On the Streets and Online

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-06-02 18:48:00 UTC
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First it was cell phones. Now it seems the interweb is abuzz about homeless people who have (gasp) computers?!

Here's a clip from the Wall Street Journal story that started the frenzy:

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.

Aspiring computer programmer Paul Weston, 29, says his Macintosh PowerBook has been a "lifeboat" since he was laid off from his job as a hotel clerk in December and moved to a shelter. Sitting in a Whole Foods store with free wireless access, Mr. Weston searches for work and writes a computer program he hopes to sell eventually. He has emailed city officials to press for better shelter conditions.

Take a deep breath, Wall Street Journal. It's not a "phenomenon." It's reality.

Many advocates have long understood the practicality and utility of a computer for those without a home. Which is why many shelters have computer labs or computer classes to help keep guests connected. Not only is it absolutely necessary for job hunting, but the web is necessary for many government applications. What's more, many folks who lose their home had laptops and online connections before being displaced. It's necessary for keeping in touch with family, friends, and, well, the world.

Besides, you're not the only one addicted to email and Facebook.

Many this blog's regular readers/commenters are current or former homeless individuals. What did you all think of the Wall Street Journal's fascination with this "phenomenon?"

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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