Alpo Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Back last summer, when the temperatures was approaching 100, I got a text a couple of times. From the county. They were setting up a cooling center, where if I did not have air conditioning I could go over there and cool off. I could go to any grocery store and cool off, and they were a lot closer than the cooling center. But anyway. Now the Arctic winds are coming down. It is supposed to freeze. I know you Yankee think that's funny - oh golly, it's going to get down to freezing!!! - but that's cold around here. So I got a text. A warming shelter will be open at one of the schools, in anticipation of the freezing temperatures. From 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. every night this week. They'll even come get you. A few years back, while walking the dog, I passed a homeless camp. 3 or 4 tents back in the woods. Now if it's summer and I was living in my tent and it was 100°, I could sit there and pant and sweat. But if it's winter, and I'm living in my tent, and it's 30°, I could easily see myself turning into a popsicle. And going to a warming shelter would be a nice thing. If I knew about the warming shelter. But I wouldn't have known about the warming shelter if the city had not texted me. So I wonder how many homeless people have cell phones that are able to receive texts, so they would get that vital information? 1 Quote
Alpo Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 Lots of places have public charging. The last time I was in Burger King I noticed there was a wall outlet underneath every table, and I asked the reason. It was so you can charge your cell phone. Quote
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) They ALL have phones. Remember the Obamaphone program? It's still in effect. I frequently see popup tents touting "FREE PHONE!" across the street from Parks where the bums hang out. As for charging? No problem. The City Parks have electrical service in them, ostensibly so that when a family comes to use the facility, (which they don't BECAUSE of all the bums hanging out there), they can plug in a radio or some such. The bums charge their phones THERE. Edited January 8 by Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 2 1 1 Quote
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I stopped at one of those one day to inquire about a “free” phone. I was not so politely told I didn’t qualify. I had a job. I said, “Yes, I do. That pays for those phones!” January 20th can’t come soon enough!!! 1 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Alpo said: Lots of places have public charging. The last time I was in Burger King I noticed there was a wall outlet underneath every table, and I asked the reason. It was so you can charge your cell phone. The mall here has free chargers. I’m sure others do too. Most Panera and Starbucks places have them. Of course you have to have a charging cord for your phone. Edited January 8 by Rye Miles #13621 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Look at your phone bills. There are fees you pay, mandated by the government, that helps pay for low income and homeless cell phones. 2 Quote
Sedalia Dave Posted January 8 Posted January 8 3 hours ago, Pat Riot said: Look at your phone bills. There are fees you pay, mandated by the government, that helps pay for low income and homeless cell phones. Land line phones have those same fees. 1 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 8 Posted January 8 35 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Land line phones have those same fees. I didn’t know that, but I haven’t had a landline in a long time. 1 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) I would take the number here (94%) with a block of salt as it is from a survey of those who have taken advantage of "permanent supportive housing" and so, I would assume, have an interest in getting out of their situation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6516785/ This https://shelterforce.org/2023/11/01/cellphones-are-a-lifeline-for-unhoused-people-but-barriers-abound/ just says "over half" with a lot of turnover of phones and numbers. In my quick search the lowest I found was 44%, with the most common range in the 13 I looked at was 44% to 65%. Edited January 8 by Subdeacon Joe Typo 1 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Funny story that I just remembered a little while ago. Back in 2015 I had a flip phone as I had sworn off personal smart phones for good. I got lost in Portland Oregon on my motorcycle and couldn’t figure out where I went wrong. I was heading to a meeting with a contractor at their office. I have pulled over and was trying to get my bearings on a side street when this homeless guy walks up and asks if I needed some help. I told him I was lost and the name of the business I was looking for and he said “Sorry, I’m not familiar with that business or that street name. Let’s look it up on my iPhone.” He whips out his phone and says “Found it! You aren’t too far from there. Here, look at the map.” I looked at it and memorized it. I thanked him and handed him 5 bucks and wished him a nice day. He said “Keep your money. Invest in a smart phone.” and he laughed and walked away. About 2 months later I got myself an iPhone. Had one ever since. 1 6 Quote
Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L Posted January 8 Posted January 8 2 hours ago, Pat Riot said: Funny story that I just remembered a little while ago. Back in 2015 I had a flip phone as I had sworn off personal smart phones for good. I got lost in Portland Oregon on my motorcycle and couldn’t figure out where I went wrong. I was heading to a meeting with a contractor at their office. I have pulled over and was trying to get my bearings on a side street when this homeless guy walks up and asks if I needed some help. I told him I was lost and the name of the business I was looking for and he said “Sorry, I’m not familiar with that business or that street name. Let’s look it up on my iPhone.” He whips out his phone and says “Found it! You aren’t too far from there. Here, look at the map.” I looked at it and memorized it. I thanked him and handed him 5 bucks and wished him a nice day. He said “Keep your money. Invest in a smart phone.” and he laughed and walked away. About 2 months later I got myself an iPhone. Had one ever since. Yep I use the mapping feature on my iphone for all my traveling to matches in places I have never been to, most out of state. Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 9 Posted January 9 Gee, wonder how many took advantage of “cheap internet”? Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted January 9 Posted January 9 23 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Where would they charge it? At the local public library. Ours has a group that show up every day as soon as they open and leave when they close. They work at the computers, sit in the front and read books. Their bikes and carts are neatly parked outside. Some have pets and they take turns outside with the dogs. 1 Quote
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