"For example, mentally ill homeless living under bridges, or in the woods, are probably less likely to have a cellphone"

A few weeks ago, after learning about the existence of programs to provide the homeless with free cell phones, I made an offhand joke about how I hoped they were smartphones and hobos used them to develop apps (“hobo coding”). It turns out that I wasn’t too off the mark.

Tradition, non-digital networking has been essential for the homeless for multiple reasons, such as safety in numbers and the sharing of information. Information is vital to survival in any location. Shanty towns of hobo settlements exist for this reason; a large collection of people results in a large collection of knowledge about where to get food, which homeowners are friendly, and various other things. To communicate over long distances, hobos developed “hobo code,” a collection of symbols used to convey messages to other hobos, such as indicating the presence of guard dogs or free medical services.

These communication methods share similarities with digital meals of communication. Hobo codes can be seen as analog text messages, for example. Now, digital technology has become so pervasive that even the homeless have smartphones. It may seem like a case of mistaken priorities, but a smartphone is actually an invaluable tool for the homeless.

Especially in dense urban areas, free WiFi is easy to find, meaning hobos can take advantage of all the features of smartphones, and turning the smartphone into a kind of urban multitool. Being able to check the weather facilitates travel and gives warnings for when to seek shelter. GPS and Google Maps readily replace traditional maps. By knowing train schedules and traffic patterns, trainhopping and hitchhiking become more reliable and safer means of transportation. Craigslist makes finding work easier as well.

  The most important feature, however, is access to the Internet. Hobos developed a vast array of websites dedicated to providing information for other hobos. HitchWiki, a Wikipedia-like guide created by and for hobos, currently has articles about hitchhiking in 9 different languages. Couchsurfing.com provides a way for the homeless to find people potentially willing to house them for a few nights. Possible the most important resource is SquatThePlanet, the de facto homeless social network. Using this platform, hobos can discuss methods of squatting, organize groups for traveling, recommend equipment, and even warn of shady and dangerous characters.

It seems like a ridiculous concept, but it’s easy to see how access to the Internet could greatly improve homeless people’s lives. Among food, water, and other essentials, new hobo codes are drawn up that include information about WiFi and electrical outlets. Instead of mocking the homeless who take advantage of these resources by calling them trust fund hipsters, we should probably take them seriously. I think part of the reason why many people find this so hard is that they see the homeless as “separate” from them, so seeing them with a device that “normal” people use for entertainment can be jarring. One of the ways in which the Internet was revolutionizing is that is greatly increased access to information, and extending that access to the homeless shouldn't be such a ridiculous idea.

http://www.newsweek.com/homeless-millennials-are-transforming-hobo-culture-323151

(also check out the Newsweek comments, they're super cool)