However, little is known about homeless adults’ technology access and use. Utilizing data from a study of 421 homeless adults moving into PSH, this paper presents descriptive technology findings, and compares results to age-matched general population data. The vast majority (94%) currently owned a cell phone, although there was considerable past 3-month turnover in phones (56%) and phone numbers (55%). More than half currently owned a smartphone, and 86% of those used Android operating systems. Most (85%) used a cell phone daily, 76% used text messaging, and 51% accessed the Internet on their cell phone. One-third reported no past 3-month Internet use
Based on that study, many have a cell phone, but not all of them have smart phones. There’s also a lot of turnover.
I’ve never had a homeless person ask me to venmo them some money.
in other countries outside of the USA, you can use phone credit as money. Since you can transfer phone credit to people, and credit is stored as a money amount… it’s easy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516785/
Based on that study, many have a cell phone, but not all of them have smart phones. There’s also a lot of turnover.
I’ve never had a homeless person ask me to venmo them some money.
in other countries outside of the USA, you can use phone credit as money. Since you can transfer phone credit to people, and credit is stored as a money amount… it’s easy.
No smart tech needed. Just a free sms.