US/ND-3: Re: voice e-mail for the homeless

Re: voice e-mail for the homeless

Link Shadley (lshadley@seasurf.com)
Thu, 12 Sep 1996 21:27:07 +0000 

Ouch !!  I needed to pause a minute before replying in a PC manner. 
Perhaps rather than using the word 'homeless' we could invent something
like 'e-mailess'  Not all homeless or e-mailess people pose a threat to
neighborhoods, schools or libraries.  We are opening a Community
Information Center in the Astoria, Oregon created by a community
partnership of both private and public organizations.  One of our goals
is to provide e-mail accounts, job searching and other www based
resources to folks who don't happen to have access to a computer, be
they homeless or not.

Providing e-mail in a shelter is no greater problem than anywhere else. 
All we need is a phone line and a computer/terminal.  

There is a growing division between classes based upon access to
information and technology.  Those of us in education, particularly
community focused and life long learning, have an opportunity to make an
important contribution to society by working to close the gap either
with or in spite of universal service dollars!



Sylvia Nespoli wrote:
> 
> In one of the articles "voice  mail for the homeless" was mentioned and
> suggested. Isn't that a contradiction in terms. How will someone who is
> homeless receive e-mail. Where s will they have access to a computer. Will
> neighborhoods trust the homeless to use their computers.  I wonder who will
> pay for this service. I can't imagine having homeless people walking into a
> school where there are young children to access their e-mail.
>      If they are to have access to e-mail will libraries welcome them with
> open arms?
>  I can't  picture the agencies which provide meals and lodging for the
> homeless having  e-mail capabilities????
> 

-- 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*  In Balance,  Link Shadley                          *
*  LANCE - Ecotrust - Clatsop Community College       *
*  (503) 325-9657  lshadley@orednet.org               *
*  lshadley@seasurf.com                               *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *