Possessing an email address vs. a street address
“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>.
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