Buy a homeless person a phone top up
By Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (27693)
April 10, 2026 12:45pm CST
Does it surprise you a homeless person having a mobile phone?
Why wouldnt they have a phone?
Let's face it, everyone these days needs a phone
Here in the UK, homeless people can get a phone on what's called a social tariff and data and minutes and texts from a charity data bank
All the major networks participate as far as I know
This makes the lives of homeless people just a bit easier - who wouldn't agree with me that anyone who is homeless needing to keep in touch with various welfare and housing agencies, as well as medical services , banks and family and friends should have a phone.
So if a homeless person ever asks you to buy them a wee top up for their phone, think about how it might help them out of a sticky situation.
16 people like this
14 responses
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
I've done it a few times
Having been homeless in a different era , I can see how a phone would make their lives a lot easier
3 people like this
@augusta123 (8855)
•
10 Apr
I agree with you.
Phone is essential for homeless people too.
3 people like this
@augusta123 (8855)
•
10 Apr
@Ineeddentures
Yeah, a way to earn money because it not only food they need.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
@augusta123
They can beg for food
Or get someone to buy them cup of tea in Mcdonalds and sit in the warm cafe and post on My lot using wi fi
They could make $20 a month as they have plenty time
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
It really is.
And as most have PayPal they could sign up here and earn some.money.so I say give them all phones
2 people like this
@toniganzon (75973)
• Philippines
11 Apr
I haven't seen a homeless person here that has a phone. They don't have a need for it anyway. No social welfare app to speak of. They just go to the house of the mayor or the congressman and ask for help.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
One day, your country will have all the tools in place to help up what will be a largest number of homeless people than ever.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (75973)
• Philippines
12 Apr
@Ineeddentures In my hometown, you can't find a single homeless person. In the city I live in, the homeless ones are those coming from another region but our local government, gets rid of them right away. So you won't see them loitering for long. There's a housing program given to the homeless residents many years ago in my city. That's why the city I live in is known as the cleanest and the most livable.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
12 Apr
@toniganzon
I would quite like living there then Toni
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (132728)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Apr
I would go with them to pay for it so they couldn't just spend the money.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (132728)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Apr
@Ineeddentures Getting it for them is the smart way. Or giving them something they can use like the tent
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
PayPal.
All the homeless here seem to have PayPal.
I gave one girl a decent tent as her cheap festival tent wasn't going to see her though the winter and we had a 5 and most likely won't use a tent again.
Gave her a good sleeping bag too. And a rolled up mat for the sleeping bag to be on top of.
But yes going to get the top up just to make sure it doesn't get spent on anything else is a good idea
If someone begging wants 50p fod a cup of tea.
I go and get them the tea
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
@wolfgirl569
She really appreciated the tent.
Me and Yvonne bumped into her a few times , she was still homeless but at least she had shelter at night
And the 8000 Hydrostatic head material on the tent never leaked or let in at all
Some other couple gave her a wee camping stove and bottles of gas - they let her set her tent up in their field
I wonder how she is now
We haven't been back to that town since September last year
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
Some people are so kind to homeless people
And some are just dismissive which is also unkind
It's a real shame
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
I found out that nearly all of the homeless people who go to a day centre on a nearby town all have phones and all have PayPal.
I think it's good that we have a social tariff as well for people with no income or a low income
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
Imagine not having one and having an illness or a disability and also needing to keep in touch with the doctor.
A phone is essential I think for homeless people
I saw someone on here who came over as a bit surprised a homeless person would have a phone
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (96323)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Apr
I don't have a phone and with all my other monthly expenses cannot afford the subscription,
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
That's why the social tariff and data bank charity here is such a good idea
As there is no subscription and the phone is free
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
10 Apr
Oh yes I have done that.
They all have PayPal here.
And power banks
They like you buying them a cup of tea in McDonalds so they can charge a power bank and it gets them in the warm for a few hours. And they charge phones on there as well and use the disabled toilets to wash and shave and wash out underwear etc.
1 person likes this
@just4him (322708)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Apr
@Ineeddentures I'm sure it does.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
That's good
It's the same here
Does it include homeless people of no fixed abode
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (377346)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Apr
@Ineeddentures I can understand that it might seem like an extravaganze if you've never really thought about how essential they are.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
12 Apr
@JudyEv
I think it was more the undeserving than an extravagance I picked up on
I was homeless and I had £8k in the bank, I could afford what I wanted
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
Especially a homeless person.
These poor people need all the help they can get
Yet so many just walk pat them, ignore them, or don't seem to consider them as human with the same needs as we all have.
I'm still reeling from seeing the surprise etched in someone's words on here that a homeless person actually had the temerity to own a mobile phone
That confirmed what I have always suspected about that individual.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
It must be sad to have nobody to turn to in your hour of need
Yet there is all the greed around us
And unkindness too.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (27693)
•
11 Apr
I read also that homeless people miss out on money and other help because they had no way of keeping in touch with agencies other than walking to offices and wasting time and effort
At least a phone can let them know where they " need" to be at any given time.
2 people like this
