The Nexus 5 Is Helping The Homeless
Google may have stopped production on the Nexus 5, but the Mountain View company’s flagship smartphone continues to make a positive impact on society.
According to the New York Times, the nonprofit agency Community Technology Alliance and Google have teamed up to bring the Nexus 5 to the homeless. The two companies are reportedly giving away Nexus 5 units to individuals and families in need. Using their newly acquired handsets, recipients will have an easier time finding employment and getting off the street. Titled, Mobile4All, this program helps a population who cannot afford to purchase a smartphone and service.
The Times reported on Holly Leonard, who had been homeless for several years, going in and out of woman’s shelters and even living in her car. Not long ago, she was contacted by Community Technology Alliance, who offered here a free Nexus 5 with no strings attached. Leonard gladly accepted the donation, at which point she was able to send out resumes and even find a 2-bedroom apartment for her and her husband to rent.
Having a smartphone such as the Nexus 5 opens up a whole new world of possibilities for people who are struggling. They can search for job listings online, submit their resumes, contact potential employers, stay in touch with their families, find affordable housing, connect with other nonprofit organizations, and much more. As noted by the Times, cellphones are almost a necessity in today’s day and age. Without one, it’s hard to perform otherwise normal tasks that most people take for granted.
“People don’t put out ‘for rent’ signs anymore, so the Internet is the best way. You can’t even go get a paper application for a lot of things. You can’t get a job unless you get online,” said Holly Leonard when speaking to KTVU reporters. “Before I got a free phone, it was like you’re almost nonexistent.”
The Nexus 5 donation programs signals the Valley’s methodology behind solving the homeless problem. Rather than donating food or money which will likely be gone in just a couple of days, nonprofits such as Community Technology Alliance are donating invaluable tools that can be used to build a better life. The Nexus 5 may be outdated when compared to newer smartphones like the Galaxy S6, but it’s still a powerful mid-range handset that can open the doors of opportunity for people in need.
What do you think of Mobile4All’s initiative to help the homeless? Let us know in the comments section below!
