That Homeless Guy Outside Starbucks? He Probably Has a Mobile Phone

A really surprising story in the Washington Post today: 30-45 percent of D.C. homeless people have mobile phones, and they’re unexpectedly essential to their way of life.

The Post talks to several homeless people and advocates, but Chris, a recovering crack addict, probably has most the stereotype-busting story of all. He works various entry-level jobs and keeps his homelessness a secret from employers (for obvious reasons), but lost a job at a Verizon call centre last year when his boss couldn’t reliably get in touch with him. Now that he has a mobile phone, employers can call him anytime they need an extra hand, and he’s even been promoted at one of his jobs, despite being homeless.

Others use the phones to keep up with food stamps and various appointments or to take pictures—a million phones popped out when Michelle Obama worked at a soup kitchen, as pictured above. Many blog as well, with blogs hosted at Streats.tv. Really fascinating, it might change the way you look at the homeless: [Washington Post, Image: Martinez Monsivais/AP]