This past Thursday I went to hear Loretta Ross speak here at the University of Redlands. She spoke on white supremacy in the age of Trump. In addition to this she mentioned human rights. Among these were things like health care, shelter, education, and clean water. After mentioning 8 human rights, she added one more being access to the internet. Free access to the internet has the potential of becoming another human right that isn’t offered. This made me think of homelessness and the already present human rights which are denied to individuals in the United States. The statement Loretta Ross made holds truth. One can only access the internet if consuming in a place that provides that service along with their own free internet or consuming it themselves with paid plans. Money is the big factor and it’s what is needed to access the internet where almost everything operates. Access to employment and other resources is extremely limited without technology making it even more difficult to transition from homelessness if that is one’s situation. In addition, those who do not have a presence on social media and the internet can often be excluded and discriminated against, basically becoming invisible. They are denied a voice and discourse, and cannot become a part of established online communities.

I see what Loretta Ross said coming into play in the near future. I also recognize the potential for this to effect individuals near and in homelessness. Without systematic change in policy, it will be another entity that determines the fate of individuals experiencing homelessness.