Fw: new newsgroup - alt.society.homeless
H. C. Covington (ach1@sprynet.com)
Tue, 20 Jan 1998 18:29:36 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: John Statler <statler@jeffnet.org>
To: HOMELESS DISCUSSION LIST <homeless@csf.colorado.edu>
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 1998 5:24 PM
Subject: Re: new newsgroup - alt.society.homeless
I am not suprised that homeless people are using the phones. They
have been made easily accessible, just like credit cards. This is an
extremely expensive type of phone service (at least I think it is,
don't have one myself). Since it is easy to get (deposit on time,
free phone) and a status symbol poor people are intersted in it, and
rich people see suckers coming. I would expect more poor walking
around with them.
On a second thought, maybe they are cheaper than a residential phone.
I'll have to check that out. Unfortunately incoming calls cost just
as much as outgoing calls, and my phone is pretty busy so I guess
that won't work.
> That reminded me: I am witnessing a sharp rise in the use of cell
> phones by homeless and near-homeless people, especially those
> on SSI. More than once I have looked around in our day center
> for mentally ill homeless people, and seen two or three people
> talking on cell phones. We have one fellow who comes in and
> uses our outlets to recharge his phone.
>
> This is not something I would have expected to see develop.
> Is anybody else seeing this?
John Statler
Peace Productions
1120 Niantic St.
Medford OR 97501
(541) 770-5524
statler@jeffnet.org