How the fuck can homeless people have phones?

They are not paying $3,000 a month for a studio apartment.

But you have to have good credit and an address to get a phone like that.

They have directv subscriptions too.

They probably found the phones somewhere and use the wifi in the library without actually paying for phone service.

You’re talking about 2 tin cans and a string, right?

We're sending you our homeless, OP.

They have Obamaphones.

I see homeless people on their laptops sitting under the palm trees on the neutral ground in New Orleans. They look like a scene in a New Yorker cartoon. They each have their own palm tree with a little towel to sit on and they are typing away. Probably all on DL.

Even homeless, they're still better than you.

I've seen mothers with their countless spawn waiting in line at a soup kitchen who were chatting on their iphones. I'm sure they also had cable television; probably a Disney subscription also.

And then poor OP stood in line at the grocery vendor waiting politely, caneless and capeless, behind a welfare queen buying lobsta and and and steak and Champaigle too with food stamps!!!!!!!!

They are likely not homeless if they have phones, OP.

In Europe there is a cottage industry street beggars who are then picked up in a car, often an expensive car, at the end of their shift. Often they are Roma.

Here is a pregnant beggar in San Diego driving off in a Benz.

OP, my guess is that they were donated. My sister once donated an iPad to a kid with cancer so she could occupy herself while alone in her hospital bed. Her mom had to work, because they were very poor.

Old versions of iPhones are pretty cheap, actually.

I had a poor friend. He kept telling me to call him, he got pretty angry if I did not, but he never called me. I’m guessing, but I suspect his phone plan was free for incoming calls but he had limited minutes for outgoing calls. I know he ran out of minutes occasionally.

They sell those cards with phone minutes in convenience stores, for people who can’t afford monthly plans. They might use those. Being homeless does not mean being penniless.

And how dare these people wearing Prada while working with other poor people! Sure, there’s no stripe, but still...what kind of message are you sending by wearing nice clothes? Hmmmn??????

OP: Give the homeless a fucking break. Do you know how difficult it is to live your life without a phone? The homeless have nothing. Don't begrudge them a goddamn phone. There are no phone booths anymore.

How do the homeless get messages...check on a potential job or possible apartment...have family members reach them if that's at all possible...call a doctor, a social worker or a homeless shelter? The homeless have nothing. Leave them alone...or donate to homeless shelters or volunteer at a soup kitchen and realize how tough life can be.

You could afford the best phone OP, if you didn't have rent/mortgage payments and no utilities. Consider it.

Weirdly this frau clutching her phone accosted me in the store parking lot to ask me for a dollar as she and her (out of sight) daughter had run out of gas and could I help cos she had run out of cash and the station credit card reader wasn't working. Unfortunately for me I failed to produce the required dollar within the required time and looked at her as I was analysing all this unwelcome information which had just been visited on me and quick as a flash she gave me a death-stare and snapped, "I'm not a hooker!" She was an adequately dressed beggar woman with a phone: I assume the cleanish clothes and the phone make her plausible with the suckers who give her money. Not too smart tho: a few months later she tried it again on me in the same place and I simply told her to try another parking lot as this was becoming repetitive; she was annoyed but this time didn't snap, "I'm not a hooker!"

The beggars use a story to elicit donations but also to save just a shred of dignity.

I once was without cash at the subway station and needed to make an important call. This was before cel phones. I was dressed in business casual. So I asked a few strangers for a quarter. A guy finally volunteered a dollar but did so with a bit of a sneer. Perhaps OP ought to experiment by begging in the supermarket parking lot for a half day? Seriously. Then report back. Maybe you could have a friend discreetly film it? You might make enough to buy an iPhone and learn some humility.

Some homeless had those items before they became homeless. Some of them own donated phones, tablets, and laptops. Some of them save up the money they've been given and buy TracPhones. Some may have stolen them. Some have "Obama phones" that are paid for by cellular service providers out of their profits, via the Universal Service Fund.

Some homeless people receive retirement checks or SSDI, neither of which will even cover renting a room here. General Relief is an even more paltry amount. Since rent and utilities aren't being paid, some of that $ can be saved up and used to purchase a cheap smartphone- the one I'm typing this on only cost $170.

Just like everyone else, homeless people feel lonely, need to make phone calls, and get bored. If they didn't steal them from you, why do you care if they have phones?

[quote]I'm sure they also had cable television; probably a Disney subscription also.

I'm sure you're confusing "homeless" with "low income."

Fuck you, OP.

They give out free phones with unlimited text and phone calls to the very poor. It is part of the lifeline program.

In some communities, there are programs that work with non-profits to provide donated phones and a very basic call plan to homeless people so they can reintroduce themselves to society, maintain social support networks, seek employment, and coordinate medical care. The cost to society is nothing compared to tRump's tax breaks for the obscenely rich.

Free everything for everybody. The rich will pay.

[quote]They give out free phones with unlimited text and phone calls to the very poor. It is part of the lifeline program.

Lifeline is one of the "Obama phone" programs paid for by cellular providers. They charge us a small fee on our bills (designated as "USF") and use that money to fund not only cellphones, but also internet access at public libraries.

R23 Fucking right. Unless you're filthy rich in which case the chickens will have come home to roost. Bitch you gonna be paying.

Warren 2020

or Bernie

or Pete

or Biden if I hold my nose

Or my unemployed stoner brother-in-law

A reminder that the “Obama phone” program was started by his predecessor, George Bush, and originally was for land lines.

One needs an address and good credit to have a working cell phone? Since when?

Prince Harry sends his message of support.

My mother assumes they just clubbed an elderly person over the head for theirs...at least she keeps repeating that to me since the spare room is free again.

R29 Is that you Norman?

Couldn't they just be on a pre-paid plan? Now, I live in Canada where we have astronomical cell phone bills, but when I was in the USA this summer I bought a sim card and a pre-paid plan and it was so damn cheap compared to what I could get in Canada. Not sure how Canadian homeless people can afford it, though.

I guess they must use the library to charge their phones!

Oh, get a grip. Older iPhones are cheap, just a couple hundred, and you can get a plan with Virgin mobile for $35 a month. That's what I had for several years. One day when I was out and about in raggedy clothes because I was helping someone move, I was using my phone in public and this bitch saw me and started yelling about the fact that I had an iPhone and was obviously unemployed, which I'm not. So take your judgment and shove it. Everyone needs to have a phone these days, and Tracfones are cheap as dirt.

[quote] Not sure how Canadian homeless people can afford it, though.

In Canada they are given out as part of universal health care.

R26 Thanks for reminding these people this was originally a bipartisan initiative in the US.

And another reminder that it's a fucking lifeline for the most vulnerable so some of you people need to relax your cheap and greedy privileged asses. It costs you pennies per month to save lives.

R34 I don't equate people yabbering on the phone to "saving a life".

Why are you upset about this, OP? You don't know how they acquired the phone. They may have become recently homeless and already owned the phone; they may have been gifted the phone by a friend/loved one; they could have traded goods/services for it; or they could have saved up the money they've earned to buy it. Besides, many jobs (even basic minimum wage jobs) require the job applicant/employee list a phone number where they can be reached. For all you know, this is one of the reasons why they have a phone. You sound like one of the people that get upset about the poor having anything considered a "luxury".

Yeah - I've noticed quite a few homeless with cell phones. I've caught them charging up at an open outlet outside restaurants and other establishments.

It's not that they have a phone - it's how do they pay for monthly service? I don't begrudge them a phone - not at all. But it's baffling how they could afford service.

I don't think those free phone programs are THAT widespread - otherwise it wouldn't be noteworthy. All homeless would have them.

[quote]I don't think those free phone programs are THAT widespread - otherwise it wouldn't be noteworthy. All homeless would have them.

Homeless people often have their electronucs stolen by other people, not all of whom are also homeless. I once saw a teen boy smack a pgone right out of a homeless guy's hand and run off with it.

You can still buy pretty good phones that will accept prepaid cards R37 or they're in a program that gives them a certain amount of time/data a month. Also, there's always wifi.

OP also saw a Asian pooping in a public park. Couldn’t tell if the crapper was cut or not because those people squat really low.

Yes, r31, they do charge their phones in the library. I remember recently that was an issue in Boston, but don’t recall if they wanted to facilitate it, or stop it.

Go to India where there are more Iphones than toilets.

The Indians value an iPhone than a hole in the ground in which to deposit their body's excreta.

That's right, OP.

EVERY homeless person is secretly rich and trying to get you to pay for them.

EVERY person on any type of public assistance programs is a welfare cheat.

EVERY person is just lazy and wants hardworking people like you to pay for their extravagant lifestyles of caviar and champagne.

Oh come on people ! OP has a valid point . Besides that,who in the fuck are they talking to anyway ? if they had friends would their asses be sleeping on the street ? Im all for feeding someone,even putting a roof over their head,but a fucking i-phone is NOT a survival tool. It also pisses me off that they get free fucking cable when Im paying $200 a month .

You don 't begrudge me 10 yachts but you piss your pant's over a "poor" person with a $100.00 dollar mobile phone, You are one fucked up dude OP.

OP, are the type who also put "no homeless" on their Grindr profile?

R44, if they get free cable, it is because they can’t get a broadcast signal, and the cable plan is basic cable containing only the lower 12 channels, plus public access channels and a few others. Mine costs $9 a month.

Are you the type..

r14 - I was on a board 5 years ago where a woman ranted than computers and cell phones were not required for job seekers - go to the library and when you are kicked off after half and hour, wait around until it is free again! Knock of your neighbour's door and borrow their devices and WiFi!

What a psycho.

Rich people have grifted our country of most of its wealth and resources. They've hoarded so much wealth 90% of us fight over 5% of the wealth but BY ALL MEANS lets go after the poor and homeless. WHO CARES where they go the phones?

The Rich could take your job, make you work at another job for 1/400th the pay, openly laugh and mock most of you and you'd all still carry their water.

OP saw a Slavic woman shining random door knobs that we’re not her own. He threw her a bag of spaghettios he keeps handy in his NPR tote.

r44 - so they sell their old homeless iPhone for $300 and spend $100 on a flip phone? Not worth it for $200.

OP must be 95 years old. Phones are a commodity now. Any used smart phone more than a few years old is cheap, and they can be used with monthly pre-paid plans. Stop being so petty, OP.

OP saw a slattenly Unitarian stealing change out of the mall fountain - the good mall fountain!

I really wanted to use slattern, but “Unitarian Slattern” is just bigotry.

How the fuck can pudgy old men ordering flaming rum punch have wings?

This thread reeks of cheap Russian vodka and pee.

They may just be hipsters op.

Reach out and touch some hobo

R59, we’re still working on not touching the hair of people of color. You’re ruining years of work. Good job grizzled cunt.

Op has a sensible query about where his tax-money is being used.

Sometimes I think DL is populated by either teenage morons or uber rich whites so out of touch with reality they'd ask a stupid question like that.

Homeless means someone has no home. Many homeless people even work but won't or can't afford an apartment. How dim are you OP?

OP, they take your tax dollars and give it to the homeless so that they can get those fancy phones. There are many jobs and services available for the homeless. And I don't mind giving a helping hand. But it's gotten to where a lot of them don't want to work, want to do drugs, and don't want help. Those are the ones that piss me off.

[quote]so that they can get those fancy phones.

Here's some of your "fancy phones", asswipe.

All the African migrants have phones too. Yet they are still begging.

[R13], doan mean sheeit if it's *last* year's.

With minimum wage at 13 bucks an hr. here in Chicago. Everyone and their masters could afford iPhones and the latest android offerings.

[quote] A reminder that the “Obama phone” program was started by his predecessor, George Bush

It began under Reagan.

Google tells me 1% of homeless in Toronto are young. 850 to 2,000 of them are homeless on any given night in Toronto.

What is Justin Blackface Trudeau doing about this?

R50 is the only comment you need to read in this thread if you're a thinking person.

Yes, we need crying persons as well as thinking persons.

But who will pay the bills?

I got a free cheap, phone from trackphone and I pay $20. , every three months for airtime.

In my experience, homeless folk can be quite resourceful in getting the necessities, i.e., drugs, and phones are a means to that end.

R73 Do you spend much time with these 'homeless folk'?

I'm hoping to upgrade to the Galaxy S11.

What is Justin Blackface Trudeau doing about his people?

Other than fact they are not permanently domiciled, you know nothing about a homeless person.

This may come as a shock to you dear, but a good number of homeless persons actually have money. Some work, others receive various checks (pension, annuity, social security, funds from a trust and or family, etc...); they either cannot afford local rents, and or for various reasons choose to live rough.

There are several homeless persons in my area at local bank branch all the time. Since they conduct teller transactions one must assume they have an account.

Now and then you hear about a homeless person dying with pretty hefty bank account. Here in NYC a homeless woman was arrested last year for spitting on people had $20k on her person.

Well in that case, R77, I now have NIL sympathy for these panhandlers.

A used iphone costs ZERO if a relative gave it to you. And a refurbished iPhone 6 or 6s from a reputable company costs $100-150.

Free Cell phones and service for the homeless are perhaps the most important service our government can provide to the homeless. It allows them to stay in contact with housing, medical care, job training, job applications and most importantly, their families.

You can get an iPhone 6 for $100 or less if it has some scratches. You can also get new Android smartphones, especially these Chinese phones, for $150-250. Lots of people also donate their old phones if they're too lazy to sell them or don't have kids or family. I'm more curious where they charge their phones. It must be a hassle to find a spot to charge it every day.

A family member gives them a old phone and pays for a line for them. Or a sponsor at some type of shelter program. Why attack the people who are having a hard time? Where is the empathy? We want things to get better for everyone, not worse.

A family member gives them a old phone and pays for a line for them. Or a sponsor at some type of shelter program. Why attack the people who are having a hard time? Where is the empathy? We want things to get better for everyone, not worse.

A family member gives them a old phone and pays for a line for them. A dealer takes the old phone and repays with a line of coke.

Many of the Africans I see in town are tall thin handsome street dealers (thus I see them). They live in public housing but are not allowed work permits. They dress well and have phones and must deal drugs and seem to have a stressful lives. I fantasize about them fucking me.

That's my contribution to this thread.

I have a Samsung 7 inch tablet /phablet, it cost under $200. I have a free Google voice number and the Google voice app. on wifi my calls are free. I just assumed that the homeless had a similar thing going on.

How does this affect you?

[quote]How do the homeless get messages...check on a potential job

Oh my sides!

He's going to dress up like a homeless person r68 and dance.

I talked to a low income individual about this. He said they're called Obama Phones - provided free from NYS or NYC, I don't know those details.

W&W for R28.

Prince Harry and his Texting The Homeless Project. Free phones for those who qualify.

*bleep* "Meghan & myself just want you to know we're thinking of you and hope that you believe in yourself and that you can turn all of this negativity into positivity."

"What did he say?"

"I'm too weak from hunger to read the text Oh no, my fingers are going numb from being exposed to the cold for so long.."

R89 Those Obama phones are only good for times when a homeless person would need to call 911. The phones offer maybe 45 minutes a week of talk time.

Is Boris a concern troll now?

R89 In Ca the Obama phones give you free unlimited talk and text.

The Lifeline program was started by Reagan. Obama had nothing to do with it. It began as Lifeline for home phones as there were no cell phones. When cell phones became important to have the poor were given the choice of Lifeliine for their home phone or cell phone. Most chose a cell phone. The minutes are not unlimited. They are about 250 minutes a month. There is a separate limit for texts. I get how it got put on Obama. The GOP made people think that and then it became false common knowledge, but it was good old hate the poor, "Welfare Queen" Reagan who started the program.

Oh and for those here who begrudge the poor/homeless even this. Go fuck yourselves. I hope someday you are in that situation you evil bastards.

So many more people for me to text R93!

It's called the Democrats' Welfare State, and it's why this country is so divided politically.

They definitely get free/unlimited, R94. And 2GB of data! And it's nice to know that you can pre-qualify if you're already on the dole!

"To be qualified for Lifeline, you must be currently enrolled in a qualified public assistance program (i.e. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, etc.) or you can be qualified if your total annual household income is less than the qualified income guidelines."

Free Lifeline

Phone Service

Free - 2 GB Monthly Data

Free - 1000 Monthly Minutes

Free - Unlimited Texting

Free - Unlimited Calls to Select Countries

Who wants to tell Granny/op that not every smartphone is an iPhone?

why are you upset that people have phones? They need to call people and be abled to be reached via phone for emergencies, health and other essential city, state and federal services. The lack of empathy and stupidity in the US is frightening.

Why do you godless socialists hate America?

Racism was worse when I was a boy, true. But since Reagan, the disrespect and blaming and lack of care for the poor in the USA gets worse and worse. And since the mid 90s we've handed all the money over to a few people. The Waltons and Bezos are truly thrilled that you are underpaid and shilling garbage products flushing the USA ever further down a crap hole. God forbid a homeless person - and can you imagine how AWFUL that is - have a phone. And the rich pay no taxes. FABULOUS!

R94 No Ca gives unlimited talk and text.

I think if my ass was sleeping on a sidewalk the LAST thing Id be worrying about would be a phone. Housing and feeding the poor is far more of a priority than internet access . Believe it or not,there are millions of people who arent online . Gasp !

In America, if you qualify for food stamps or public health benefits, you qualify for a free phone and free monthly service. Lifeline is concept. Phones are basic (sucky cameras, limited storage) and definitely not iPhones.

How the FUCK can there be Americans that are homeless, when we are a Wealthy Empire, and supposedly a Democracy?

My God, what is wrong with most of you? Where are you writing from, that you are so hateful and disgusting? Get a grip. None of this is impacting you, none of it. Maybe a few cents on a phone bill...So what...? How do you know they are even homeless? You are just guessing, you fucking Okies and Fresno trash.

R105 It is impacting me; my taxes pay for all the generosity you want me to hand over.

r105 I hope you reserve the same indignation for the billionaires who just got a huge tax cut. Every time Republicans create outrage around benefits for the poor, a billionaire and multi-millionaire seem to get tax cuts. Incidentally, if you don't think you're in the same boat as the homeless, just wait until some new disease or old plague springs out of skid row in Los Angeles where tens of thousands of homeless now reside on the streets.

Well, this thread became interesting.

The thing that annoyed me more about these homeless people having phones was the fact that they were co-coordinating where they were going to panhandle and meet up afterwards.

Why does that annoy YOU?

I'd much rather everyone have phone access than try and steal my phone to get access.

You're dumb, OP, and chintzy.

R110 homeless people present themselves and are presented in the media, as being lonely needy people, when the reality is there are very well coordinated in their efforts to take money off stupid people.

R111 they may not steal your phone but they won't have any issues with beating your ass for not giving them money.

You really can't change your tune, can you, OP?

OP, they do NOTHING to you for having the smart phones. Again, NOTHING. The billionaire Plutocrats do affect your life. Slag on the, for a change.

R114 the billionaire plutocrats don't follow me in a parking lot telling me that it's not fair that I have money for groceries but won't give them any money.

The billionaire plutocrats don't bang on my car window at red lights and hold up a sign telling me how poor they are.

The billionaire plutocrats don't spill my recycle bin on the sidewalk looking for cans.

I have a friend IRL who hates the homeless as much as OP/r115. He's literally terrified of them, and will cross the street to avoid one. He actually drove his car into oncoming traffic to get away from a homeless man. Fortunately, we were almost stopped and no accident ensued. The pathology is impressive nonetheless (my friend's, not the homeless people's).

I used to give a dollar to the same homeless guy every now and then. No big deal for me.

Nice EST R116.

You have no friends. You're from the iPhone you stole from a Karen who was fishing out a $5 bill from her wallet.

Except...no, r117.

People that harp on how mad I should be at billionaires!! and their tax cuts!! don’t recognize that as someone who is solidly middle class, I don’t benefit from either government handout: I’m not ultra wealthy, and I’m not poor enough/won’t game the system to get the handouts.

It’s a stupid polarized world and the middle gets the squeeze. What’s a few cents? What’s a few cents? What’s a few cents?

The government and it’s bleeding heart enablers are just as bad as the homeless. Spare some change? Can you spare a dollar? Spare some change....?

I'm going to quit my job and live on the streets so I too can game the system and get me a free iPhone 5S!!

Maybe you are jealous of a person, who is homeless, because they have more ethics and integrity than you?

r119 Curious, Mr. Middle class, do you take a home mortgage deduction on your taxes? apparently thats the most popular middle class welfare program in the country.

^^^R122 is spot fucking on. I readily take the deduction but to deny it's a socialized subsidy to the bourgeoisie is to deny facts and reality.

No, R122. My husband and I are renters because property taxes keep skyrocketing in Chicago and we're not confident to buy. We're also obvo childless, so no deductions there.

I also make too much to deduct my student loan interest payments (if you make $75k, you can't). We're also on track to donate ~$8,000 to charity this year. We donate because we want to, and that does not offset the standard deduction at all.

So no, we can't itemize shit. We file our W2s and take the standard deduction. Which, honestly, under the Trump tax plan saved us $5k in taxes compared to 2017 filing.

I must be weird; I usually think, there but for grace, could be me. One serious illness could wipe out my savings. No job and no savings, equals, homeless. I dont know the homeless personally, seems the least I can do is not judge.

they are humans and deserve democracy. Because so many people care about people.

There are a lot of homeless on the subway and they smell so bad, I try to stay away too, you don't know what they have...

They say the homeless in CA have 3rd world dieases.

Try living with no access to showers or soap or toothpaste or clean clothes/underwear or living on the street in all kinds of horrible conditions and see how long it takes before you stink and have 3rd world diseases.

FUCK THE OP

How the fuck can you have so much hate in your heart?

Second hand iphone 5s can be found online cheap and those tracphone pay as you go cards to add minutes/data can be had for $10-20 bucks.

Homeless people have people who care about them.