Google is partnering with homeless shelters in San Francisco to distribute free phone numbers and voicemail accounts to those without homes, the company said Wednesday.
For homeless individuals, a phone is a luxury, and yet, telephony communications is an essential tool in our society. Without a phone number you can't apply for a job or even get on a waiting list for low-income housing.
Between 25 percent and 40 percent of the nation's 750,000 homeless are unemployed, according to a 2005 survey conducted by the advocacy group the National Alliance to End Homelessness. And without a way for a potential employer to reach these people, they are often destined to remain jobless and most likely homeless.
Another shocking statistic is that individuals with children make up about 40 percent of the national homeless population and the average age of a homeless person in the U.S. is 9 years old. Imagine a teacher or school social worker not able to contact a parent of a homeless child because the parent doesn't have a phone.
"When you lose your home, you lose more than your house," said Google's spokesman. "You lose a permanent way of staying in touch with family members, employers, and social service providers. Being able to give a phone number to people and access voicemail can be a very powerful thing in sustaining quality of life."
Corporate responsibility.. Nice.
Xbone Stormsurgezz