However, little is known about homeless adults’ technology access and use. Utilizing data from a study of 421 homeless adults moving into PSH, this paper presents descriptive technology findings, and compares results to age-matched general population data. The vast majority (94%) currently owned a cell phone, although there was considerable past 3-month turnover in phones (56%) and phone numbers (55%). More than half currently owned a smartphone, and 86% of those used Android operating systems. Most (85%) used a cell phone daily, 76% used text messaging, and 51% accessed the Internet on their cell phone. One-third reported no past 3-month Internet use
Based on that study, many have a cell phone, but not all of them have smart phones. There’s also a lot of turnover.
I’ve never had a homeless person ask me to venmo them some money.
in other countries outside of the USA, you can use phone credit as money. Since you can transfer phone credit to people, and credit is stored as a money amount… it’s easy.
Wait a few weeks and Google will be giving away free phones, just so they can track everybody. Wait a couple more weeks, and having a tracked phone will be mandatory.
It’s been at least a decade since I’ve seen a homeless person without a phone. Free government phones are easy to get. They all have them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516785/
Based on that study, many have a cell phone, but not all of them have smart phones. There’s also a lot of turnover.
I’ve never had a homeless person ask me to venmo them some money.
in other countries outside of the USA, you can use phone credit as money. Since you can transfer phone credit to people, and credit is stored as a money amount… it’s easy.
No smart tech needed. Just a free sms.
Which country is giving away free phones? I have never heard that before.
Wait a few weeks and Google will be giving away free phones, just so they can track everybody. Wait a couple more weeks, and having a tracked phone will be mandatory.
I apologize for not clarifying that I’m in the US
Oh, that sounds like a nice and social practice we could learn from the US