March 27, 2006
Cell-phone use growing more popular among the homeless
The The Raleigh News & Observer reports on how prepaid plans are making it easier for the homeless to own cell phones.
"Cell phones are increasingly popular among the Triangle's homeless. With public pay phones quietly disappearing and prices on cell phones dropping, many homeless people say that it just makes sense.
But some social workers are concerned that the phones are an unnecessary expense that, in some cases, can be an obstacle to returning to a normal life.
Schiff, 41, who has been home-less on and off for eight years, uses his prepaid Virgin Mobile phone to look for work and get messages from potential employers.
"I call it networking," he said while standing in line for a free lunch at the Raleigh Rescue Mission recently. "The more people I know, the better chance I have of getting a job."
Paying for minutes ahead of time solves two problems for homeless users: uncertainty about their future finances and the lack of an address where a bill could be sent. It can also help curb the temptation to use the phone too much."
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