading idea for my paper.
-According to the research that I have found, it doesn’t matter.
-Internet access has become available.
I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the idea of homelessness and how those that fit into that category are still using the Internet as a resource. Some use it to relax and escape life on the streets by playing online games, watching TV shows and listening to music. Some are using it to find shelters, job opportunities, and to connect with others. I was surprised to find how many people have blogs, others post their own videos. Evidence by those without homes shows that a lack of financial stability doesn’t indicate feeble mindedness.
Some hide the fact that they are homeless by communicating by email or by phone, which leads me to cell phones. It is fascinating to me how many people who do not have a home have a cell phone. Thinking about it is instant communication between the cell phone holder and a potential boss or family member. In doing the research I have found it interesting how many people are connected and wired.
My favorite part of this project was talking to two volunteers who work at a women’s shelter in Denver. Obviously they provided the most current information. One of the girls that I spent a lot of her time working in the computer lab and saw the many uses of the Internet at work. She also provided assistance and answers to any questions that the visitors had. When I asked these girls about technology and how it effects the women who come to their shelter, they were so excited to talk and share what they had observed, which provided encouragement for the paper and continued research. It really broke down the barrier of reading words on a page and connecting with people.
Through writing this paper, there is a surprising amount of research that can be done in the future. Some of the articles that I read, although only a few years old, but may be dated. In the future, I would love to capture the stories of the people mentioned in the paper on film. Even though my project has changed over time, it still points out the cyborg in everyone.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
“Spare any change?” Homelessness in the United States is an epidemic that shouldn’t be ignored. We hear these words all of the time and some of us do take out of our lives and give a handful of coins from our pockets and others just walk by. Those that are fortunate enough to have a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in, look down at those who don’t. There is a negative stereotype plastered on those that are forced wander in search of a covering or cardboard box to sleep on. Speculated reasons for this negative stereotypes are the attitudes of the privileged who feel that some are crazy, drug-addicted, lowlifes who can’t keep a job. They are seen as “others” who are disregarded. Another attitude may be, “well, I am working because that it what you have to do in a society like ours. Why don’t they just get a job or stop doing drugs,”. For many, it is too late; maybe they made a mistake at some point causing their life to go sour.
Yes, some of the people who are without a home may be mentally ill and do not have the money or family to help them get the medication necessary to help them be a high functioning member of society. “According to a study by the US Conference of Mayors in 2005, approximately 16% of the homeless population suffers from a mental illness. A report put out by the National Coalition for the Homeless says that in 2006 the amount of money it cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment was $715 a month, which is 113.1% of a person on Supplemental Security Income. In 1999, in over 125 housing markets throughout the country, the cost of a one-bedroom apartment was more than a person’s total monthly SSI income. In 2006, the national average rent for a studio apartment became higher than the income of a person who relies solely on SSI income. Only 9% of people not in mental hospitals or facilities receiving SSI have housing assistance,” (National Coalition for the Homeless).
Domestic violence, especially towards women and children is the third out of five main reasons that cause people to be homeless. “Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In a study of 777 homeless parents (the majority of whom were mothers) in ten U.S. cities, 22% said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic violence (Homes for the Homeless, 1998). In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Studying the entire country, though, reveals that the problem is even more serious. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence (Zorza, 1991; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2001).”
Many of people who are on the streets face addiction. Most addicts, if truly addicted cannot kick the habit on their own. “While federal policies and the state of the economy are major causes of homelessness, addictions and substance abuse also plays a large role. Without access to affordable treatment services, many low-income people suffering from addictions are unable to keep their jobs, and subsequently lose their homes and end up on the streets.” (National Coalition for the Homeless). In the media, we hear about people all the time who check into rehabilitation centers, only these people are often privileged with fame and the fortune that comes with it. In an article entitled “Lindsay Lohan’s Choice for Rehab – Promises Malibu” published on June 13, 2007, talks about the celebrity version of rehab. “The 5-star services at Promises run clients about $1600 a night, according to ABC News. Considering the average stay is approximately 30 days, the course costs clients about $50,000. Previous patients have included not only Britney Spears, but also Ben Affleck and Charlie Sheen.” (Associated Content, Mohr). There are options for those who so not have the funds to support their recovery. In the “Questions about Treatment” page on the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) website gives an answer. “Where can a person with no money and no insurance get treatment? You can use Detailed Search or List Search and check the boxes for ‘sliding fee scale’ and ‘payment assistance’. Then call the facilities to determine their policy.” (http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/faq.htm#no_insurance). This is a website, and therefore is accessed via the Internet. To find these resources the Internet is incredibly helpful and some may argue necessary. If someone in need of treatment has Internet access then they don’t need to rely on others for help. For example, shelters are very busy and may not have the time to find someone an affordable drug treatment center because they may not be a priority. If Person X wants to be proactive about their unfortunate situation; with Internet access, they can find treatment in just a few clicks. This is just one scenario demonstrating that those that are homeless can use the Internet to better themselves by researching ways to better themselves and it turn, their situation.
As stated in an article titled, “On D.C. Streets, the Cell phone as Lifeline:
Homeless People Turn to Technology to Track Assistance and Opportunities”,
cell phones have become a necessity for most. For those who are down on their luck and have no choice but to turn to the streets, many have realized that possessing a phone number that goes directly to you is essential in staying connected to the world and those around them. Some people use them to maintain connections between family and friends and to be in contact with a possible employer. The article pertains to those that are living on the streets in the Washington D.C. area specifically. The Internet, is also a way to stay connected to acquaintances who live in the outside world and a way to find jobs. Interestingly enough, there are several blogs kept by homeless people. Even though these bloggers may not own a computer, it is so easy now to find free Internet access. “On most days at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library downtown, people with backpacks and sleeping bags line up to use the public computers,” (Dvorak).
For those that are looking to have a better life by trying to find a job, many employers will not consider someone who does not have a permanent home. Meet “…Chris, 42, a recovering crack cocaine addict who asked that his last name not be used because he keeps his homelessness a secret from his employers. This time, he got a pay-as-you-go cell phone and gave his boss the number. ‘I live up near the Capitol — give me a call anytime if you need extra hands,’ he told his employer, being vague about where he bedded down each night. He received numerous calls to come in early or to work an extra shift. After less than a year on the job, he was promoted. ‘No one there knows I’m homeless,’ he said. ‘I would never have been able to do this without a cell phone,’” (Dvorak).
One website, Streats.tv (Striving To Reach Educate And Transform Self) is a fascinating grouping of ex- homeless people who are motivated to tell their stories in hope to help others like them get off of the streets. Erick Sheptock blogs about the goings-on in D.C. In the about me section of his blog, he writes that he is, “A dynamic, dramatic, and diplomatically devastating deliverer of detailed information pertaining to his brothers and sisters of the streets of Washington, DC… Check and chime in at least weekly as Eric will enlighten, empower, engage, enrage, entertain, and explain to you what’s going on with the homeless from the perspective of homeless.” (http://www.streats.tv/shep.html). Most recently he writes about political happenings amongst many other things. Recently, he has been blogging about the Catholic Church homeless shelters and gay marriage and how they are related. Being or having been homeless does not have to do with intelligence.
“Do give us the right to have something decent to eat.” (http://www.streats.tv/bob.html) where Brenda shares her monologue with whoever is listening on her video blog. She describes the lack of health food provided by shelters. She is a homeless woman who is approaching her fifth year without a home. She goes by “O’Bull Brenda”. This particular video is rather negative, where she says that she and other people that are living on the streets are no happy with the food that is donated. For example, she complains about bologna and cheese sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, bananas and being fed too many starchy foods that contribute to obesity. She does have a good point when she describes the homeless lifestyle as being somewhat stationary and as a result of eating pasta, rice and bread, weight gain is an immediate effect. In another video she talks about hygiene expressing the importance of keeping yourself clean and tips on how to do it. In this video she also complains about the lack of time that you get for your shower. She insists that a homeless person needs twenty to thirty minutes to get the layer of grime off to be presentable. Hygiene is key in keeping yourself healthy. Unfortunately most judge a book by its cover and most employers implement this practice. For Chris, one of the homeless men interviewed in the previous article, his appearance must be good. Appearing to be homeless can show that you can’t take care of yourself and therefore will not be suitable for a job with Company Y.
In Denver there is a drop-in shelter for women that encompasses all that has been discussed thus far. According to their website, www.the-gatheringplace.org, “The Gathering Place exists to support women and their children who are experiencing homelessness or poverty by providing a safe daytime refuge and resources for self-sufficiency”. They are about getting women back on their feet. “We provide women with opportunities for education, job training and personal development” (www.the-gatheringplace.org). Their website also gives some statistics.
In 2008 The Gathering Place:
- Was visited 6,701 times by 1,911 different women
- Was visited 759 times by 420 different children
- Provided 6,227 warm and nutritious meals
- Had 625 women and children use our computer lab
At the shelter some women are there as a result of abuse, but everyone has a different story. In talking to two volunteers who spend a lot of time there, helping those that come in shared their experiences. They have developed relationships with the regulars and greet the new comers who visit each day. According to “O’Bull Brenda” ’s blog, she says that if and when she visits a shelter for foods, it is almost always unhealthy. At The Gathering Place, they make a point to provide healthy and nutritious food for the women and children who are in need. “Through Betsy’s Cupboard, our emergency food and supply pantry, The Gathering Place helps over 500 women and children each month who otherwise might not have enough food or basic supplies. According to the Colorado Health Foundation, two out of three Coloradoans will be obese by 2017 and suffer from obesity related diseases. The chances that you will experience obesity triple when you and your family make less than $25,000. In the effort to support the health of women and children at TGP, we prefer organic, low-sodium and low-fat items whenever possible.” They directly address this problem. In the list of pantry items they have things like, whole-wheat pasta and brown rice, the healthy alternatives to empty white starches. They have other whole grain products and varieties of vegetables whether canned or fresh. In talking to Rachel and Amy, the full time volunteers, places like Whole Foods and Sunflower Market are responsible for making these fresh veggie donations. They did say that their snack options are not the healthiest, but to make up for it, they provide healthy meals and always have a salad bar. They even have a garden on site. The women who visit the shelter have access to art supplies, yoga and computers.
Regarding technology, the computer lab is opened for four hours during their hours if operation. The women who come in play games, search videos on youtube.com as an escape and to relax. Many visit social networking websites to connect with new friends and others use it to stay in contact with family members who live out of state. Some look for jobs and check their email. Setting up a new email account has been a problem for many because as of recently, many websites require a phone number to set up the account. According to Rachel, who works in the computer lab, most of the women possess cell phones, but for those who do not, they have a hard time. Working in the lab she said that she has found that, “Many of the women are wizes when it comes to using the computers, but some don’t even know how to use the mouse or how to start a search (where to type the phrase in).”
Regarding the debate and controversy that blogger, Erick Sheptock, wrote about the Catholic Church’s stance on gay marriage and how it relates to shelters for the homeless. This is a great debate because it brings up the issues pertaining to gender specific shelters and whom they will and won’t let in. Amy, a volunteer, says that they sometimes run into problems and gray areas. They turn away men, especially since it is a safe place for women and children, many of whom are there as a result of abuse. They are a “Safe Zone” meaning they respect “…all aspects of people, including race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, religion and ability”. Amy said that they do get visitors who are transgender or transsexual and all are welcome.
Social Networking is something relatively new that most are a part of, especially young people. Many don’t join because they feel that there is a lack of privacy. On the sites there is opportunity for strangers to see read what you are doing, who you have been talking to and see pictures and videos of you. In contrast, it is a way to stay connected and to meet new people. For those that are looking to change their situation, these websites are a great tool. A recent documentary made by MSNBC entitled, “Runaways: San Diego (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/), follows a handful of teens who live on the street. It describes what these teens do to survive and of course, a very important part of a teen’s life is socializing. The voiceover describes many homeless teens that find free access to the Internet in hotel lobbies. They use the Internet to communicate with other “runaways” with social networking websites like myspace.com. This is one example of how even those with very few resources have the need to stay connected. Social groups and organizations have been around for centuries but they used to be reserved for those with money and status. Now there is no need to have any of this, but rather only having access to the Internet. Once online, it is very easy to Google an interest and find a group of others with a similar interest. This is where the addiction aspect comes into play. After connecting yourself to the online community, there is a tendency to constantly check on your blog post, email, personal page on a social networking site, or twitter and see if anyone has responded to what you wrote. The same concept applies to those who carry a cell phone and send text messages. There is a constant need to check the small, handheld device and see if “Jonny” or “Sally” wrote back and responded to what you sent to them. Social networking sites are not limited to the youth who are living on the streets.
The Wall Street Journal wrote a piece in May of this year entitled, “On the Street and On Facebook: The Homeless Stay Wired.” In an interview with thirty seven year old San Francisco native Charles Pitts, says, “You don’t need a TV. You don’t need a radio. You don’t even need a newspaper, but you need the Internet.” (Dvorak). “Mr. Pitts is an aspiring poet in a purple cap and yellow fleece jacket, who says he has been homeless for two years”. Pitts, “has accounts on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. He runs an Internet forum on Yahoo, reads news online and keeps in touch with friends via email. The tough part is managing this digital lifestyle from his residence under a highway bridge.”
The article talks about the presence of technology in everyone’s lives, especially those that do not have an address. In New York City there has been an effort to wire homeless shelters, so far five out of nine shelters have been outfitted with 42 computers. Some of the people who frequent shelters even have laptops amongst their other few belongings that they travel with. The article is talks mostly about those on the streets in San Francisco. They list a resource that seems to be catching on, and of course, it is online. There is an Internet forum called SF Homeless (http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/San_Francisco_Homeless_Resource) According to the website, “San Francisco Homeless Resource is a collaborative website for homeless advocates, providers, government and others in San Francisco. The wiki is a new evolution of how all parties helping the homeless can get together and share information efficiently and quickly.” The piece in the Wall Street Journal discusses the different ways that the inter-web is being used by various people living on the streets, many of which took to that lifestyle only about a year ago. Pitts, “…keeps a mental list of spots to charge batteries and go online, including a deserted corner of a downtown train station and wired cafes whose owners don’t mind long stays and lots of bags.” (Dvorak).
Phred Dvorak, also makes an interesting point; “Cheap computers and free Internet access fuel the phenomenon. So does an increasingly computer-savvy population. Many job and housing applications must be submitted online. Some homeless advocates say the economic downturn is pushing more of the wired middle class on to the streets.” The various characters introduced in the article are proactive about their unfortunate situation. To them, the Internet is a key player that will help them to get back into a warm bed and a place to call their own. One man is even writing computer codes with his computer, in hopes to sell them someday. Another is a philosopher who is trying to get his thoughts out there. The only female mentioned is a woman named “Lisa Stringer, who runs a program that teaches job and computer skills to homeless and low-income residents, says some students who can’t even read or write save money to buy computers at Goodwill. ‘It’s really a symbol in today’s society of being OK and connected,’ she says.” (Dvorak).
Just as shelters are providing computers with Internet access to their patrons, public libraries are doing the same. Gordon Flagg writes “…(there is a) wide range of ways libraries (that) serve poor people…”. Interestingly enough, it mentions the original intent of libraries. “Traditionally, the role of libraries toward the poor was seen as providing a mean of self-improvement. Libraries, perhaps naively, were envisioned as a ‘people’s university’ that would enable the underclass to ‘better themselves’ by lifting themselves out of poverty and fulfilling their roles as productive members of society,” (Flagg). On a literal university, the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, there are different homeless men and women who frequent the computers that do not require a student login name and password. Mr. Flagg talks about the benefit of the Internet databases, like SF Homeless, and how important because they allow for access to these helpful sites. “…fulfilling libraries’ early goal of fostering self-improvement..” (Flagg). Email is also covered, saying that it known to help communicate with others “…to exchange tips with similarly situated friends around the country on which cities offer good welfare benefits, places to avoid and even lightly guarded Internet terminals on college campuses.” (Flagg).
In Canada, a study was conducted and documented by Mary Anne Moser; in it a woman named Janet is introduced. “Janet does not have a home, but has access to a powerful computer and substantial computer-based training resources, designed to help her get skills that will make it more likely she can afford a home.” (Moser, 705). Unfortunately her life began to spiral out of control after divorcing her husband and having to raise two teenage kids and soon after he father passed away. She was also trying to juggle paying her many bills and a stressful job that she finally quit after 14 years of working with the company. Janet finds herself using the computers to kill time during her empty day and also takes advantage of workshops offered at the shelter to help land a job as a temp. Moser focuses on a project called Connect Calgary, which is a program that installed computers in shelters over a three-year time period (2000-2003) and how it has impacted its users. Although this is now a little dated, it started with an effort to create “smart communities” wiring areas so they could connect to the Internet. The articles that were published more recently show that what was done in Calgary has spread to the States. Today, the notion that technology is integrated into most everyone’s lives is not questioned.
Especially today in these tough economic times, many are being forced to live on the streets. Technology is very much a part of our lives. It seems not to matter whether or not you have a warm bed, clean clothes and food, access to the Internet is easy to get (hotels/motels, public libraries, cafes). We are all cyborgs; it does not matter if we have roof over our heads or not. We may have an email address instead of a street address.
Works Cited:
BelieveOBull Brenda.” STREATS. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. <http://www.streats.tv/bob.html>.
Dvorak, Petula. “N D.C. Streets, the Cellphone as Lifeline: Homeless People Turn to Technology to Track Assistance and Opportunities.” The Washington Post 23 Mar. 2009, Metro, The District sec. Print.
Dvorak, Phred. “On the Street and On Facebook: The Homeless Stay Wired.” The Wall Street Journal- Eastern Edition 30 May 2009, Vol 253, Issue 125, sec. A: A1, A10. Print.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124363359881267523.html
Flagg, Gordon. “Hooking Up the Homeless.” American Libraries 31.5 (May 2000): 38. Print. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=24&hid=11&sid=ed6c6c22-b0564a85-9bf8- 1892f76ad71a%40sessionmgr110
The Gathering Place: a refuge for rebuilding lives – The Gathering Place: a refuge for rebuilding lives. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. <http://www.the-gatheringplace.org>.
Moser, Mary Anne. “Text ‘‘Superpowers’’: A Study of Computers in Homeless Shelters.” 2009; 34; 705 originally published online Science Technology Human Values (2009): 705-40. Sage Publications. Web. 1 Dec. 2009
<http://sth.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/6/705>.
National Coalition for the Homeless. “Factsheets.” National Coalition for the Homeless. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. <http://www.nationalhomeless.org>.
“On the clock with Eric Sheptock.” STREATS. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.<http://www.streats.tv/shep.html>.
Runaways: San Diego. MSNBC TV, 2009. 2009. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/#28257877>.
SAMHSA. “Facility Locator-Frequently Asked Questions.” Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator. SAMHSA. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. <http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/faq.htm#no_insurance>.
San Francisco Homeless Resource. Web. 8 Dec. 2009. <http://sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/San_Francisco_Homeless_Resource>.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
I am so glad that I changed my idea from “We are cyborgs” to “Homelessness and technology”. This is an idea that I came up with after watching an episode of MSNBC’s “Runaways”. It followed the life of a few teenagers who are living on the streets of San Diego. One of the girls was kicked out of her house and was living in a small room, but her lease was up and her parents were no longer supporting her after that month. She goes into a nearby hotel lobby where there is free interent access. She logs into social networking cites and connects with other homeless teens. The idea that you can be part of a community and not have a steady roof over your head is incredible. Also, the idea that these kids are using myspace to ban together, create friendships and find a their next place to stay. Obviously, they can communicate with each other and people they meet via the inter-web. For example, the same girl met a man one day who offered to have her stay at his house. For the next few weeks she emailed him and finally set up a date to meet him and move into his house. It ended up not working out, but she found a temporary home because she found interent access.
Living in Boulder, Colorado there are many people who are living on the streets. We walk past them all the time. In class recently, Kit was talking to the class and telling us about a field trip to the Wednesday Farmer’s Market with one of her classes. There was a homeless man that was asking for money and later he was holding a cell phone. This immediately got me thinking and I thought more about the documentary.
A friend of mine started a program called CU Serves that donates unused food from the dinning halls on campus. Having participated in many donation drop-offs, I have been aware of homelessness in Boulder. I want to talk to the people who work in the Boulder Homeless Shelter located in North Boulder, I also look forward to conducting interviews with those in the shelter that are homeless.
I was pleased and surprised to find a big handful of articles and sources to support my ideas. One of sources is a newspaper article with great pictures of homeless people carrying their belongings, dressed in raggedy clothes, yet carrying a cell phone. Scrolling down on the page, there was a link to a blog written by a homeless person who is living on the streets of Washington D.C.
This feels like a story that has to be told. Especially today in these tough economic times, many are being forced to live on the streets. Technology is very much a part of our lives. It seems not to matter whether or not you have a warm bed, clean clothes and food, access to the internet is easy to get (hotels/motels, public libraries, cafes). From my first idea to now, we are all cyborgs; it does not matter if we have roof over our heads or not.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Thesis:
Many are stricken with the plague of being homeless. With the harsh economic times today, many more are loosing their homes. Despite living without the comfort of a warm bed, clean clothes and food, many manage to stay connected; some have cell phones, others use free internet offered from public libraries or hotel lobbies. As a result, some are trying to find jobs and other are finding people that in similar situations as themselves. These people are finding and forming communities and yet they don’t have a permanent residence.
National Coalition for the Homeless
2201 P. St. NW _ Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 462-4822 _ Fax: (202) 462-4823
Email: info@nationalhomeless.org |Website: http://www.nationalhomeless.org
Facts (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20CollegeStudents.pdf)
Definition:
The word homeless translates to “without a home,” so the definition of a homeless person would logically be “a person without a home,” right?
Not necessarily. There are so many other factors that must be in place when determining the definition of homelessness. The federal government has defined a homeless person using a set of very narrow criteria and will provide their services only to those fitting those criteria
According to the Stewart B. McKinney Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11301, et seq. (1994), a person is considered homeless who “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence; and has a primary night time residency that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations… (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.” The term “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of Congress or a state law.” 42 U.S.C. § 11302(c)
The education subtitle of the McKinney-Vento Act includes a more comprehensive definition of homelessness. This statute states that the term ‘homeless child and youth’ (A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence… and (B) includes: (i) children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement; (ii) children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a private or public place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings… (iii) children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, and (iv) migratory children…who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii). McKinney-Vento Act sec. 725(2); 42 U.S.C. 11435(2).
However, even with this more comprehensive definition, there are still parts of the homeless population left out. The federal government makes it very clear that a person living in substandard housing or with relatives is not considered “homeless” and therefore is not eligible for services. But homeless people who are living in rural areas of the country don’t have access to shelters or transitional housing services because they don’t exist in those areas. These people are more likely to live in substandard housing or with relatives or friends, and even though they technically are “without a home,” they are still not considered “homeless” by the government.
Statistics
Homelessness is a widespread and very serious issue that affects a diverse population. According to a 2006 study done by the US Conference of Mayors,
42% of homeless people were African American
39% were Caucasian
13% were Hispanic
4% were Native American
2% were Asian.
40% of homeless men have served in the armed forces.
A 2005 report by the US Conference of Mayors found that 16% of the homeless population suffered from a mental illness.
A report by the US Conference of Mayors designated the five “meanest cities” in the United States based on the number of anti-homeless laws in the city, the severity of the penalties for breaking those laws, the general political climate towards homeless people in the city, the homeless local advocate support, and the criminalization legislation that has taken place in the city. Their findings were:
1. Sarasota, FL
2. Lawrence, KS
3. Little Rock, AR
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Las Vegas, NV
Causes of Homelessness
The reasons why people are homeless vary immensely, and each person has a different story to tell. However, there are some general causes of homelessness in the United States, some due to federal laws and regulations and the economy, and others due to the personal choices of the homeless individual.
1. Unable to Pay Rent
Often times a homeless person works one or two minimum wage jobs full time and still doesn’t make enough money to pay rent. A Fact Sheet put out by the National Coalition reports: “Declining wages, in turn, have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.1 A recent U.S. Conference of Mayors report stated that in every state more than the minimum-wage is required to afford a one or two-bedroom apartment at 30% of his or her income, which is the federal definition of affordable housing. In 2001, five million rental households had “worst case housing needs,” which means that they paid more than half their incomes for rent, living in severely substandard housing, or both (Children’s Defense Fund, 2005). The primary source of income for 80% of these households was earnings from jobs” (U.S. Housing and Urban Development, 2001).
2. Mental Illness
Some homeless people have mental illnesses or disabilities, and as a result struggle with finding housing. According to a study by the US Conference of Mayors in 2005, approximately 16% of the homeless population suffers from a mental illness. A report put out by the National Coalition for the Homeless says that in 2006 the amount of money it cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment was $715 a month, which is 113.1% of a person on Supplemental Security Income. In 1999, in over 125 housing markets throughout the country, the cost of a one bedroom apartment was more than a person’s total monthly SSI income. In 2006, the national average rent for a studio apartment became higher than the income of a person who relies solely on SSI income. Only 9% of people not in mental hospitals or facilities receiving SSI have housing assistance.
3. Domestic Violence
Another major cause of homelessness is domestic violence. Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In a study of 777 homeless parents (the majority of whom were mothers) in ten U.S. cities, 22% said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic violence (Homes for the Homeless, 1998). In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Studying the entire country, though, reveals that the problem is even more serious. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence (Zorza, 1991; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2001).
4. Unaffordable Health Care
Health Care in the United States is not universal and is often extremely expensive. Homeless people are unable to afford basic doctor’s visits so they often go untreated for illnesses. Those with mental illness or disabilities often could hold a job or maintain a stable lifestyle if they were able to access medications and services that would assist them. Unfortunately, those medications and services are expensive without health insurance, and most health insurance plans are also too expensive to purchase.
In 2004, approximately 45.8 million Americans had no health care insurance. That equates to 15.7% of the population (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2005). Nearly a third of persons living in poverty had no health insurance of any kind. The coverage held by many others would not carry them through a catastrophic illness.
5. Addictions and Substance Abuse
While federal policies and the state of the economy are major causes of homelessness, addictions and substance abuse also plays a large role. Without access to affordable treatment services, many low-income people suffering from addictions are unable to keep their jobs, and subsequently lose their homes and end up on the streets.
Violence Against Homeless People
From January-June of 2008, there have been 26 reported assaults against homeless people and 13 of those have resulted in death. Hate crimes against homeless people are a serious issue facing the country today, and the National Coalition for the Homeless is working tirelessly to get homeless people into the hate crimes statutes for each state. This would allow a higher penalty for those convicted of assault against a homeless person because it would be considered a hate crime. Legislation has yet to be passed in the courts regarding this issue on a federal level, but a few states have taken action individually. Alaska is the most recent state to classify homeless people as a “vulnerable person” and as a result the punishment for a crime committed against them is higher.
Most often, the perpetrators of these crimes are youth, with the youngest reported age being 10 years old. The crimes vary, ranging from taunting a homeless person with ethnic or racial slurs to burning the person in a blanket or other flammable material or physically beating the person with a baseball bat or other weapon.
Unfortunately, many hate crimes against homeless people go unreported because the victim is afraid of future retaliation from their attacker. So while the numbers for the reported hate crimes against homeless people in 2008 are high, chances are the actual number of attacks occurring is much higher.
Hate crimes narratives for 2008:
In Peoria, Illinois, officers responded to a call from employees at a McDonalds saying that a man was inside the restaurant and was bleeding from his head. The victim, 39, was not alert, according to police, and only responded to questions when the police officers spoke loudly or shook him. The information that the authorities managed to gather was that the man was attacked and kicked in the head by three youths, but he could not recall what the boys looked like or where the attack happened. The man was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment.
Two homeless men were the victims of an attack on Easter Sunday in Bartlett, Tennessee. Brenner Holloman, one of the victims, was unhurt from the attack but witnessed everything. The attackers, adult males ages 19-22, used Molotov cocktails, a homemade concoction that consists of a bottle filled with gasoline and set on fire. Holloman claimed the flames only made the attackers laugh harder, and “they thought it was funny all right, they absolutely did.” Holloman now says he can hardly recognize his friend, Jeffery Martin. “It made me ill, he reports. “I just saw him yesterday, his head ballooned out to there…his scalp was taken off, his right hand is completely bandaged up…” Martin reports that it “was the worst pain I’ve ever been in in my life.” Martin sustained second and third degree burns to his head, neck, ears, shoulders and hands. Police found the attackers to be 20 year old Michael Grace, 19 year old Andrew Colin Hicks, 22 year old John Tyler Eggleston and 19 year old Zach Addison Parrish. All four have been charged with attempted aggravated arson, and Parrish was charged with the additional attempted second degree murder, as police suspect he threw the flaming bottle at the victims. Eggleston and Grace pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived their preliminary hearing.
Government Action
There are some federal programs that address the issue of homelessness and work to get homeless people off the streets and into a home of their own. There are three main services that the government offers that help homeless people find housing.
1. Section 8/Public Housing: The Section 8 program provides assistance to people living in privately owned apartments by allowing the person to pay 30% of their income towards the rent and have the government pay the rest. Public Housing does the same thing except it’s for people living in housing provided for by the government.
2. HUD Homeless Assistance Grants: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps to fund programs that work towards ending homelessness. They also provide money for shelters, transitional housing, and other services that homeless people need.
3. Health Care for the Homeless: A program that provides the health care services to the homeless in an affordable way so that the person can receive care that they would otherwise not be able to get because they can’t afford it.
Homeless Families with ChildrenPublished by the National Coalition for the Homeless, July 2009 (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/families.html)
There is a common misconception that homelessness is an issue that only pertains to single men and women, but in reality thousands of families a year will experience homelessness. In fact, 41% of the homeless population is comprised of families. (National Alliance to End Homelessness)… The problem of family homelessness is not solely restricted to urban areas; rural and suburban communities are increasingly plagued by the problem. President Obama recently addressed this vital issue when he stated “It is not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours.” (Press Conference, Feb. 2009). The issue has become even more pressing recently in light of the severe economic downturn and the ensuing loss of jobs. Recent economic turmoil will assuredly lead to more families becoming homeless, testing already strained resources for homeless families. The numbers and citations uses in this report are mostly from before the economic downturn, due to the time and manpower it takes to assemble statistics concerning homelessness. With this in mind the statistics mentioned in this report most likely understate the severity of the issue. The looming and disastrous possibility of increased family homelessness makes understanding the issue immensely pertinent.
DIMENSIONS
In 2007, 23% of all homeless people were members of families with children (US Conference of Mayors, 2007). Recent evidence confirms that homelessness among families is increasing. The rate of requests for emergency assistance by families rose faster than the rate for any other group between 2006 and 2007. In some cities, it rose by as much as 15%. 71% of cities surveyed reported an increase in the number of families with children seeking emergency assistance. Every single one of the 23 cities surveyed expected an increase in the number of families with children seeking assistance in 2008. (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2007)
CAUSES
Poverty and the lack of affordable housing are the principal causes of family homelessness. While the number of poor people decreased every year between 1993 and 2000, in recent years the number and percentage of poor people has increased. The percentage of poor people has risen from 11.3% of the population in 2000 to 12.1% in 2002 (U.S. House of Representatives, 2004), and by 2004 the number of poor people grew by 4.3 million from 2000 (Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, 2004). Today, 35.2% of persons living in poverty are children; in fact, the 2004 poverty rate of 17.8% for children under 18 years old is significantly higher than the poverty rate for any other age group (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2005).
Homeless Youth (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/youth.html)
NCH Fact Sheet #13 Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, June 2008
This fact sheet discusses the dimensions, causes, and consequences of homelessness among youth. An overview of program and policy issues and a list of resources for further study are also provided.
DEFINITIONS AND DIMENSIONS
Homeless youth are individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. These young people are sometimes referred to as “unaccompanied” youth.
The number of the homeless youth is estimated by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the US Department of Justice. Their most recent study, published in 2002, reported there are an estimated 1,682,900 homeless and runaway youth. This number is equally divided among males and females, and the majority of them are between the ages of 15 and 17 (Molino, 2007). According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, unaccompanied youth account for 1% of the urban homeless population, (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2007). According to the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, six percent of homeless youth are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) (Molino, 2007). The number of homeless teenagers who are pregnant is estimated to be somewhere between six and twenty-two percent. (Health Resources and Services Administration 2001) According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, five to seven percent of American youths become homeless in any given year. (NAEH, 2007)
CAUSES
Causes of homelessness among youth fall into three inter-related categories: family problems, economic problems, and residential instability.
Many homeless youth leave home after years of physical and sexual abuse, strained relationships, addiction of a family member, and parental neglect. Disruptive family conditions are the principal reason that young people leave home: in one study, more than half of the youth interviewed during shelter stays reported that their parents either told them to leave or knew they were leaving and did not care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (a), 1995). In another study, 46% of runaway and homeless youth had been physically abused and 17% were forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (c), 1997).
Homeless Veterans
Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, September 2009
(http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html)
This fact sheet examines homelessness among U.S. veterans. A list of resources for further study is also provided.
BACKGROUND
Far too many veterans are homeless in America—between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night—representing between one fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people. Three times that many veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus at increased risk of homelessness. Further, there is concern about the future. Women veterans and those with disabilities including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are more likely to become homeless, and a higher percentage of veterans returning from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have these characteristics.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night [1]. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country.
Approximately 40% of homeless men are veterans, although veterans comprise only 34% of the general adult male population. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that on any given night, 200,000 veterans are homeless, and 400,000 veterans will experience homelessness during the course of a year (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 2006). 97% of those homeless veterans will be male (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2008).
DEMOGRAPHICS
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nation’s homeless veterans are mostly males (four percent are females). The vast majority is single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45 percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. 47 per cent of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. More than 67 per cent served our country for at least three years and 33 per cent were stationed in a war zone.
Here are some statistics concerning the veterans homeless [2]:
- 23% of homeless population are veterans
- 33% of male homeless population are veterans
- 47% Vietnam Era
- 17% post-Vietnam
- 15% pre-Vietnam
- 67% served three or more years
- 33% stationed in war zone
- 25% have used VA Homeless Services
- 85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
- 89% received Honorable Discharge
- 79% reside in central cities
- 16% reside in suburban areas
- 5% reside in rural areas
- 76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems
- 46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans
- 46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans
Female homeless veterans represent an estimated 3% of homeless veterans. They are more likely than male homeless veterans to be married and to suffer serious psychiatric illness, but less likely to be employed and to suffer from addiction disorders. Comparisons of homeless female veterans and other homeless women have found no differences in rates of mental illness or addictions.
Homelessness Among Elderly Persons
Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, September 2009.
(http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/elderly.html)
When thinking about homelessness, the elderly people issue doesn’t immediately come to our mind. Homeless elders, although increasing in numbers, continue to be a forgotten population. The poverty rate in 2008 (13.2 percent) was the highest poverty rate since 1997. Since 1960, the number of people below poverty line has not exceeded the 2008 figure of 39.8 million people. The poverty rate remained statistically unchanged for people 65 and over (9.7 percent). Both the poverty rate and the number in poverty remained statistically unchanged for people 65 and older, at 9.7 percent and 3.7 million in 2008 [1].
Among this growing population of older adults living in poverty are people forced to grow old in the streets and in shelters, elderly persons who have recently become homeless or who remain at constant risk of losing housing. The number of elderly adults who have become homeless has increased around the county. An example of this increase has occurred in Massachusetts, where from 1999 to 2002, the number of people over 55 using shelters increased by 60% (HEARTH, 2007).
DEFINITIONS AND DIMENSIONS
Definitions of aged status in the homeless vary from study to study. However, there is a growing consensus that persons aged 50 and over should be included in the “older homeless” category. Homeless persons aged 50-65 frequently fall between the cracks of governmental safety nets: while not technically old enough to qualify for Medicare, their physical health, assaulted by poor nutrition and severe living conditions, may resemble that of a 70-year-old.
Among the Sheltered Homeless Persons in 2008, 16.8% of them were 51 and older according to the 2008 annual homeless assessment report to Congress and 30.6% of the individuals who stayed in emergency shelters for more than 180 days were 51 and older.
CAUSES
Increased homelessness among elderly persons is largely the result of poverty and the declining availability of affordable housing among certain segments of the aging. Throughout the nation, there are at least 9 seniors waiting for every occupied unit of affordable elderly housing (HEARTH, 2007). Among households with very low incomes, households headed by an elderly person have almost a one-in-three chance of having worst case needs, despite the fact that housing assistance has been heavily directed toward elderly people.
In 2008 [2], the share of Americans who live in “deep poverty” — that is, whose cash incomes fall below half of the poverty line — reached its highest level since 1994. Some 5.7 percent of Americans — or 17.1 million of them — had incomes below half of the poverty line. Half of the poverty line in 2008 was $8,582 for a family of three and $11,013 for a family of four.
The current maximum monthly SSI benefits ($674.00 for an individual) remains well below the poverty line. Furthermore, the waiting list for affordable senior housing is often three to five years.
Isolation also contributes to homelessness among older persons; in a 2004 survey, one half of the recipients of SSI (50 years and older) had been living alone before losing their homes (Crane, 2004).
Sources:
Dvorak, Petula. “N D.C. Streets, the Cellphone as Lifeline: Homeless People Turn to Technology to Track Assistance and Opportunities.” The Washington Post 23 Mar. 2009, Metro, The District sec. Print.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/22/AR2009032201835.html?sid=ST2009032300833
Dvorak, Phred. “On the Street and On Facebook: The Homeless Stay Wired.” The Wall Street Journal- Eastern Edition 30 May 2009, Vol 253, Issue 125, sec. A: A1, A10. Print.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124363359881267523.html
Abstract: The article discusses the ability of homeless people in the U.S. to retain access to the Internet. By the end of 2009 New York City hopes to have Internet access available at all of its 9 homeless shelters. “SF Homeless” is an Internet forum devoted to issues affecting the homeless. The Internet habits of several homeless persons are discussed.
Flagg, Gordon. “Hooking Up the Homeless.” American Libraries 31.5 (May 2000): 38. Print. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=24&hid=11&sid=ed6c6c22-b056-4a85-9bf8-1892f76ad71a%40sessionmgr110
Abstract: Editorial. Discusses the role of public libraries toward the poor, which has traditionally been self-improvement. Use of public Internet access at public libraries by the homeless; Internet resources which aid the homeless; Number of homeless who take advantage of public Internet access; Suggestion that libraries can ease both the spiritual and economic impoverishment of the disadvantaged.
Franklin, M.I. “The Homeless and the Internet : Making Connections for – and by – Outcasts.” Conference Papers — International Studies Association, 2004 Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada (2004): 1. Print.
http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/7/3/0/9/pages73093/p73093-1.php
Abstract: This section presents an abstract of the study, The Homeless and the Internet: Making Connections for–and by–Outcasts, presented at the International Studies Association’s Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, March 17-20, 2004. Homeless people are amongst the most stigmatised groups in high-tech societies, the last people who might be seen as active Internet practitioners. In this context, initiatives from within the Street Newspapers movement, in North America and Europe, have been looking to facilitate connections between local street newspapers and their constituencies all over the world through a more conscious application of Internet technologies. This research begins with the observation that the increasing commercialisation of the world-wide web and supporting Internet technologies deeply affects its future trajectory, one that looks set to actively–and passively– exclude non-elite, non-commercial uses and applications.
Hersberger, Julie. “Are the Economically Poor Information Poor? Does the Digital Divide affect the Homeless and Access to Information?” Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences 27.3 (2002/2003): 45-63. Print.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=5&sid=ed6c6c22-b056-4a85-9bf8-1892f76ad71a%40sessionmgr110
Abstract: Homeless persons lack economic capital, but it is less clear whether they concomitantly lack important information capital. The basic information needed by the homeless is not available on the Internet as this is information controlled by governmental social services agencies, but does this result in a state of information poverty? This paper examines the issues of how the lack of access to information technology does not affect how the homeless access basic-needs-level information. The study investigates the information needs of the homeless, information sources, and information-seeking behaviours within the analytical constructs of information outsiders and insiders and the theory of information poverty posed by Chatman (1996). The study explores the differences in information seeking pursuits based on whether the catalyst for the search is internally or externally motivated. Finally, the paper speculates on whether making basic level needs information available via the Internet would be useful and/or used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Mosser, Marry. “Text ‘‘Superpowers’’: A Study of Computers in Homeless Shelters.” Science, Technology & Human Values 34.6 (2009): 705-40. Print.
http://sth.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/34/6/705
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a research project to understand how a major technology adoption project is taken up in the social setting of Calgary’s three major homeless shelters. An understanding of how technology is used ‘‘on the ground’’ and how it relates to the project’s goals is the key contribution of this research. The results of interviews with clients at the homeless shelters and shelter staff provide the empirical data for an analysis of the major issues concerning the actual and intended use of this Smart Communities project. The research project is influenced by institutional ethnography, which looks at the role of texts in coordinating social relations. This article suggests that information technology could be seen as a text ‘‘superpower’’ in coordinating social relations among socially ‘‘at risk’’ people in particular. It concludes that more transparent dialogue is required on how actions are concerted by information technology.
Pierce, Stephanie Casey. “Registration Remains Open for Web Seminar on Using Civic Engagement to Serve the Homeless.” Nation’s Cities Weekly 28 Aug. 2006, Vol. 29, Issue 35 sec.: 3. Print.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/IOURL?locID=coloboulder&issue=35&issn=0164-5935&volume=29&spage=3&prod=BCRC&date=2006&finalAuth=true
Abstract: The article reports on the registration for the “Project Homeless Connect: Using Civic Engagement to Serve the Homeless” web seminar/audioconference, sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The seminar showcases the Project Homeless Connect model of the city of San Francisco in California. The model relies on one-stop services and community engagement to increase the access to services of homeless individuals.
Runaways: San Diego. MSNBC TV, 2009. 2009. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/#28257877>. Abstract: Homeless teens that find free access to the Internet in hotel lobbies. They use the Internet to communicate with other “runaways” with social networking websites like myspace.com. This is one example of how even those with very few resources have the need to stay connected. Social groups and organizations have been around for centuries but they used to be reserved for those with money and status. Now there is no need to have any of this, but rather only having access to the Internet.
Web blog post. HOMELESS,JOBLESS,HUNGRY N DC. Dec. 2008. Web. <http://homelessjoblesshungryndc.blogspot.com/?sid=ST2009032300833>.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
I have decided to change my project idea.
My previous idea focused on the idea that we are all cyborgs, but it was turning into a long laundry list.
I have decided to focus on the way that homeless people stay connected through the used of the internet (and cell phones). It keeps them busy, helps them find jobs and helps connect them to others that are in similar situations, allowing them to find communities.
I am much more excited about this idea and am genuinely interested in what I find out. I am also looking forward to do my own research. I plan on contacting the homeless shelter in Boulder, Co and talking to those who are living on the street.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
We are Cyborgs.
Technology and Self: Causing the need to be and stay connected
Idea for thesis:
Although we may not like to admit it, we are cyborgs. Most of us are incredibly dependent on technology for education, business and pleasure. We are cyborgs to stay connected to each other and the world around us. Many people, including myself have a hard time admitting they are cyborgs. The term is somewhat nerdy and sounds like it was coined from a piece of science fiction. In today’s world it is geared toward the “cool kid”. The kid that is connected a way to stay informed, socialize, and express opinions. (Maybe it’s cool to be nerdy.)
Everyday examples: Technology is now embedded in our routine: Walk up to an alarm clock, brush teeth, check email, browse the news online, coffee is brewed by an electronic coffee maker. Get dressed, leave the house of course with your cell phone, drive to work. Check your voice mail, turn on your computer, return some calls, send some emails. Lunch time, heat up food in the microwave, make a personal call on your cell phone, eat and enjoy your hour break. Back to work: check your voice mail, check your email, send some emails. Work is over, get in car, drive to the gym, use the treadmill listen to an mp3 player and watch the news, get back in car, drive home , shower and make a quick dinner. Time to relax, sit back and watch some tv. Time for bed, set alarm for the morning. Snooze.
Collet, C., A. Clarion, M. Morel, A. Chapon, and C. Petit. “Physiological and behavioral changes associated to the management of secondary tasks while driving.” Applied Ergonomics 40.6 (2009): 1041-046. Print.
-The article discusses the danger of driving while using a cell phone, whether it is for text messaging or for making calls. It analyzes the strain that is placed on the body while multitasking (including listening to the radio) which involves reaction time and heart rate. Driving alone and having a conversation instead of driving with a passenger causes physiological changes while operating a vehicle.
Goggin, Gerard. “Adapting the mobile phone: The iPhone and its consumption.” Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies 23.2 (2009): 231-44. Print.
Online access: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a910302250~db=all
-The article examines the way people have gravitated and adapted to using “smartphone” technology. It also talks about the way that these phones and are use of them is a good example of how our culture is based on consumerism.
Goggin, Gerard. “Introduction: What do you mean cell phone culture?” Cell Phone Culture: Mobile Technology In Everyday Life. London, New York: Routledge. 1-16. Print.
-The book discusses how present cell phones are in everyday life. It analyzes and explains cell phone uses and how it has turned into a culture. It also goes over the history of the cell phone and goes onto describe how people use it today.
Pierce, Tamyra. “Social anxiety and technology: Face-to-face communication versus technological communication among teens.” Computers in Human Behavior 25.6 (2009): 1367-372. Print.
-The article breaks down the way that the internet and using cell phones to text message others contribute to the anxiety that teens have with face to face interactions. The study was conducted using 280 high school students. The study also talks about the differences in between males and females and who spends more time on line and/or on their phones.
Wei, Ran, and Ven-Hwei Lo. “Staying connected while on the move: Cell phone use and social connectedness.” Sage Publications, 2006. Web. 6 Oct. 2009. <http://nms.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/8/1/53>.
-“This study explores that question in the framework of gratifications sought and their relationship both to differential cell phone use and to social connectedness.” The information collected is based on a group of college students in Taiwan. The article will discuss the way that having a cell phone grants many an instant tie to the modern culture and gives them access to easy socialization.
Other References:
Books:
Me++ : the cyborg self and the networked city by William J. Mitchell
-The book talks about the way that human and technology are very much connected. Since mp3s and phones are getting smaller and smaller, we carry them around and become part of us. As a result, we socialize less and lives are have changed.
The second self : computers and the human spirit / Sherry Turkle
Online Articles:
http://texthub.com/unlimited-text-messaging.aspx
http://healthfieldmedicare.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_stop_text_messaging_while_driving -The article points out that text messaging while driving is a growing problem. It gives step-by-step ways to stop the dangerous behavior
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
http://lindsaycarmona.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/home-and-homel…stay-connected
The idea that there are several homeless people out there. Despite not having a roof over their heads and clean laundry, some carry cell phones and others sneak into hotels to stay connected.
I want to explore several questions to help guide my research:
-This makes us think about the idea of home.
-What is home?
-What does it mean to be homeless?
Homeless doesn’t necessarily mean that people don’t have community, a place to go or people to talk to. With the use of the Internet communities have come about, only they are online. Many stay connected with the current news and TV shows. In the Norlin Library, and the Boulder Public Library, many of those that have lost their homes still have free Internet access.
I-s being part of a community more important than having a home?
-How do those that are homeless deal with cell phone bills? What address do they have? Who do they call?
- I know this is specific to the individual, but I may see a trend among many.
-What does it mean to be a homeless teen today?
-There is proof that they still socialize via the Internet. Is that healthy or unhealthy? Does it hinder their social skills in any way?
-Why are these people on the street? Where were they before? What is their story.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/22/AR2009032201835.html
I plan on keeping the paragraph about runaways San Diego made by MSNBC.
I also plan on doing my own research through the Boulder Homeless Shelter.
I know that I am changing my topic now, but I stumbled upon this information through my first draft for this project. This topic is something that I am more excited about. I am genuinely curious and want to explore the answers to my questions that I have stated above.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Although we may not like to admit it, we are cyborgs. Most of us are incredibly dependent on technology for education, business and pleasure. We are cyborgs to stay connected to each other and the world around us. Many people, including myself have a hard time admitting they are cyborgs. The term is somewhat nerdy and sounds like it was coined from a piece of science fiction. In today’s world it is geared toward the “cool kid”. The kid that is connected a way to stay informed, socialize, and express opinions. Maybe it’s cool to be nerdy, everyone’s doing it.
Technology is now embedded in our routine: Walk up to an alarm clock, brush teeth, check email, browse the news online, coffee is brewed by an electronic coffee maker. Get dressed, leave the house of course with your cell phone, and drive to work. Check your voice mail, turn on your computer, return some calls, and send some emails. Lunchtime, heat up food in the microwave, make a personal call on your cell phone, eat and enjoy your hour break. Back to work: check your voice mail, check your email, and send some emails. Work is over, get in car, drive to the gym, use the treadmill listen to an mp3 player and watch the news, get back in car, drive home, shower and make a quick dinner. Time to relax, sit back and watch some TV. Time for bed, set alarm for the morning. Snooze.
In a conversation with someone earlier this week, the point came up that we always have been cyborgs if you define a cycborg as being a person relying on technology (Ex: using boats, a horse and buggy, using a wood burning stove, etc.) I am defying cyborgs as being a person who relies on digital technology in everyday life. This is a relatively new concept. What makes it so interesting is that everyone that I know relies on technology now, young and old because it is now apart of the standard of living. A recent documentary made by MSNBC entitled, “Runaways: San Diego (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036750/), follows a handful of teens who are living on the street. It describes what these teens do to survive and of course, a very important part of a teen’s life, how to socialize. The voiceover describes how many teens find access to the Internet, mostly in hotels that have Internet access in the lobby. They use the Internet to communicate with other “runaways” with social networking websites like myspace.com. This is one example of how even those with very few resources have the need to stay connected. Social groups and organizations have been around for centuries but they used to be reserved for those with money and status. Now there is no need to have any of this, but rather only having access to the Internet. Once online, it is very easy to Google an interest and find a group of often many groups with that similar interest. This is where the addiction aspect comes into play. After connecting yourself to the online community, there is a tendency to constantly check on your blog post, your email, your personal page, or twitter and see if anyone has responded to what you wrote. The same concept applies to those who carry a cell phone and send text messages. There is a constant need to check the small, handheld device and see if “Jonny” or “Sally” wrote back and responded to what you sent to them.
Gerard Goggin writes about this idea and concept. In his article “Adapting the mobile phone: The iPhone and its consumption”, he talks about the fact that many people have adopted a new way of living with the invention of “smartphones”. Our culture is based on consumerism and has been for many years. Everyone wants to newest and greatest. Smartphones allow us to be connected at all times. The iPhone allows for email access, text messaging, picture taking and sharing, and Internet access and of course, calling capabilities. People wear these devices on their hip; carry them in their pockets like it is their job. This new phenomenon has allowed for many to have instant access to communication with others. As discussed in class, many receive an instant squirt of dopamine or happiness in their brains after receiving a buzz from their phones. It means, “Someone cares about me”. This need to be cared for and to therefore socialize in very excessive compared to the past, but it is now the norm. Gerard Goggin also has a book out that is all about cell phone culture. It is something that has slipped into most everyone’s everyday life, and affects the way we live and had therefore turned into a culture. It used to be a novelty to have a cellular phone, but was a pain to carry around due to its size. I remember having a car phone in the family car when I was younger. I lived in New York City and just about every weekend, my family and I piled into the car and drove for three hours to East Hampton to get away from all of the chaos. We never got very far before the car phone rang. I remember how cool it was that we had that capability.
While on the subject of new cyborgs in relation to the new and ever-changing technologies, my mother is a perfect example. She is an agent for cinematographers and has clients based in and around New York and some in California. She hated the idea of running to an office every morning, when she was her own boss, so she decided to work at home and have an office there. If she ever went out of town or went to lunch and left her office and more importantly her phone, she was in trouble. When a commercial, TV show or feature film needs to contact her, they often need a definite answer about whether or not her clients are available and want to work for them. She quickly got a cell phone and it was constantly ringing, but there was soon another problem, she needed to check her email. If and when she left her office and didn’t have Internet access, the production companies could not reach her. This summer she purchased an iPhone per the recommendation of many. She is not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to technology and is often stubborn if something seems confusing, but now her iPhone is always with her and she would never leave the house, let alone the room without it. Talk about a cycborg. She may be offended by the term because it sounds like something out of an episode of “Star Trek”, but face it Mom: you’re a cyborg.
As a college student and being part of the university community in Boulder, Colorado I don’t know anyone that does not have a cell phone. Just about everyone walks around campus checking their mobile phones for the time, for a missed call, or for a text message seeing that squirt of dopamine. As a result, many scholars are writing about the fact that technology is weakening our communication when face-to-face. For other reasons as well, maybe the mobile phone, the Internet and other advancements in technology are hindering us rather than helping us. Because people are so daependent and attached to their phones, drivers are checking their devices while driving. In California there is a new bam on cell phone use while driving and tickets are constantly being given. Since we are so focused and in need of the dopamine and instant gratification, we are willing to surrender our lives to check out phones. In an article entitled, “Physiological and behavioral changes associated to the management of secondary tasks while driving”, this problem is discussed. It analyzes the strain that is placed on the body while multitasking (including listening to the radio), which involves reaction time and heart rate. Driving alone and having a conversation instead of driving with a passenger causes physiological changes while operating a vehicle. Therefore, cell phones and what they have done to us may not be so beneficial. Cell phones are an epidemic.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Foreword:
Quotes:
“In recent years, digital media and networks have become embedded in our everyday lives, and are part of broad-based changes to how we engage in knowledge production, communication, and creative expression”
“This book series is founded upon the working hypothesis that those immersed in new
digital tools and networks are engaged in an unprecedented exploration of language, games, social interaction, problem solving, and self-directed activity that leads to diverse forms of learning. These diverse forms of learning are reflected in expressions of identity, how individuals express independence and creativity, and in their ability to learn, exercise judgment, and think systematically.”
“Media literacy involves not only ways of understanding, interpreting, and critiquing media, but also the means for creative and social expression, online search and navigation, and a host of new technical skills. The potential gap in literacies and participation skills creates new challenges for educators who struggle to bridge media engagement inside and outside the classroom.”
“We value the term participation for the ways in which it draws attention to situated learning theory, social media literacies, and mobilized forms of media engagement.”
Notes:
People can and have access to distribute their ideas with no cost, but still get to reach a wide audience, a much bigger audience than someone who produced a pamphlet and distributed it to only the people who lived within 10 miles of their house. Not only has the internet helped with mass distribution, but it has also allowed for immediate feedback. For example, person A can post their opinions about subject X and person B who lives halfway around the world can submit their response, comments, or questions on that same website creating a forum for discussion. And moments later person B, C, and D can post their thoughts based on the initial post and/or the responses. And there you have it, maybe it’s a blog, or an online magazine. Bottom line the internet is a place for anything. Through the exploration of many sights there is a chance to learn about anything and everything. You can read newspaper articles from all over the world, learn to cook exotic dishes or a twist on the traditional meatloaf, and take a online class.
The opportunity to learn is everywhere on the internet. More often than not, and especially with the help of google, it is not hard to find research on …the history of the coo-co clock. As stated in the first sentence of the Forward, the internet has been incorporated into our everyday lives and it hard to avoid going on the interweb.
This presents an interesting idea in terms of teaching and educating the younger generations. “Media literacy involves not only ways of understanding, interpreting, and critiquing media, but also the means for creative and social expression, online search and navigation, and a host of new technical skills. The potential gap in literacies and participation skills creates new challenges for educators who struggle to bridge media engagement inside and outside the classroom,” (Ito, Mizuko et al., 8). The “potential gap” that comes to mind is the gap between the generations. This creates a challenge for the educator trying to teach students who have grown up using the internet and therefore may have a leg up in terms of understanding how it works and its capabilities. The age gap can apparent and does not benefit the teacher or the student, but rather gets in the way.
Introducing Identity By: David Buckingham
Quotes:
“…our identity is something we uniquely possess: it is what distinguishes us from other people. Yet on the other hand, identity also implies a relationship with a broader collective or social group of some kind.” (1)
“On one level, I am the product of my unique personal biography. Yet who I am (or who I think I am) varies according to who I am with, the social situations in which I find myself, and the motivations I may have at the time, although I am by no means entirely free to choose how I am defined.” (1)
“For example, Susannah Stern’s discussion of young people’s online authorship of blogs and home pages suggests that this activity can provide important opportunities for self-reflection and self-realization, and for expressing some of the conflicts and crises that characterize this period.” (3)
“…social networking sites like MySpace provide opportunities for social interaction and affil- iation that are crucial developmental tasks for this age group—opportunities that are all the more important now, as their access to “offline” public spaces has become increasingly
restricted.” (3)
“Indeed, social historians have argued that “youth” is a relatively modern invention, which has resulted from the extension of the period of transition that lasts from the end of compulsory schooling to the entry into waged labor; and this is clearly something that varies significantly between different social groups and between different cultural settings (in parts of the world where children leave school at the age of eleven, for example, “youth” is unlikely to be seen as a distinct category).” (4)
“More radical youth research within Cultural Studies has contested the view of youthful
expression as simply a function of adult attempts at socialization. There is a long tradition
here of empirical research on youth culture, dating back to the early 1970s, and it is mostly concerned with the ways in which young people appropriate cultural commodities and use
them for their own devices. Much of this work has focused on specific youth “subcultures”— groups such as hippies, skinheads, punks, goths, ravers, and others—who are seen to be resisting or opposing the imperatives of the parent culture, for example, through fashion, dance, music, and other cultural forms. Subcultures are seen here not just as a subordinate, but also as subversive: they arise from contradictions and tensions in the dominant social order and represent a threat to established social norms.” (4)
“The formation of identity often involves a process of stereotyping or “cognitive simplification” that allows people to distinguish easily between self and other, and to define themselves and their group in positive ways.” (6)
“Like some other researchers in this tradition, Goffman sometimes appears to make a problematic distinction between personal identity and social identity, as though collective identifications or performances were somehow separate from individual ones, which are necessarily more “truthful.” Nevertheless, this approach has several implications for our understanding of young people’s uses of digital media.” (6)
“The issue of performance is also very relevant to the ways in which young people construct identities, for example, via the use of avatars, e-mail signatures, IM nicknames, and (in a more elaborate way) in personal homepages and blogs. The question of whether online identities are more or less honest or truthful than offline ones has of course been a recurrent concern in studies of computer-mediated communication” (6-7)
“The most obvious aspects of this relate to “race,” ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and disability; although the term “identity politics” is also often used in relation to forms of indigenous nationalism, religious groupings (and indeed forms of “fundamentalism”), and so on.” (7)
“Giddens’ “project of the self” is recast here as a matter of individuals policing themselves, and the forms of self-help and therapy that Giddens seems to regard in quite positive terms are redefined as modern forms of confession, in which individuals are constantly required to account for themselves and “speak the truth” about their identities.” (10)
“Recent studies suggest that most young people’s everyday uses of the Internet are characterized not by spectacular forms of innovation and creativity, but by relatively mundane forms of communication and information retrieval.” (14)
“More recent approaches have drawn on social theories of learning, such as the “situated learning” approach. From this perspective, learning is seen to be embedded in social interactions (or “communities of practice”), and it can take the form of a kind of apprenticeship, as newcomers observe and gradually come to participate in particular social practices by modeling and working alongside “old timers.” This theory also suggests that learning entails the development (or“projection”) of a social identity; in learning, we take on, or aspire to take on, a new role as a member of the community of practice in which we are seeking to participate. Such theories have an obvious relevance to the study of online social networks, for example in the case of gaming and fan communities.” (16)
“While technology does provide important new possibilities for self-expression and communication, they clearly show that technology in itself does not make the difference. On the contrary, we need to think hard about the “social technologies”—the other forms of social interaction—and the types of pedagogy that surround the technology, and which crucially determine how it will be used.”(18)
“Identity is a very broad and ambiguous concept, yet it focuses attention on critical questions about personal development and social relationships—questions that are crucial for our understanding of young people’s growth into adulthood and the nature of their social and cultural experiences.” (18-19)
Notes:
The article starts with explaining identity and how different philosophers categorize it. I have found that many people have an identity but it varies slightly. One person has a very strong opinion that people have an inner and an outer self and that the inner self is who they really are. I don’t agree one hundred percept because when you are by yourself is there really a way to identity yourself. Being by yourself does not include the internet unless you are typing a journal entry and entering it into a blog site. Discussed on the third page, Susannah Stern’s is mentioned when she talks about the way in which keeping an online journal allows teens (especially) to reflect on their lives. In high school several kids including myself had a Live Journal(livejournal.com) that turned out to be a way to express your self, but was more emotional and a place to say “my life is so hard because…”. Since a few people did it, it made it okay for many people to do it.
Most people will agree that through the trying years of adolescence, you strive to create and embody who you are. As discussed on page 4, as kids finds themselves they tend to different themselves with the mainstream culture and cling to a “counter culture”. Now with sights like Myspace it is an easy way for teens to create a persona, an identity of who they think they are or who they want to be. Guys can be the “jock” that they may be or that they want to be and girls can be the provocative woman that they want to be….which of course leaves a lot of room for people to use and abuse these sights. On the internet you never really know who you are talking to despite reading someone’s profile and thinking that you do (and understand their identity). The internet allows you to create an identity and test it out and see which one fits best for you, but at the same time, you do not want to be the person that thinks they know John Smith as the guy who claims to be into punk and rolls with a tough crowd. It is interesting to think about how significant the internet is in our lives today. This is where the topic of performance comes into play (pages 6-7). I believe that people are always somewhat performing but it is incredible to read about and hear about the number of people who use and abuse it (secondlife.com. IMing, gamers, etc.) As seen in many television specials females are the ones are generally taken advantage of the most (in terms of sexual harassment).
The internet can also be a way to define who you are. Many websites ask for a profile to be made and it is somewhat empowering to say “I am ___, and I enjoy____ .” It is nice to have that somewhere and of course you can change it as you or your life changes, but in some ways I believe it is empowering. The article concludes itself by saying that technology is ever-changing and identities are constantly evolving. In order to tackle this vast subject you have to start somewhere. Since it is ever-changing, people are using it differently everyday (sometimes they are more involved in one site and then not or they will join a new website).
Questioning the Generational Divide: Technological Exoticism and Adult
Constructions of Online Youth Identity By: Susan C. Herring
Quotes:
“The argument concludes by calling for a paradigm shift in research on youth and new
media, one that tempers exoticism by moving away from a fascination with technologies
to a focus on young people themselves and their communicative needs as they happen
to be expressed through particular media.” (72)
“adult advertisers target youth as consumer markets through new media. Marketing
firms build and host website-based “online communities” designed to attract teens and
preteens around themes such as sports, fashion, and dating, as vehicles primarily for youth-
oriented advertising.12 The products advertised through youth-targeted media are sometimes rather adult.” (73)
“Another moral panic abetted by the media concerns the supposed widespread decline
of young people’s language skills, as manifested through what David Crystal in his 2001
book Language and the Internet termed “Netspeak”—the use of abbreviated and nonstandard spelling and typography in computer-mediated messages” (74)
“According to new media researcher Henry Jenkins, more elaborate indoor media environments have evolved to compensate for unsafe or otherwise inhospitable outdoor environments.40 danah boyd, in her chapter in this volume, argues that social networking spaces such as MySpace.com substitute for traditional offline hangouts, whose numbers have dwindled dramatically in recent decades in the United States.” (77)
“The teens in the focus group, especially the boys, tended to view the Internet as a means of empowerment, a way to escape the limitations on their choices imposed by marketing conglomerates. “What the Internet has done is to diversify the opportunities we have to find something we like,” stated one boy, and another added: “I think the Internet is one outlet of independent-minded people.” (80)
“By the time the first true digital generation comes into being, we may speculate that new
technologies will be on hand, and some that are new at present will have become more widespread, such as artificial intelligence agents and devices for tracking the location of others and accessing information about them.” (86)
“Exoticism can be tempered by a shift from a focus on technologies to a focus on young
people themselves and their communicative needs as they happen to be expressed through
particular media.” (86)
Notes:
Several social networking sites entice teens who is struggling with or just wants to find their identity. This is especially true for females, but also true for males. Some females chose to embody an erotic and sexual persona that is often encouraged by men (many of whom are years older than the teen). This has been brought to America’s attention after the many horror stories in local newspapers centering around myspace.com and after the Dateline show “To Catch a Preditor”. “As 90 million people use MySpace.com around the world, vulnerable users have fallen victim to predators, who have assaulted, abducted and, in some cases, murdered the people they meet online. In addition, thousands of teens and young adults have been led to moral corruption through the images and people they interacted with online” (74). How do we bridge the gap between adult and teens who really shouldn’t be communicating? They shouldn’t because in most cases there are older men who are trying to lure young women and the situation often times spirals out of control and the female is then the victim. As discussed on page 77, flirting used to be done primarily over the phone ( on a land line) with a someone from your neighborhood, not over the internet or via text messaging with a possible strangers.
Adverting in today’s society is all over the internet. In some cases females are shown what or who they should be or how they should act. The males who were in a focus group had positive things to say about advertisements online and the females basically said that the ads did not represent them well enough.
What is scary is that some people claim to be addicted to social networking sites (page 81). One teen believes that the internet is a fun way to explore (and explore who you can be). Myspace allows for strangers to view your profile and comment on your pictures and pages. For example, person A has posted some risqué photos of herself an person B writes, “hot stuff”. For some, it can be seen as instant gratification and very positive compliments that give person A boost of confidence. Who knows, person A and B may stay in touch and continue to flirt via the internet giving each other that little boost of confidence after each correspondence.
Adults need to be careful about the information and advertisements that they are putting out there. There should be some kind of filter on the internet? Should females feel the need to live up to the advertisements that overtake their computer screens? Is this right? Is the younger generation exposed to too much too early?
Questions from readings:
1. What is the “potential gap in literacies and participation skills creates new challenges for educators who struggle to bridge media engagement inside and outside the classroom” mentioned on page 8 of the Foreward?
2. There is often a difference in the way people interact face-to-face versus face-to-screen. Do you think this affects the classroom and learning environment?
3. Has your identity changed as a result of the internet and the websites that you are/were loyal to?
4. Have you been affected by advertisements? Do you feel that you need to conform to the way your gender/race/class is portrayed? Do you feel the need to act older?
5. Is there a way to police the internet to protect teens from being exposed to mature subjects/topics (involving sexual topics)?
Questions about Identity:
1. Has the way in which we construct identity changed since the internet?
2. When is our identity constructed? Or is it constantly changing? Does the internet effect this for the younger generations?
3. After recently watching a special on homeless teens on MSNBC, the narrator stated that many teens rely on the internet to talk to other homeless teens. How do you think they identify themselves?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Search
-
Blogroll
Recent Entries
- Final Reflection
- Possessing an email address vs. a street address
- Reflection: Homelessness and Technology
- Homelessness and Technology- Thesis, Facts, and Citations
- New Idea for project: Despite Being Homelessness, People Stay Connected (Through use of the internet and cell phones)
- Thesis and Bibliography- Milestone 1
- Home and Homelessness- and how those who live on the street stay connected
- Journal entry about project: We Are Cyborgs
- Digital Media and Learning Series- reading notes, responses, and quesitons
- Hello world!
Categories
- Uncategorized (10)
