I am a former executive who did well most of my life, then after a few major hits at the same time my life fell apart and I ended up living on the streets of Nanaimo, Kelowna, and Penticton. I am passionate about providing telephone access to the homeless so they can start making the connections needed to get out of that awful and perpetual situation if you’re unable to access a telephone for weeks on end. This is a sad fact ignored by the community at large. Think about not having a phone today. For weeks then months, then years for some. They give up. Stolen, wrecked by weather, damage, or simply inability to afford one.
I started providing lower cost phones to homeless at little to no cost subsidizing it by trying to repair and sell more expensive ones to people who can afford them. I’m really just taking it to the full scale from a little side passion this month.
I am asking if Koodo would consider, or has in place a program, that would help my clients get access to phones and use your service. I’m approaching all the major pay as you go carriers with a this proposal in the hopes I could get perhaps free SIM cards and a special discount or credit to get started with your service.
They rely on these devices to access social programs and make connections to change their lives. When I had no phone it was my number one concern and difficulty on the streets. I was unable to fulfil commitments, apply for jobs, access social programs and supports, or even reach family and friends for extended periods causing serious consequences to my mental health and I see it every day.
I am enrolling in community and social work degree this month in the hopes of helping more people on the futire in a deeper way, but I believe passionately about this project and hope Koodo will step up and help my community support program.
Another sad reality is that generally these clients only have money to spend on a device without credit for a few days or a couple weeks after Welfare Wednesday, which is two days from today. I’m hoping I can get this message to the appropriate people very quickly in the hopes I can get some help launching things this week in a bigger way than previously.
thank you very much for your consideration.
David
