By Karen Cosmano
Of people experiencing homelessness, 94% of them own a cell phone. Although this may seem surprising, many unhoused people are able to obtain a cell phone through government programs. The next challenge they face is keeping the phone charged (Hetrick). This is where a public library comes in. Some of the reasons homeless people come to the library are to charge their phones, use the restrooms, and have daytime shelter (Warth).
A tent setup in front of San Diego Central Library. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune)Public libraries are learning to respond to the needs of the homeless population and there are many great resources available to help with the specific challenges this creates. The need for social workers within the library and strong partnerships with other community organizations providing food, shelter, and medical treatment is recognized. Libraries can introduce these services and typically have programs that help with job placement.
Besides being a place to charge a cell phone, libraries provide
public access to computers and free wi-fi. This allows users to apply for needed
assistance, check email, and use social media. People experiencing homelessness
often lack social support and feel isolated and detached from mainstream
society (Barman-Adhikari and Craddock). Social media allows them to stay
connected to friends and family and find other resources that can help. This is
particularly important for youth and young people who are unhoused. Studies
show that youth who have positive social media interaction make better behavioral
choices and “become more proactive about taking steps that would allow them to
exit homelessness” (Barman-Adhikari and Craddock).
Some unhoused people need help in reconnecting to family they haven’t had contact with for a while. An organization called Miracle Messages in San Francisco has a mission of reuniting unhoused people with loved ones through social media. They video record a message from the unhoused person to their loved ones and publicize it on social media. Here is a 2 minute snapshot from Miracle Message:
Libraries can recognize the benefits of unhoused people
having the computer skills necessary to use technology and access social media to
enhance their quality of life. A compassionate approach, staff training, and targeted
programming can make a world of difference to those who need help on the path to
stable housing.
Works cited:
Barman-Adhikari, Anamika and Jaih Craddock. “How We Can Leverage Social Networks, Tech to Help Homeless Young.” Youth Today, 24 Sept. 2019, https://youthtoday.org/2019/09/how-we-can-leverage-social-networks-tech-to-help-homeless-young/.“Harnessing Social Media To Reconnect Homeless People With Their Families.” NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, 16 Oct. 2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/10/16/498074856/harnessing-social-media-to-reconnect-homeless-people-with-their-families.
Hetrick, Christian. “Answering the call: Homelessness researchers get real-time data from mobile phone surveys.” USC Price News, 22 Nov. 2022. https://priceschool.usc.edu/news/homeless-los-angeles-cell-phone-survey/#:~:text=Previous%20research%20from%20Henwood%20suggested,free%20devices%20through%20government%20programs.
Warth, Gary. “Should libraries be part of homeless solutions? San Diego thinks so.” The San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sept. 2022, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/homelessness/story/2022-09-04/should-librarians-be-part-of-homeless-solutions-san-diego-is.
Image/Video:
Cepeda, Nelvin C. “In the early evening hours on Wednesday, Aug. 24, a few tents begin to setup for the night in front of San Diego Central Library.” 24 Aug. 2022. The San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/homelessness/story/2022-09-04/should-librarians-be-part-of-homeless-solutions-san-diego-is.“Miracle Messages 2 minute snapshot.” YouTube, uploaded Miracle Messages, 23 Mar. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glXZS-LDVHE&t=119s.
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