Seattle’s Homeless In Tent Cities Could Soon Have WiFi

In Seattle, the homeless could soon find they have one less commodity missing in their lives: internet service. The measure has passed a City Council vote as a part of a proposed budget package, though the entire budget must pass one more vote on November 24 in order for the plan to be seen through. This first vote, though, makes the possibility look promising.

The measure is one of many that council member Kshama Sawant was fighting for, and on her Facebook page, she proudly declares that all of her amendments passed, including her suggestions for improving the lives of homeless Seattle citizens.

“Despite resistance from the Mayor and conservative members on the Council, all of my amendments passed due to strong support from community organizations, social service providers and labor organizations. See below for more details.”

On her own website, Sawant gives a little more information.

“My amendments included allocating funds to raise 1,500 City workers to $15/hr, sustain a year-round women’s homeless shelter and expand services available at homeless encampments.”

According to Kiro Radio, the councilwoman explained that WiFi is not a luxury, but a necessity that the homeless population of Seattle will be able to use to search for jobs and access basic services. She further suggested that offering WiFi in homeless camps, and recognizing the value of internet availability, raises the question of municipal broadband, but left that question to the future.

Offering amenities to the homeless that some may think of as luxuries isn’t unique to Seattle. The Pope has made headlines recently for doing essentially the same thing — though what he’s adding for local homeless people is showers and public restrooms.

Still, both have the same purpose: to provide a little bit of dignity, and access to some of the same basic services that the rest of the community take for granted, to homeless people, who make up, as Sawant describes, one of the “most marginalized and oppressed communities in Seattle.”

At a time when citizens are being arrested for daring to offer food to the homeless population, there’s an especially strong feeling that society is not in favor of offering even minimal care and protection to the homeless.

The current increase in laws against feeding the homeless makes this proposal in Seattle even more daring, and makes its passage even more worth celebrating. Perhaps some other cities will see Seattle’s homeless WiFi proposal as an example, and we can work toward making things better for homeless people in all cities.

[photo credit: ThinkingStiff]