We are looking for volunteers for a voter education and registration event in Birmingham, AL, this Saturday, March 9. To find out about volunteer opportunities in your area: homelessvoters@gmail.com

Why Public Dialog Matters

This winter, Georgia Public Service Commission, an elected body that regulates Georgia utility providers, voted 3-2 to approve a $5 monthly fee on the formerly free cell phone program known as Lifeline. The stated goal for the fee from the commissioners who supported it (Doug Everett, Tim Echols and Lauren "Bubba" McDonald) is to reduce fraud both by the carriers and the consumers.

The Lifeline program was established under Ronald Reagan's administration at the split of AT&T's monopoly. The purpose was to ensure the poorest Americans still had access to communications technology. This program was and is subsidized by an additional cost added customers' bills.

When this $5 fee goes into effect, almost none of that will change. There are still Americans who need their communications services subsidized by those who are able to afford it. Customers will continue paying their pre-$5 fee rates. The only thing that will be changing is that people who previously qualified for a free phone – because their income levels were so low they were unable to provide a phone for themselves – will now be giving an additional $5 to the formerly free phone companies that were alleged to have been implicit in the fraud.

In a surprising note, there are grumblings by some of the companies that participate in the Lifeline program that this new revenue stream will cause them problems. Some of them are pre-paid phone companies and have no system set up for billing.

Cell phones have been called by some a luxury, but with 250 minutes and a barebones device (pictured to the left/right) that's really hard to argue. For senior citizens on a fixed income or homeless veterans on the streets who need to be able to schedule doctors' appointments, the Lifeline program was one less burden they had to worry about at the end of each month.

This issue should have had more community dialog before it was voted on and approved, but it's never too late to share your views with your elected officials. Some people may support the fee. Others may think a more nuanced approach of fees varying based on income would have been appropriate. And many, of course, think that this solution creates more problems than it solves. Regardless of your position, feedback to elected officials is needed in order to make informed policy decisions.

Curriculum for Service Providers to Connect Homeless with Reps

Making this curriculum available online through our website will allow us to reach agencies throughout the country without our physical presence. Please stay tuned for more details.

We are developing a curriculum to be available in the spring for service providers nationwide and free of charge that blends the best practices in direct marketing, grassroots engagement, and externalities specific to the homeless community. This curriculum is designed to answer the “what next?” questions for the homeless community: “We have been alerted to a bill in the senate that would negatively affect us, what do we do next?”

We at Homeless but Not Powerless envision a democracy that starts with the people on the ground who have the smallest buffer between them and the impact of policy changes. Therefore, we seek a consistent, meaningful dialog between low- to no-income voters and their representatives.  The goal is not to control society, but to make sure the voices of the poor are heard.

Up until now, the Homeless but Not Powerless strategy for making this happen focused mostly on voter education, registration, and turnout to the polls in the homeless community. These are largely in-person activities and thus require our presence for us to do them.



Making this curriculum available online through our website will allow us to reach agencies throughout the country without our physical presence. Please stay tuned for more details.

On Monday, July 16, Homeless but Not Powerless is collaborating with Wheat Street Baptist Church to bus voters to the Metro Atlanta Concerned Black Clergy's Candidate Forum.

The Candidate Forum will be an opportunity for homeless and low-income voters to be engaged and informed as they prepare for the July 31 primary election. 

Candidates Forum

Date: Monday, July 16

Time: 9am-12pm

Place: 838 Cascade Road, Atlanta, GA 30310

New Voter Information Sheets for Organizations in Alabama and Georgia! Visit our useful resources tab.

Homeless but Not Powerless participated in Project Homeless Connect on March 10th, one of the largest service events for homeless and low-income individuals. With over 800 clients in attendance, we conducted voter education & voter registration. 

This photo was taken after a voter registration event at the Montgomery Municipal Jail with Sargeant Rogers (Right) and the Homeless but Not Powerless founder(Left).

In Birmingham's Linn Park in front of the Jefferson County Court House with Mongo(on the left), one of the first people in Birmingham we registered, after a Christmas Eve voter drive.(Devo'n Williams-Director on the right)

At the Montgomery, AL Salvation Army, with the Head Chef (on the right) after a voter drive during lunch. (Devo'n Williams-Director on the left)

The staff at the Salvation Armys around the country serve delicious meals to thousands in need every day. We are grateful to the staff for allowing us to visit wherever we're at in the country.