Earlier this year, I set out to speak with those affected by homelessness as well as people that are trying to help. I set out on a cold day to visit with individuals flying signs. Time after time, I heard stories of how people were living normal lives until something caught them off guard. Sometimes it was sickness, sometimes it was the loss of a job, sometimes it was abuse. Individuals traveling that ran out of money, a young woman that fell in love with the wrong man as a teen and ran away, and a single mother that was unable to pay her bills, despite working full time at minimum wage, who lost her job and ended up staying at the local shelter with her four children. These stories could come from anyone of us.

I asked people what has helped them the most. More than anything, the most useful tool people had, while living on the street, was the access to smart phones.

Having access to a phone meant having the ability to seek help, to talk to family in another city, or to seek employment.  A phone from a free service like QLink—a service that provides a free phone and service plan to unemployed individuals—can be a life saver for people that would otherwise be unseen.

One person told me “My best resource was my phone. That’s how I found things and made online sales. . . And then Facebook Groups that you can put ads out for things if you need them. I found a few side jobs when I was on the road. Most of the ways I made my money was making my own jewelry—like wrap and rocks, braiding twine or leather for bracelets. The phone has always been my best resource. Without it everything else is a lot more difficult.”

Another unspoken need was simply the knowledge of what programs are available to help. After speaking with several people that were homeless, I began to wonder what resources there actually were.