California is trying to become the 37th state to participate in a program that gives low-cost cell phones to low-income families and the homeless. The program called The LifeLine Cell Phone program is provided by mobile carrier Assurance Wireless in 36 other states. The purpose of the program is to keep low-income families and the homeless involved with agencies and services that can help their situation.
“This is great – it is transformative for homeless and low-income people,” said Bevan Dufty, San Francisco’s head of homeless initiatives. “I expect San Francisco to be in the forefront and a model city for this program. Fundamentally, to be in the mainstream of our society you have to have a phone,” he said. “And really, for the homeless population, you need a cell phone because they don’t have a home to hard-wire one into. We really need this plan.”
The low cost cell phones are not free. Participants would pay $20.00 for the phone and the initial set up and will receive 250 free minutes per month. They will pay $.10 per minute for time used over 250 minutes. Californians earning less than $14,702 per year are eligible to take part in the program.
But to hear Rush Limbaugh today, helping these poor and homeless people with this service is the wrong move for California. “Why don’t the homeless live with their families?” Rush asked. “That would make them un-homeless,” the Republican mouthpiece said, before he began laughing.
Republicans like Limbaugh credit the Obama administration for the program. They even call the phones “Obama Phones” disregarding the fact that the program began under the Reagan administration in 1985, then started offering cell phones in 2005 under the George W. Bush Administration.
