CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org

NEW REPORT: LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS IN NYC SHELTERS IMPEDING WELLBEING, JOB, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

See Coverage in Gothamist on New Report

Shelter Residents Past and Present Call on Lawmakers to Advance #WiFi4Homeless Legislation

NEW YORK — Today, VOCAL-NY and Take Root Justice released “Wi-Fi For All: The Need for Wi-fi Access in NYC’s Shelter System,” a participatory research project where VOCAL-NY members personally conducted surveys and qualitative interviews with shelter residents. Members of VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union — many of whom have experience with NYC shelters — administered 215 surveys to New Yorkers currently living in single adult shelters or lived in a single adult shelter within the past 12 months. Sixty-eight unique shelters showed up in the surveys collected. 

Toplines of the report:

• Only a quarter of respondents reported that their shelter provided Wi-Fi to residents, and the large majority of those who did had Wi-Fi experienced barriers to accessing it.
• Many respondents had to use their personal data plans to access the internet, and half incurred extra personal costs as a result.
• A large majority of shelter residents surveyed reported going outside the shelter to access the internet (82%)
• A quarter (26%) of surveyed shelter residents reported paying to access the internet outside of the shelter.
• Three-quarters of respondents reported at least one significant consequence resulting from lack of Wi-Fi access.

This report highlights what we’ve heard anecdotally: individuals in single adult NYC shelters are struggling to access the internet, which impacts their well-being, housing, and job opportunities. This can be remedied in a number of ways, and most immediately, if the New York Legislature passes the #WiFi4Homeless legislation (A.1755/S.8026) sponsored by Assembly Member Karines Reyes and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. 

“Each day, I have to focus on the one thing that’s most important, because once I go back to the shelter, I don’t have reliable Wi-Fi that I could use.” said Noam Cohen, leader with VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union. “Once the library closes, my options for Wi-Fi involve going to Starbucks to access their Wi-Fi or going to a LinkNYC kiosk on the street and waiting out in the freezing cold and using the Wi-Fi there.”

“Our research shows that residents of many of NYC’s single adult shelters are being left behind in an increasingly digital society”, said Irene Linares, Senior Research and Policy Coordinator at TakeRoot Justice. “Failing to provide free, reliable WI-FI in these shelters sends the message that the City is not invested in lifting up its unhoused population. It’s 2025 and internet access is a necessity, which is why we are urging the passage of #WiFi4Homeless legislation.”

BACKGROUND:

Closing the digital divide for all shelter residents is crucial, as many vital social services, including legal services, telehealth, counseling, and accessing city and state benefits, have shifted to being remote. Lack of internet access or poor connectivity leaves many shelter residents disconnected from the services necessary for their well-being and survival. 

VOCAL-NY leaders and allies like Coalition for the Homeless and City Bar Policy call on the Legislature to close this digital divide by passing the #WiFi4Homeless legislation A.1755 (AM Reyes) / S.8026 (Sen. Gonzalez). 

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