Homeless people in Britain are to receive thousands of free phones in an initiative recognising that digital connectivity has become a key survival need following coronavirus.
The charity Crisis is planning to hand out 2,500 handsets and data packages in England, Scotland and Wales after Covid-19 exacerbated an existing digital deficit faced by many homeless people with the lockdown of walk-in services including council offices and job centres.
One rough sleeper who became homeless in April told the Guardian that he discovered that a phone has become more important than a sleeping bag, such is the requirement for internet and email access to get help.
“I was isolated – I was unable to ring [support organisations] and they were unable to connect with me,” said Paddy, 38, who had no phone. “I couldn’t speak to friends and family. You could cope without a sleeping bag, but not without communication.”
“Any time you phone an organisation they want your email address,” he said. “With universal credit you have to log on daily. When I got my phone I was able to reconnect and get back on track.”
The scheme is being backed by Tesco Mobile which is providing £700,000 worth of equipment and data in the first year, with more to follow. Tom Denyard, chief executive of the supermarket’s phone company, said it decided to act after it realised that 40% of the organisations seeking donations in kind from it were dealing with homelessness.
Crisis said the scheme will also go some way to tackling high levels of social isolation and loneliness experienced among homeless people. It also hopes that the new phones being offered by Tesco Mobile will be supplemented by secondhand phones donated from members of the public.
“[Isolation] is an important and damaging part of homelessness,” said Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the charity. “We can get people a home and a job but results come from building personal relationships. Connection and the ability to access services, to talk to someone who understands, is a vital part of making the move out of homelessness sustainably.”
Sparkes listed some of the key reasons why a phone with internet connection is now essential, including contacting homelessness support services, claiming universal credit, searching for jobs, talking with family and getting directions to job interviews and appointments.
A survey by Crisis of homelessness organisations in June found that 60% of them had seen an increase in people who’ve recently lost their job seeking support. Three quarters also said the lack of digital technology or internet was a challenge affecting their ability to support people experiencing homelessness.
While thousands of homeless people were housed in temporary accommodation during lockdown in a government initiative widely hailed as showing how rough sleeping could be ended, there are fears that without adequate further protection people risk being forced back on the streets or into crowded shelters. In addition homelessness organisations fear rising unemployment as a result of the recession could exacerbate the problem.
